anniversary
E-Class W 210 – the rust and breakdown class from Mercedes
The wide bars make this E-Class less light than its predecessors.
© press-inform – the press office
In 1995, a googly-eyed E-Class saw the light of day. Despite steep prices, savings were made on quality. The W 210 series demolished the image of indestructibility.
In May 1995, the E-Class of the W 210 generation was lifted onto the big stage. The applause was muted. The break with the formative design of the predecessors W 123 and W 124 shocked many. The face with the four googly eyes was conspicuous, but didn’t quite go with the mighty luxury sedan.
And at that time, no one suspected that this E-Class would leave a very mixed impression in terms of quality. The W 210 managed to get the brand’s most loyal customers, the taxi drivers, on the barricades. Since the legendary Strich-8, its predecessors had acquired an aura of indestructibility. W 210 was a red pencil model where savings were made everywhere. The car had become more expensive to sell, and between 20 and 25 percent were saved in production costs.
Red pencil with consequences
And you soon noticed that. Water-soluble paints, moderate rust prevention and bitchy electronics made life difficult for this E-Class. For a luxury car to rust in the late 1990s like a Fiat in the 1970s was a widely visible sign of shame. The disaster was accompanied by numerous anecdotes. For example, when a large Mercedes dealer said that the W 210 was processed like a tractor from the Albanian hinterland.
The reputation suffers from this to this day, this series has not become a real classic despite its unmistakable appearance. That’s a shame, because it offers plenty of space and a gigantic range of drives. In addition, there is high-tech and safety equipment that no competitor could match at the time. The range extends from the Mercedes E 220 diesel as a taxi to the E 55 AMG.
Well-kept copies have their price
Over the course of the production period, the E-Class not only received two facelifts, but also equipment upgrades and a regular refresh of the engine portfolio. In the luxury class, the E-Class prevailed with equipment details such as numerous airbags, ESP, xenon lights, parking aid, navigation system, multifunction steering wheel and all-wheel drive for the eight-cylinder.
Despite its advantages, this E-Class is in a bad position as a modern classic. The predecessors are giants of automobile construction, while the W 210 series pales in comparison. In addition, the cars quickly became unpopular and were sold cheaply. The bulk was not nurtured and cared for, but burned. Due to the sheer number of vehicles, there are always enough well-maintained models on offer from first owners. For something special, such as an E 55 AMG with full equipment, solid prices of well over 20,000 euros are called for in spite of the dubious reputation.