The W210 E-Class, launched in 1995, brought the mid-size Mercedes firmly into the upper end of the luxury market. Though six-cylinder models were still offered, the four-light front end and high prices moved the car upmarket. In September 1999 the W210 E-class was facelifted. This included visual, mechanical and quality improvements over the earlier versions.
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1996.
While the W210 sedan was replaced by the W211 in 2002, the wagon version continued to be sold until 2003 until the W211 wagon was available.
The Mercedes-Benz W210 is an executive car which was produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz from 1995 through 2002 (production of the wagon variant (codenamed S210) carried over to the 2003 model year). They were sold under the E-Class model names in both sedan (saloon) and station wagon body types. In 1988, W210 development started 3 years after the W124's introduction. The W210 E-class appearance, which was designed by Steve Mattin under design chief Bruno Sacco between 1989 and 1991, heralded a brand new design idiom for the Mercedes 'face', which would continue until the C209 CLK. This design cue was previewed on the 1993 Coupé Concept shown at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1993. This idiom was the mainstream fashion used by Mercedes-Benz for a long period, and later appeared on other models such as the CLK (C208, C209), C-class (W203), CL (C215), and the SL (R230).Design patents for both the Coupé Concept and the W210 E-Class were filed on 25 February 1993 in Germany and August 25, 1993 in the US.
On July 21, 1998, design patents were filed on an updated W210 (designed in 1997).As a result, for the 2000 model year, a new multi-function information system was incorporated into the instrument cluster below the speedometer, and the introduction of steering wheel controls for the audio/navigation/phone system. In addition, the 5-speed automatic transmission introduced "Touch Shift," which used the +/- gate positions for semi-manual control of the gearbox. This electronic system replaced the previous gated shift arrangement and simplified gear changes. Exterior changes included a revised front with a steeper rake, similar to the CLK, and restyled bumpers and lower body trim. The final W210 production included the E320 and E430 special editions released in two exterior colors - quartz silver (limited edition), obsidian black, and with Xenon lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and black maple walnut trim.
Engines
This was the first time a V6 engine was offered (model year 1998) to replace the straight-6 configuration (1996–1997). This new Mercedes-Benz M112 engine produced 221 hp (164 kW) and 229 ft·lbf (310 N·m) of torque and offered a 0-60 mph (98 km/h) of 6.9 seconds. Other offerings were the E420 (1997), E430 (1998–2002), and E55 AMG (1999–2002) with 354 hp (264 kW) and a 5.4 L normally aspirated engine. In North America, the range also features two diesels, including both non-turbocharged (1996–1997) and turbocharged (1998–1999) 3.0 litre straight-6 units. In 2000, Mercedes-Benz discontinued diesel powerplants in the E-class in North America. In Europe, the diesel engines were superseded by more advanced Common Rail (CDI) units (2000–2002). The CDI engines were not offered in North America until the E320 CDI in the newer W211 model.
Gasoline Engines for North American Market.
- E 320 (I6 M104, 3.199 cm³ 3.2L, 162 kW/220 PS/217 hp) 1996-1997
- E 320 (V-6 M112, 3.199 cm³ 3.2L, 164 kW/224 PS/221 hp) 1997-2002
- E 420/400 (V-8 M119, 4.196 cm³ 4.2L, 205 kW/290 PS/286 hp) 1997
- E 430 (V-8 M113, 4.266 cm³ 4.3L, 205 kW/279 PS/275 hp) 1998-2002
- E 55 AMG (V-8 M113, 5.439 cm³ 5.4L, 260 kW/354 PS/349 hp) 1998-2002
- E 300 Diesel (I-6, 2.996 cm³ 3.0L, 100 kW/136 PS/134 hp) 1996-1997
- E 300 Turbodiesel (I-6, 2.996 cm³ 3.0L, 130 kW/177 PS/175 hp) 1998-1999
| 2.0 16V | I4 | 152 PS (112 kW; 150 hp) | 190 N·m (140 lb·ft) | M111.942 | 9.4 - 10.4 |
| 2.0 16V | I4 | 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) | 190 N·m (140 lb·ft) | M111.943 | 10 - 11 |
| 2.0 16V K | I4 | 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) | 230 N·m (170 lb·ft) | M111.957 | 9.7 - 10.2 |
| 2.3 16V | I4 | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) | 220 N·m (162 lb·ft) | M111.970 | 10.4 - 10.9 |
| 2.3 16V K | I4 | 197 PS (145 kW; 194 hp) | 280 N·m (207 lb·ft) | M111.947 | 7.1 - 8.0 |
| 2.4 18V | V6 | 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) | 225 N·m (166 lb·ft) | M112.911 | 9.6 - 10.2 |
| 2.8 24V | I6 | 193 PS (142 kW; 190 hp) | 270 N·m (199 lb·ft) | M104.942 | 8.6 - 8.9 |
| 2.8 18V | V6 | 204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp) | 270 N·m (199 lb·ft) | M112.921 | 8.9 - 9.1 |
| 3.2 24V | I6 | 220 PS (162 kW; 217 hp) | 315 N·m (232 lb·ft) | M104.995 | 7.8 |
| 3.2 18V | V6 | 224 PS (165 kW; 221 hp) | 315 N·m (232 lb·ft) | M112.941 | 7.7 |
| 4.2 32V | V8 | 290 PS (213 kW; 286 hp) | 400 N·m (295 lb·ft) | M119.985 | 6.4 - 6.6 |
| 4.3 24V | V8 | 279 PS (205 kW; 275 hp) | 400 N·m (295 lb·ft) | M113.940 | 6.0 |
| 3.6 24V AMG | I6 | 280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp) | 385 N·m (284 lb·ft) | M104.xxx | 6.0 |
| 5.0 32V AMG | V8 | 347 PS (255 kW; 342 hp) | 480 N·m (354 lb·ft) | M119.985 | 5.7 |
| 5.4 24V AMG | V8 | 354 PS (260 kW; 349 hp) | 530 N·m (391 lb·ft) | M113.980 | 5.4 |
| 6.0 32V AMG | V8 | 381 PS (280 kW; 376 hp) | 570 N·m (420 lb·ft) | M119.985 | 4.9 |
| 6.2 32V AMG | V8 | 405 PS (298 kW; 399 hp) | 616 N·m (454 lb·ft) | M119.985 | 4.7 |
| 2.0 16V D | I4 | 88 PS (65 kW; 87 hp) | 135 N·m (100 lb·ft) | OM604.917 | 13.2 |
| 2.2 16V D | I4 | 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) | 150 N·m (111 lb·ft) | OM604.912 | 13.0 |
| 2.2 16V CDI | I4 | 102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp) | 235 N·m (173 lb·ft) | OM611 | 12.7 |
| 2.2 16V CDI | I4 | 116 PS (85 kW; 114 hp) | 250 N·m (184 lb·ft) | OM611 | 12.5 |
| 2.2 16V CDI | I4 | 125 PS (92 kW; 123 hp) | 300 N·m (221 lb·ft) | OM611 | 10.8 |
| 2.2 16V CDI | I4 | 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) | 315 N·m (232 lb·ft) | OM611 | 10.5 |
| 2.2 16V CDI | I4 | 143 PS (105 kW; 141 hp) | 315 N·m (232 lb·ft) | OM611 | 10.4 - 9.9 |
| 2.5 20V D | I5 | 113 PS (83 kW; 111 hp) | 170 N·m (125 lb·ft) | OM605.912 | 10.9 |
| 2.5 20V D | I5 | 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) | 280 N·m (207 lb·ft) | OM605.962 | 9.5 |
| 2.7 20V CDI | I5 | 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp) | 370 N·m (273 lb·ft) | OM612 | 9.0 - 7.7 |
| 2.7 20V CDI | I5 | 163 PS (120 kW; 161 hp) | 370 N·m (273 lb·ft) | OM612 | 9.0 - 8.0 |
| 2.9 10V TD | I5 | 129 PS (95 kW; 127 hp) | 300 N·m (221 lb·ft) | OM602.982 | 10.0 |
| 3.0 24V D | I6 | 136 PS (100 kW; 134 hp) | 210 N·m (155 lb·ft) | OM606.912 | 10.0 |
| 3.0 24V TD | I6 | 177 PS (130 kW; 175 hp) | 330 N·m (243 lb·ft) | OM606.962 | 8.4 - 7.6 |
| 3.2 24V CDI | I6 | 197 PS (145 kW; 194 hp) | 470 N·m (347 lb·ft) | OM613 | 8.3 - 6.9 |
Transmissions
The 1996 model W210 E-Class carried over the 4-speed automatic transmission from the previous W124 generation E-Class. In 1997, Mercedes installed in the E-class its electronically-controlled model 722.6 5-speed automatic transmission that first saw duty in 1996 in the V8-powered W140 S-class models. The 722.6 transmission is now used in a number of Daimler-Chrysler vehicles.[12] The 5-speed transmission was marketed as "sealed for life" however Mercedes dealers now recommend changing the fluid at regular intervals. A 5-speed manual is also available, although during facelift in 2000, it was replaced by a 6-speed manual.
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