8th Sep 2008, 09:08

Well as a fireman and an E-320 owner, cars do not explode. The tires explode and airbags may explode but cars do not. Not like in the movies. So if your engine is on fire, you have a few minutes to get out. The car WILL not explode!!

14th Jul 2009, 00:38

I think it is too extreme to qualify so low a car for the reasons stated in this review. The car was bought with more than 57000miles, the previous owner could have hit the gas tank with something in the road. That is not Mercedes fault... And the window problem... That can happen in any car with that device. Just take it to the dealer and tell them to reprogram.

15th Jul 2009, 08:30

"Why would anyone have their car towed because of a smell?"

That was a wise person to tow the car for a strong gas smell. One of my co-workers had a strong gas smell for a few days. Kept driving the car saying he would take it into the shop when he had time. Before he did, the engine caught fire. So he got out and watched it burn up. Thankfully he was smarter than a lot of people and he did not open the hood. Many people get bad arm and face burns when they open the hood to see where all the smoke is coming from.

15th Feb 2017, 01:34

If the engine bay catches fire, the car will not explode. You still need to get out of the car and stay at distance. Never open the hood as mentioned above; flames can suddenly erupt from fresh air and burn your face and hands.

However, if the rear of the car catches fire, then yes the gas tank can and will explode. Not like you've seen in a Cuba Gooding action film, but the gas tank does explode after burning for a few moments and you'd better be at least 100 yards away.

4th Aug 2023, 19:25

Sounds like operator error to me. It certainly isn't the build quality of Mercedes-Benz vehicles... especially during that era. Indeed, it is widely believed that the company built their very best cars (the best cars ever made by anyone, anywhere) between 1954 and 1993; the pinnacle of the Daimler-Benz era. Second place is probably the 2003-2006 Daimler-Chrysler era.

The build quality of Daimler AG vehicles 2007 and onward is effectively hit-and-miss now: Either you get the superior attention to detail of the hand made AMG engines, the coach-built quality of the revived Maybach marquee, the stunning finishes of the S-class coupes, and maybe even the robust power delivery and longevity of the BlueTec diesel sedans, OR you get the garbage of the non-AMG powered C-classes, plastic filled and budget minded E-class cars, the even worse "American made" GL-class SUVs, and the cost-cutting gone off the rails experience of the newer SL-class roadsters that when compared to an R129 -- or even an R230 -- are outright unimpressive, to say the least.

No, I'd say there was probably nothing really wrong with the car. Someone cracked the gas tank, is all. And even if it was defective, that is hardly an indictment of the whole of Mercedes-Benz! I had a 1996 Infiniti Q45 that was leaking gasoline. Turned out to have a crack in the gas tank. I took it to the independent BMW/Mercedes-Benz/Porsche shop where I take all my cars and they put in a new fuel tank, fuel pump and solenoid for $600. Problem solved. I drove that car FOUR YEARS without a single problem. Did nothing but replace the battery and change the oil and filter. Those are also amazing cars; equivalent or even better in quality than a Lexus LS400, in my opinion.