The new car is a ...

[messerschmitt owner]

...well, what could it be? It's on the driveway, I've already had to spend my first bit of money on it for a MAF ...

 

Last Thursday began by getting up at five for the bus to Gloucester - hearty breakfast at the Bus Station cafe and then off to the train station to catch train to London. Cross London on the Circle line to Liverpool Street and train to Wickford. Then all change for Burnham on Crouch and collection from station in a Mercedes ML270.

 

Five minute trip to the edge of the world - well, a farm with lots of barns full of cars. Short test drive, bit of a haggle and then I drove to the post office in Burnham to tax this ...

 

IMG_1027-1 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

It's not too bad, a little bit of rust on the roof but the body is sound - stone chip on bonnet needs attended to and it will need a new screen before next MoT due to a small crack. Has leather and aircon, a working COMAND sat nav with multichanger CD in the boot and needs a good old clean with leather cleaner.  More importantly, no sunroof and it even has Xenon lamps - a novelty to see where one is going at night after so long in an XM. Boot is cavernous and the car drives like a dream. Does 43mpg on a run and a new MAF should improve on that by a couple of mpg. Black obsidian with Xenon lamps and 17in alloys is a run-out spec for the 320cdi. Registered just before Christmas 2002 and with 175,500 miles on the clock (now 176,500). Cruise control works, and she feels tight and has a great engine.

[Rocket88]

That's an eclectic mix of fine old chod you have there........................

[EssDeeWon]

That sounds like a mission. I live near Burnham on Crouch, as the crow flies. It is the end of the earth.

[messerschmitt owner]

to the left out of view is an XM estate and in the garage, smart roadster, Messrschmit and Bond.

[messerschmitt owner]

That sounds like a mission. I live near Burnham on Crouch, as the crow flies. It is the end of the earth.

It wasn't too bad - was there by 1.20 and it was three hours home to Gloucestershire. Farm it was on was about three miles out in the marshes.

[Six-cylinder]

I do like the 320 CDi Estate and still wonder if I should have bought one rather than the Volvo V70 I did buy.

[messerschmitt owner]

it's actually a nice place to be on a long run and very, very comfy. This one has a full Mercedes specialist history and two owners from new before me (one was mercdedes, the other a private owner, who, if the satnav is anything to go by, worked in truck sales.

[Spiny Norman]

Nice cars the old W210s, so long as you get one with some actual metal still in it.
I really liked my E320 and must say I had none of the rust or electrical issues they're notorious for. I'd have another one in a shot.

[cort1977]

Agree they are comfy barge, must be great in a diesel flavor.   I got a E320 a few months ago, it's been great.   Only electrical issue traced to brake switch that then fixed itself.   Kids love the third row.

[messerschmitt owner]

ha ha - my wee one, who's almost thirteen, has discovered the back row of seats! I had to take her pal back home yesterday and they both went in the boot through choice.

[cort16]

This must be a pretty late one I think the new shape ones came out on an 02.

No signs of Black Death ?

[messerschmitt owner]

estates ran into 03 - just!

 

It has a stone chip on the bonnet and a teeny bit of rust on the roof at the back - other than that looks good. I think the colours other than silver had more and thicker paint ... hence rust protection. Arches and door bottoms all seem good.

 

It is a run-out model with the black metallic paint, xenon headlamps, and 17in alloys.

 

I'll be playing tomorrow, fitting a new MAF.

 

F*cking thing is like a PA Cresta with those bloody pointy bits on the bonnet! Ouch!

[Lord Sterling]

Yo! Nice looking mowta. Welcome to Autoshites non-existant Merc Estate owners club. I think there is 4 of us or so now.

[messerschmitt owner]

Mo

 

you too need to be on http://www.mercedesworld.net/forum/

 

it's my second Mercedes shooting brake, the first was a W123 230TE - which is positively agricultural in comparison to the W210.

 

Having gone from the XM with its rubbish lights to full beam xenons is great and the power is a joy to behold - there's nudging 200bhp on tap.

[HMC]

Looks great! Came close to buying one myself in 2012, same engine, deciding factor was corrosion nibbling various panels and uncertainty about how solid a crossmember was at the front, yours is a later one which I think means less at risk of the rust/ paint malarkey.

[messerschmitt owner]

nah, the silver ones rust more - at any age!

 

It looks fine, this one and it is a pleasant change from the XM - still getting used to an auto again, especially one with so much power.

[cort1977]

My silver one has plenty of rust but hopefully more cosmetic than structural.   According to teh internetz the 4matic cars do not suffer the same crossmember and front strut woes that the RWD ones do.  

[messerschmitt owner]

Here are some more pics!

 

I need to give the arches and under the wheel liners a good clean out but she's quite solid.

 

and, yes, there's been some car shuffling

 

Mercedes W210 E320 KP52 WKW by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1033 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1036 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1038 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1042 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1040 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1037 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1034 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

IMG_1036 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

[rainagain]

Nice!

[Melchior]

Father has one of these on a X plate, he's had it many years and has spent an insane amount of money fixing many things.  In the last couple of years, nothing serious has gone wrong. Last time I saw it at Christmas it was on 198,000 miles, I think it had about 70,000 when he bought it.  Fair play to him for sticking with it and to you for choosing one

[cort16]

Looks nice that although I can't stand black wheels. I'll post you a tin of silver wonder wheels. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!

[messerschmitt owner]

I think I should buy a different set of alloys .... in silver and alternate.

 

I think too that I'd need two cans of silver wonder wheels ...

[beko1987]

Does look smart campbell, not quite as good looking as the XM estate sitting next to it though! If I had the money etc!

[messerschmitt owner]

I prefer the look of the XM, and the suspension is probably better but the Merc has power, and lights that work in the dark ...