Issues with the W210 that I know of:

1) Certain V6 engines have the harmonic balancer problem. There was a recall/service campaign bulletin about harmonic balancer failures and a replacement schedule. Affected cars include W210s from '98 - '01 with 112 and 113 engines. Which equates to a heck of a lot of cars. Some cars outside that range also were affected. But basically, a harmonic balancer failure while the car is in motion is a very expensive problem.

2) Blower motor regulator for the A/C tends to fail after a while too. Apparently this affects the earlier batch of W210s, and in this country, it's not a good thing.

3) Rear electric window regulator failures x100000. The palstic gears get mashed up and the window falls into the well. Have to replace the entire assembly.

4) Suspension ball joints wear out at an alarming rate, especially on the Avantgarde spec with the lowered ride. Looking at maybe 50k too, but you may be able to live with the lower tolerance if you drive sloooowwwlly and carefully. In our pothole country, good luck.

5) Mass air filters/ 02 sensors have to be replaced at maybe every 50k.

6) Talking about sensors, there are a lot of warning lights that pop up. You'd find that many have the letters ABS/ESP/BAS and such. Problem is the brake light switch, and if not, then the actual accelerometer at the wheels.

7) Rust. Anti-corrosion wasn't somethign MB took a lot of care of during the W210 era. Always check the car super thoroughly for rust. Especially, look at the wheel wells, and around the suspension components.

8) The Infamous Steering Wheel Squeak. Quite possibly the most annoying issue possible.

9) At every 100k, you'd be thinking of a piston ring replacement, and motor mounts.

10) At 150k, you'd want new rotors too, cos new pads won't stop the brake squeal.

11) Transmission: worry about this. At 150k, some other Mercs would be begging for a tranny overhaul.

12) Others: wheel bearings, cats, deterioration of internal plastic parts, failure of electric seat motors, air cond vent vanes breaking, rubber button coating melting into a sticky mush, interior light failure and yeah, rear brake lights burning out and melting out the brake light housing.

While many of the problems above are faced by many W210 owners, not all affect them. My regular merc mechanic says that he sees a lot of the above in W210s, there are some particularly problem-free ones. Ultimately, it also does depend on how spirited/careless the previous drivers have been.

However, you can't discount the fact that this is a premium auto, and carries premium features, which upon failure, demands a premium bill. The W210 came in a time when really complex electronics were first making their way into regular passenger cars. So if you do decide to get one, jus tbe aware of the costs involved.

Also, W210s are kinda underpowered and severely wanting for a 6th gear....

Edit: this post was't actually targeted at the person quoted, more towards those thinking of owning a W210.

i don't know much about Mercedes.. but here's a pic of my neighbors'.. At first I thought that Naza had open new branch in our neighborhood.. if i'm not mistaken.. from left is CLK, C Class, S Class & E Class..
(they usually move the cars out of the porch like this when they have the maid to clean up the porch... usually on Monday or Thursday morning... eh, do I sounds like a stalker?)



captured using hp camera.. a bit shaky though..

i don't know much about Mercedes.. but here's a pic of my neighbors'.. At first I thought that Naza had open new branch in our neighborhood.. if i'm not mistaken.. from left is CLK, C Class, S Class & E Class..
(they usually move the cars out of the porch like this when they have the maid to clean up the porch... usually on Monday or Thursday morning... eh, do I sounds like a stalker?)



captured using hp camera.. a bit shaky though..

i don't know much about Mercedes.. but here's a pic of my neighbors'.. At first I thought that Naza had open new branch in our neighborhood.. if i'm not mistaken.. from left is CLK, C Class, S Class & E Class..
(they usually move the cars out of the porch like this when they have the maid to clean up the porch... usually on Monday or Thursday morning... eh, do I sounds like a stalker?)



captured using hp camera.. a bit shaky though..

i dont think even germans own that many LOL

whoa..crazy fren! cls 55..cost 1mil+.. others veli expensive too..ahaha maid got a cheap car as well.. lucky u dun tell me the maid drives a beemer or something

house in Shah Alam?

thats cool stuff but i hav a fren who drives a E46 328Ci supercharged. his elder bro drives a  JCW Mini Cooper.

His dad has a CLS 55AMG, Ferrari 360, Ferrari 278 GTB (or something like that...), Range Rover, 996 Porsche 911, another older 911.

The Range Rover is the daily ride and its on 22inch rims 

Da maid has a car too  a Tiara.

the SLC is actually a SL wif a metal roof. Its to cater to the market of ppl who wants a more engaging car bcos wif the megal roof, the chassis is much tighter and more rigid thus has better handling.

The later generations SL use soft tops except the R230 which came wif a SLK like foldable metal roof.

Indeed its a rare car. I've seen it only a couple of times in KL and once in Singapore, in fact it was last weekend when i drove there.

For that particular generation of Mercedes, I love the SEC. Another big coupe, a strict 2+2 where as the SL(C) is a 2 seater wif a bench behind that is good for anybody that's below 4 feet tall.. 



A little bit of trivia, the SEC was replaced wif the S Class coupe (that look like a damn tank). That has been replaced wif the CL class. And they've just replaced the CL class.

lol.. what engine? nissan?

now my mercs give me problem.. 3 power window cannot use anymore.. hahahaha...