Have been considering buying a high miler C140 for a while now, I have a C126 and a C215 both of which are superb cars and would like to fill the generation gap between them!!!
I am looking at a '97 CL500 with 130k miles on the clock, azurite blue. It has a full service history and lots of previous documents (thankfully) and the asking price is £5k, which seems a bit low despite the high mileage. The dealer tells me there is slight rust bubbling under the two front wheel arches and the left side rear wheel arch.
Anyone got any knowledge of how badly corrosion issues hit these cars - it's a '97 model, a year which was pretty bad for most W210 E Classes, despite different production lines. Anybody had serious issues with rust on their C140, and how did you resolve them?
Any and all advice very gratefully received!!!
cheers
__________________
Current metal:
2002 (C215) CL500 (Batmobile), Obsidian Black, 53k miles
1997 (C140) CL500 (Bismarck), Emerald Black, 131k miles
1991 (W201) 190E 2.6 Sportline (Blake), Almandine Red, 133k miles
1990 (C126) 420 SEC (Bruce), Astral Silver, 109k miles
1978 (R107) 350 SL (Boabby), Signal Red w/ silver hardtop, 115k miles
From what I've heard the 140 has good rust protection preventing it from rusting.
A 1997 model with rust must mean that the climate where the car has been driven is wet and salty. The fenders can be painted and the rust is gone but how about the rest of the car?
I have a 1994 C140.
It spend the first 5 years in Germany and the rest here in the north of Sweden.
Here where I live the roads never gets salted during the winters but I dont know if they salt the roads i Germany.
Main doesnt have any rust at all. Not even underneath. Lucky me.
I would look for another one without the rust. When it has started rusting it will continue.
Ta for reply
Further conversations with dealer this morning - 3 of 4 arches affected - both front wheel arches show bubbling, one where you could probably pull off bits of metal.
Are replacement front wings available for these cruise missiles?
Car is 250 miles away from me so not easy to go and view, have asked him to get some pics of the arches up close but again that's not always ideal.
Failing that I can get it redone at a bodyshop - depending on how serious it is...
Rust problems due to salty roads are not only confined to bodywork. If bodywork damage is visible, I bet you will have suspension, transmission and driveshaft problems sooner than later. I will just pass on that car and look for a better option.
__________________
A. R. R.
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995
i had the same problem on my 1996 S320L. rust in the wheel wells and on the lower rocker pannels and the rear trunk lower decklid. it was so bad i sold i sold the car i have a 95 s320 that i have have for 5 years now in perfect shape and i've never had any problems with this car
i also am planning on buying a cl or s coupe in the near future. so i will look out for these problems. thanks
Hi guys
Well I decided to ditch the slightly rusty C140 in hope of finding another one.
And I have!!!
Less mileage (124k), still FSH, a few less extras on the car and emerald black metallic paintwork (189). Aftermarket alloys which I might change if I buy.
Anybody got one in emerald black - what's it like?
Going to see it next week! This one apparently has no rust - let's hope so...
thanks for your replies
Linear Mode
