W210 Mercedes-Benz – The Time is Now

The W124 is the best E Class, you’ll be told. The W210, which followed, was nothing in comparison. A terrible car from the beginning of what would be a terrible era for the mighty Mercedes-Benz. Awful, unreliable, poor build quality, rusty, the list goes on. The people that tell you that are wrong, at least for the most part. Sure, the W210 might not be quite as solidly built as the W124 before it, but that’s like saying fine aged 10 year malt isn’t as nice as a 15 year. We’re still talking about premium luxury cars here. And as for rust, yeah, the W210 can rust. However, the W124 wasn’t exactly fully vaccinated against tin-worm, was it?

And allow me to break into the first person here, which is unusual for The Time is Now. However, it’s important. I’ve had a W124 (and it was great) and I’ve just bought a W210 and guess what? Yeah, so far, it’s also pretty darn great. An old Mercedes-Benz is an old Mercedes-Benz, and that’s a good thing. Mine is only the four-cylinder 2.0 without a supercharger, but even so, it’s smooth, refined, quiet and ludicrously comfortable. It’s an Elegance, so it’s full of leather and wood, and it’s done a mere 91,000 miles since it left the showroom in 2000. Oh, and it was £995. The time is most definitely now. The W124 was cheap once, remember. The W210 is in that depreciation dip right now. Ignore the keyboard warriors, be sure to properly inspect your potential W210 and like me, you might end up with a lovely bit of champagne motoring for tap water money. Not lemonade. Tap water. They are that much of a bargain.

This bargainous theme extends through the range. This sounds ironic given the context, but stay with us. Spend a bit more and you’ll get a lot more car in comparison to the peers of the W210. A case in point being the fearsome, V8, 350bhp E55 AMG. But if that’s too much grunt, an E430 still has a V8, or how about an E320 or a diesel with the legendary OM606 engine? You could even go for a wagon with two more seats in the back for even more practicality. The W210 is a car you can, if you look after it and buy right, use every day. And in doing so, it will make you smile, it will make you proud and above all, you’ll get to tell people you  own a classic Mercedes-Benz

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE W210 MERCEDES-BENZ

The engineers at Mercedes-Benz started working on the W210 a mere three years after the introduction of the W124. That means the W210 was being thought about in 1988 – remarkable forethought really. Unlike the W124, however, the W210 would be offered as a saloon and estate only, with coupe and cabrio duties being handled by the forthcoming CLK model. The design, with its big quad headlights, left people a little confused at launch. It was a softer, more rounded proposition than the somewhat angular and brutal W124, but it was very of its time, and it certainly grew into its looks.

The W210 was the first E Class to be offered with a V6, though an inline four and inline six were still available, as was a new inline five cylinder in diesel guise. The W210 could also be offered with a supercharger. As before, manual and automatic transmissions were available, with the latter proving far more popular given the executive nature. At first, it was a four-speed with an optional five-speed, though as of 1997, the 722.6 five-speed was the only automatic. It’s what’s in ours, and it’s very good indeed.

The W210 was available in three main trim levels; Classic, Elegance and Avantgarde. Though there was also the monstrous V8 AMG version, too. The E55 is the most common AMG variant, but there was also an E36 of which only 49 were sold. There was also the E50 and the E60. In the UK though, as mentioned, the E55 is what you’re most likely to find. And with over 350bhp, you won’t be disappointed!

In 2000, the W210 was given a small facelift with a sleeker front, new bonnet, new bumpers and new rear light designs. New alloys were available, and interior changes included a multi-function steering wheel and the new five-speed automatic transmission we mentioned earlier, complete with ‘touch shift’ for manual shifting – and, we have found, for engine braking and a greater feeling of control.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

Rust is the big one, especially at the front. The spring perches can corrode, spitting the front springs out as they do. Springs can also crack at each corner. Going back to rust, early cars were the worst, but no W210 is immune. Arches, door bottoms, the boot lid, sills (covered by a plastic cover) and jacking points can fail and effectively write the car off. Moving away from rust, early cars can have issues with the electrics. You’ll hear talk of the very real biodegradable wiring looms, which were indeed a thing. However, that’s on early models. Plus, if you’re looking at a W210 in 2023, the reality is the issue would have been remedied. While not electric, the central locking can fail, due to it being pneumatic, window regulators can fail, as can electric mirrors, as the wiring breaks over time due to the electric fold feature.

On the whole though, the W210 was not deserving of the horror stories. It had its faults, sure, but if you view one and do so thoroughly, making the effort to ensure everything works, check the suspension and underside etc, you should be fine. The W210 is slowly moving out of the ‘old smoker’ category, and is becoming an enthusiast-loved bona fide modern classic, so if you can find one that has been cared for and looked after, you should be laughing. We certainly are with ours.

WHAT ARE PRICES LIKE? 

Ours was £995. One owner, full history, MOT and no rust at all. It’s only covered 90k, and while it was a tad visually challenged due to some bumps, scrapes and fading paint (the lacquer on the W210 was never great), it has proven to be a great buy. But we also accept that the 2.0 isn’t for everyone, and that it was a lucky find in such condition. Plus, we didn’t mind putting the work in to make it look how it does now.

If you budget around £2,500, you’re going to be in the ‘great example’ waters. Double it, and you’ll find the best of the best. If you want the 430 in top spec, you might pay a bit more, but it’ll be worth it. £7k will get you the very top of the pile. Whereas if you want the full fat, bonkers, V8 powered E55, £10,000 will put you behind the wheel, while a few more quid will get you something exceptional. No matter what W210 you buy, don’t be put off by mileage. They’re built for it. Instead, focus on the history and maintenance. The W210 is not an expensive car to maintain and repair, despite its luxury status. So if you’re looking at one that has been neglected, walk away. There are plenty of others out there.

WHY SHOULD I BUY ONE?

Because the W210 is your chance to get on the value train, we reckon. The W124 used to be cheap, but now prices are on the climb. The same will happen with the good W210s. Plus, of those that are on the road in 2023, most have been cared for and looked after, making them a great option. Then there is the joy that comes from having an old Mercedes-Benz on the drive. It’s a lovely thing to have, it’s a joy to work on, parts availability is excellent and most importantly of all, like any good old Mercedes-Benz, you can drive it daily. Just make sure you put some rust protection on those spring perches!