E-Class (W210) 1995-2002: E 200, E 220D, E 240, E 290TD, E 300TD, E 200, E 240, E 280, E 320, E 420, E 430 (Wagon, Touring, 4Matic)

2001+ owners ONLY: What problems have you had with your W210?

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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 02:36 PM
  #1  
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'03 BMW 330i ZHP / '06 Volvo V70R
2001+ owners ONLY: What problems have you had with your W210?

I'm looking at potentially buying a 2001+ E320 4-Matic wagon. I read the MY2000 cars had a lot of issues. I'm trying (with your help) to isloate the 2001+ cars and see how troublesome they have been.

Please list your experiences on your MY 2001+ W210. Thanks!
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 02:54 PM
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things with and without wheels
Catalytic converters rattled- replaced
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 04:04 PM
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2001 E430 Sport
Cat's and Display replaced
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 04:27 PM
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'03 BMW 330i ZHP / '06 Volvo V70R
Originally Posted by RickyE430
Cat's and Display replaced
Hmmm... these cats seem to be the running theme so far. Is there a recall for these? I assume they are big $$$.

What do you mean by display? Instrument cluster display?
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 04:53 PM
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2001 E430 Sport
Originally Posted by mbr129
Hmmm... these cats seem to be the running theme so far. Is there a recall for these? I assume they are big $$$.

What do you mean by display? Instrument cluster display?
Yes, instrument cluster display. Cat's were replaced under emmissions warranty( 8yr, 80K)
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 04:56 PM
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2001 E320
Catalytic converter replaced on my e320 2001, everything else seems to be fine.
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 05:59 PM
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things with and without wheels
Cats can be expensive if youre buying OEM or you can get aftermarket for a lot le$$
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 06:02 PM
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Thanks guys. So far, it seems pretty solid. I guess most of the issues must have been ironed out by 2001.

I'll just be sure to ask re: the cats if I end up going this route. My wife wants a 2005 Outback LL Bean, but I rather get the E320. I'm sure I can convince her.
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 06:20 PM
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things with and without wheels
since youre looking into the 4-matic use the search feature for anything involving that, my e-320 exceded my expectations so far.
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 07:11 PM
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2008 X164 GL450
Cat and evaporator
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 07:13 PM
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things with and without wheels
you had an evap go?
how much did it cost you ?
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 07:16 PM
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2008 X164 GL450
Originally Posted by RobertG
you had an evap go?
how much did it cost you ?
around $4300.00 installed at a local MB dealer
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 07:18 PM
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things with and without wheels
ouch!
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 07:33 PM
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For a history of issues, check out www.lemonmb.com
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 08:43 PM
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2001 E320
Originally Posted by mbr129
I'm looking at potentially buying a 2001+ E320 4-Matic wagon. I read the MY2000 cars had a lot of issues. I'm trying (with your help) to isloate the 2001+ cars and see how troublesome they have been.

Please list your experiences on your MY 2001+ W210. Thanks!
I replaced the battery at the 4-year mark, but that was due to my error. Nothing else but normal maintenance.
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by platinumsc
For a history of issues, check out www.lemonmb.com
Great, Thanks!
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Old Mar 17, 2006 | 10:03 PM
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Old Mar 18, 2006 | 10:20 AM
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I have an 01 e430 4matic that had the following items replaced over the past two years:

Steering angle sensor
Maf sensor
Oxygen sensor
Sensor for exhaust (not sure of the name)

The total for these repars was about 2500-3000. Since then she's been good, but I do have to add a qt of oil every 2500 miles.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 11:42 AM
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2013 E350 4matic Wagon, 2002 E320S4 - E-class W210 Wagon 4-matic
Catalytic converters replaced on my 2002 E320 at 45K miles. Covered by Starmark extended warranty. But I had a lot of trouble convincing the dealer that something was amiss with the car. You can read the saga at http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?t=8519. I first thought this the symptoms were caused by a bad transmission, but it turned out to be clogged cat converters.

The display in the instrument cluster is beginning to act up. I guess it is time to replace that too.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 01:10 PM
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2001 E430 4matic
My '01 E430 4-matic problems to date in my 25,000 miles of ownership. I bought the car with 27,000 on the clock.

Items repaired so far:

1. Instrument display
2. Speedometer sensor (speedo would stick and then pop)
3. Bad steering squeak (unfixed)
4. Mass air meter
5. A radio problem, radio stays on for 20 seconds after key is taken out (unfixed)
6. Passenger Seat Pad sensor (unfixed)
7. Driver's side rear window regulator failure
7. Today's new problem, crank but no start
8. Ticking engine

Once all is repaired under my extended warranty after this next fix, she's up for sale.....

Last edited by Little; Mar 19, 2006 at 02:58 PM.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 02:36 PM
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Hmmm...

So are the cats a mileage issue befor ethey clog/fail? Is it due to a defective cat and the new ones last longer, or would replaced cats clog/fail prematurely again?
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 05:09 PM
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cats dont clogg , they rattle
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by RobertG
cats dont clogg , they rattle
That's what I thought. atul (post above) says his were clogged though. It does seem that the chronic probelm is the rattling, from what I've read.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:22 PM
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My 01 E320 4Matic has been gone for a year now and replaced with an 05. I had the W210 since new in 2000 and the only item that comes to mind was the replacement of both Cats under warranty. Otherwise the car was excellent as is my W164 and for that matter my 06 ML500.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by sosh
My 01 E320 4Matic has been gone for a year now and replaced with an 05. I had the W210 since new in 2000 and the only item that comes to mind was the replacement of both Cats under warranty. Otherwise the car was excellent as is my W164 and for that matter my 06 ML500.
That's great to hear. It really seems like for the most part it is just the cats.

I really would go for it and buy a new E350 4Matic (or better yet a 320 CDI 4Matic wagon if they offered it), but we are going to put so few miles on whatever wagon we get that I just can't justify that level of depreciation (Less than 8K miles a year for sure). So I rather get a 2001-03 E320 wagon and keep it for 3-4 years and then pick up another lightly used E-Wagon. We'd only use it for errands, snow conditions, and family trips.

Last edited by mbr129; Mar 19, 2006 at 08:49 PM.
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