89 300E advice needed
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
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2000 VW Passat
89 300E advice needed
I just bought an 89 300E 2 weeks ago. I love the car, but unfortunately it has some "issues". I bought it from an out-of-state dealer and he lied about the car having any problems. It needs a new exhaust, new struts & shocks all the way around, the A/C doesn't blow cold, the antenna is stuck in th up position, the rear headrests don't fold back and the driver side headrest doesn't move either. btw, the car has 205,000 miles on it and has been repainted cherry red (the car cost me $2500).
To get a state inspection sticker on the car, I will need to get the exhaust and suspension repaired first. I'm going with Bilstein, but I was wondering if I should go sport, comfort or heavy-duty? I live in Maine so the roads are horrible in most places.
For the exhaust, I can't afford the stock mufflers and cat. The muffler shop will make me a custom setup, but I have to choose the mufflers (one for muffler and one for resonator). I was thinking of using a Hooker Headers Aero Chamber muffler behind the cat and a Stainless Works Smooth Tube muffler after that for a resonator. Suggestions/opinions would be appreciated!
Regards,
LA
To get a state inspection sticker on the car, I will need to get the exhaust and suspension repaired first. I'm going with Bilstein, but I was wondering if I should go sport, comfort or heavy-duty? I live in Maine so the roads are horrible in most places.
For the exhaust, I can't afford the stock mufflers and cat. The muffler shop will make me a custom setup, but I have to choose the mufflers (one for muffler and one for resonator). I was thinking of using a Hooker Headers Aero Chamber muffler behind the cat and a Stainless Works Smooth Tube muffler after that for a resonator. Suggestions/opinions would be appreciated!
Regards,
LA
Last edited by LAwebTek; Aug 23, 2005 at 11:38 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 882
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From: Sherman Oaks
2004 C240, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
A few people have magnaflow and like them...
For the shocks. if you have stock springs, go with the HD's...
If you have lowering springs, go with the sports.
AC probably needs a recharge, the evaporator might be leaking, and if it is it will cost a lot to replace, so just have it recharged and see if it leaks down over time. the rear headrests are vacuum controlled, so either the switch is not operating the vaccum releases, or you have a vacuum leak on them. the front headrest is most likely a broken clip. does it go up and just not down?
The antenna could just need a new mast. should be able to get that for a cheap price on ebay.
For the shocks. if you have stock springs, go with the HD's...
If you have lowering springs, go with the sports.
AC probably needs a recharge, the evaporator might be leaking, and if it is it will cost a lot to replace, so just have it recharged and see if it leaks down over time. the rear headrests are vacuum controlled, so either the switch is not operating the vaccum releases, or you have a vacuum leak on them. the front headrest is most likely a broken clip. does it go up and just not down?
The antenna could just need a new mast. should be able to get that for a cheap price on ebay.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 285
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From: Richmond, Va.
1991 300E
You can get the muffler for $190 from any of the online guys. I don't know if that's what you mean by "too expensive". Muffler is a sinch to replace if you have a Sawzall. Just cut the old one out, put the new one in and tighten down the clamp. Literally took me 5 minutes to do. Resonater is a little pricey. I echo just charging the A/C with R-12. If it leaks out again, forget it. How hot does it get in Maine anyways?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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2000 VW Passat
Thanks for the feedback 
I will go with the HD shocks; that's what I was thinking too since this is a fairly heavy sedan. I'll head back over to the Jeg's site and check out the Magnaflows. $190 is too steap for me when I can get a perfectly good performance muffler for $30 - $70. I have to pinch pennies where I can in order to fix everything that is wrong with this car.
How easy is it to replace the antenna mast myself? Is there already a topic about that somewhere that I can read?
As to how hot it gets in Maine, well.. it gets into the upper 90s during July and August, but the rest of the time it's too cold for my taste. In fact it's already been in the 40s a couple times recently. I'm from South Carolina originally, so even after living here for 6 years I just can't adjust to the cold weather.
I will go with the HD shocks; that's what I was thinking too since this is a fairly heavy sedan. I'll head back over to the Jeg's site and check out the Magnaflows. $190 is too steap for me when I can get a perfectly good performance muffler for $30 - $70. I have to pinch pennies where I can in order to fix everything that is wrong with this car.
How easy is it to replace the antenna mast myself? Is there already a topic about that somewhere that I can read?
As to how hot it gets in Maine, well.. it gets into the upper 90s during July and August, but the rest of the time it's too cold for my taste. In fact it's already been in the 40s a couple times recently. I'm from South Carolina originally, so even after living here for 6 years I just can't adjust to the cold weather.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 882
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From: Sherman Oaks
2004 C240, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
the mast is easy as hell. just make sure that is the problem first. does the antenna motor run?
If it does, then you may have to do a few things to do the mast.
1. Remove the antenna.
2. open it up.
3. Remove the broken cable inside along with the mast.
4. Inspect the gears to make sure they arent broken.
5. Reinstall antenna.
6. Insert new mast.
7. turn on radio.
8. turn off radio and twist mast so cable catches ont he gears and it will start to pull it down.
9. when it is down, reattach the nut.
if the mast cable is not broken, just do the following
1. Undow nut on top of antenna by base of the mast
2. Turn on radio and pull mast up
3. Insert new mast and turn off radio to feed the cable down
4. Reattach nut.
If it does, then you may have to do a few things to do the mast.
1. Remove the antenna.
2. open it up.
3. Remove the broken cable inside along with the mast.
4. Inspect the gears to make sure they arent broken.
5. Reinstall antenna.
6. Insert new mast.
7. turn on radio.
8. turn off radio and twist mast so cable catches ont he gears and it will start to pull it down.
9. when it is down, reattach the nut.
if the mast cable is not broken, just do the following
1. Undow nut on top of antenna by base of the mast
2. Turn on radio and pull mast up
3. Insert new mast and turn off radio to feed the cable down
4. Reattach nut.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 285
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From: Richmond, Va.
1991 300E
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8
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From: California
300 CE, C23K
Your antenna motor maybe defective. If you buy the oem attenna motor, it will set you back a $150, The aftermarket motor is about $40 and it comes with a new mast. If you buy the mast alone, it is about $15. If the gears of your old motor is worn, the new mast won't slide all the way down.
If you are going to recharge your A/C, make sure to add some a/c dye. If there's a leak you'll find it in a cinch.
If you are going to fix your A/C (assuming you found the problem), you might want to convert it to R134A. The conversion kit is about $35.
If you are going to recharge your A/C, make sure to add some a/c dye. If there's a leak you'll find it in a cinch.
If you are going to fix your A/C (assuming you found the problem), you might want to convert it to R134A. The conversion kit is about $35.
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Mercedes-Benz w124
Originally Posted by CYAWL8R
If you are going to fix your A/C (assuming you found the problem), you might want to convert it to R134A. The conversion kit is about $35.
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
Originally Posted by LnkPrkSoldier
why change it to r134a? sure you can buy the freon yourself and it isn't harmful to the enviornment but the r12 in there right now ( if it hasn't been converted ) is colder than r134 and it is not illegal to put in , as some may think.
