Listing snapshot
| Spotted | October 29, 2026 |
| Asking price | C$8,640 |
| Mileage | 241,202 km |
| Location | Oakville, ON |
| Listed on | Facebook Marketplace, private seller |
| Drivetrain | 3.0 L OM606 inline-six diesel, automatic |
| Status | For sale when we spotted it on October 29, 2026. Ads come and go; this page keeps the record. |
A silver 1997 Mercedes-Benz E300 Diesel was listed privately in Oakville, Ontario in mid-October 2026 at C$8,640 or best offer, with 241,202 km. It is the naturally aspirated OM606 inline-six, which is the engine people who like old Mercedes diesels talk about in reverent tones, and the seller has written one of the most complete disclosure lists we have seen on Marketplace. We are keeping the record here for anyone pricing a W210 diesel.
What it is
The 1997 E300 Diesel is the first-generation W210 E-Class with the 3.0-litre OM606 inline-six diesel, naturally aspirated in this year, and an automatic transmission. This one is silver over blue leather with wood trim, power seats, windows and mirrors, a sunroof and the factory alloy wheels. The seller calls the condition well preserved for its age and the photos agree: the paint is even, the blue leather has held its colour and the dashboard is uncracked.
What the seller discloses:
- Brake job and SRS module replacement needed for certification
- Transmission slips slightly and a rebuild is expected within about 20,000 km
- Minor rust and cosmetic bodywork, no known structural rust
- Air conditioning needs diagnosis
- Two physical keys, no remote fob, unlocks from the passenger side
- Sold as-is and uncertified
The cluster photo shows 241,119 km, a few dozen short of the ad figure, and the cassette radio and climate panel in the last photo are the originals. The seller says the car runs and drives well and that the price reflects the work needed.
Why this car matters
The OM606 is the engine that built the Mercedes diesel legend in its last chapter. It is a 3.0-litre inline-six with four valves per cylinder and an inline injection pump, the final Mercedes diesel before common-rail injection changed everything, and it is known for running past half a million kilometres with basic care. Tuners around the world build turbocharged OM606s making several times the stock output, which tells you how strong the block and bottom end are. In North America the naturally aspirated E300 Diesel was sold for just two years, 1996 and 1997, before the turbo version replaced it. Blue leather with wood trim is a spec you almost never see. What makes this car cool is that it is the last of the old-school Mercedes diesels in a body that still looks modern, and it was the car that people who know chose when they wanted something that would simply not die.
Mercedes Benz E Series price history
Every Mercedes Benz E Series we’ve spotted for sale, oldest first. These are asking prices, not sale prices.
| Spotted | Car | Asking price | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI | $6,700* | 382,261 km |
| Oct 2026 | 1997 Mercedes-Benz E300 Diesel (this car) | $8,640* | 241,202 km |
*Canadian listing, so the price was most likely in Canadian dollars.
Is C$8,640 a fair ask?
This is a high ask for a W210 diesel that needs brakes, an SRS module and a transmission within the year. What supports it is the engine, the colour combination, the honest list and the fact that clean OM606 sedans are scarce in Ontario. What hurts it is that the transmission alone will cost a meaningful share of the asking price, and the as-is sale puts every one of the listed jobs on the buyer. The seller invites offers, and we think the realistic number is well under the ask once the transmission is priced in.
A little E300 Diesel history
Mercedes sold the W210 E300 Diesel in North America for 1996 and 1997 with the naturally aspirated OM606, then as the E300 Turbodiesel for 1998 and 1999. The inline-six diesel was the last of the old-school Mercedes diesels before the common-rail CDI engines arrived, and it has a reputation for very long engine life.
More cars from the archive
- Every Mercedes Benz E Series we’ve spotted, with asking prices
- 2005 Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI, another Mercedes Benz E Series
- 2010 Mercedes-Benz GL 320 CDI, another Mercedes Benz
- 2008 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 CDI, another Mercedes Benz
- 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL 320 BlueTEC, another Mercedes Benz
