- Engine / equipment
- Body of the E-Class W210 saloon and S210 estate (all engines)
- Period mentioned
- 1995–2003
- Symptoms
- Bubbles and rust on the front wings, wheel arches, door bottoms and under the upper door seals, around the boot lock, around the windscreen and at the bottom of the grille. A car sitting lower at one front corner can indicate a broken spring or spring perch.
- Possible cause described
- Corrosion protection on this generation was poor, and owners agree that facelifted cars are also affected. The most serious rust is hidden: the front spring perches and the front cross member, whose plastic tray traps water. If a perch gives way, that corner of the car can drop while driving.
- Check for the garage
- On a lift: front spring perches (hard to see with wheels on), front cross member (visible from above between radiator and engine), boot floor and the battery area under the rear seat. Compare the ride height at all four corners. Structural rust is bodyshop work and should be repaired before further use.
- Cost cited in the source
- No verifiable estimate in the sources; it depends on how far the rust has spread. Ask a bodyshop for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.
Sources from the original database
MBWorld (W210 forum): rust, boot and spring seatsMBWorld (W210 forum): widespread corrosionMBClub UK (forum): spring seat and broken spring on a W210MBClub UK (forum): where to look for rust on a 2001 W210MBClub UK (forum): the facelift W210 rusts tooMBClub UK (forum): common E320 estate S210 faults