BruceKoukalaka

I just bought a 1999 Mercedes E320 AWD for $400 CDN, While it needs some work it drives quite nicely. The battery was completely dead and now the radio will not play, the car has a couple idiot lights on the dash such as BAS/ETC or something along those lines and some other little glitches that I will have to address before we start driving it much. I drove the car from Calgary to Cardston the day I bought it and love the car, I can't wait until my wife gets to drive it.

chassis

Congratulations. Please post photos of your E.

MJ50

moved to W210 forum...

Strigoi

I take it that it has the original stereo in it? If so you most likely need the code for it. Check to see if someone wrote it in the owner's manual if you have it. I lucked out on my old W210 E55 and someone had put a sticker with the radio code on top of the head unit.

kajtek1

At least in US, MB dealers will give you radio code for no charge. I had a car where factory radio code did not work, so SA went with me to the car, used his keys to pull the radio and copy radio serial number as it turned to be replacement. All for no charge.
Lot of idiot lights come on those cars when voltage goes low, so make sure your charging system is in order before worrying about them.
Enjoy the drive, but beware, once you let wife drive MB, there is no way she will go back to other brands. Ask me how I know?

khomer2

Welcome Bruce,

Congrats!
You should be able to contact an MB dealer in your part of the woods to obtain the radio code for no charge (provide them with the serial # of the oem radio - label on the radio itself). Pull it out with a couple of those special keys or DIY one with old credit cards (search utube to how-to make them - very simple).
Get yourself a good scanner that you can use on both ports (may need to purchase the plug-in for the 38pin port under the hood)

BruceKoukalaka

I got the radio fixed, the dealership gave me the code just by telling them the last 8 digits of the vin, the other issues with the car (idiot lights) went out after a short drive. Now I am curious about checking the transmission fluid and where to get new coil packs for the old girl. I read somewhere these are the same as some other German car manufacturers use is this true? The nearest MB dealership is in Calgary almost 3 hours drive from home. My wife got to drive it and now she has made it clear that the MB is HERS!!! Now I'll have to find a suitable vehicle for me

khomer2

Yes and no. The fleet of MB of that year/era do not necessarily share the same coil packs.
Why not order online on a US website and get it shipped vs. 3 hour drive to Calgary. Of course, you'd have to compare the costs involved.
And go with Genuine Bosch coil packs. And you should replace the spark plugs and wires while you're at it.

BruceKoukalaka

Thanks I'm just learning about the MB as I've never had the opportunity to work on one before, aside from doing an oil change on a '91 years ago.

BruceKoukalaka

Ok so my wife loves the W210 so much she made me go out and buy her one.... another W210, a WAGON this time picked it up for $1000 CDN with new brakes and front driver side CV axle. Wish this one was as good!

khomer2

Bruce,

W210s are easy to work on. Some TLC, they hold themselves well. Recommend you pickup yourself a scanner, if you plan to keep her (your wife) happy.
My senior lady neighbor up the street still has her 98 E320 (purchased brand new and low mileage still) and it purrs like a kitten - accident free too.
We do her oil change (top side), filters when needed and bulb changes when needed - all in exchange for a good dinner. (I get the better deal. ) She's hasnt encountered any major hiccups to date.

Keep us posted.

btw, please update your us CP info, now that you have 2 of these fine cars.

BruceKoukalaka

BruceKoukalaka

Here they are, both are also 4matics so I guess that a little bit of rust is not a huge problem. I guess that now I'll have to actually WASH my car instead of letting mother nature do it!!!!!

Strigoi

Those poor headlights. Spend an afternoon on them and it'll transform the look of both cars.

bbirdwell

Or just pick up a set of lenses off of Ebay and replace them. Not difficult. Benzworld has quite a few DIY threads in the W210 stickies section.

khomer2

OR, if your feeling less ambitious....(lay down until that DIY mechanical urge goes away, then) hop on over to cdntire and pickup a pack of 'new wipe' (under $20).
It SHOULD work on clearing up those tired looking eyeballs. I've used these on a spare set of headlight assemblies (without sanding it down in my situation) and the results were very good.
So now after, 2 years, they sit, plastic packaging stretch wrapped on the shelf for the next project when it comes my way.

BruceKoukalaka

Once the crews leave the motel my wife and I run I'll be starting on the maintenance these two beauties deserve including the headlights and bodywork need. I'll also be looking into working on the front end of the sedan as there is a rattle coming from the driver side that has me a bit concerned.

BruceKoukalaka

I'm about to do an oil change and have run into conflicting advice, WHICH OIL SHOULD I PUT IN THE ENGINE. I had the wagon in Lethgbridge and Mr Lube was adamant I should spend $140 plus tax/environment levy for synthetic ( funny thing is He would NOT tell me what brand or grade to use). As I suggested using conventional oil he flipped out and told me in no uncertain terms that he would not use that "crap" oil. Canadian tire basically told me the same although they would charge 65 plus enviro fees. Walmart said they would offer conventional oil @ 45 out the door. The other thing I may do is put it up on my jack stands and do it myself. The reason I am conflicted is in the maintenance booklets, there are a mix mash of oils used for the sedan through its first year and then nothing, whereas the wagon's book was never written?!? HELP!!!!

khomer2

The most important thing is to pick an oil that meets the MB spec for your car. The full spec sheet is linked in the stickies.

What motor is it?

It's a personal choice. Diy via topside vacuum pump.
I use synthetic (buy and stock as needed but only when its on sale at cdntire)

edit- use a good filter - Mann

BruceKoukalaka

I'll be heading into Lethbridge tomorrow and will be getting a headlight kit and the oil/filter for the old girls. Then I guess I'll have some work to do this weekend (MAYBE) By the way BOTH cars have the 3.2L V6 and 4matic transmissions. I also want to look under them along with check the front end out on the sedan. I've never worked on a Merc aside from an oil change at a shop in Vancouver I worked at back in the early 90s.