On Tue, 22 Aug 2006, dave walton wrote: > If you go with a 99, you get Traction Control (ASR) standard, and > Stability Control (ESP) optional. Check the window sticker - some late > 98's may have one or both. The front upper spring mounts rust away > under the paint and goop they were covered with at the factory. You > really have to dig at it to see it it has started rusting - there may > not be ANY visible staining. If so, $600 per side + $160 or whatever > they can get for an alignment. The cars are prone to rust. Simple > nicks in the paint blossom into rust bubbles within weeks. Fuel system > components around the fuel filter are plastic, not the metal we are > used to seeing. In fact, much of the body trim and interior is plastic > and will break easily. Not as many stainless steel bolts and screws. > In fact, the thing just wants to rust away on you. > Still, they are fast, comfortable, and a pleasure to drive. They run > well on WVO.
You forgot to mention that 99 gets side curtain airbags standard (not available at all in 98) I park mine outside and have no rust issues, BUT I Always keep a paint stick in the car. You will have the usual leaking delivery valve seals at 100k or so ($50 parts, $650++ in labor), injector return lines (easy enough), the ACC (or whatever it is called) LCD can "lose" segments of numbers ($600) (buy one off ebay!), the passenger seat occupancy sensor can fail causing SRS errors when the passenger seat is occupied ($150 parts, took me 2-3 hrs labor)... Usual suspension wear (ball joints, bushings). You also get a Air Mass Meter that can and will go bad. ($85 part from Rusty, IIRC, $200 dealership + diagnoses etc etc etc == $700!). Put any oil you want in it as long as it is mobil 1 0w40. I understand they CAN sieze glow plugs which is a machine shop job ($2k?). Don't lose the key (DAS3 vehicle ownership authentication token :P). They are drive-by wire and require eletric to run, so the days of driving home with a dead battery and a failed alternator in a horrid snowstorm are gone (been there and done that!) --BUT-- -The front rotors are OUTSIDE the hub so you dont have to disassemble the knuckle. -The lower ball joints can be replaced without stripping the knuckle. -They are insanely fun to drive for a diesel (okay not 540i M-sport fun, but....) -You don't have to push it to run at 85 (it loafs at it) -You need ASR at least (yes you can break traction with it off of a line (conti ch95's)) -It is quite stable and agile (for a large-ish benz) even in excess of posted speeds -Highway running? 15+k mi oil changes. City running? 10k mi. -dead skunk on the road on a hot summer day? charcoal filter. :):):) -33mpg -coolant change interval- 250k km or 15 yrs. -wicked cool electronic/ir key system I put ~1k/wk on mine (since November until who knows how long).. it is worth my time to have the stealership do the B service Be careful driving it like you stole it :)
