Buying E320, anything I need to focus on?
#26
MBWorld Fanatic!
E320 MB seems to have 2 major problems (1) Rusty front spring perches (2) Head gasket leaks at around 10-yr old or 80-120K miles. Not sure if the leak is due to its aluminum head and difference in thermal expansion of metal or due to faulty design of its original head gasket
Thanks in advance.
#27
i see ur in the market for a 99 e class
i had one before, now i drive a 2000 with the facelifted body style
wit the 99 the most common problem for me was the tailight malfunction....it was always the same one...also....make sure that car has had a recent oil change and check the tranny, sparks too...
they run forever....but after 100,000 miles some stuff becomes critical
mine had 125,000 and still ran smooth..
good luck
i had one before, now i drive a 2000 with the facelifted body style
wit the 99 the most common problem for me was the tailight malfunction....it was always the same one...also....make sure that car has had a recent oil change and check the tranny, sparks too...
they run forever....but after 100,000 miles some stuff becomes critical
mine had 125,000 and still ran smooth..
good luck
#28
Senior Member
Thread Starter
E320 MB seems to have 2 major problems (1) Rusty front spring perches (2) Head gasket leaks at around 10-yr old or 80-120K miles. Not sure if the leak is due to its aluminum head and difference in thermal expansion of metal or due to faulty design of its original head gasket
#29
Senior Member
Thread Starter
And thank you so far to eveyone who has lended me some advice, keep it coming.
#30
Senior Member
Thread Starter
i see ur in the market for a 99 e class
i had one before, now i drive a 2000 with the facelifted body style
wit the 99 the most common problem for me was the tailight malfunction....it was always the same one...also....make sure that car has had a recent oil change and check the tranny, sparks too...
they run forever....but after 100,000 miles some stuff becomes critical
mine had 125,000 and still ran smooth..
good luck
i had one before, now i drive a 2000 with the facelifted body style
wit the 99 the most common problem for me was the tailight malfunction....it was always the same one...also....make sure that car has had a recent oil change and check the tranny, sparks too...
they run forever....but after 100,000 miles some stuff becomes critical
mine had 125,000 and still ran smooth..
good luck
#32
Super Member
There are no reliability issues with the 4matic. 4matics are not affected by the spring perch rust problem (slightly different front suspension design).
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Bad news, I got laid off yesterday with no warning at all. I sadly cannot think about buying the wifey a car. I am in panic find a job mode.
#34
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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'04 Cobra & '04 S430
#35
MBWorld Fanatic!
+1...and with a 9 month old.
If you start looking again, after finding a job, also be aware of driver's seat metallic noise when accelerating or braking (somewhere in the seat frame) that requires replacing the whole frame. Common problem that I had in my '98 320 4matic and it's very annoying.
If you start looking again, after finding a job, also be aware of driver's seat metallic noise when accelerating or braking (somewhere in the seat frame) that requires replacing the whole frame. Common problem that I had in my '98 320 4matic and it's very annoying.
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I have had two offers so we could be looking again soon. Thanks again to all the help and ideas. If that silver 4Matic is still there I would like to think about that one.
#37
(I have had two offers so we could be looking again soon. Thanks again to all the help and ideas. If that silver 4Matic is still there I would like to think about that one.)
denim: glad to hear that you are back with new jobs ... When I bought my '96 E320 (used car with only 36K miles) , not too many of us knew anything about notorious problems with rusty spring perches and head gasket leak (for W210 In-line 6) ... I heard that V-6 does not have them same head gasket leak problem, but other problems... I gave MB a chance, but it failed to keep me as a repeated customer. In the past 7 years, I spent about $3000 on regular maintenance and problems... so it's about less than $500/ yr. I am Ok with that, I will keep it until I throw it out, hopefully 250+ miles.... My next car will be a Lexus for sure, just from reliability standpoint. My '87 Camry has 190K miles and NO problems , yes, ZERO problems, only maintenance costs... it still has the original trans, original radiator, original starter, original alternator... Maybe it's boring, but I prefer that it's sitting in my garage than dealer's garage ... My '97 Maxima is still going strong after 120K miles , again, no problems except maintenance (replaced alternator, muffler, battery). I don't consider head gasket leak is maintenance, do you?
denim: glad to hear that you are back with new jobs ... When I bought my '96 E320 (used car with only 36K miles) , not too many of us knew anything about notorious problems with rusty spring perches and head gasket leak (for W210 In-line 6) ... I heard that V-6 does not have them same head gasket leak problem, but other problems... I gave MB a chance, but it failed to keep me as a repeated customer. In the past 7 years, I spent about $3000 on regular maintenance and problems... so it's about less than $500/ yr. I am Ok with that, I will keep it until I throw it out, hopefully 250+ miles.... My next car will be a Lexus for sure, just from reliability standpoint. My '87 Camry has 190K miles and NO problems , yes, ZERO problems, only maintenance costs... it still has the original trans, original radiator, original starter, original alternator... Maybe it's boring, but I prefer that it's sitting in my garage than dealer's garage ... My '97 Maxima is still going strong after 120K miles , again, no problems except maintenance (replaced alternator, muffler, battery). I don't consider head gasket leak is maintenance, do you?