I just picked up a new toy yesterday. It is a 2007 Mercedes Benz E320 I think. Not sure about the year without running the Vin to double-check. I do not have a title for it but what I am doing with it does not matter. I found it a couple of weeks ago dropping someone off from going with me to a breakfast and when I dropped them off I had to check it out. The flat tires were the way to tell it had been sitting a while. The dude commented on making me an offer right away about getting rid of it. So I now own this car for the price of $200 plus $50 for a tow truck ride.
We did get it started and it ran for a few seconds each time so I grabbed it. The front pass side spring is in the back seat and need to wait to get better weather to see what damage there might be to have caused the spring to pop out of the control arms. The idea for this in Aug this coming year is to use it for the local demo derby in the gut and go class and a special family heat race for a few family members.
Do any of you guys know anything about these cars and what we will need to do to make sure that we can get onto the track to hit people? I know nothing about this car. I know Mercs are very costly for parts and upkeep. I do want to try an autocross before Aug and a couple of car shows and maybe a drift night to get some extra use out of the car.
Mndsm
MegaDork
12/30/23 9:44 a.m.
Youre gonna derby a merc? I know nothing about them but I like this idea.
No title, not idea, and the price...i mean what can go wrong....
Butters
New Reader
12/31/23 11:30 p.m.
Definitely not a 2007. That looks like a W210 (1996-2002). Early ones still suffered from bio-degradable wiring harnesses (until 96 or 97). I'm more familiar with W124 models, but the inline 320 engines can suffer from leaking headgaskets. Usually not catastrophic failure, but continued weeping or oil in the coolant. Plenty of notice before a failure. The automatic transmissions in the previous models frequently failed in the 100-150K range. Starts with a delay shifting into reverse and eventually reverse fails. Not sure if this was addressed in W210 models. But the drivetrain is otherwise great and durable.
I know the W210 models had rust issues, I think in the rear shock area. Several things, such as locks, are vaccuum operated but fairly easily fixed.
Mndsm said:
Youre gonna derby a merc? I know nothing about them but I like this idea.
This was exactly my thought. How awesome it would be to go to a DD and show up in a Merc.
Last year my nephew went to one show and his class had a dude show up with one and they pounded that car hard.
Given the stereotypical demographics, bringing a Merc to a demo derby sounds like wearing a "kick me" sign...
In reply to bludroptop :
More like a Kick Me overall, but it's made of heavy German steel 
My nephew is talking to the promoter for a special heat race for the family at the fair and this is the car I am going to run against them. They are all going to be midsided to smaller cars I think. Depends on what my nephew digs up for most of them.
