1999 Mercedes-Benz E320 Elegance Auto Buy or not?

The W210 is a great car, marred only by its rust issues. The 320 petrol V6 is actually pretty good on fuel for its capacity (even the 430 V8 isnt bad!) and very reliable with normal care and servicing. Just look at the car carefully for signs of repaired rust damage! If its been done badly enough that you can spot fresh paintwork around wheel arches, where front and rear bumpers meet the the wings, top of door frames - then the chances are it hasnt been done properly! BUT - they don't ALL rust! I would rather see slightly tired, original paint all over so that you know it hasnt just been tarted up to cover corrosion. If you can, look at the front spring top mount where its welded to the inner wing, these can rust and fail due to water getting behind the seam sealer.
The rust problems of this era of Mercedes were caused by a variety of factors, the use of poor quality recycled steel, a move to water based (and poorly applied and placed) seam sealers and a general attempt at cost cutting at the time.
That said, other than those issues, the W210 is a great car and now that the "diesel is the greatest thing on earth" bubble has burst, the 320 petrol engine is a great choice. The least satisfying engines, in my opinion. are the 4 cylinder petrol lumps, unrefined and very "un-luxury car" like.
Don't listen to all the nay-sayers in regard to these cars! Ive owned 32 Mercs in the last 35 years and worked on hundreds more. Sure, there was a problem with rust on a LOT of them - but find a genuinely rust free one and its a very good car.

Quite simply yes, imperial has put it all down perfectly
I’ve owned two an E280 petrol and an E300 turbodiesel
Both were superb rust free cars
I’d have another without a doubt

We are close to Brisbane. Lots of Euro wreckers. Parts will be no problem.

Oh and the reliability of mercs from that era??
I’ve had my C250 TD seven years it’s never let me down
Quite simply the best car I’ve ever owned
Never kept a car more than six months so that tells its own story

Yes, they rust, and yes they have a few issues. Which fancy cars don't however?

For me they are well worth a punt. Do your research, buy carefully and enjoy.

It was me driving my mechanic's tired W210 E220 CDI estate that gave me Mercedes Envy again believe it or not.

$4500 (2528 GBP) is what we are looking at.

$4500 buys you stacks of other cars. Small, big, old, new etc.
I have nothing against Small, big, old, new at all.
I just can't see myself in a 2010 Corolla or Nissan Tiida.
I need to feel the luv!!
I would be happy in a new Bimma but can't afford one.
I can get a loan but don't like that. I can use all my saving but my wife doesn't like that
and neither do I.
So, within my limited budget I try to get champagne on a beer budget.
That Merc is close to champagne I think.

The UK has always been much cheaper than most of the world for cars. Now I appreciate the UK's gap is closing there.

In 2006 my mates and I bought the following:

-A tired but working Volvo 740 Estate for £220 & an iffy Escort XR3i Cabrio for £350, both with 12 months' ticket and the Volvo even had tax on it!

When my friend was looking for a cheap car in Spain at the same time (he moved over and bought our shares out of the XR3i) he could not find anything comparable.

A slightly better condition Golf Mk1 Cabrio was 2000 Euros and an iffy Volvo 240 2.0 carb was 1500 Euros! In the end he bought a Mondeo ST24 from the UK for £700 in much better condition than anything over there. MOTs did cause an issue but generally it was fine.

That story hasn't changed much at all. Even the Polish are now buying VAG stuff sight unseen with zero haggling due to our cheaper prices. A Porsche 944 Turbo in Norway is still stupidly expensive over there even with their appreciation as of late over here.

Back on topic....

For spares if you get them try Mercedes themselves if they are anything like the UK. Sometimes the prices are silly ; for the bits I've got however the prices have been very reasonable and in a number of cases cheaper than greedy parts breakers on eBay : £2 for a light knob vs. £10 on eBay? £18 for a rear 250D badge vs. £25 for a NOS or used item anyone?

It's not just BMWs and Mercs it affects. It is rife in the Porsche world.

The only exceptions I've found so far are Ford (about the same price, maybe cheaper from an eBay Ford dealer) and Mazda ; their dealers really don't want you buying any parts from them ; MX-5 Parts sell genuine parts for less than Mazda themselves and can deliver it faster.

In the Porsche and BMW world's normally the other way around to the Mazda scenario.

We had a look at the Merc and even without driving it or starting I knew that this was the one!
It's near immaculate. It's a very well cared for car. It is clean as whistle, NO rust everything works
and it runs beautiful.
Took it for a run and it is so nice and quiet. Very comfortable.
I really like it.
Photo's will follow.

Plans for it:
Different Mercedes wheels and tyres.
Window tint
drivers side mirror is a little weird. Looks like looking into a 3D picture without the blue and red glasses.

The car has not been used much in the last few years and needs fresh fluids etc. I'll get the gearbox serviced as well.

Thanks