p_noyz

44k miles from Socal, no 4matic. Out here looking like grandma's car for now.

chassis

Looks great!

p_noyz

first up... take off that resonator!

Jack McCarty

This is a great Wagon / best with 4Matic,
but your mileage is 20% better than my
01 AWD Wagon. You should get 29-30 mph highway miles.
The 210 chassis is considered one of the best bodies / generations ever produced.
You have very low mileage, but the wagon is 18 years old / it will be most important to
lubricate & maintain very well with a MB
Mechanic / maintenance will be key on an
aging MB. Rotate, balance & align good tires
at least every 6 months. I love Bridgestone
Turanzas / check them out when you need new tires - super quiet...
Your rear side air bags were standard / Now,
they’re only an option. Your Rest function A/C isn’t even offered on new E’s, nor the A/C glove box.
Super quiet & super strong E320! Enjoy!

kajtek1

Judging from fogged headlight it wasn't Garage Queen, but still looks pretty pristine and I hear buyers don't mind to pay top price for low mileage models as MB really made it good with the drivetrain.
Rare find should be really appreciated.
Would you mind to mention the price for referral?
For the record W123 with 3l turbodiesel is the best MB ever produced, but this seem to be right behind it.

tjts1

Have you ever had to live with a w123? Those things are garbage. Slow, noisy, handle like a boat, maintainance intensive, terrifle fuel economy...

kajtek1

I sold my 1985 300 tdt for $3k. Now they sell for 6k.
The 120 hp engine is low HP per today's standards, but the 200 hp in most of W210 are looking poor comparing to 340 HP new E class has.
Still with 120 hp the W123 can go faster than any US speed limits.
Boaty feeling is good in my book. Hate teeth grinding with newer models, where MB put low profile wheels.
Took me a while with newer E to overcome natural reaction and look back after driving over each street cover, to make sure I did not leave parts on it.

Jack McCarty

The fogged-up headlights can be polished back to clear & will improve greatly your
night visibility. I’ve had that done once in 12 years. Cleaning & conditioning leather seats prevents cracking / I have the exterior waxed & full detail by my Body Shop once a year.

Strigoi

Facepalm

Not sure of the overall condition of yours, but check this out: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...s-benz-e320-6/

That same car sold late last year on BaT for $18,000.


You couldn't be any more incorrect. 4Matic is not that desirable.

kajtek1

4M gives you additional headaches, but is great in slippery condition, not to mention that elderly drivers appreciate 1" taller suspension.
But on 16 yo car, regardless low mileage -CV joints boots would be on high alert.

Jack McCarty

When wet conditions are forecast, I garage the RWD Coupe & switch to the AWD Wagon.
Seamless & smooth, my 4Matic couldn’t be more correct for slippery slopes in San Francisco.
Years ago, I was caught in snow at Lake Arrowhead in our RWD E320 Sedan & couldn’t even get out of the garage!
Hardly “correct” car choice for snow & ice!

tjts1

Oh please. RWD with proper snow tires is far more capable on snow and ice to 4matic with all seasons. 4matic might help you go but it won't help you stop. Snow tires do both.

p_noyz

Thanks! Owner wanted $8k but I was able to talk the owner down to $5k plus another $800 to ship it from CA to WA. Yes, highly doubt it was ever garaged.

p_noyz

Totally agree on the maintenance, but when I was in the market, I was specifically looking for ones without 4matic. Nice to have I guess, but I didn’t need it.

So far I’ve had the Service B done, replaced front lower ball joints and rear brakes.

p_noyz

Rear suspension was toast so got rid of it. Now on H&R springs and Bilsteins.

kajtek1

How suspension was shot at such low mileage?
I know the spheres on wagons age, since they have rubber diaphragm, but that is easy and cheap part to replace.
Sounds like you deleted self-leveling?

chassis

Nice looking suspension renewal. Is this a long term restoration project? Return to OEM or tune/mod? The wheels you have look great, but how about mono block wheels? Page 49: https://ragtop.org/mbbrochures/2006/wheels.pdf

p_noyz

It made a loud clunking noise over the smallest of bumps. Found out the dampers were bad so, yeah, deleted the SLS and went with Bilsteins and H&R springs. Ride couldn't be better!

Thanks!! I plan to keep it original/semi-return to OEM. I always loved the lowered look on these wagons so I had to change up the suspension just a bit. Not anything radical

p_noyz

Cleaned up the headlights and slapped on some CLK430 wheels with Firehawk Indy 500 summer tires

Strigoi

A bad SLS/sphere will give you a rock hard suspension that makes the car borderline unsafe to drive. Did you swap out the power steering pump (plus other parts) for one from a sedan when doing the swap?

Here's my 2001 wagon...

Attachment 440321

Are you one of those *******s that drives 50mph on the freeway because it's raining a bit? There is zero need for AWD here in the Bay Area. I've driven those steep SF streets in the rain too, no need for AWD.

tjts1

ROFL

p_noyz

Thanks for the info -- Yep, I swapped that out when I did the rears.