When looking for a E-Class, any "mandatory" options to get?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 25
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From: Rockford, IL
2000 Buick Park Ave Ultra
When looking for a E-Class, any "mandatory" options to get?
I am just starting to look at W210's, any options that are just cool to have or one would consider mandatory to get?
I would prefer to get a 4Matic car personally, I drive back roads only to/from work, and rarely get the 4WD K2500 Suburban from my wife, not to mention it has a 454 and I don't really like paying for the fuel either!
From what I gather, 4Matic eliminates the spring perch problem and adds the E55 front brakes already.
Is there limited slip differential possible on these cars? I am partial to auto climate control, but I am sure this is standard already.
I spend a lot of time in the car commuting, so some added creature comforts are very welcome.
Thanks!
I would prefer to get a 4Matic car personally, I drive back roads only to/from work, and rarely get the 4WD K2500 Suburban from my wife, not to mention it has a 454 and I don't really like paying for the fuel either!
From what I gather, 4Matic eliminates the spring perch problem and adds the E55 front brakes already.
Is there limited slip differential possible on these cars? I am partial to auto climate control, but I am sure this is standard already.
I spend a lot of time in the car commuting, so some added creature comforts are very welcome.
Thanks!
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: Toledo, OH
88 535is, 89 318iT
For the age of these cars, the no rust option would be first on my list, meaning you'll need to travel over 1,000 miles to get one. That way, you'll get a good 5 yrs out of the car before the tin worm strikes.
To me, 4matic seems like a waste of money (weight/maintenance/fuel econ). Real snow tires (I use General Altimax) with the stock traction control is truely amazing. I commute 150 miles per day, often with a few inches of snow even on the freeways and never a problem. I say this to possibly widen your selection.
Since traction control systems have virtually replaced limited slip diffs, you'll find it to be a very rare special ordered option on a W210.
The spring perch problem isn't a problem, if you don't let it be. Inspect before purchase, then inspect every year.
To me, 4matic seems like a waste of money (weight/maintenance/fuel econ). Real snow tires (I use General Altimax) with the stock traction control is truely amazing. I commute 150 miles per day, often with a few inches of snow even on the freeways and never a problem. I say this to possibly widen your selection.
Since traction control systems have virtually replaced limited slip diffs, you'll find it to be a very rare special ordered option on a W210.
The spring perch problem isn't a problem, if you don't let it be. Inspect before purchase, then inspect every year.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Rockford, IL
2000 Buick Park Ave Ultra
100% agree, no rust. If I get a no rust W210, up north is there any chance I can do anything to protect it from rust?. Will waxing/washing help much?
I have my 94 Fleetwood with snow tires (Bridgestone I think) and traction control and later posi (which disabled TC) and it did quite well, but it was a 4700 lb car (dry weight) too.
My TC on my Fleetwood was very very aggressive, and worked overall pretty well, but I liked the add of posi better, would like to see TC and posi combined myself.
I have my 94 Fleetwood with snow tires (Bridgestone I think) and traction control and later posi (which disabled TC) and it did quite well, but it was a 4700 lb car (dry weight) too.
My TC on my Fleetwood was very very aggressive, and worked overall pretty well, but I liked the add of posi better, would like to see TC and posi combined myself.
For the age of these cars, the no rust option would be first on my list, meaning you'll need to travel over 1,000 miles to get one. That way, you'll get a good 5 yrs out of the car before the tin worm strikes.
To me, 4matic seems like a waste of money (weight/maintenance/fuel econ). Real snow tires (I use General Altimax) with the stock traction control is truely amazing. I commute 150 miles per day, often with a few inches of snow even on the freeways and never a problem. I say this to possibly widen your selection.
Since traction control systems have virtually replaced limited slip diffs, you'll find it to be a very rare special ordered option on a W210.
The spring perch problem isn't a problem, if you don't let it be. Inspect before purchase, then inspect every year.
To me, 4matic seems like a waste of money (weight/maintenance/fuel econ). Real snow tires (I use General Altimax) with the stock traction control is truely amazing. I commute 150 miles per day, often with a few inches of snow even on the freeways and never a problem. I say this to possibly widen your selection.
Since traction control systems have virtually replaced limited slip diffs, you'll find it to be a very rare special ordered option on a W210.
The spring perch problem isn't a problem, if you don't let it be. Inspect before purchase, then inspect every year.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Rockford, IL
2000 Buick Park Ave Ultra
What is Command? HID's are optional?
I thought I read the 4Matics had the E55 brakes, or was it the E55 calipers? Or was that on wagons?
Are there brake upgrades (OEM, not aftermarket), like to E55 brakes? Or S class brakes? What size are the factory brakes?
I thought I read the 4Matics had the E55 brakes, or was it the E55 calipers? Or was that on wagons?
Are there brake upgrades (OEM, not aftermarket), like to E55 brakes? Or S class brakes? What size are the factory brakes?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,564
Likes: 19
From: SoCal
98 Brilliant Silver E320 Wagon
It depends on the Model Year. For example, ESP was optional in MY98 but became standard later in the W210 run. Several upgrades occurred in MY2000 such as new lower exterior panels, steering wheel mounted controls, Navigation Display and side air bags in rear seats.
In MY98 (my car) options were:
Xenon Headlights - which included self leveling suspension and headlight washers
Headlight Washers
Self-Leveling Suspension
Heated Front Seats
Orthopedic (Multi-contour) Front Seats - my favorite
Sunroof
Premium sound - Bose (Harmon Kardon in later years)
ESP - Electronic Stability Program - ASR was standard
Parktronic - Parking Assist System (maybe not available in US)
A new W210 came with three keys - two electronic with IR/RF remote operation and one emergency key. Be sure to get all three or expect to pay $250-$400 for a replacement when you lose one.
As far as brakes go, MB cars have exceptional brakes as standard equipment. Pads and rotors wear faster but are designed to stop quickly in a variety of conditions.
In MY98 (my car) options were:
Xenon Headlights - which included self leveling suspension and headlight washers
Headlight Washers
Self-Leveling Suspension
Heated Front Seats
Orthopedic (Multi-contour) Front Seats - my favorite
Sunroof
Premium sound - Bose (Harmon Kardon in later years)
ESP - Electronic Stability Program - ASR was standard
Parktronic - Parking Assist System (maybe not available in US)
A new W210 came with three keys - two electronic with IR/RF remote operation and one emergency key. Be sure to get all three or expect to pay $250-$400 for a replacement when you lose one.
As far as brakes go, MB cars have exceptional brakes as standard equipment. Pads and rotors wear faster but are designed to stop quickly in a variety of conditions.
Last edited by RichardM98; Jun 28, 2011 at 01:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Rockford, IL
2000 Buick Park Ave Ultra
Funny, GM called traction control ASR also, AntiSlip Regulation. It pulled timing, relaxed the throttle (cable throttle) and applied brake to offending spinning wheel.
Ortho seats? I like that idea! How do you recognize them?
When did MB start using the IR keys? I remember talking to the VPC (Vehicle Processing Center) about them on the then not yet shipped W220 (I was there when the first shipment was being downloaded off the ships), and they said that at the time MB would have to send an engineer from Germany to work on the car to replace the keys and reprogram if they were all lost. They were cool. If you took 2 keys, cloned them, and inserted one in the car, then the other one was now useless to use on that car, the codes got changed (as I was told) when the key was inserted. At the time they were removing the Alpine made stereo (W220) that came over that still had the TV in it, which wasn't allowed in the US. Not an oversite, I think the supplier hadn't had enough so the other one had to go in to have something there. Looked almost Identical save the TV button...
I never mind about fast wearing pads as long as you get good stopping out of it. Accident avoidance is more important to me than longevity of the pad.
Ortho seats? I like that idea! How do you recognize them?
When did MB start using the IR keys? I remember talking to the VPC (Vehicle Processing Center) about them on the then not yet shipped W220 (I was there when the first shipment was being downloaded off the ships), and they said that at the time MB would have to send an engineer from Germany to work on the car to replace the keys and reprogram if they were all lost. They were cool. If you took 2 keys, cloned them, and inserted one in the car, then the other one was now useless to use on that car, the codes got changed (as I was told) when the key was inserted. At the time they were removing the Alpine made stereo (W220) that came over that still had the TV in it, which wasn't allowed in the US. Not an oversite, I think the supplier hadn't had enough so the other one had to go in to have something there. Looked almost Identical save the TV button...
I never mind about fast wearing pads as long as you get good stopping out of it. Accident avoidance is more important to me than longevity of the pad.
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