Presently I'm driving 2 W124's which now are coming into the years and I started to shop around to be prepared in case my cars may let me down sooner or later.
I thought the new E-Class W211 is the best car to start the shopping. A very nicely designed car, many great options to choose from, lots of toys and gimmicks. In order to find out how the car will be after a few years of driving I checked the used car lots for those from 2002 (I'm in Germany and the W211 was introduced in April 2002). I had at least 5-6 cars to try out. My decision is firm: this is not the car I'm willing to spend +60k$.
It seem that within MB the controllers took over the lead. Almost nothing of the famous solidity MB once was known for has made into this car. All the interior chrome accessories are just metalcoated plastic parts. In almost all the cars I have seen it started peeling of already after 2 years (from door openers, from the chrome parts of the console...) The driver seats have been worn out in two cars I saw after 2 years and less than 60kmiles. The icons on the most used switches were just looking old and worn. The lining of the roof and window frames just looked "cheap". The body panels like doors and fendors were almost "denting" just looking at them, so soft/weak. And the worst thing I experienced was half a gallon of water just juggling under the dash board (I only heard it when hitting the brakes), but then I also felt it when I was accelerating (really good) and the whole amount of water flooded the driver side of the car. It may have been that the drain holes were clogged, but still then the water should go somewhere and not inside the car, right? Maybe someone found out that this may occure only rarely and an additional drain hole may cost 5 cents extra.
The only convincing thing are the engines size 320 and up. Good that those engines are available in all the other series. And the series of my choice will most probably be the S-Class. There most of what I discoverd in the W211 is still not realized in the W220. Who knows what the W221 will be, hope not the above mentioned.
This is my personal and subjective view of the W211.

 

sorry to say, but it looks like you tried out some highly ABUSED w211s. If the cars were well cared for, none of what you mentioned would be present. Also, what was your impression of the way the cars drove??!! try a new one out;

 

So the "new" ones are going to be better? Doubtful. If they get to the same age as the ones he test drove, they'll most likely see the same results. Some of the glitches in the new ones may be worked out by now, but he was talking about build quality and the materials used in the interior, which HAVEN'T received any updates. It is common knowledge that the W211 and W210 were no where near as well built as the W124, so he will most likely be settling even if he buys an '05. As far as how they drive, if it is anything like the W220 his sentiments will still be negative. My father owns a S430 short wheelbase and even on stiffest susp setting the car still feels loose and a bit off balance. The steering is too light and just not as fun to drive as even a lightly modded W124 with some suspension mods...

I have driven in the W211 E55 and even with it's crazy power and performance the feel is still not there....

Bam, buy a 94 E500 and be done with your worries

 

I agree, The W124 is the better car. The leather seats in mine look like new.The leather seems to be thick and tuff, It can take some abuse. The W124 body is a well built car. The W211 is no match for the old school, real deal W124. If Mercedes were to build a W124 today it would cost them twice as much as it did back then and sell for $75K. The S Class is another example from 92 thru 99 was there best ever, Im not so crazy about the new look. My car has 156k and I love it.

 

Last year, I faced the very same situation when I convinced myself I needed a new car.
reason?:
I have looked a several W210 models and even had one as a courtesy car for a week (E320)
I finally decided to bring my old W124 back to close to its original shape. I have spent several thousand $$ (still less than a new-used W210 would have cost) and never regretted it.
JackD

 

and be done with it. goes like a raped ape.

There are plenty in autotrader.com and one on ebay with starting bids at 15k.

I will drive my 400e into the ground and out again before they pry that wheel from by dead and bloodied hands. :v

 

my e 320 cdi is light years ahead of my old e 300 d, you can drive your w124 into the ground if you care but when you decide to join us in the 21st century a w211 is hard to beat

 

I know how much you guys love your 124s; I own a 123 and drove it as my primary car for 7 years and loved it to death. I still have it and drive it regularly. I'm sorry to say, though, nothing beats the 211; you cant get a feel for the new eclass from short test drive; owning the car and living with it day in day out is when you really appreciate the car. A benz is a benz, if you take care of it, it'll stay looking new until 100K + miles; the cars he drove were probably taxis or other highly abusesd cars; see this same thread in the 211 forum for more resonses;

kort677 is right - > you guys need to join the 21st century man;;;;; lol

 

Actually, MB needs to revisit the 20th century, when they made TOP quality cars, not average ones. Newer isn't always better, as you W211 owners will soon find out. Good luck, now please go back to posting about all your electrical and plastic parts breaking in your OWN section LOL...

 

Hey,

We have a 211. In my personal opinion, our W124 (1987 300D Turbo) is a superior car. More technology is not necessarily better. The 124 feels much more solid. Yes, the 211 is a bigger car, but I will not say more refined. The 124 does not look old sitting beside the 211. Our biggest fear with the W211 is that it is a computer on wheels, if something goes wrong, it will go wrong in a really expensive way. The 124 on the other hand is a relatively simple car mechanically, according to our service advisor. With regular maintanence these are literally lifetime cars, including the body which should not show signs of age if cared for properly.
My 2 cents.

N

 

I've had no experience myself of the newer E's but I bought mine a few years ago from a friend of my brothers who had just bought a 210, he hated it and splashed out on a 211 and hated that too ...... at a party at my brothers house a few months ago he offered to buy back the 124 as in his words " the newer E's are no where near as good.

I've been in plenty of 210 and 211 taxis and they just do not feel like mercs to me at all .....

 

As we know...the W124 was probably one of the finest modern sedans built in terms of fit, finish and durability.

With Chrysler in the picture now...you can expect great styling and no quality in build and materials...sure, a new 211 is nice but what will it be after 5 years? Probably traded in or sold. Just look at where Mercedes stands now with respect to other auto-makers build quality and problems....far below the industry standard. There is an article in 'The Star' mag that shows exactly where Benz stands now....its not good...with any model....and that is too bad.

 

obviously you haven't been in a new 211, do I detect a tinge of jealousy?

 

I can't/won't speak for ZorroAMG but the W211 E55 I drove at an auto-x last year sorta felt like a Jap car ...but the motor was very sweeeeet....wonder if they can be transplated into a W124.036? Other than that the W211 IS good...good for me to poop on !!

Honestly though...whether they can be considered a good or bad new car...they just don't compare to the quality of a W124.

 

On the contrary, sir. I have driven an E500, an E320 and ridden in the E55K (a blast in performance but, hmmmmm)

There is no jealousy from me, just straight facts derived from my experiences. In fact I contemplated buying an 03 E500 and scrapped the idea in search of a clean 500E, which is much more of a collector car and will hold its value.

Thanks, though.

 

We have a W210 which I would suggest is closer to a W211 than either of those two models are to the W124.

On the occasions I drive the '97 E320, it just disappoints. It don’t think it’s a much the difference between the V8 and I-6, as the philosophy in play when the cars were created. The E420 is a driver’s car. The E320 is nice transportation. Oh, it’s comfortable, pleasant, responsive, but lacks the driver-to-road connection of the W124 (or the 6.3, but that’s another story).

Ciao

 

I have an 87 300TD Station Wagon, 92 400E and a 2005 E320 CDI. The CDI may be the best car MB has ever built but I'm going to sell it after only 1,600 miles. I'm replacing it with a 2005 C320. This may sound crazy but I had a 2002 C320 which I really enjoyed driving much more than the W211's. It was the only recent MB that I felt I was a part of as I do in my W124's. I had several W210's and now an 04 E500 followed by the 05 CDI. I have tried to really like the recent E Class cars but they aren't like my 400E that I look forward to any excuse for driving. To me the C320 has the solid feel of my 400E and it puts the fun back into driving.

 

hi,

We have a '00 W210 E320CDI-T, and also a '91 300TD non turbo.
I must say... the 320 is an awesome car. The engine isn't sporty at all, but pulls very good, the interiour is ok, lots of toys, etc, etc.
But... the driving feel doesn't even come Close to that of the 300TD. The 320 feels big, heavy, almost clumsy around corners, the tranny is very slow, the steering feel is pretty 'unconnected', you simply cannot drive it sporty.
Ok the 300 has only 113hp, but boy does it drive nice. It feels light, sporty, direct, and a very important thing: you not only feel connected to the road, but also to the engine.

Right now I'm still driving the 300 day in day out, though I have the 320 for almost 2 years now.
We're seriously thinking of replacing the 320. Top two choices are '99-'03 Audi S6 avant or new Subary Legacy 3.0R Spec-B.
The 300TD has over 440.000kms, but I'm not even thinking about it to sell it... ever.

Just my 02cents.

greetz,

matteus

 

In past 15 years I have owned 3 Mercedes, 3 Porches, 3 BMWs, 1 Mustang Cobra & a few SUVS - all purchased new. My 1992 500E (48000 miles) is the only keeper.

 

I drove a 97 E320 for 60K miles throughout the eastern US from 1998-2001 so I have a real good feel of how that car is compared to a W124. I have also driven a W211 on several moderate trips and it compares to the W210 pretty well with extra toys and flash. I say that to qualify the following.

After nearly 70K miles of driving newer Benzes, also including 30K CLK miles and my wifes C280sport, we went back to W124 and W126 Benz because the overall quality of newer Mercedes is just not where it was.

Metal covered plastic parts, thin veneer, electronics that default to bizarre settings, sunroofs that can't default shut, windows and seats that require 28 relays to provide 6 functions (and provide them poorly). I take very good care of my cars, always having them serviced at dealers. With 97+ cars, I was at dealers on a twice a month schedule. With 92- cars, even with 150K minimum miles, until this month I have been on quarterly schedules. This month has been the first time I have had a two trips in one month to the dealer and that is for a leaking head gasket at 155K miles.

The seats on the currents cars do not last as long as on older cars, depreciation seems to be faster and the problem of the most concern is that in the future, if I need to replace the radio, or central console part after warranty, the price is going to be astronomical. Restoration of 2000+ cars will just not exist as long as MB keeps incorporating all of their electronics into a myraid of black boxes.

 

I just went out on the W211 forum and read about a month back and could not believe the number of problems those folks have with their cars. At first I thought I was on the Kia page but then realized it was the E Class. Certainly not the E Class we are used to. We really should be nice to them, they must go through a lot of stress, first writing a really big check every month to the bank, then the insurance company then having to deal with that level of quality.

Makes my decision to rebuild my motor for another 150K of carefree, tight, quality motoring much easier.

 

I couldn't agree more with those who say Benzes are turning into cheaper chrysler like cars and should be wearing a 5point star as opposed to a 3 point star, but as much as we share our just emotions here, does anyone really think that the Powers That Be are listening or even care anymore? If mercedes keeps this up, I am seriously going to loose it! This whole ****ing world is going to cheap and inexpensive and no one seems to give a damn anymore, ie 90% of everything seems to be lower quality **** from China. Mercedes should just move all production there and give us chineese prices since we are getting chineese quality and longevity in newer models. ARGH!!!!!

 

MyFirstBenz, you can get a BMW now if you want Chinese. I think they are for in country production only but anything is possible.

We are looking are all the stuff that is being offshored now and the drop in quality. Just look at components in the newer Benz and you will see that some of the parts are already coming from different parts of the world. While they say they are up to spec, pieces like metal covered plastic trim and the like does not show flaws for several years and by the time flaws show up, they have changed suppliers several times.

Also, from my understanding within the EU, there are trade issues that move parts around many countries without need to label their source of origin so a sub of a sub of a sub can make a part. Some of our European members can enlighten us on that. We have enough problems figuring out NAFTA and the new on that is being shoved down our throats.

 

Bleah, BMW... hold on... holding back the vomit. ah, there

 

I have driven a brand new 2005 E320 and it was nice but my 1990 300e just seems to be built better/stronger. I also owned a 98 ML 320 for a week, that was a total Chrysler product I also parked behind a W210 (maybe 97 or 98) E320 at work and it had a lot (~3 sq. inches) of rust around the trunk open button. Anyways good luck with your new Mercedes guys because I would like to purchase a E320 CDI but don't want a piece of junk. BTW my car is 1990 with 300,000 miles on original engine, trans and rear end.

Dan