I recently bought a 1997 E420 with 100k miles. I love the car so far. However, when I raised the car tonight to change the oil, I found serious RUST on the passenger side spring perch (see pics) The other side and both driver's sides looked ok on visual inspection, but who knows what's really going on.
Questions:
1. How bad does this look? Will it let go any day now?
2. Is MB USA covering the repair cost? What phone # do I call?
3. If they deny payment, how much can I expect to pay out of pocket??
I'm very disappointed and needless to say I won't be driving much until this issue is resolved, my family or I could be killed.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get this fixed ASAP.
My 97 E320 with 130,000 miles just had a spring perch failure due to the same rust a few months ago. Luckily I was only going around 20 mph on a local road when the whole thing cracked and fell off. The car fell onto the frame, the spring flew off and bounced down the road, etc, etc.
It was not a good scene at all and at highway speed could have been very, very bad.
The good news was that this is a known problem with the 210 and when I called my local dealer they said to have it towed over to be inspected... Long story short, the entire repair on both sides was covered 100% by MB as a warranty repair.
Do a search on rusted spring perches and you'll get a ton of info.
But most imprtantly, have it inspected and repaired ASAP. Rust will never go away, it only gets worse.
Thank you for the photos. This puts picture to the many things I am hearing about this issue. It is very poorly engineered and built. Looks like a Fiat suspension. Very sad day for the MB name.
I am looking at a low mileage E320 to replace a near perfect 190E. I wanted to buy the E320 for the extra safety features. Now I see that I would need the many extra safety features from the potential of this model doing damage to us without the intervention of a drunk or other bad driver on the highway. The forum has helped me to reconsider this decision.
Gave the car a top clean over the weekend and found plenty of little rust spots I am not happy about.
As for the spring perch problems, does it affect all RWD W210's? I am going to get mine inspected as I do not have the knowledge to inspect these things myself.
(Hmmm, thinks to himself he should have kept that W124 in a nice warm garage on blocks instead of selling...)
The 4Matics DO Have Rust Problems along with the Other W210s
Doors/Trunk lids/Rear Quarter panels....It is NOT only the spring perch
Yes, I should have been more specific. 4matics are not going to leave a spring in your wake, but these cars all rust at places other than the spring perches, given the chance.
Found RUST on spring perch 97 E420!!! HELP 
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