Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W210) — BrandWiki

Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W210)

Overview

Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W210)

manufacturer	Daimler-Benz (1994–1998) DaimlerChrysler (1998–2003) Magna Steyr (4MATIC models only)
production	June 1994‡R1R‡ – March 2003 (sedan) May 1995‡R2R‡ – December 2002 (station wagon)
model years	1996–2002 (North America) 1996–2002 (sedan) 1997–2003 (station wagon)
assembly	Germany: Sindelfingen (sedan and station wagon‡R3R‡‡R4R‡); Rastatt (sedan, until October 1996)‡R5R‡ Austria: Graz (4MATIC models only)‡R6R‡ Egypt: 6th of October City (EGA)‡R7R‡ India: Pune (TELCO)‡R8R‡ Mexico: Santiago Tianguistenco‡R9R‡
designer	Steve Mattin Bruno Sacco‡R10R‡‡R11R‡
class	Executive car (E)
body style	4-door sedan (W 210) 5-door station wagon (S 210)
related

The Mercedes-Benz W210 is the internal designation for a range of executive cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz and marketed under the E-Class model name in both sedan/saloon (1995–2002) and station wagon/estate (1996–2003) configurations. W210 development started in 1988, three years after the W124's introduction.

The W210 was designed by Steve Mattin under design chief Bruno Sacco between 1988 and 1991, later being previewed on the 1993 Coupé Concept shown at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1993. The W210 was the first Mercedes-Benz production car featuring Xenon headlamps (including dynamic headlamp range control, only low beam).[12]

Design patent and facelift

Design patents for both the Coupé Concept and the W210 E-Class were filed on 25 February 1993 in Germany and 25 August 1993 in the US.[13][14]

engine	Petrol I4 2.0 L M111 2.0 L M111 supercharger 2.3 L M111 2.3 L M111 supercharger I6 2.8 L M104 3.2 L M104 3.6 L M104 V6 2.4 L M112 2.6 L M112 2.8 L M112 3.2 L M112 V8 4.2 L M119 4.3 L M113 5.0 L M119 5.4 L M113 6.0 L M119 6.5 L M119 Diesel I4 2.0 L OM604 2.2 L OM604 2.2 L OM611 CDI I5 2.5 L OM605 2.5 L OM605 turbo 2.7 L OM612 CDI 2.9 L OM602 turbo I6 3.0 L OM606 3.0 L OM606 turbo 3.2 L OM613 CDI

AMG versions

There were four engines that AMG installed in the W210. The first was the E 36, M104.995, launched in 1996 for select markets then the M119.980 in the E 50 AMG produced from early 1996 until late 1997. This model was assembled in Affalterbach under the one man one engine philosophy, only available in left hand drive European markets although many were exported to Japan from new. It is estimated around 2,800 E 50's were ever produced in its limited production run. There was also an option for the M119.980 V8 that was bored out to 6.0L and increased power to 381 PS the cars these were fitted to were designated as the E 60 and came in sedan and wagon varieties. A limited edition 6.3L version, also badged E 60 AMG were built in 1996 generating 405 PS and 454 ft.lbf of torque. In 1998 came the M113 powered E 55 which used a 5.4L V8 SOHC 24V to produce 354 PS and 391 ft.lbf of torque.

The body styling on all of the W210 AMG models was the same until 2000 when a facelift and interior upgrades were implemented. The W210 E 55 was the last vehicle for which a major portion of production took place at AMG in Affalterbach. Production was actually split between Affalterbach and the Bremen Mercedes-Benz facility until the end of 2001.

E 36 AMG

The rarest of the W210 AMG models due to low productions numbers is the European-spec E 36. Based on the E 280, it was only produced in 1996 and 1997 and was not available in the US market. In Australia, they cost upwards of AUD $185,000 (new) and there were only 49 units sold. The E 36 is powered by a 3.6 L M104 inline-six engine producing 206 kW at 5750 rpm and 385 Nm at 4000 rpm.[24] The E 36 looks identical to the E 55 (pre-facelift).

Production figures: <400 (production models).

Performance

0–100 km/h: 6.7 seconds (AMG figure)
Top speed: 250 km/h (electronically limited)

E 50 AMG

The European-spec E 50 was only produced in 1996–1997. The E 50 was not available on the US market.

Production figures: ~2,870 (production models).

Engine (Same engine used in the S500/C, SL500, with tuned exhaust and cylinder head)

Transmission

Performance

The 1998 and 1999 E 55 are identical to the E 50 (pre-facelift).

Chassis: 210.072
Motor: M 119.985
Transmission: 722.6xx

90° V8, high-pressure die-cast alloy block, alloy heads
Displacement: 5.0 L (6.0)
Bore: 3.72 in
Stroke: 3.51 in
Compression ratio: 11.2:1 (same)
Output: 342 hp at 5550 rpm

1998 E 55 AMG

The W210 E 55 was produced for 5 years 1998 through 2002 with a facelift in 2000. Production figures. ~12,000 accounted for (production models). 3000 per year. 500 per year imported into North America.

Engine

Transmission

Performance

Chassis: 210.074
Motor: M 113.980
Transmission: 722.622, or in some cases known to be 722.636.[25]

90 degree V-8, high-pressure die-cast alloy block, alloy heads
Displacement: 5.4 L
Bore: 3.82 in
Stroke: 3.62 in
Compression ratio: 10.5:1
Output: 349 hp at 5550 rpm

2001 E 55 AMG

The 2001 model year E 55 was a rare version of the W210 E 55 AMG, of which only 653 units were produced in 2001. It has a 5.5-litre V8 that produces 354 hp and 391 lbft of torque. Various road tests revealed ranges of 0–60 mph times in 4.8-5.3 seconds and quarter-mile times in 13.3–13.5 seconds at around 105-107 mph.

Common items were AMG exclusive "Condor" leather, black birdseye maple interior wood trim, AMG monoblock staggered 18-inch wheels and tires, AMG sport suspension, AMG brakes, AMG/Avantgarde front and rear body aprons with "dynamic" side skirts, AMG body shell modification, HID xenon headlights, Avantgarde fog lamps, heated multicontour AMG sport seats with power and memory, multifunction computer, automatic climate control system, Bose premium sound system, power tilt and telescoping leather-covered AMG multifunction sport steering wheel, power glass sunroof, power rear sun shade, and blue glass. Most of these items were standard in North America.

E 50, E 60 and E 55 AMG - common technical specifications

Suspension After model year 2000 Bilstein gas shock absorbers and progressive-rate springs were added with larger, solid stabilizer bars.

Brakes Hydraulic dual-circuit braking system with vacuum servo unit, disk brakes, internally ventilated, two piece front "floating" rotors and 2-piston front floating calipers.

Steering

Wheels and tires (tyres)

Dimensions and weight

Options available

Power adjustable front seats, power tilt & telescoping leather-covered AMG sport steering wheel, leather upholstery, leather shift knob, 5 speed automatic transmission, Brake Assist System (BAS), Electronic Stability System (ESP), automatic climate control with charcoal filter, heated front seats, heated rear seats (European models), front and side airbags, power windows, metallic paint, xenon HID headlamps. Most of the options were standard in North America. Rare options were Parktronic (sonar parking sensors on front and rear bumpers), COMAND navigation 2000-2002 (CD based map) with integrated single CD player AM/FM/Weather band in dash radio with steering mounted controls, remote trunk mounted 6 disk CD player, Mercedes Tele-Aid satellite/cellular communication (2000-2002) cooled/heated vented seats, voice control radio/navigation and built in cellular telephone. E55 Wagon (Estate) not offered to North American market.

Front independent double wishbone with coil springs, gas-pressurized shock absorbers and stabilizer bar.

Reliability concerns

Some known problems include the front spring perch being corroded and tearing away from the inner fender (wing), causing the front suspension to collapse. (4Matic models are not believed to be affected.) Other problems include defective harmonic balancer pulleys (recall), rust on trunk lid near latch, rust on Mercedes emblem on front hood, rust on door frames under window seals (recall), rust on front wings just above bumper, defective mass airflow sensor, melted rear light bulb sockets, defective blower motor regulators, and rear window regulator failures.

Harmonic Balancer - Some M112 and M113 engines used in W210 models were equipped with a harmonic balancer pulley which, due to a supplier quality problem, may fail and cause engine damage. If the rubber insert of the harmonic balancer pulley delaminates, the pulley may grind through the timing chain cover and oil pan, causing several thousand dollars of damage. Mercedes-Benz USA issued Service Campaign #2005-020003[30] which included inspection of the part and replacement if necessary at no cost. The part number on the harmonic balancer pulley can be compared to those given to Mercedes-Benz dealers in the Service Campaign notice[31] to determine if the part is a faulty original or has been replaced with the updated part. Replacement of the faulty part with the updated part should be a permanent solution to this problem.

Blower Motor Regulator - If this part fails, the climate control fan will not operate faster than approximately 50% power. Mercedes updated the regulator to improve its reliability, but the redesigned regulator requires the installation of a new blower motor. The old-style regulator, which is compatible with the existing blower motor, is no longer manufactured. The blower motor regulator may be replaced with the much less expensive W140 S-class blower regulator, provided that the E-class wiring harness is re-attached to the S-class regulator.[32]

Front Sway Bar Drop Links - While not a serious concern, most E-classes end up with a sub 35 mi/h clicking or rattling sound from the front end. This is usually due to worn out front-end sway-bar drop links. These can easily be replaced by anybody with minor knowledge of vehicle DIY, for no more than around £20.[33]

Front Spring Perches - Some owners have reported rust problems on the front spring perches - the top perches, which hold the tops of the springs for the front suspension. The perches are spot welded to the chassis, and factory coated in a weatherproof mastic to stop their rusting, however in some rare occurrences, water gets behind the mastic causing the perches to rust and eventually to fail - leading to collapse of the suspension. The car remains controllable. This is a problem that Mercedes USA have acknowledged. The problem is not identifiable without first removing the mastic to check.

Body corrosion - Most model year versions of the W210 displayed body rust, notably on European-sold cars. Rust would sometimes appear spontaneously on panels such as doors and roofs on cars less than a year old. In response to this problem, the manufacturer would in some cases change or repair the affected panels under warranty or good will.[34] Mercedes-Benz has been criticized in the European press for not officially acknowledging this problem. This was due to problems introducing water-based paint technology within the German automobile industry, between the years 1998–2002.

Window regulators - The power window regulator, essentially the mechanism that transfers power from the electric motor to the window, has a few plastic parts that can fail after several years causing the power window to stop operating.[35]

Cylinder Head Gasket - The cylinder head gasket on the M104 is known to fail, causing an oil leak at the rear of the cylinder head.[36]

Differential Bushing - The rear IRS differential bushing wears rapidly during high performance driving and cornering.

Diesel injection distributor pump - The OM604 engines (E 200D and E 220D) were equipped with an electronically controlled injection pump from Lucas. The seals of the Lucas injection pumps become brittle over time and leak. The electromechanics have also been known to fail. Since the replacement of the entire injection pump is very expensive, a repair kit is offered in which the affected seals are replaced. Failed Lucas pumps are also commonly replaced with Bosch pumps from W124.

Front lower control arms - In high mileage examples, mostly from climates where salt is used on the roads in winter time corrosion damage might cause the control arm failure where the stamped sheet metal control arm is welded to the cast part, due to inadequate drainage hole in the control arms.[37]