Many guys want the legendary Lupaty W210 because of its high reputation. Despite the outrage of fans about the appearance and reliability in comparison with its predecessor, the model gained fame, having sold more than 1.65 million units.

The car is technically very different from the previous generation, which promises future problems. The review combines history, technology and, most importantly, recommendations for choosing that are really needed. In short - the car is excellent, but the number of decent offers on the secondary market is minimal.

Release history

Interesting is the company's policy of starting the development of the receiver 3 years after the release of its predecessor. The highly flowing design was developed by Steve Mattin and Bruno Sacco, and the resulting concept was showcased at the Geneva Motor Show. In the future, the style migrated to many cars of the brand -, etc.

The start of production of the finished car is scheduled for 1995 in several designs that differ in appearance - Classic, Elegance, Avantgarde. A year later, the S210 station wagon was released, of which almost 300 thousand units were sold. Unusually for the E-Class, the company began to produce custom-made armored vehicles, and in 1996, together with Binz, an extended 6-door sedan was released, like the limousine of its predecessor.

The car was constantly being improved, so in 1997, some Mercedes-Benz E-Class W210s were fitted with a new 5-speed gearbox, the central locking system was changed, a door lock was added at speeds above 8 km / h, etc. A year later, they added a new engine to the lineup and released a model under their own AMG brand, which we will talk about below.

In 1999, a restyled version was released, which visually practically did not differ from dorestyling. In fact, there are a huge number of changes - the automatic transmission, other interior trim materials, a change in the method of attaching the roof lining, new comfort options, other multimedia, new mechanics and much more have been improved.

In 2003, production was suspended due to the release a year earlier.

Rusting design

The car looks lagging behind by modern standards, but this classic has its own style. Unfortunately, the age and poor care of the owners have brought most of the cars into a rusting chariot. Almost all models show at least some corrosion regardless of age.

First of all, it is worth examining the main lesions - the edges of the doors, the trunk lid, arches and the places under all the seals. Models with missing thresholds are not uncommon on the market. Make sure there is no moisture in the trunk, it will cause a lot of problems. It is possible to restore all rusty or frankly rotten elements, although this will result in a significant amount in comparison with the cost of the car.

You need to be more careful with the corrosion of technical elements - W210 struts and shock absorbers in front, axles, engine installation locations.

External elements - moldings, chrome lining and optics gradually wear out, the headlights become cloudy, and the lining will peel off. In principle, these are trifles. LKP is more often different, in those years the concern experimented with water-based paint, which did not differ in durability. Therefore, do not be surprised at the painted body, perhaps it is not an accident.

Old cars often drive with "left" central locking, it's okay if this is the only non-standard setting.

Vehicle dimensions

Sedan:

length - 4818 mm;
width - 1798 mm;
height - 1417 mm;
wheelbase - 2832 mm;
clearance - 160 mm;
trunk volume - 520 liters.

Station wagon:

length - 4839 mm;
width - 1798 mm;
height - 1506 mm;
wheelbase - 2832 mm;
clearance - 160 mm;
trunk volume - 600 liters.

The coupe and convertible have been removed from the lineup. The CLK Coupe is similar to the E-Class W210, but it is a C-Class with Eshki looks.

Salon

In terms of durability, the interior bypasses the exterior. Plastic, cladding, wooden linings last a long time. Engineers really made materials for centuries, even if it is fabric in simple configurations, it is still resistant.

Functionality can be the envy of many modern cars, although it depends on the configuration. In the top, the car was equipped with electrically adjustable seats with memory positions and ventilation. After restyling, they began to install Command multimedia with dynamic navigation.

There is enough free space inside, after all, this is an E-Class. Back row passengers are unlikely to rest their head and knees.

Of the Mercedes E-Class W210 malfunctions, attention should be paid to climate control. Everything must work, otherwise you will end up on expensive repairs. Also check all the functionality of the left steering column lever, otherwise it will be a pity to pay for such a trifle in the region of 4 thousand rubles.

In terms of safety, the car turned out to be even redesigned, there are many interesting systems, one of which (the seat belt tensioner) works too aggressively, loading the passenger's chest. Euro NCAP rarely tested the Stuttgart models, and this one got a 5 points after making changes to the belt design.

Specifications

By tradition, we separately discuss the characteristics of the car, and then move on to breakdowns. During the entire production period, the company was finalizing the installed motors, replenishing the line with new engines and eliminating flaws. In 1999, most of the motors were increased in power, although the technical part remained the same.

The legendary engine of the previous generation M119 is installed here, but now they are not being finalized. In order not to get confused in the characteristics, a table has been prepared with detailed data for each model.

Model	Index	Volume	Power	Torque	Overclocking	Maximum speed	Cylinders
E200	M111	1998 cm3	136 h.p.	190 H * m	11.4 sec.	205 km / h	4
E200 Kompressor	M111	1998 cm3	186 h.p.	260 H * m	8.9 sec.	231 km / h	4
E200 Kompressor EVO	M111	1998 cm3	163 h.p.	230 H * m	9.7 sec.	222 km / h	4
E230	M111	2295 cm3	150 h.p.	220 H * m	10.5 sec.	215 km / h	4
E240	M112	2398 cm3	170 h.p.	225 H * m	9.6 sec.	223 km / h	V6
E240	M112	2597 cm3	177 h.p.	240 H * m	9.3 sec.	229 km / h	V6
E280	M104	2799 cm3	193 h.p.	270 H * m	9.1 sec.	230 km / h	V6
E280	M112	2799 cm3	204 h.p.	270 H * m	8.5 sec.	234 km / h	V6
E320	M104	3199 cm3	220 h.p.	315 H * m	7.8 sec.	235 km / h	V6
E320	M112	3199 cm3	224 h.p.	315 H * m	7.7 sec.	238 km / h	V6
E420	M119	4196 cm3	279 h.p.	400 H * m	7.1 sec.	250 km / h	V8
E430	M113	4266 cm3	279 h.p.	400 H * m	6.6 sec.	250 km / h	V8
E50 AMG	M119	4973 cm3	347 h.p.	480 H * m	6.2 sec.	250 km / h	V8
E55 AMG	M113	5439 cm3	354 h.p.	530 H * m	5.7 sec.	250 km / h	V8
E60 AMG	M119	5956 cm3	381 h.p.	580 H * m	5.1 sec.	250 km / h	V8
E200 Diesel	OM604	1997 cm3	88 h.p.	135 H * m	17.6 sec.	177 km / h	4
E200 CDI	OM611	2151 cm3	102 h.p.	235 H * m	13.7 sec.	187 km / h	4
E200 CDI	OM611	2148 cm3	116 h.p.	250 H * m	12.5 sec.	199 km / h	4
E220 Diesel	OM604	2155 cm3	95 h.p.	150 H * m	17 sec.	180 km / h	4
E220 CDI	OM611	2151 cm3	125 h.p.	300 H * m	11.2 sec.	200 km / h	4
E220 CDI	OM611	2148 cm3	143 h.p.	315 H * m	10.4 sec.	213 km / h	4
E250 Diesel	OM605	2497 cm3	113 h.p.	170 H * m	15.3 sec.	193 km / h	5
E250 Turbodiesel	OM605	2497 cm3	150 h.p.	280 H * m	10.4 sec.	206 km / h	5
E270 CDI	OM647	2685 cm3	170 h.p.	370 H * m	9 sec.	225 km / h	5
E290 Turbodiesel	OM602	2874 cm3	129 h.p.	300 H * m	11.5 sec.	195 km / h	5
E300 Diesel	OM606	2996 cm3	136 h.p.	210 H * m	12.9 sec.	205 km / h	6
E300 Turbodiesel	OM606	2996 cm3	177 h.p.	330 H * m	8.9 sec.	220 km / h	6
E320 CDI	OM613	3226 cm3	197 h.p.	470 H * m	8.3 sec.	230 km / h	6

The basic configuration of the car was equipped with a 5-speed mechanics in a pair of motors, after 2000 it was replaced by a 6-speed one. Optionally, the buyer could take a 4-speed automatic 722.3 or 722.4, a 5-speed automatic 722.5 was also available, in 1997 it was replaced by 722.6.

The drive was initially rear-wheel drive, and after 1998, the proprietary all-wheel drive system was optionally installed. 4Matic is equipped with ETS electronic traction control system, traction control system.

The reliable suspension is always the same - a double wishbone independent architecture with double wishbones at the front and a multi-link at the rear. For steering, the axles are equipped with anti-roll bars.

AMG version of the E-Class W210

E36 AMG

The first sports version of this body appeared in 1996. The engineers took the M104 engine found in the E36 AMG W124. Additionally, the suspension has been reinforced to ensure handling. The brakes are stepped up by installing a 2-circuit hydraulic system with vacuum booster and 2-piston calipers. The steering has also been improved for handling.

The engine of the model with a 3.6-liter volume produced 280 horsepower and 385 H * m of torque. As a result, acceleration to hundreds took 6.7 seconds. It is impossible to find such a car, there are too few models produced.

E50 AMG

The model appeared in 1995 and sold 2,870 pieces in two years. The car is equipped with a modified M119 engine with a capacity of 347 horses and 481 H * m of torque. In addition, a tuned gearbox is installed. The result was a 6.2-second acceleration and 270 km / h top speed.

E55 AMG

The most common version appeared in 1998, powered by the M133 engine - a 5.5-liter V8 with 354 horsepower and 530 H * m of torque. A new 5G-Tronic 722.6 gearbox was paired.

The official acceleration is considered 5.4 seconds, although some succeeded faster. The maximum speed was limited by electronics. Such a car still differs visually with sports body kits and interior equipment.

E60 AMG

Since 1996, they began to produce the top-end version of the E-Class W210 with a 6-liter V8 M119. The engine of the car produced 381 horsepower, which accelerated it in 5.1 seconds to 100 km / h. At the first stages, the volume of the engine was equal to 6.3 liters, giving out 405 forces and 616 H * m of torque.

All of these models are equipped with reinforced suspension and brakes, which were mentioned earlier. It is difficult to find such a car, it is really a rare luxury.

Major breakdowns

Motors

The basic 4-cylinder M111s are very reliable, although rare. There is a minimum of breakdowns, mainly associated with aging of elements. The only frustrating thing is the lack of power. In 2000, this engine was equipped with a compressor, which did not worsen its reliability at all, everything also goes through 200 thousand almost without repairs - only little things. Further service already begins.

M104 - The 6-cylinder most frequently encountered engine does not cause any particular problems at all, it is actively praised by owners of commercial Vito. Inspect the operation of the injection and cooling system - overheating immediately leads to problems with the cylinder head. It is also worth examining the condition of the radiator and thermostat. Due to age, the condition of all electronics should be considered, it is better that these are original parts. Avoid obvious oil leaks.

The M119 also doesn't pose a lot of problems if it's not loaded with racing. The engine lasts a long time, although it is loaded with high fuel consumption, taxes and a low prevalence of spare parts.

After restyling, the M112 and M113 motors appeared, inferior to the reliability of the previous ones. There is an interesting design of ventilation of crankcase gases and valve stem seals; there is a high oil consumption and requirements for it. Good condition indicator W210 - dry engine. When driving, listen to the work of the catalysts - a knock indicates the need for replacement.

There is even nothing to say about the line of diesel engines, they are traditionally tenacious. The only annoying thing is cargo work with large vibrations - not the level of a Mercedes. When choosing a diesel engine, you can safely navigate only by indicators, there are no unreliable motors here.

Transmission

The widespread 4-speed gearbox is exemplary reliable, even withstands prolonged overheating. In case of severe malfunctions, the box is replaced with a contract box - it’s cheaper. The 5-speed 722.5 and 722.6 often miss out on the last gear. The latest version of 5G-Tronic has many childhood illnesses, which it got rid of only in the next generation restyling. This is where problems arise with the bushing between shafts K1 and K2, the spring in the valve body pressure regulator and the overrunning clutch of the F1 package. In general, there are problems, it is better to choose 4G-Tronic.

The drives are quite reliable, although there is more fuss with all-wheel drive vehicles. Breakdowns are mostly natural and due to rare oil changes in gearboxes.

Suspension, brakes, steering

It is better to check the chassis for rust at the attachment points. The mechanisms themselves run for a long time, if you do not drive into the pits. Every 30 thousand kilometers, because of the roads, bushings and stabilizer struts will have to be changed. Levers and shock absorbers run for a long time, but it is better to check their wear, because everything will have to be repaired, but in general it will turn out to be a large amount.

There are no complaints about the brake system of the Mercedes E-Class W210, except that the ABS sensors may fail, and corrosion overtakes the equipment. The steering rack is tenacious, sometimes drips appear. Replacing the rail is relatively inexpensive, the rail itself costs 20 thousand + work.

Model price and conclusion

There are a huge number of offers on the secondary market. On average, you can rent a car for 250,000 rubles, it will be a dubious condition, so it is better to look closely at worthy options for 400 and more thousand rubles, because in the first case there will still be significant investments.

Restyling sells more expensive by 50-100 thousand rubles. AMG versions are hard to find, when the review was written there were only 6 offers at very different price tags - 300 thousand million rubles.

Conclusion: The car is generally excellent, although most are in poor condition. To buy a Mercedes-Benz W210 that does not cause problems in the future, you will have to revise many cars. The only drawback of the model is rust, which greatly damaged the company's reputation.

Video

The mid-size Mercedes in the back of the W210, released in 1995, has become an iconic model. Old fans of the brand were shocked by the appearance: double oval headlights of complex shape, the triumph of biodesign and a completely new interior style, which has gone far from the usual classic forms towards sophistication and luxury. In addition, the internal space has noticeably increased - it turned out to be an almost-almost flagship W140, only with a short base.

Of course, in terms of comfort, the car still did not reach him, but she had something to amaze the future owner. The impression was made not only by the new interior and exterior, but also by the technology ...

In the photo: W210 and W140

Not at all short about the technique

First of all, the power bar has been seriously raised. The glorious ancestor of the model, the W124 sedan, could not boast of versions with a V8: these were special and expensive E420 and E500, which differed from the base cars even by the front spars. And they were made at the Porsche plant. The new car adopted V8 engines as native - the E420 version has been available since 1996, like the AMG E50, and after restyling, the AMG E55 version with a 5.5-liter engine appeared. Since the engine compartment has become larger, third-party tuners have already transplanted the V12 engine under the hood, and with it the car was even considered the fastest sedan in the world for some time. Once again, a step has been taken towards driving pleasure. For this, not only the suspension was updated once again, but the steering gear was also replaced with a rack and pinion. At that time, the car turned out to be even more driver-oriented than the previously released C-class in the back of the W202. However, the driver was insured by electronics. All cars were at least equipped with traction control and optional ESP, and after 1999, the electronic assistant became the basic equipment. In 1997, the car was significantly updated technically, and in 1999 a restyled version was released, which received a different appearance and some other changes. Gradually, in terms of technology, the machine moved further and further from its ancestor. In 1997, the inherited four- and five-speed gearboxes were replaced with a five-speed automatic transmission with electronic control and a GTE lock - this was a new and very advanced automatic transmission 722.6 at that time. Four-wheel drive versions of 4Matiс have appeared, developed in conjunction with Magna Steyr: this scheme of permanent all-wheel drive will also migrate to the first Mercedes crossover, the ML, and later to the heir to the E-class in the back of the W211. And of course, all engines with a displacement above 3.2 were equipped with automatic transmission only. Even sports versions. The 2.3-liter inline four with the factory index M111 and the M104 inline-six with the volume of 2.8-3.2 liters (and 3.7 on the American version) were gradually replaced with new V6 engines of the M112 series, with three valves and two plugs per cylinder. In the same year, the famous fish key appeared - a consequence of the introduction of the FBS3 system with infrared signal reading. Brake Assist also appeared - for the first time in the world, a car could make a decision on emergency braking on its own, it was only necessary to sharply push the brake pedal and the system did everything on its own. Judging by the tests, the gain in stopping distance even on asphalt turned out to be solid - about two meters, and if a fragile lady was driving, then even more. Active safety has improved markedly thanks to all of these systems, and also simply due to improved handling.

On the picture: W210 4Matiс

About trim levels

In terms of safety, the passive car was generally breakthrough - it was nominally equipped with two frontal airbags, and after 1997 - with side airbags. Belt tensioners with adjustable force, head restraints in all passenger seats ... Oddly enough, but with the equipment there was no real breakthrough until 1999 - pre-styling cars could even delight in the top-end Avantgarde equipment with a manual air conditioning system and manual windows in the rear doors, absolutely simple radio and fabric seat upholstery. However, in general, the equipment was not poor. Unlike its ancestors, an electronically controlled climate system was not an expensive option, and finding a car is more difficult without it than with it. And most of the buyers still ordered full power accessories and leather for the salon. But be prepared: these are all options, which means there is a chance that a car with a powerful engine will be frankly "empty". Restyling 1999 not only put an end to the frankly poor versions, but also significantly changed the appearance. The cars have new mirrors with turn signals, door handles painted in body color, new bumpers, hood, fenders and headlights, a new Command2 audio system, a new steering wheel with multimedia control buttons, an automatic transmission with a "manual" shift mode and a new instrument cluster ... And since 2000, the weakest version of the car has also changed: instead of the already frankly weak M111 2.0 liter engine with 136 hp. delivered a version with an Eaton compressor with a capacity of 163 hp, which provided a fundamentally different level of dynamics.

Breakdowns and problems in operation

Engines

The motors of the M111 and M104 series, with which the car was released, are rightfully considered one of the most successful series of Mercedes engines in general. The M111 inline-fours were simple and powerful, with a fairly modern control system and good mechanics. Of course, the power of the "big" four 2.3 is 150 hp. still not enough for the heavy E-class for an active driving style, but most owners do not need it. But the inline sixes of the M104 series with a volume of 2.8 and 3.2 liters can already "almost everything". And the reliability is excellent - it's not for nothing that the motors made it to the list. The main thing is to monitor the health of the injection and cooling systems: long motors with a cast-iron cylinder block do not like overheating very much, the cylinder head immediately "leads". On older cars, first of all, it is worth paying attention to the state of the engine compartment wiring and numerous sensors, mainly, of course, an expensive mass air flow sensor (MAF), lambda sensors and temperature sensors. Often, "native" parts are replaced with something of a strange origin, which does not in the best way affect the state of the "iron" of the engine. Affected by the high cost of original spare parts in the past and the lack of high-quality non-original in the past. Now there is a choice, but many cars drive so slowly, with “wrong” sensors and other traces of garage repairs. You should carefully consider the state of the thermostat and radiators. If the radiators are not original, dirty or just old, and the thermostat is not native and not Wahler, then the chances of problems with the cylinder head gasket increase significantly. Pay attention to oil leaks - they often talk about poor-quality repairs, as well as the use of the "red sealant" loved by garage owners, which easily kills a long crankshaft and camshaft beds. The four-cylinder supercharged M111 Kompressor engine, which appeared in 2000, is also not bad - with good boost potential and a well-developed crankcase ventilation system, it is no more trouble than a conventional aspirated engine. This is also one of the last motors with "almost eternal" timing chains, they rarely require replacement before 200 thousand kilometers, and often run 1.5 times more. In particular, it was they who gave rise to the myth that the chain motor is. In general, the inline-fours on the E-class are not bad, and the six-cylinder engines are good at all, no matter how you look at it. The only pity is that the cars with "sixes" will certainly be older than 1997. First, the 3.2 engine was replaced, and by the end of the year, 2.8 was also discontinued.

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Pictured: M111 engine, M119 V8 and M112

The V8 of the M119 series is familiar primarily to those who came across cars in the back of the W140. This series of engines with good traction and reliability, with four valves per cylinder, has even better thrust characteristics than the later three-valve M113, but is much larger in volume and somewhat less economical. The 4.2 l engine is technically no different from the five-liter one, so the court tuning studio AMG immediately offered a completely standard M119 5.0 engine on the E50 model. First of all, the problem of such motors will be the low prevalence and poor condition of the engine compartment wiring - the more loaded thermal mode is affected than in in-line motors. The 1997 restyling of the technology introduced new gasoline engines of the M112 (6 cylinders) and M113 (8 cylinders) series: these V-shaped units are much lighter than older engines due to the aluminum block of cylinders, and are noticeably shorter. But the engine compartment of the model is clearly designed for in-line motors - although servicing wider V-shaped models is not a problem, it is much more laborious. Replacing the lower row spark plugs is especially difficult - there are two plugs per cylinder, and, by the way, they are not cheap. Iridium original is highly recommended, or at least non-original Denso or NGK nickel-iridium spark plugs can be considered as alternatives. Engines as a whole are very reliable, although the peculiarities of the ventilation system for crankcase gases and oil scraper rings make them relatively oil-loving - a waste of a liter or two is quite natural for them and does not indicate problems with the piston group. Perhaps this is the rare case when light oil consumption is really not scary. In addition, part of the flow is almost obligatory leaks from under the valve covers and from the oil heat exchanger. A dry motor is a well-groomed motor because the gaskets need to be changed regularly and the ventilation system must be cleaned. And it is advisable not to turn it into the "red zone". Intake manifold or attachment problems are rare. These series of engines performed well on later cars, so you definitely should not be afraid of them. And with runs up to 250-300 thousand, it is quite possible to count on a very good condition of all engine mechanics, which by today's standards is simply an excellent result. Moreover, these motors comply with the exhaust standard. By the way, the catalysts here are a weak point, if they rattle, then it is better to replace them. Cast iron sleeves, in contrast to the alusilic coating, do not die immediately from the ingress of ceramic chips, but the resource will drop dramatically. The V8 of the M113 series, in fact, differs only in an additional pair of cylinders and an even greater resource. True, don't expect much vigor: the gearbox and the character of the motor completely suppress any fighting spirit. Diesel engines are traditionally good. Only one thing can be said about the pre-styling ones - they belong to the old-school series, there were the legendary in-line fives OM605, and naturally aspirated sixes OM606, but the character of such engines is completely cargo. As well as vibration and odor noise. Since 1997, engines with electronic injection CDI have been installed on cars - they are more vigorous, but the story about them requires a separate discussion. In general, there is only one thing to know about them: they also did not disappoint. The W210 simply did not have any frankly problematic units.

Transmissions

On machines manufactured before 1997, two types of automatic transmissions were installed: 722.5 and 722.4. These very venerable age "automatic machines" with partly electronic control were famous for their reliability and very, no, even like that - sooooo calm nature. The absence of blocking and a minimum of electronics make them insensitive even to overheating. However, the maintenance of such automatic transmissions requires special knowledge. Most often, if the governor unit fails, they are simply changed to contract ones. A five-speed automatic transmission is considered somewhat less reliable. In Mercedes' realities, this means that the first owner of the car is just getting old, and the automatic transmission has already required repair of the fifth gear - its weak point. Well, the chetyrehstupka still drives and drives. After 1997, the automatic transmission was changed to the ultra-modern 722.6 at that time. This box is already fully electronic control, with a controlled "donut" blocking, moreover, it is able to work in the "slip" mode, unloading the transformer in transient modes. The box has already been described in the material on, it is only worth adding that in its "youth" this automatic transmission still suffered from many childhood diseases. For example, boxes until 2000 suffered from the use of a bushing between shafts K1 and K2 - the problem was solved by installing a roller bearing. If the problem was not noticed in time, then the planetary gear set was out of order, and in especially advanced cases it was necessary to replace the entire box. Another characteristic misfortune for automatic transmissions released before 2002 is a weak spring in the valve body pressure regulator and an overrunning clutch of the F1 package. After the elimination of the problems, this box showed itself perfectly, except that the more aggressive algorithm of the blocking operation and the early failure of its valve and contamination of the valve body affect the later releases of cars.

Chassis

In general, reliable machine mechanics are not a hassle. Usually the condition of the body and suspensions is much more critical. The rear multi-link is familiar to all Mercedes owners, and here it is important to just change everything on time. The double wishbone front suspension does not differ in super-reliability, and the price of the levers bites a little. Moreover, the replacement does not always go smoothly - the axes of the upper one have a bad habit of souring, and the support of the rack is corroded and cracked. So there is a chance to combine bodywork and suspension work. Suspension springs are also prone to subsidence. On an already low machine, this leads to "injuries" to the front subframe and serious damage to the floor side members and sills. Shock absorbers are traditionally reliable, only the mileage of cars is often such that the third set has been replaced. The prices for spare parts are quite big - you can reduce costs by using a high-quality non-original, since there is enough of it, but a well-repaired suspension lasts a long time. And remember: you have to do everything at once. And it would be better in a service familiar with cars, because non-core ones can condemn expensive floating silent blocks due to standard compliance or not understand the intricacies of levers and rods.

Mercedes-Benz W210 is the second generation of E-class executive cars of the German brand Mercedes-Benz. It replaced the Mercedes-Benz W124 and was produced from 1995 to 2002. The car was produced in sedan (W210) and station wagon (S210) bodies. For the first time, Mercedes-Benz designers used double oval headlights in production vehicles, which have defined the appearance of a number of the company's models.

Like its 124 body predecessor, the E-Class is robust and reliable. The ride quality of this car is impressive. The improved wheel suspension almost completely neutralizes the effects of road irregularities. For the first time on machines of this class, rack and pinion steering is used. Among the innovations are the rain sensor, the outdoor air pollution sensor, the Parktronic system. A year later, there was an "adaptive" 5-speed FRG with electronic control, allowing you to change the shift algorithm depending on the driving style. The production of W210 cars was discontinued in 2002.

History

In the Restyled Mercedes E-Class, a number of innovative solutions have been implemented that have raised the characteristics of comfort, handling and dynamics inherent in the W210 series to a new qualitative level. The list of options offered a rain sensor, an automatic air conditioning system with an air quality sensor, a parking sensor (parking sensors). The factory-installed equipment included a stability control system (ETS), front and rear power windows, an outside temperature sensor, and an additional brake light. Depending on the chosen configuration of the W210, the interior differed in the details of fittings and design elements. The Mercedes E-class of the W210 series has a new steering wheel with steering column joysticks for controlling the car radio and navigation system.

A total of 1,653,437 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 210 series units were assembled during production on assembly lines in Sindelfingen, Rastatt and Graz.

At the time of the launch of the Mercedes W210 model, the line of power units was completely revised. The modernized Mercedes W210 engine was distinguished by reduced fuel consumption and, accordingly, lower harmful emissions. The previous generation of the E-Class used engines similar to those found in the C-Class family. The exception was the Mercedes E290 Turbo Diesel with the fundamentally innovative OM 602 DE 29 LA series engine with direct injection of the fuel mixture. In addition to the diesel engine, another original modification was offered in the E-Klasse series 124 - Mercedes E 200 Kompressor, with a compressor engine of the M 111 series.

The multi-link rear suspension of the predecessor of the Mercedes E-class of the 142 series turned out to be successful and was practically unchanged was transferred to the restyled version of the Mercedes E-Klasse W210. In the front end, instead of simple shock absorbers, a new, more complex design on double wishbones was used. The mechanism based on double wishbones of the transverse type contributed to the reduction of the swing moment and increased the braking efficiency. The ball steering is based on a so-called soft steering rack supported by a standard Servolenkung (power steering).

Since 1997, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class 210 series has been available with the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. Compared to previous versions, the all-wheel drive concept implemented in the E-Class of the W210 series had a fundamentally different approach. The permanent all-wheel drive functioned in conjunction with the ETS electronic traction system and traditional differential locks. New versions of 4MATIC all-wheel drive systems have been developed and built in collaboration with the engineering corps from Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz. All-wheel drive was available on sedans (W210) and station wagons (S210) of the Mercedes E-class of the 210 series.

A 5-speed manual transmission was installed on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W210 of the first years of production. In 2000, it was replaced with a modernized 6-speed manual transmission. A 4-band automatic was available as an option, and a 5-speed automatic was offered starting in 1997. In 2000, the classic automatic transmission was replaced by an automated version with 5 speeds and manual shifting.

Towards the end of production, the Mercedes-Benz W210 was produced with the E320 and E430 engines, as well as special editions in two colors - quartz silver (limited edition) and obsidian black. Cars were equipped with xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels and maple / walnut trim. The Mercedes-Benz W210 became the first car of the brand to be released with xenon headlights (including the function of dynamic light control - only for low beam).

In total, the production plan for the E-Class W210 series included eight modifications, differing in power units and exterior and interior trim elements. In dealerships, E-class Mercedes differed in alphanumeric indices, in which, after the letter "E", indicating the car's belonging to the E-class, there was a number indicating the W210 engine (for example, a car with an engine with a working volume of 2295 cm3 was marked as E230). In versions with diesel engines, the letter "D" was added to the equipment marking.

Overview

Exterior

In contrast to the more conservative styling of its predecessor, the Mercedes-Benz W210 has acquired a completely new design. Four elliptical headlights at the front of the car and soft lines provided a dynamic (by the standards of the time and the presence of a large fleet with more rectangular shapes) appearance. The car's design was immediately recognized with the Roter Punkt award. The unique body structure had a low aerodynamic drag coefficient at the time of the car's debut (Cd = 0.27). Water-based paints were used as a paintwork.

The wheelbase of the car has grown by 33 millimeters, and the overall length of the car by 56 mm.

The styling of the exterior and interior design options for the new E-Class was based on the already well-known concept developed on the C-Class cars. The base model was the Classic line, the more comfortable and elegant line was Elegance, and the sporty appearance and equipment were provided by the Avantgarde line. All three options were installed on any of the presented engine models.

Interior

The designers of the company have given the car's interior massiveness and roundness. As before, some interior elements were finished with natural wood. From a technical point of view, the car received front and rear power windows, an external temperature display, a dust filter, a climate control system with air recirculation and a third brake light on the rear window sill.

Design

E-class W210 - a car with a monocoque body, classic layout: front engine, rear-wheel drive. Since 1998, 4Matic all-wheel drive versions have also been produced. The range of engines included 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines, both gasoline (naturally aspirated and supercharged) and diesel. The W210 is the latest generation of the E-class, which was powered by naturally aspirated diesel engines, as well as in-line 6-cylinder gasoline engines (until they were replaced by V6 engines in 1997). Transmissions: 5-speed manual (since 2000 - 6-speed); automatic: 4-range from the beginning of production, 5-speed from 1997, 5-speed with manual shift - from 2000. Suspension - independent, double wishbone front and 5-link rear, both with anti-roll bars.

Engines

The use of a V6 engine was first proposed in 1998 to replace the inline-six and eight (1996-1997) configuration. This new Mercedes-Benz M112 engine producing 204 hp. (164 kW) and 229 ft-lb (310 Nm) of torque and accelerated to 100 km / h in 6.9 seconds. Later, other offerings appeared: E420 (1997), E430 (1999-2002) and E55 AMG (1997-2000) with 354 hp. (264 kW) and 5.4 L naturally aspirated engine. In North America, the range also includes two diesel E300 engine models, including naturally aspirated (1996-1997) and turbocharged (1998-1999) 3.0 liter inline sixs. In 2000, Mercedes-Benz discontinued the installation of diesel engines in the E-Class for North America. In 2000-2002 in Europe, diesel engines were replaced by more advanced Common Rail (CDI, Diesel Direct Fuel Injection). CDI engines were not offered in North America until the E320 CDI in the new W211 model.