I have officially eaten crow - Mercedes style

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 07/14/2014 at 14:07 • Filed to: None

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I bought a W210 Mercedes 4matic E320 wagon this weekend. I love to talk shit about rusty spring perches, v6's that love to leak oil, body rust issues in general, cost cutting/quality issues, but this one got me. It was dead cheap, pretty well maintained, and hauled the freight down the road at 90MPH dead quiet. So there you go guys, no matter how much trash you talk about a car, there may always be a redeeming factor that gets you interested. Mine would be the space in it is ridiculously huge compared to a W124, the V6 is plenty powerful enough to hustle all 4 driven wheels and that lump of steel down the road. Yup it has leaky VC gaskets, the doors just feel cheap compared to the 123/124, some lighting issues, some parts of the body I have to give some love and paint to, but whatever. I pulled 27 MPG on the way home for 130 miles, with the a/c on and the Bose blasting.

All dat space...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:11

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My friend (Opponaut KusabiSensei) had a black W210 E300D before it met with a tragic fate. It made for a quite snazzy ride.

505Turbeaux > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/14/2014 at 14:12

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My plan is to drive it for a while and swap in an E300D motor once the car is back to 100% cosmetically and mechanically. What happened to it, crash or did a spring perch let go?

drunkenup4 > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:13

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My cello teacher took one of these all the way to the grave. 350k miles when the transmission finally gave out and at those miles it wasn't worth repairing. That and I think he went nearly 100k miles without A/C. He upgraded to a C300 but feels it was a good run. Nice purchase

Jobjoris > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:13

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And it's beige!!! You dear sir, are a lucky man!

505Turbeaux > Jobjoris 07/14/2014 at 14:14

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beige in, beige out :)

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:14

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505Turbeaux > Party-vi 07/14/2014 at 14:16

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lol are you referring to the general look or my yellowed headlamps?!?

EL_ULY > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:22

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NIIIIIICE! Welcome to the W210 club!

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:23

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Going a bit too aggressively, hit a wet spot, and crossed the highway backwards or some such. Ground up one whole side of it and I think distorted the front end - comprehensive on it, so it got totalled.

505Turbeaux > EL_ULY 07/14/2014 at 14:25

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I think I actually talked shit about yours once...so crow eating is complete :)

EL_ULY > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:26

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lol :]

EL_ULY > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:26

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12 spark plug wires are fun to do >:]

505Turbeaux > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/14/2014 at 14:26

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that will happen, damn. Hopefully that 24V diesel lives on in something else. Hell of a motor. Same one Jeep used to power the Grand Cherokee diesels in 08-09 IIRC

505Turbeaux > EL_ULY 07/14/2014 at 14:29

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I am not excited to start diggin in on the mechanicals. I am old hat with 123 and 124s, 201's, R109s and 129's. Pretty much anything from the 50's to the mid 90's, so this will be an adventure.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:30

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4-matic, huh? I'll be selling my 2004 (W211) E320 wagon later this summer, but it's not 4matic. If you don't mind me asking, what geographic region, number of miles, and price was your deal?

EL_ULY > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:30

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not too bad. Basic mechanical still sir.

Party-vi > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:32

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Si

N51fanatic > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 14:32

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Carmela approves

505Turbeaux > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username 07/14/2014 at 14:33

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new england, 180K, $1400. How has the 211 treated you? I know they got better with the rust issues but supposedly the electrics were nightmares.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 15:03

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Nice choice. The M112 is one of the best engines MBZ has ever built, period. Oil leaks, sure. The water pumps are a little weak too, but we work on hundreds of them, and have never even had to pull the heads off of one. The 4Matic makes things a bit of a pain in the ass to work on up front, but is generally solid. Make sure you service the transfer case, most people neglect to.

RallyWrench > EL_ULY 07/14/2014 at 15:08

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This makes it a piece of cake. Hazet 2771, the 17mm valve adjustment wrench for older MBZs. The plug wire ends have flats on them, designed for this to go over. Lever it against the valve cover & the wires pop right off.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 07/14/2014 at 15:10

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Noted, on the list with switching the tranny oil and filter, although that is not on the MBZ service sheet. I think it was added as a TSB later on.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 15:17

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It was indeed, because there was a lawsuit for premature transmission failures after all the German companies jumped on the "Lifetime" bandwagon. The 722.6 is a pretty damn good transmission, but as with any other, doesn't take well to neglect. I've seen a few valve body failures, but the most common issue is the gang plug at the front leaking internally. That can cause all kinds of shifting issues. If left long enough, it'll pump ATF all the way up the harness and into the EGS module in the E-box underhood.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 07/14/2014 at 15:21

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jay-sus. Um, I will double check that. So no B piston/band issues like the 124/126 cars?

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 15:59

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I love the W211. It was an intentional retreat from the minivan, but despite being a 7-seater it's just not as practical for hauling 6 people daily. If we had a smaller family it would be all we need. Build quality is improved over the W210, and the biggest known common problem with the fuel return system has already been repaired under warranty. It's rock solid at speeds way higher than I would ever dare take my family.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 16:02

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Not really, I've seen these things past 250k without rebuild when they're serviced properly. More electronic issues than mechanical. Forgot to mention: The conductor plate for the valve body that the gang plug connects to is problematic as well. The speed sensors are integrated into it, and it'll throw codes or enter limp mode. We probably see 1 a month do that.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 07/14/2014 at 16:04

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awesome, awesome advice. thank you so much

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 07/14/2014 at 16:28

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You bet. Great car, man. The only Mercedes-Benz since about 1993 that I'm willing to defend or recommend to anyone.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 07/15/2014 at 15:21

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one last bit of advice, on a car with 180K on the clock, what would you recommend for tranny fluid? OE Benz, Pentosin, or Red Line? I dont mind splashing the cash for any of them, just wondering what you would use. Thanks again!

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 07/15/2014 at 15:42

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We use BG 3124 ATF with good results. No sense shelling out for OE Benz fluid, Pentosin is basically the same thing.

The only caveat in servicing a high mileage trans is the possibility that it will induce latent issues. It sounds weird, but I've seen it happen. An otherwise problem-free transmission swallows its tongue or has "new" shifting issues immediately post-service. Old, trashed fluid that's saturated with friction material can mask pressure issues, which then become apparent with or are exacerbated by nice, clean, properly viscous fluid. If the current fluid looks at all clean, you have a very good chance of success. They almost never get past 150k without service, so chances are it's been done. Fortunately, MBZ still had & continues to have the forethought to fit Torque Converter drains, so you can actually get it all out.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 07/15/2014 at 15:45

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oh good to hear they are doing that still, what is it a 6mm hex IIRC? Oh I know, I know people that have done a flush at 120K on a car that had old fluid in it and the trannies died shortly thereafter. I have a slight vibration when reversing, but I think I am up against a motor mount issue there rather the tranny.you are the man!

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 07/15/2014 at 16:29

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Yep, 6mm Allen, same as ever. I am A man, yes. The man, no. I've just worked on a lot of these things, and apprenticed under a very gifted MBZ Master when 210s were new. The W210 came out when I was starting out in '96, so it's been a "constant rotation" car for me. I didn't set out to like them, and there are almost no cars I still like after working on them, but the 210 is firmly in that camp.

The only reason I don't own a 210 wagon as a family hauler is that my wife still wants to drive a manual, bless her heart, so she has a 325iT. We're currently looking for a 210 wagon as a shop car though, because our '95 E320 wagon just crossed 200k. Still a nice car, but it's time to update.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench 07/15/2014 at 16:34

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You are A man just doesnt have the same punch :)