stu75

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

Plutoe

My two pence, I would never own a gasser nor would I ever entertain any V diesel. I would keep looking for W211 inline six CDI very dependable and the frame will rot out before the engine gives out!!

bbirdwell

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.