19 Feb 08
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (1995-2002)
Prices: From £2,000.
Engines: 2.0, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 3.2, 4.3, 5.4 petrol; 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.2 diesels.
Watch out for: Early signs of rust, especially around wheel arches, door bottoms, window seals and suspension mountings; oil leaks in four-cylinder engines; auto gearbox problems; suspension and braking faults; poor engine mounts; imports with dubious history.
For: Still looking good; getting very cheap now; Merc prestige.
Against: Slow four-cylinder models; not as solid as it looks; Stuttgart taxi image.
When it comes to E-Classes, it's the estates that are the most desirable. AMG-ed models apart, the saloons are less sought-after, and they just get cheaper and cheaper. This W210-series E-Class also had more than its fair share of problems new, so it never held its value as well as the earlier much-loved square-fronted W124.
Find a good rust-free example, however, and it should have been de-bugged by now. With its twin circular headlamps, it still looks modern, and there's a huge variety of models to choose from. The early W210 Es may be near-banger money to buy now, but they're bangers you can really take pride in owning.
Review: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (1995-2002)
