Before 1995, an E-Class with googly eyes saw the light of day. Despite steep prices, the quality was saved. The W 210 series demolished the image of indestructibility.
In May 1995, the W 210 generation E-Class was lifted onto the big stage. The applause was muted. The break with the defining design of the predecessors W 123 and W 124 shocked many. The face with the four googly eyes was conspicuous, but didn’t really match the huge luxury class sedan.
And at that time no one suspected that this E-Class would also leave a very mixed impression in terms of quality. The W 210 managed to get the brand’s most loyal customers, the taxi drivers, to the barricades. The predecessors had developed a nimbus of indestructibility since the legendary Strich-8. W 210 was a red pencil model that saved everywhere. The car had become more expensive to sell, and between 20 and 25 percent were saved in production costs.
Red pencil with consequences
And you soon noticed that. Water-soluble paints, moderate rust prevention and bitchy electronics made life difficult for this E-Class. The fact that a luxury car rusted like a Fiat in the 1970s in the late 1990s was a widely visible sign of shame. The disaster was accompanied by numerous anecdotes. For example, through the statement of a large Mercedes dealer that the W 210 was processed like a tractor from the Albanian hinterland.
The reputation suffers from this to this day, this series has not become a real classic despite its unmistakable exterior. That’s a shame, because it offers plenty of space and a gigantic range of drives. In addition, there is high-tech and safety equipment that no competitor could keep up with at the time. The range extends from the Mercedes E 220 Diesel as an estimate to the E 55 AMG.
Well-kept specimens have their price
In the course of the production time, the E-Class not only got two facelifts, but also equipment extensions and a regular refresh of the engine portfolio. In the upper class, the E-Class prevailed with equipment details such as numerous airbags, ESP, xenon light, parking aid, navigation system, multifunction steering wheel and all-wheel drive for the eight-cylinder.
As a youngtimer, this E-Class was in a bad position despite its advantages. The predecessors were giants of automobile construction, whereas the W 210 series was pale. In addition, the cars were quickly unpopular and cheap. The majority was not cherished and cared for, but rather burned. Due to the sheer number of vehicles, there are always enough top-maintained models from first-hand ownership on offer today. For something special, such as an E 55 AMG with full equipment, solid prices of well over 20,000 euros are called despite the dubious reputation.
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.
