Oppo, help! For real this time.

"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11)
02/11/2016 at 22:54 • Filed to: None

Should I consider this 2000 Mercedes W210 E320 4-Matic Wagon?

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

It has 235k miles and the body is in terrible shape, however I’m not that worried about looks.

It’s located about 30 mins away, is $1700, and the interior is in pretty good shape. I also wouldn’t be putting many miles on it (probably 1k/yr). I just need to know if this is going to be a money pit or a reliable dream machine.

Pros:

It’s a Mercedes Wagon (dream first car)

Interior is in pretty good shape

Cheap

Practical

Everything works

Safe

Perfect size

Rear jump seats

Hood ornament

Cons:

Not exactly a looker

High mileage

Needs rear struts or shock absorbers

Timing chain soon?

From what I’ve seen is that these cars can last a while, but can have a few minor electronic gremlins. Before purchase, I’d have a local M-B specialist inspect it. But should I even consider this?

DISCUSSION (23)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/11/2016 at 22:57

Why would you want a 4-speed automatic?

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/11/2016 at 22:58

Cuz I can’t drive stick

dogisbadob > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/11/2016 at 23:07

Don’t forget about the third seat and hood ornament :)

Rear shocks usually aren’t difficult to do. Bilstein is the best brand to get.

Can’t answer the timing chain question for you. I know that timing chains on good cars never need to be replaced. The only exceptions are certain cars with known t-chain issues, and of course the cars with belts.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/11/2016 at 23:09

4matic means AWD. It’s a 5 speed auto.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > dogisbadob
02/11/2016 at 23:14

I only saw one guy mention that t-chains need replacing at 240k but his was only at 220k, so he hadn’t done it yet. So IDK how true that is

Spridget > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/11/2016 at 23:15

It looks like a good price to me. I’d have the seller hold it for you until you can get a specialist.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Spridget
02/11/2016 at 23:19

At this point, my dad is undecided on whether he wants me to get a car or nah, but this is so far below budget that I can pay insurance for 6 months or so. So he’s ‘considering’ it. I don’t want to hold up their car in case someone else wants it who will actually buy it.

None of that probably made sense.

In short: I’m not positive that my dad’ll let me get it, so I don’t want to hold it up.

JAREAL > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/11/2016 at 23:28

My Dad had a 2004 e420 wagon that broke an axle at 150,000 miles, so I don’t think I would recommend it, other than that it was a great car

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/11/2016 at 23:28

I know. That’s the joke.

Spridget > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/11/2016 at 23:41

If the specialist and your dad clear it, then it looks like a great deal.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/11/2016 at 23:44

As for the rear suspension it won’t need shocks unless they’re leaking. It’s hydraulic, I guarantee it needs accumulators (or “spheres”, or plain dampers as they’re sometimes called). Unfortunately I have no idea how much they cost because I have not done them in ages. Easy though!

Electronic gremlins? Not really. These things are pretty simple and all of their issues are widely known. Closest thing I can think of for an electronic gremlin would be the PSE (Pneumatic System Equipment) pump failing, usually due to water causing internal corrosion. They can cause weird symptoms like random alarm activation and imperative keyless entry. But they’re still not terribly common and are easy to replace.

Timing chain? No. I’ve seen only one stretch. Ever. This engine family just didn’t have problems like that.

There’s a good chance it will need ball joints, control arm bushings, drive line flex discs, or axle boots just because they’re all rubber and/or suspension parts with a lot of miles and years on them. That being said, I would be surprised if it needs more than half of those. Valve covers and rear main might be leaking a little bit, but they rarely leak badly enough to require more than a quart between oil changes if anything.

Honestly what I would be most worried about is plugged air injection ports in the heads causing a CEL. Because 99% of the time that requires the heads to come off to clean them out. However, if you don’t need to pass emissions and don’t mind the light it won’t cause any issues whatsoever.

The next items would be crankshaft positron sensor which can cause stalling and no starts. And the EGR valve/pipe causing a CEL and possibly slightly decreased mpg’s. The pipe gets plugged with carbon at the end, which is a free and easy fix if you DIY. The valve itself can fail, usually due to a ruptured vacuum diaphragm.

These cars are actually very reliable and very easy to DIY. This one in particular seems priced a bit high to me, due to mileage and body condition. I wouldn’t pay more than $1500 for it at the most. But these cars in general are excellent and the engines are virtually indestructible unless you run them completely out of oil.

I own two W210's currently, with V8 versions of the same engine, and my wife’s R-class has the same V8. I’ve also previously had a wagon nearly identical to the one you’re looking at but just two years older. 4matic is unstoppable by the way and these are awesome highway cruisers.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/11/2016 at 23:45

Derp. Long day :)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JAREAL
02/12/2016 at 00:08

You’re not in the US are you? They didn’t sell an E420 or E430 wagon here, let alone in that year or chassis.

2004 is a 211 chassis. The car the OP is looking at is a 210.

Broke an axle huh? Weird. I’ve never seen a Mercedes do that before, even with axle boots torn for many tens of thousands of miles.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > JAREAL
02/12/2016 at 00:09

Different gen tho

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/12/2016 at 00:12

Thanks!!! That’ll be a huge help if I get the all clear from mi padre.

Also, emissions aren’t a worry as long as it won’t kill me at a stoplight or anything.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/12/2016 at 00:44

Check the strut towers for rust. These cars have good motors (m104) but can have some issues elsewhere.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/12/2016 at 01:22

You’re quite welcome!

Definitely won’t do that!

Pillarless Coupe > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
02/12/2016 at 09:58

I don’t know about this. $1700 seems to be too high. As others have mentioned, I wouldn’t worry too much about the timing chain, and the accumulators aren’t horribly expensive, at least not the aftermarket ones. Electrical gremlins might be a problem though. My wife’s 1999 E320 has this problem. Windows, sunroof, windshield washer pump, seats, keyless entry, etc don’t work. Disconnecting the battery will alleviate some of the problems, but only temporarily.

There are plenty of these out there, so I’d take my time and try to find a better example.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Pillarless Coupe
02/12/2016 at 10:18

It is priced a little high, probably by $300-400. However, around here, these never come up for sale and I’ve desired the W210 Wagon since I was 5.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/12/2016 at 11:58

Your posts are really educational, thanks!

JAREAL > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/14/2016 at 16:06

I'm in the u.s, it was a 2002 actually

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > JAREAL
02/14/2016 at 16:33

Then it would have been the last year of the 210 chassis and it would have been either a 320 (V6) or 430 (V8), but if it was a 430 it wasn’t a wagon.

JAREAL > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
02/14/2016 at 17:52

Yea, it was an e320