1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Classic 3.0 turbo diesel

Summary:

Beautiful big german cruiser of the old school

Faults:

Small fan belt for A/C fans was detached at purchase, unknown to everybody, as nobody knows it is there!

Fan belt tensioner damper noisy; easily cured using the car's own toolkit and £26 in parts

General Comments:

Huge feelgood factor, feels immensely strong and secure to drive, like it is invincible.

Small boot with factory fitted optional 80L fuel tank, however this provides great cruising range.

Automatic child seat recognition is very handy.

The 3.0 turbo diesel gives fantastic performance and economy, reliability is well proven, and it's cheap to maintain. However it takes 7.5 litres of oil.

Very fast car for what it is; a little diesely in terms of smoke on kickdown, but shifts like scalded cat.

Air con could be better despite a service; otherwise very easy to maintain.

Apparently prone to rusting, our example is a UK car since new, but has only minor blistering; less so than our 1999 Vectra and our 1998 5 Series BMW.

Fantastic speakers despite being basic Classic spec.

Handles better than a 5 Series of the same age, due to less roll oversteer, although the large steering wheel takes a bit to get used to.

TD models have Parameter steering as standard, which is very light at parking speeds and not much heavier when cruising; again an acquired taste, but makes moving this large car about very easy, and I personally love it; every other car feels heavy and truck like now!

Fantastic MB brakes as usual, and a feeling of generally being bank vault tough; whether it is or not is irrelevant, it feels so, and therefore is a proper Benz!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th March, 2014

13th Jul 2022, 16:53

Love these cars, but hard to find one now without rust...

1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E320 3.2 petrol

Summary:

Fast, practical, comfortable load carrier and towcar

Faults:

Not a thing so far, apart from a broken surround on one of the rear seatbelt buckles.

General Comments:

A real joy to drive, and a significant improvement on the old W124 model in this respect.

There are disquieting reports of serious rust problems appearing on various MB owners' web forums, but my car seems mercifully free of this apart from some very minor signs of corrosion underneath the paint around the rear door release handle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th February, 2005

1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E200 estate 2.0 petrol

Summary:

Absolutely superb, hard to fault

Faults:

Seat belt in rear needed to have surround replaced.

Back seat folding mechanism came loose.

General Comments:

This is the best car I have ever owned - I have had numerous Volvo's, and another Mercedes (280SE).

It is quiet, comfortable, superbly appointed.

It is fairly good on acceleration and top speed - ample for the average person.

It averages 32mpg on the motorway, and about 26mpg around town.

The load space is huge, as is the passenger accommodation.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st September, 2003

1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Avantgarde 3.2 petrol

Summary:

Toyota E320

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car in the short time I have owned it.

General Comments:

Received the car in good faith in 1999.

Quality has dropped right down.

Japanese cost-cutting affected the marque appallingly.

Performance fairly good.

Looks attractive.

Strength of build not there.

Buy a BMW (or a pre-'94).

Mercedes needs to concentrate as well as profligate.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd August, 2001

8th Dec 2001, 01:39

This is what I'm worried about. How can I replace my late model W124 E Class??? I can't stand BMWs and Audi command respect, but not love.

21st Jun 2003, 08:08

Having owned two Mercedes E-Classes, currently I have an W124 '95 E320. This is an amazingly well built car with a lot of power and fun to drive. However, I am concerned about the later-model E320s. It's sad that such a quality manufacturer as Mercedes is making these cutbacks. It makes me wonder whether my next car will be a Mercedes... are there any manufacturers out there still producing cars like the W124s?

24th Jun 2007, 14:35

1996 E320 drives like dream; Audi or BMW can't make up to. Currently 220000km; next car MB ONLY.

6th Mar 2008, 09:18

It seems the above commenter has overlooked the point. *After* 1997, many, many, people have complained about a substantial decline in the quality of MBZ. Having owned some earlier vintage models, I test drove a 1999 model myself. It may not be a scientific evaluation, exactly, but the car was tangibly a lesser car than the earlier models--quality of the trim, leather, hardware, fit & finish, even the ride quality. Such that I wasn't willing to invest in it, especially in light of the comments I'd seen from so many others. Albeit, just two cents...

9th Mar 2008, 23:12

Can't agree. I have both a 1990 300td 4-matic (180K miles), and, now, a 1999 e320 4-matic sedan (140K miles). While I was expecting poor build quality based on everything I've read, the 1999 e320 is a great car, solid, stable, reasonably quiet, handles better, much better acceleration, radio, climate control, legroom, and generally more fun to drive than the earlier car. The earlier car is also very solid, stable and reliable, but in no way is it "fun to drive."

20th Sep 2008, 23:34

I have owned Mercedes for over 50 years. Right now I have the 2002 E320 with 77k on it and owned it sice new. Not a single issue at all.