Mercedes People - New Barge - Pictures!!

[SmokeEm]

Bit of advice from you guys - Never owned one before, only BMW's.

Right guys, my P100 build is almost complete and will go into use as my Wife's daily 27mile total commute.

Once this happens, it leaves us with her current daily - A non-descript 2002 Honda Accord (Yawn)


With the prospect of me needing a car myself VERY occasionally, the thought that it would be the Honda filled me with dread!

I therefore proposed to Wifey that I sell 'Enry' the 'Onda' and buy myself a barge. Now, here lieth the problem. I know nothing about them! - I am opting for a Merc for the reasons below.
1- My budget will be £1500ish
2- I cannot afford a REALLY good Lexus for that money.
3- I like the 'Look' of the circa 98 saloons/wagons
4- I have been told that for my money, I really could have a Merc with EVERYTHING working

Petrol? Diesel? LPG? - I don't care - It just has to be auto and hopefully be wearing some nice AMG style Alloys.

I have seen the following on Ebay

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261809656135?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Although I haven't sold the daily yet, it looks to be everything I desire? Plan would be to paint it flat back and drop it 60mm and just use as and when..


So experts - Which models/engines etc are best? I would only chop a couple of coils off rather than coilovers. (I know I need special compressors)

The one on ebay I am told is a W210? What do all the W's mean?

I just want something I can service regulary and it just go on and on for say 3 years without breaking the bank.

Over to you guys. Thank you in advance for any advice given.

[GT4ME]

The gold chrome on that one looks awful. If your not doing much mileage why not get a big petrol with some V8 woofle?
www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201504092448002/sort/priceasc/radius/1500/make/mercedes-benz/fuel-type/petrol/engine-size-cars/4l_to_4-9l/usedcars/postcode/g336jd/model/e_class/page/1/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/channel/cars?logcode=p

[SmokeEm]

@gt4me

I like that a lot - I have no preference of petrol or diesel. I just want all the toys to work and for it to munch up the miles gracefully.

Any more info peeps?

[adam73bgt]

I don't know much about Mercs but the W*** refers to the chassis code I believe so that age E class is a W210, a later one will be a W211 etc.

[twobob]

There is a post on the general board by mrspeedy the 10th of april about mercs which my be some help. Sorry cant seem to link it on my phone.hope it doesnt put you off. (-:

[Woofwoof]

If it's any help I currently have an Accord and a W202 C-Class C230k along with a 190E. I've also owned a few other Merc's including a W210 E-Class. For your budget I opt for either a the C or E-Class. If you want easy driving, auto with a few nice options look at a W210 E200 Elegance Auto (M111 engine, non Kompressor), one of the best daily drivers I ever had, not fast but a good cruiser and good on juice too. Two items in particular to watch out for is superficial rust and that the Auto box (5 speed) is working as it should. A W202 C-Class is very similar but has the obvious disadvantages of a shorter chassis but is more nimble. Both good all the same.


P.S. the best value motoring for a daily driver I've ever had, has been from Accords - one wheel bearing in a 120k miles. I'm on my third and I'd buy another!  

[SmokeEm]

^^ The Accord is a good car, being a 50k from new, Honda UK Owned car but it just isn't me. I just want something that gives me a sense of 'Occasion' when I drive it. I think I may well go for an E class as I don't like the look of the C for some reason.

[berendd]

the one you linked is a W210, these things are rock solid mechanically hence used as taxis for years and years..

the earlier E class (square model) is W124, mechanically they're pretty much identical but the 210 had a lot more gadgets on them as standard.

issues on the very early 210 -1998 are wiring issues, and rust on the later ones (1998-)

also on high milage ones, I'll advise you to change the suspension bushes all around, these are available for not a lot of money and come in complete kits.

One class smaller is the C-class, which has model code W202 and later models W203, these also rust badly due to water based paints, but mechanically they are hard to beat.

One class bigger is the mercedes S-class or model code W140 and later ones W220, mechanically these are 80% the same as an E class but these come with loads more gadgets and thus very complicated wiring. also the S-classes within reach of your budget are probably a lot tattier and neglected and that is not a good combination.

In general the bigger the engines the longer they last and the more they drink, the big petrol engines react very well to LPG

as a side note, we broke an E430 for spares 2 years ago and we took the engine apart, just to see how much wear there is on an 350.000 mile engine.. literally the engine was as new from the inside, every moving part is fitted with bearings, lovely piece of engineering.

If petrol costs are not an issue i'd suggest getting an E430

[THE_Liam]

For that kind of money and to keep it interesting I'd go for a 190E. Far better looking and better built than the later W202 and W210, nicer to drive in my opinion as well, and only going up in value. If you want something bigger and more barge-like the W124 is a good bet as well but the 190E (W201) is a very special car, I regret selling mine!

[retroade]

Right, big Mercs you say. The W number is the model number, like BMW E numbers. Don't know much about the 90s stuff as I've always bought early W124's from the late 80s. General consensus is 90s Mercs were a quality disaster as they slashed production costs to up margins. I have no proof of this, however there's no smoke wothout fire and even on here there's a thread running ref: C Class Mercs vs 190E's and even facelifted early 90s W124s seemed generally to have poor rustproofing and electrical gremlins. Mate of mine has a late 90s C260 Sport and that's suffered with gear change issues linked to the auto box electrics, normally you lose reverse. That said he's had it years and it keeps going.

As for early W124's these are often called last of the 'proper' Mercs. Loved both of mine. Had an 89 230E 4 pot and a 260E 6 pot. If I had another I'd find a 300E, or a diesel. The 2.3 is surprisingly OK, the 6 pots are gorgeous straight sixes. They're cheap, fairly plentiful and although prices are creeping you will find decent cars in your budget - most I payed for one of these is £750 although you'd struggle to do that these days unless it was a right dog.

They are proper barges to drive. Avoid manuals like the plague, they are awful from what I've been told. I love the old school luxury waft. They also have great road presence. You get ABS, otherwise it's just you keeping it on the road so watch the kickdown in the wet as it will send the back end out on roundabouts and they're big old hectors to wrestle back into line. They're at they're best on the motorway, great auto cruisers round town, but feel heavy on a twisty B road. It's a very different drive to a BMW, I used to run an E23 728i and that felt more connected but the Mercs 'float'. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it makes you feel like you're driving a luxury car. I'd say try one, see what you think. That said if you're chop, chop, chopping all that ride stuff will change anyway!

Would I have another one? In a heartbeat. Although I'd probably go older as I've always wanted a W123. Hope that helps.

[SmokeEm]

All great information -Thank you all.

I neglected to include the 190E as one thing it 'Must' have, is electric memory seats and air-con.

E430 sounds interesting!

[THE_Liam]

Nice W124 for sale on here:

W124 retrorides.proboards.com/thread/176325/mercedes-w124-genuine-miles-berks

EDIT: Ignore me, just saw the thing about electric seats.

[Woofwoof]

Apr 13, 2015 15:00:06 GMT SmokeEm said:

All great information -Thank you all.

I neglected to include the 190E as one thing it 'Must' have, is electric memory seats and air-con.

E430 sounds interesting!

If you want most if not all the bells & whistles and don't mind the juice, go for the E430, no question imo. Don't dismiss a good E320 (petrol) either. 

[berendd]

just over budget and an estate.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191473885775

But I'm sure you will be able to take it away for 1500 and the estate is for extra sleeper points.

[SmokeEm]

Apr 13, 2015 15:08:16 GMT berendd said:

just over budget and an estate.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191473885775

But I'm sure you will be able to take it away for 1500 and the estate is for extra sleeper points.

I have that very car in my watch list - once I know my P100 has passed it's MOT, I might even be able to PX the Accord with him as it would be easier for him to shift being so low miles with FSH.


Thanks guys, appreciate your help.

[retroade]

Apr 13, 2015 15:01:44 GMT THE_Liam said:

Nice W124 for sale on here:

W124 retrorides.proboards.com/thread/176325/mercedes-w124-genuine-miles-berks

EDIT: Ignore me, just saw the thing about electric seats.

That is gorgeous! Set of period rims and a heavy detailing session and that car would be perfect to me. Guessing not quite what we're looking for here but that car will make someone happy.

[MrSpeedy]

The thread I started is here; retrorides.proboards.com/thread/159117/mercedes-w202-start-decline

In the end, I went for a S210 E320cdi estate.
Mostly for the increased boot/load capacity and the 2+ tonne towing rating as I use it for work.

Absolutely lovely to waft about in and the OM613 cdi engine, whilst having scary electrical stuff, is an absolute peach being the last of the straight sixes. The later V6's have been known to throw rods through the crankcase
The earlier OM606 is a conventional mechanical (mostly) injection engine, but being 3.0 capacity and some 50bhp less than it's bigger descendant.

I've said it before but in my opinion, if you're going E class, you have to go for one of the big six engines to get the full experience.

No mater how I drive mine, it rarely drops below 30mpg and just tips 40 on a good run. Can't complain at that from a 197bhp/350lb/ft barge

Don't worry too much about intergalactic mileage if it has full MB history, and try to aim for leather if you can (assuming you like leather) as it helps with resale value.

[Rob M]

Ok, I'm biased.

I'm absolutely loving it, I feel like a king driving it. Its not perfect, them again not much is for £1000 nowdays.
A wafty comfy V8.....

[Woofwoof]

Slap on the wrist there boy.  Where's the period 15 hole alloys?

[PandaSelecta]

What about an Audi. £1500 buys you an A6 Allroad 2.5TDI with such luxuries as adjustable suspension, four wheel drive, electric seats, traction control, and a tiptronic auto. Plus the mpg will be good



www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A6-ALLROAD-2-5TDI-QUATTRO-AUTO-ESTATE-PART-EXCHANGE-EASTER-BARGAIN-/201325901800?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2edff577e8