Test drive Mercedes Benz E-class w210 1999-2002 sedan
Dream of People's Mercedes
According to statistics, the first owner sells a car three to four years after the purchase. By this time, the car does not have time to grow old physically or morally, and its price falls approximately. For those who find such offers profitable, we open the heading for three years not age. Why 210th?
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class with the factory designation W210, or, popularly, glazed, made his debut in 1995 and immediately fell in love with the Russian-both old and new. E-class looks very respectable and has a spacious, comfortable salon. It is equally good as a private, official and even representative car. In addition, W210 is very democratic. You can find a budget version with a 4-cylinder engine in a simple configuration, and a reduced copy of the S-class-with a powerful V8 and the richest equipment, in which everything that will like.
However, he has one significant drawback. The new E-class is very expensive. Therefore, most of the machines fall into Russia used. What can be expected from Glane at the age of 3-4 years? And how to choose the right car for both heart and money? Very simple - you need to choose according to the mind.
An example of the fact that the performance of the avant -garde (a black tree on the central console) is not necessarily expensive. Fabric salon, chairs with manual adjustments, and instead of prestigious climatic - ordinary air conditioning
Form and content
To get started, let's think about the decoration option. The 210th is produced in classic, eleganes and avant-garde. For some reason, the avant -garde is considered the most prestigious - it is customary to overpay for it. And completely in vain.
In fact, the wealth of the configuration of any Mercedes is determined by registered equipment, and execution options differ slightly. The basic is considered a classic. More expensive eleganes are alloy wheels, chrome decoration of lateral moldings and door handles, an intra -sulfate mirror with automatic darkness and make -up mirrors in sunscreen visors. Agree, these are trifles ... The vanguard is an analogue of Eleans, only with a sports image. He has a blue tinting of glass instead of green, a black tree in a cabin instead of nut, wheel discs and a radiator grille of a different design, xenon headlights and a 2 cm reduced light. The latter in our conditions seems to be dubious dignity.
Another thing is that the performance of the classic, as a rule, is a sign of a budget car. Russian dealers offered it only for the E200 and usually supplemented the air conditioner, inexpensive music and heating seats. Cars from the E230 and above were ordered in Eleans and Vanguard performances. Of the options, at least, climate, a leather interior and an electric drive adjusting the driver's seat were present. For machines originally sold in Russia, there is a pattern: the larger the volume of the motor, the richer the custom equipment. For example, in E320 there will be absolutely everything: hatch, front and rear parking sensors, adjusting the right seat and a steering column, front chairs with a pneumatic button, heating all seats, electric shutters in front of the rear window, etc.
Anarchy of prices
There are cars, prices for which can be called quite accurately depending on the year of release. The 210th is not the case. If the car ran along our roads for more than a year or was generally bought in Russia with new ones, they can ask for any amount for it. One sells the 1996 E230 for $ 25,000, because he bought it from an official dealer for $ 57,000 and cannot come to terms with the fact that today it costs $ 17,000. The other is pushing the chic E320 97 for $ 19,000. Cheaply but you look at the car and documents - It is very expensive to determine the price fork in the range of $ 15,000-23,000 for cars 1995-1996 and $ 18,000-26,000 for 1997, respectively. The prices of three -year -olds that have just arrived from Europe are most clearly delimited:
E200
$20 000-21 000
E240
$22 500-24 000
E280
$25 000-28 000
E320 and E280 4-Matic
$27 000-32 000
E320 4-Matic and E430
$30 000-36 000
E55-amg
$40 000-48 000
The general recommendation is traditional: the price of the machine should not be lower than the average for this modification of this year of release.
But strange specimens are sometimes brought from Europe. For example, E200 Eleganes, packaged in full. Or E280 Avangard without air conditioning, but with a hatch, an electrical regulation and pumping of the front seats ... Therefore, if you order a car from Europe and some equipment positions are fundamental for you, it is better to stipulate them with the distiller in advance.
AMG - this is the name of the court tuning studio of the Mercedes Benz. There are a lot of cars on the market with only AMG optics package (discs, spoilers, etc.). It can be installed on a modest E200. Real cars from AMG are highly powerful models of the E50-AMG and E55-AMG with a volume of 5.0 and 5.5 liters, supern Wealth tires on huge discs, hard sports chassis with significantly reduced road clearance, spoilers along the lower body perimeter and cost of level S500 of the W140 series. This is a real sports car in the guise of a four -door sedan - expensive in maintenance and capricious in operation. In winter, for example, it is almost impossible to ride AMG.
Four, six or eight?
According to the recent Mercedes tradition, the letter in the index denotes the model (in this case E -class), and the numbers - the rounded engine volume in cubic centimeters without one zero. Not only the temperament of the car depends on the number of cylinders under the hood and their volume, but also prestige and, of course, the price.
The most accessible 4-cylinder E200 and E230. It is generally accepted that the E-class begins with the modification of the E230, the capabilities of the motor of which without stretch can be recognized as minimally sufficient. But on E200 it is advisable to ride before buying. The two -liter engine, burdened with one and a half tons of equipped mass, will arrange only a very calm driver. But the four are inexpensive in maintenance and consume quite reasonable 9-14 l/100 km.
Nevertheless, many are sure that a real Mercedes should be 6-cylinder: smooth, solid, capable of making a breakthrough from any speed. In this regard, the E280 and E320 will satisfy even the most serious ambitions. The difference in the dynamics between them is not so great as to refuse a good copy of the E280 and look for E320. True, for a powerful and smooth engine, you will have to pay fuel consumption of 10-18 l/100 km. In mid -1997, a very profitable E240 modification was replenished with the gamut of sixs. With a sufficiently powerful and economical engine, it fits into the customs category up to 2.5 liters and when imported into the country costs almost $ 2000 cheaper than E280.
VIN - the number is knocked out on the floor of the body in front of the front passenger armchair (photo on the left) and duplicated on a plate glued to the right middle counter
A plate with options for options, body flowers and salon is located under the hood, next to its castle
E-class elite-8-cylinder E420 and E430. Of course, with such motors the concept of sled comfort, accelerated dynamics and prestige reaches a completely different level. However, it is worthwhile to think carefully before deciding to buy a used E420 and E430. In maintenance, V8 engines are more than six. They need gasoline 12-22 liters per hundred. And taxes are already binded to the volume of the engine. Who and for what money will buy your E420 or E430 in a couple of years, when there are more optimal E280 and E320 in all respects? Another thing is the sports modifications of the E50-AMG and E55-AMG. There are units of such cars, and there will always be single fans who know what they buy.
Mercedes engines are traditionally durable. For example, all of them are equipped with conservative in design and an absolutely trouble -free chain timing drive. It does not have a belt that can break, and the rollers that need to be changed. But also traditionally, the Mercedes-Benz motors are demanding on the quality and timely replacement of oil and coolant. In order for the valve hydraulic compensators and a water pump to serve at least 200,000 km, make it a rule to use synthetic oil and change it after 10,000 km, and pour a new and only recommended antifreeze into the cooling system every two years. These are general recommendations, but there are many more differences. The fact is that from 1995 to 2000, two generation gasoline engines were installed on the 210th. For example, under the hood of E280 and E320 you can find both in -line six and V6 ... but about everything in order.
First generation:
1995-1997
Series M111: 4 cylinders (E200 - 136 hp; E230 - 150 hp).
Series M104: 6 cylinders in a row (E280 - 193 hp; E320 - 220 hp).
Series M119: 8 cylinders V -shaped (E420 - 279 hp; E50-AMG - 347 hp).
In the first -generation engines, the spark plug is most often required. On our gasoline, they serve from 5,000 to 20,000 km. Fortunately, inexpensive - $ 3 apiece. But approximately every 50,000-60,000 km in the interruptions of the engine, candle caps will also be guilty, which also play the role of high-voltage wires. The caps make sense to change along with the candles that for M111 it costs $ 93, for M104 - $ 126 and for M119 - $ 332.
In the past six months, cases of failure of air flow meters in the fuel injection system have become more frequent, the average resource of which is 100,000-140,000 km. As a result, fuel consumption is growing, and the motor loses power and sneezes into an air filter or in the exhaust pipe. The problem is that the flow meter dies gradually and it is difficult to catch a change in the specified characteristics during diagnosis. But if the reason is clarified, it changes quickly, and the part costs $ 300-375.
M104 Motors call snotty. After 120 000-140,000 km, they are often covered with oil. The leak is treated with replacing the gasket of the head of the block and the front cover of the head, for which you will have to pay $ 430. The heavy M119 strives to finish off its own hydraulic boards and shock absorbers of the front suspension. Replacing two supports will cost $ 340.
Mechanics or machine gun?
Only buyers of powerful gasoline machines from the E320 and higher, as well as the E300-turbodiesel are deprived. Only an automatic box is possible for them. With any of the rest of the engines, you can decide for yourself: to switch the programs manually or entrust this business to the machine.
There are no complaints about the manual box - all the worries of the owner boil down to the change of oil after 100,000 km, as in the rear axle gearbox. The clutch serves an average of 150-180 thousand km, and it costs to change $ 290.
Until 1997, the 210th installed ordinary machine guns with hydraulic control. According to the instructions, the oil in them changes after 60,000 km, but in cold Russia it is better to do it after 30,000 km, and it should be changed along with the filter. The work costs $ 33, and the desire to save in the garage with Petrovich often leads to a replacement of the box of the box - plus $ 70 is quite reliable - it goes 200,000-250,000 km, and it breaks, like all machines, from improper operation. Typically, the repair costs $ 900-1200. But if a hydraulic control unit is also finished - an additional $ 1,500.
New underwear boxes with electronic controls are recognized by a black (instead of red) plug on the oil probe tube. According to the instructions, the oil does not need to be changed in them. However, if it darkened or exudes the smell of burned clots, replace it with the filter. Moreover, only the new dextron-III is suitable, incompatible with the usual dextrone-II! If fresh oil does not burn anymore, and switching occurs smoothly, then the box has been subjected to one -time overload and has not lost its performance. Otherwise, repairs. New boxes move much faster and easier, but a set of spare parts for them is more expensive. Sometimes the Handritis electronic support for the machine - then the box rises into the emergency mode and does not switch above the second gear. In most cases, it is possible to get by replacing one of the electronic boards worth $ 150.
In addition, in the transmission at 120,000-160,000 km of run, both elastic cardan shaft couplings ($ 200) and all three seals of the rear axle gearbox are usually required to replace - $ 120.
Second generation:
1997-2000
Series M111: 4 cylinders (E200 - 136 hp). The engine came from the first generation unchanged.
Series M112: 6 cylinders V -shaped (E240 - 170 l.; E280 - 204 l., E320 - 224 hp).
Series M113: 8 cylinders V-OB- different (E430- 279 l.; E55-AMG- 354 h.).
Identical in design, new V6 and V8 are quieter, more economical and environmentally friendly than its predecessors. In our country, they are considered more expensive and prestigious. New candles with platinum spraying are 15-20 thousand km, but now there are two of them on the cylinder and they are already worth $ 11. Accordingly, at every second, then be prepared to pay only for replacing candles for $ 198 with V6 and $ 260 to V8. For comparison: then in full with the replacement of candles, oil and all filters with many cheaper German cars costs $ 200-250
Immediately after the purchase, the M112 and M113 can scare the huge oil consumption - up to 1 l/1000 km. Oil appetite becomes completely exorbitant when candles are already on the way. Do not rush to sort things out with the seller or repair the engine - this is a normal phenomenon. Therefore, a canister of oil should always lie in the trunk, and if you drive a lot, its level will have to be controlled as in the good old days - once a week.
Approximately every 50,000 km, it is necessary to check the trim of the crankshaft through which the drive of the auxiliary units passes. Over time, his rubber damper is relaxed and then - the replacement of the pulley ($ 125).
Incomes of injection, trouble -free on first -generation engines, are completely unpredictable on M112 and M113. They can work normally on a car with a hundred thousandth mileage, and they can start to spare and 40,000 km. Symptoms: power loss, interruptions in work and difficult start. New motors are very simple and inexpensive (only $ 20) primary diagnostics, but a detailed check of the time -consuming nozzle is $ 169. Typically, replacements are required by two or three nozzles worth $ 107. More recently, the first cars with M112 and M113 engines went to replace the air flow meters. The runs are the same: 100,000-140,000 km.
As you can see, age diseases are already beginning to appear in all motors, and second -generation engines were significantly more expensive in operation. But if you want to buy a car for four years and younger, there is no other choice. But, regardless of the year of release, the gasoline 210 has a cardinal alternative -
Attention - air conditioning
Now, when it’s cold, you can only find out whether it works or not. If everything is O.K., do not forget to turn it on a couple of times a month even in winter - so that until the summer does not atrophy. In the heat, the air conditioner is helped by two electric fans located behind the radiator grille. According to our salt and dirt, they die after three to four years, and the motor begins to bask in traffic jams. Replacing one fan costs $ 150. On some machines, the second fan is given by a belt from the first. In the case of a break of the belt (this happens) you will not feel anything while one fan works. Therefore, the safety of the belt must be checked on each. And the air conditioner is very sensitive to the conversion. Only 100 grams of extra freon, and it will not turn on in the 30-degree heat. We drove in cool, and the condo earned? So, you just need to suffer excesses, and not change the expensive compressor, as the masters of services that repair any foreign cars sometimes summarize.
If there are three buttons between the rotating handles of the ventilation system, and not two, then the machine is equipped with air conditioning
The rear sofa of the 210th is very spacious. In some cases, it has heating
diesel 210
It is possible to argue before turning to how justified in our conditions a diesel engine in a car. But we will not. It’s just that those who traveled on a diesel Mercedes are usually no longer transplanted to gasoline.
Diesel modifications, like gasoline, are significantly vary in price and dynamic qualities. The cheapest is E220 Diesel: 4 cylinders, 95 hp They ask for him, as for the gasoline E200, and sometimes less. True, in order to drive in such a car, you must adhere to life credo who understood life, he is in no hurry: acceleration to a hundred is more than 17 seconds.
Parkably more expensive E290-turbodiesel (5 cylinders, turbocharged, 129 hp) and E300-diesel (6 cylinders in a row, 136 hp) look quite worthy on the road. The only difference is that the six is \u200b\u200bsmoother, but it is gaining momentum in a diesel, and the five feels a peppy turbine. In mid-1997, the E300-Diesel was replaced by the E300-Turbodiesel-6 cylinders in a row, turbocharged, 177 hp. This one is neither in price nor in accelerated dynamics inferior to the E280 gasoline.
The rules of operation of any diesel is extremely simple: to change the oil and all the filters in a timely manner. In our conditions, two more unwritten laws are added: before each winter, remove and rinse the fuel tank before each winter, and with the onset of cold weather, use an anthewle add -in adding a frozen summer fuel.
Let you not be seduced by large intervals in the instructions for replacing filters. It is better to change fuel after 20,000 km. After all, high -pressure fuel pump (TNVD) is very afraid of dirt and water. On the 4- and 5-cylinder engines, it is not a non-combination, and the new costs $ 1370 and 2620, respectively. Air filter, away from sin, it is better to change with each change of oil - after 10,000 km. A gasoline engine with a scored airborne will simply choke, praying for mercy. The diesel will not stand on ceremony - the filter will swallow, like a powerful vacuum cleaner, it will be deformed, and unpeeled air will go into the cylinders. Thousands after three kilometers arrived at the overhaul of the engine
The sprayers of fuel nozzles go 100,000-140,000 km - an excellent indicator in our conditions. Replacing one sprayer with adjustment costs $ 60. Accordingly, multiply by the number of cylinders. The pre -launchers of incandescent fail from time to time, but not all at once. In the summer this is not felt, but in winter it is extremely difficult to start a motor with a couple of dead candles. Replacing one candle costs $ 26.
If the motor is equipped with a turbine, learn a golden turboproke by heart: not to jam the motor immediately after stopping. He must work with idle half at idle. Otherwise, a turbine will be replaced. They are repaired with us not in the best way, and the new one will pull $ 1,500-1700.
So, if you manage to keep the fuel and energy union and turbine, the diesel diesel in operation will cost much cheaper than the gasoline engine.
More carefully with the front bumper Immediately behind him, on a flimsy site, the air conditioning and engine radiators were installed. If you bury the bumper, for example, in the snow that has been cream, then in half the cases the radiator site bends and they lose their tightness. Replacing two radiators costs $ 680 taking into account the replacement of antifreeze and freon. True, recently, the protection of domestic production has appeared, which also covers the engine of the motor.
Take care of the electronic heart
As you know, a powerful motor, rear -wheel drive and slippery road are difficult to compensate. But the 210th is insured from the troubles of the ASR electronic anti-wings system, slowing down one or two axle wheels, allowing the car to get out of the snow and accelerate as effectively on slippery coating. Its more perfect option - the ESP stabilization system - is in addition to the drifts, slowing down the necessary wheels. At the 210th, one of two systems is necessarily installed.
If the ASR or ESP symbol begins on the dashboard, then the electronics have already pulled the reins and recommends that the driver cool the ardor. But if the corresponding symbol burns constantly (usually with the ABS brake signaling device), therefore, there is a malfunction. The machine will accelerate and slow down, but only without electronic insurance.
On cars 1995-1997. A malfunction can be caused by a rotten connector in the wiring harness, which takes place under the vacuum brake amplifier. It is treated by restoration of wiring. Worse, if a hydraulic block serving ABS along with ASR or ESP. It must be changed urgently, and it costs $ 1100. In order not to fly into such an amount, put on tires in winter, which can cling to the road without outside help, and do not press over the brake and gas in excess. Each time electronics fights intense slipping or usual braking, the hydraulic block works like a human heart with a pulse of 200.
But no matter how cunning electronic assistants are, Mercedes accelerates on a slippery road, although without slipping, but very sluggish. Another thing is all -wheel drive. The 210th with all leading wheels can be obtained in modifications of the E280 and E320. This modification of 4-Matic is called, or, in German, fir-matics, and first appeared on the predecessor of the 210th-W124. But that was the first experience of creating a car 4x4 for Stuttgart, and the all-wheel drive 124th did not praise. The current system works impeccably. By the way, ASR or ESP are also installed on firms.
In the front suspension, the stabilizer racks (1), ball supports (2) and silent blocks (3) are most often required. If the rubber corrugated cover is wetted (4), then the steering rack has flowed
The hydraulic block of the ABS brakes (1) is located under the hood on the left. If he flowed - cook $ 1100
Before the strength was
The W210 chassis cannot boast of the same strength and endurance that which has become the famous 124th in this regard. But you can’t call him a flimsy either. Particular attention should be paid to the steering rack. On the first cars, the rails flowed, and, as a rule, they were changed according to warranty. But what if you have an exception to you from the rules? Today, the rails are rare, with mileages about 200,000 km and the presence of a backlash. This makes me happy. Only the price of the rail is not pleased - $ 3000 the rest of the costs (see table) can be considered current, which the owner of a new car will be faced sooner or later.
All ten levers of the traditional Mercedes rear suspension are approximately equal and serve 100-140 thousand km. They can be changed selectively, but if you have worn out, they will pull the ones that have been installed recently. And you can replace everything in bulk to forget about 120 km about them.
An unscheduled intervention in the suspension may be required if you bought a low -set version of the avant -garde or tuning machine. There are two methods for correcting posture: install higher springs under the springs ($ 135) or more rigid springs ($ 305). In both cases, only original Mercedes details are selected, which are divided into several numbers in size and stiffness. In addition, when installing other spacers or springs, you usually have to select longer -flow shock absorbers.
The service life of the brake discs, as usual, depends on the driving style. The front is enough on average by 60,000-80,000 km ($ 210), and the rear-100,000-120,000 km ($ 150) by 100,000-120,000 km. Periodically in the front brake calipers, guides are bent, which leads to uneven wear of the pads. Replacing guides - a penny.
The power control unit of the driver's seat and the steering column (option) is located on the left door
The new supported automatic gearbox has a black plug of an oil probe to the right of the engine
We go to the brows
So, you have chosen an engine, a complete set and made an approximate idea of \u200b\u200bcurrent expenses. It remains to choose the car itself. We make a reservation right away, it is difficult for a non -specialist to evaluate her technical condition. Therefore, diagnostics before buying is required, and not in the garage at Petrovich, but in the service specializing in the Mercedes.
The average W210 mileage today is 80,000-200,000 km, depending on the year of production, but the condition of the machines is surprisingly diverse. Cars from Europe are usually well -groomed, but among them there are many copies, hastily restored after a strong accident. There are also enough cars with huge runs. The fact is that E-class is actively used in a taxi, rental and as an official car. True, the mechanics say that it is very difficult to distinguish a mileage of 80,000 from 180,000 km on cars from there, since all consumables and parts change on time and can be installed on the second time
In Russia, you can find a good car if the first owner was wealthy and disciplined. Unfortunately, our Mercedes often find themselves in the hands of those who are without a port, but in a hat. A visit to maintenance for them is equal to bankruptcy. Therefore, there are a lot of tortured cars on our roads.
You can independently inspect, first of all, the body for the uniformity of gaps and the lack of general sloppiness in the form of gratings, torn moldings, sagging bumpers, etc. The externally killed car is rarely good to look for corrosion even on a six -year -old machine if it Not subjected to hacking body repair.
The weakest body of the body is the hatch in the roof. If it was jammed tightly, resuscitation will cost $ 400 with the replacement of the drive parts. The amount can be reduced by half if you contact the service as soon as the hatch began to seize.
Check the performance of electrical equipment, although for this part W210, perhaps the most reliable Mercedes. The complaints are caused only by the leaky wiring of the anterior fogs (the new costs $ 40) and the burning terminal of the starter wire on cars 1995-1997 - the replacement is subject to $ 115. Sometimes contact disappears in the rear flashlights, and after a single tan, they usually have to be changed.
Now it is possible to diagnose. Firstly, according to the engineering identification tablet in the Mercedes technical center, the year of production and equipment of the machine will accurately set. If this plate corresponds to a machine with a manual box and a gray fabric salon, and in fact a machine gun and black leather, then you yourself understand. Diagnosis of the general condition of the car, after which they will tell you whether it is worth contacting it and about what expenses are coming in the near future will cost only $ 40. By the way, during diagnostics it makes sense to check the collapse of the front wheels. The fact is that the collapse on the W210 has a very limited amplitude of adjustment. If the parameters are not displayed due to the bent suspension lever - this is one. And quite another, if the body was underway after the accident
So, a miracle did not happen. Like any European car, the 210th breaks and quickly overgrows with age sores. It is also true that in the cost of operation a Mercedes will never become opel. Therefore, before buying a glare that you attracted, be sure to weigh all the pros and cons. A three-class e-class will help you save half of the cost of a new car. Operational expenses, as we are convinced, can be optimized due to high -quality non -original spare parts and unauthorized Mercedes technical centers with acceptable prices. And if you are ready to carefully monitor the condition of your combat horse, timely satisfying all its considerable requests, feel free to buy. Because the return will be serious. After all, you will realize your dream - you will become the owner of a real Mercedes.
Alexander Konov, photo Alexander Sadovnikov
Source: Magazine "Limousine" [08/01]
