Interesting Trade Opportunity..... Need Oppo-inions

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
10/22/2014 at 16:42 • Filed to: Opinions, help, mercedes, volvo, trade

So, someone offered me their 1998 Mercedes E300 Turbo Diesel for my R. I went to drive it today. And I felt something special behind the wheel. It just felt... premium. And special. Only 150,000 miles and essentially one owner. Am I an idiot? Straight trade too.

DISCUSSION (26)

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:44

I would do it. That's a nice looking car, and if you love the way it drives, then do it. But first, get the VIN and run a VIN check.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:45

I like the R more, but this might have lower running costs. Hard to choose.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:46

Do it. Efficient, classy, smooth. Plus it looks good on the right rims.

Kinja'd!!!

505Turbeaux > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:47

that thing is all banged up. does it have any service records? also from facebook post you made:

"you need to have the front spring perches inspected VERY carefully, as they fail on 2wd W210's. The motors are finicky but generally solid. check for rust under the body cladding, it got almost all W210's unless you live in AZ. Make sure the transmission has been serviced as per TSB. Check for the SRS light to come on during pos. 2 check, and goes out after starting, same with check engine light. Also make sure it wasn't run on straight veg oil too, it doesn't do any favors for them."

I wouldn't touch one this dented up as it was probably not serviced by anyone who cared about it. But you will have the sedan brother of my 4matic wagon

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:48

As long as it doesn't have front spring hanger rust. The engines are solid, if capable of having some surface gremlins/leaks. Opponaut KusabiSensei had one until it got totaled, and I helped him work on it several times. They also sometimes have the heater mixer valve go bad, but that's quibbley.

cbell04 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:49

Tell them to throw in a jar of Grey Poupon and call it a deal as long as the VIN checks out you are a brave man for taking on a salvage title but if you could get in one that's clean it will certainly be easier to sell when you're done with it

My citroen won't start > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:51

It doesn't look trustworthy, unclean, dings and scrapes. Ask for the service records.

EL_ULY > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:51

me and 505 Turbeaux can help :]

I thought you wanted to stop dealing with troublesome cars (aka enthusiast cars lol)

Just find a nice 2006 Corolla S with a manual trans and you will never worry about the PCV box on the V70R or the Secondary air injection (among other normal things) on a W210

Steve in Manhattan > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:52

Do it, but with the same caveat I always have - have your own mechanic go through the car (and pay him yourself). If it needs, say, a new heater core or injectors (or a new turbo, like mine did) you want to know before you make up your mind.

505Turbeaux > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
10/22/2014 at 16:52

not these. the R will be cheaper in the long run, this may be cheaper in the short run

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Steve in Manhattan
10/22/2014 at 16:56

The person (whom I actually know quite well) has done a lot of work recently...

"I have brand new glow plugs in every cylinder, new radiator, new water pump, new coolant fan, AC recharge, new brake pads and rotors in the front, just did an oil change less than 300 miles ago with german spec filter and 8 quarts of hyper ultra oil. Car also has brand new front coolant/radiator fan. New cat back exhaust as well. I also had the transmission service 1000k miles ago and had a new conductor plate put in."

And I would have my Merc specialist friend look her over but its essentially one owner

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > My citroen won't start
10/22/2014 at 16:58

Its essentially a one owner car and I know the seller quite well. Car got a little beaten up because of some asshole neighbors (which was an issue I read in the paper.. happened to multiple in his community)

Lots of work done though:

I have brand new glow plugs in every cylinder, new radiator, new water pump, new coolant fan, AC recharge, new brake pads and rotors in the front, just did an oil change less than 300 miles ago with german spec filter and 8 quarts of hyper ultra oil. Car also has brand new front coolant/radiator fan. New cat back exhaust as well. I also had the transmission service 1000k miles ago and had a new conductor plate put in.

Steve in Manhattan > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 16:59

NO - what if it needs a transmission? A differential (OK, that's unlikely). An A/C compressor? You need to know the expenses you'll face in the next year.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 505Turbeaux
10/22/2014 at 17:00

Hmm always thought the R was a bit of a ticking time bomb and these werent so bad.

JGrabowMSt > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 17:03

Keep the R. Save the wagons!

Also, like 505 said, Mercedes feel great, but when something breaks, you're in for a whole new kind of hurt.

Personally, I've never been a huge fan of that body style mercedes. It doesn't look bad (i'll admit, it looks pretty good), but I'm an R129 kind of guy.

http://jalopnik.com/mercedes-ckl43…

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > EL_ULY
10/22/2014 at 17:03

I didn't recall any secondary air injection on the Om606 diesel from working on it - didnt' realize. I'd still choose this over the Corolla S myself, just because I typically can't stand the driver's positions in Toyotas, and I like these when everything's working.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > 505Turbeaux
10/22/2014 at 17:07

Well it is essentially one owner (grandpa gave it to him) and its beaten up because of some gang of kids who went around and beat up some people's cars...

As for maintenance:

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/22/2014 at 17:08

I know a guy who only does Mercedes so I will have him check it out to make sure. But its a Fl car so rust shouldnt be an issue

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Steve in Manhattan
10/22/2014 at 17:10

Well seller has actually poured a lot into it recently:

So many of those have been taken care of already.

My citroen won't start > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 17:10

It sounds like a good deal then.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 17:13

Do it. I had a 1999 E300. Worked well enough. Probably might get another diesel Benz at some point.

EDIT: Yes, you need to worry about spring perches, but really only if it's a rust belt car. The issue is that the mastic didn't completely seal, and water would get behind the mastic and rust the spot welds. This causes a front suspension collapse. Correct fix is to rivet the perches in place.

If it's been run on ANYTHING besides petrodiesel/B0 (including bio diesel above B5, but that only induces a few leaks in the fuel system that can be fixed by using Viton o-rings) , skip it. The injection pump needs to be run on straight petrodiesel to keep the internals lubricated. Also, bad fuel can screw with the delivery valves, which requires removing the intake manifold to do.

Since you have a 722.3 autobox, you need to make sure the TSB is taken care of, as noted elsewhere. If you have someone with a STAR Diagnostic System, have them run a check on the computers.

Mine had a iffy Duovalve (heater valve actuated by solenoids) that would stick on full, and a slight A/C refrigerant leak. I also replaced the alternator, and it was on track for glow plugs and a new fan clutch at 141K miles. Also had a falling headliner, but interior was otherwise in good shape.

The exterior hasn't fared well on this example, but replacing some of the panels is fairly straightforward.

If you do it, make sure you follow the maintenance religiously.

Steve in Manhattan > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 17:15

OK - if it's not going to a mechanic, you and your dad should inspect every square inch, and try and arrange to borrow a lift so you can get under it.

Otherwise, I'm all for this.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Steve in Manhattan
10/22/2014 at 17:20

Oh sorry meant to add I have a Merc specialist friend who will look it over so definitely will do that but its a Fl car so there should be no rust

Steve in Manhattan > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 17:29

Whew - don't scare me like that again.

505Turbeaux > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 18:30

2 owners is what I see there. Ok, so take a look at was just spent on the car, and ask yourself why so many things had to be done at once. If it was regularly maintained it should have only needed a few things. BEWARE

jkm7680 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
10/22/2014 at 18:52

About that can't afford two cars part?

Basically, I'm saying that if you wanted a more reliable car, Just keep the Volvo not some beaten up old Mercedes.