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)

Is the W210 still a great car? Is the W211 where I should be looking?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Apr 17, 2017 | 09:37 AM
  #1  
stu75's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newbie
 
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Kia Rio 1.4
Is the W210 still a great car? Is the W211 where I should be looking?

Hello all.

Quite simply I am in the market for an E class again having owned a 99 E300TD (chipped) Avantgarde estate a few years back.

My current budget appears to give me a choice of a late W210 or an early W211.

There are two in my local area that I intend to look at tomorrow that are within a few hundred quid of each other as follows:

1. W210 - 2002 E320 Cdi auto. 108k. FSH. Elegance. Two owner and apparently predominantly garaged and showing no apparent signs of rust £2k.

2. W211 - 2003 E240 2.6 V6 auto. 81k. lots of service history. Avantgarde. Two owner and looks clean for year £2.6k

I prefer the exterior looks of the W211 but the interior of the W210. It doesn't bother me which fuel option I go for.

I am not a 'fast' driver but I do appreciate both the low end pull of a TD.

Is the W210 still a good car or does the W211 offer a better car for a very similar price.

The way I look at it is if the W210 rust issues can be kept on top of then the Cdi was the flagship diesel engine of that era(?) and as it is a late model any of the known gremlins should have been looked at when the facelift models came out?

I have read concerns about the early W211 cars having some electrical and running issues but hopefully once the car has covered 81k over 13 years you might hope that the main ones are likely to have manifested themselves and been dealt with?

Is 170 bhp enough in a car that big?

The vehicle will be our 2nd car and used as my daily driver. It needs to be big enough to take the family (wife plus two boys) out with decent boot space if needed. We have a family carrier for family trips so I don't see the need for an estate anymore.

I would appreciate any comment. Thank you.
Stu
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2017 | 01:40 PM
  #2  
bbirdwell's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,969
Likes: 1,317
From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
170 horsepower in a 4000-pound car is not enough (but then again I drive a 350 hp W210 and a 470 hp W211). Seriously, a first-generation Miata has a slightly better power-to-weight ratio and doesn't have to carry four or five people plus luggage.

My W211 has advantage over my W210 of quickness, handling, "Sex On Wheels" appearance, digital controls, more refined traction control.

My W210 has advantage over my W211 of comfort, lower cost of maintenance, "Russian Mafia Staff Car" appearance, less distraction from the controls.

Short trips (< 2 hours) I'll take the W211. Long trips (2-12 hours) especially with 4 passengers, I take the W210. Cost of ownership of my W210 is *significantly* less than the W211.

Last edited by bbirdwell; Apr 17, 2017 at 01:42 PM.
Reply

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


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


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:23 AM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE