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)

Buying E320, anything I need to focus on?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 01-17-2007, 08:25 PM
  #26  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
patrick_y's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 2,090
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
2006 E55 and 2002 E320
Originally Posted by ccmbduong
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
The head gasket, pardon my poor memory, but is that for the coolant?

Thanks in advance.
Old 01-17-2007, 08:30 PM
  #27  
Member
 
MB>BMW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
E320 W210
Thumbs up

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
Old 01-18-2007, 08:54 AM
  #28  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
denim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1993 300CE, 1999 528i
Originally Posted by ccmbduong
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
You are the 2nd or 3rd person to mention spring perches. So I will check them for sure. And I will add the head gasket mention to my list of stuff to check. The Silver E320 4Matic linked above is first in the running at the moment, but a Camry V6 or Audi A6 Quattro are up there also.
Old 01-18-2007, 08:55 AM
  #29  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
denim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1993 300CE, 1999 528i
Originally Posted by patrick_y
The head gasket, pardon my poor memory, but is that for the coolant?

Thanks in advance.
It is the seal between the engine block and engine heads. This vehicle in question being a V6, there are two.

And thank you so far to eveyone who has lended me some advice, keep it coming.
Old 01-18-2007, 09:02 AM
  #30  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
denim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1993 300CE, 1999 528i
Originally Posted by MB>BMW
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 will check those also, thanks.
Old 01-18-2007, 09:06 AM
  #31  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
denim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1993 300CE, 1999 528i
Other than the usual stuff, my main concer is the 4Matic and transmission.
Old 01-18-2007, 03:33 PM
  #32  
Super Member
 
lexrex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
'98 E320 4Matic, '85 380SL
Originally Posted by denim
What are we talking about in miles per gallon difference? (non 4matic to 4matic) and those are mostly for example, not a thing of having to choose one of them
4matic loses about 1 mpg as compared to rwd.

There are no reliability issues with the 4matic. 4matics are not affected by the spring perch rust problem (slightly different front suspension design).
Old 01-19-2007, 01:36 PM
  #33  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
denim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1993 300CE, 1999 528i
Originally Posted by lexrex
4matic loses about 1 mpg as compared to rwd.

There are no reliability issues with the 4matic. 4matics are not affected by the spring perch rust problem (slightly different front suspension design).
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.
Old 01-20-2007, 03:54 PM
  #34  
Member
 
Huachipato's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'04 Cobra & '04 S430
Originally Posted by denim
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.
That sucks!

Think of the bright side though - at least you didn't spend the cash on the car. It really really sucks though.
Old 01-20-2007, 05:27 PM
  #35  
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
starbrite's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,779
Received 11 Likes on 7 Posts
2004 E320
+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.
Old 01-29-2007, 05:58 PM
  #36  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
denim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1993 300CE, 1999 528i
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.
Old 01-29-2007, 07:25 PM
  #37  
Member
 
ccmbduong's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
(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?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Buying E320, anything I need to focus on?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:53 AM.