About to buy a W124
02-12-2006, 11:39 PM
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540 6spd
About to buy a W124
I have a '91 300E right now. The car is mostly dealer serviced, but the car is about to turn 300,000 and I've into some major repair bills. I'm not going to put the money into it so I've decided to buy another W124 and park this one off.
I've found a 400E w/ under 200Km but I'm not feelin like buyin a V8 w/ gas prices now days. So its come down to a '93 300E and a '92 300E. I looked at a couple '94 E320's and several 300E's and its come down to this.
The '93 has 240,000km on the clock and a fabric interior (which really sucks), but it runs perfectly. The car is silver and the guy is willing to give it to me cheap. The only thing not working in the car at the time was one of the positions on the drivers power seat. I also noticed that the wiper blade starts on the passenger side and sweeps counter to every other left hand drive uni-blade Benz I've ever seen. It had a flat so I couldn't drive it, but I'm takin it to get checked out by Benz tomorrow.
The '92 is Maroon, has 185,000km and has a leather interior but when I checked out the car the HVAC wasn't working, the engine mounts needed replacing (it shivered at idle), and it was owned by a smoker (faint smell inside). The dealer said he'd fix the HVAC (apparently it just needs a new fuse). The exterior paint was in mint condition for the age and he claims its original. The car drove very nicely. Engine was smooth and the tranny shifts were the way they should be.
My pops came along with me when I to look at the cars and I prefered the '93 because it seemed like it was better maintained car. Also it has the M104 motor which I believe was a better motor. My pops didn't like the '93 because he thinks the milage is too high and doesn't like the cloth interior. He'd rather see my buy the '92.
Any advice?
I've found a 400E w/ under 200Km but I'm not feelin like buyin a V8 w/ gas prices now days. So its come down to a '93 300E and a '92 300E. I looked at a couple '94 E320's and several 300E's and its come down to this.
The '93 has 240,000km on the clock and a fabric interior (which really sucks), but it runs perfectly. The car is silver and the guy is willing to give it to me cheap. The only thing not working in the car at the time was one of the positions on the drivers power seat. I also noticed that the wiper blade starts on the passenger side and sweeps counter to every other left hand drive uni-blade Benz I've ever seen. It had a flat so I couldn't drive it, but I'm takin it to get checked out by Benz tomorrow.
The '92 is Maroon, has 185,000km and has a leather interior but when I checked out the car the HVAC wasn't working, the engine mounts needed replacing (it shivered at idle), and it was owned by a smoker (faint smell inside). The dealer said he'd fix the HVAC (apparently it just needs a new fuse). The exterior paint was in mint condition for the age and he claims its original. The car drove very nicely. Engine was smooth and the tranny shifts were the way they should be.
My pops came along with me when I to look at the cars and I prefered the '93 because it seemed like it was better maintained car. Also it has the M104 motor which I believe was a better motor. My pops didn't like the '93 because he thinks the milage is too high and doesn't like the cloth interior. He'd rather see my buy the '92.
Any advice?
02-13-2006, 10:45 AM
#2
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If a car does and have things which don't match the expectations, like wrong sided wiper, cloth seats which appears odd too, and the guy did not even fix the flat for a test spin???????????? I would have my reservations.
If you don't like the smoke smell, forget the car NOTHING gets the smell out ever, after many years of smoking in the car. Even if they tell differently. If the A/C does not work, check it thouroghly, because this can be $$$$$$$$$$ A fuse shall fix it, which fuse??? even it is a fuse, why did it blow???? I had that and the cause for the fuse blow was the compressor clutch having a short circuit, it took the KLIMA relay and the compressor clutch. Therefore you need the compressor incl. the clutch new.
The "shivering" idle does not necessarily target to the engine mounts, It can also be the injectors, the cold start valve, air mass monitor, fuel distribution, the spark plugs and many other things. If the engine mounts are shot, they loose hydraulic fluid and "colaps", and the engine sits off level, and you should find traces of the fluid. They are not only rubber blocks!
If you don't like the smoke smell, forget the car NOTHING gets the smell out ever, after many years of smoking in the car. Even if they tell differently. If the A/C does not work, check it thouroghly, because this can be $$$$$$$$$$ A fuse shall fix it, which fuse??? even it is a fuse, why did it blow???? I had that and the cause for the fuse blow was the compressor clutch having a short circuit, it took the KLIMA relay and the compressor clutch. Therefore you need the compressor incl. the clutch new.
The "shivering" idle does not necessarily target to the engine mounts, It can also be the injectors, the cold start valve, air mass monitor, fuel distribution, the spark plugs and many other things. If the engine mounts are shot, they loose hydraulic fluid and "colaps", and the engine sits off level, and you should find traces of the fluid. They are not only rubber blocks!
Last edited by bamberger_1; 02-13-2006 at 10:47 AM.
02-14-2006, 02:30 PM
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93 300SE Rauch "Smoke"
If your passing on the 400E because of the milage on the V8 you should read some of the posts here and at BW! Not that big of difference and the power of the V8 is so strong and smooth! 
If Bigblue dies I will go with a V8 again!! 
Smokie
If Bigblue dies I will go with a V8 again!! Smokie
02-15-2006, 03:18 PM
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I get about 17mpg (100% city driving, all stop and go, short trips) with a light foot on the gas and about 15 if I drive more spirited (which is hard to resist just to listen to the engine)
On the highway it easily approaches 23mpg or more. It's more efficient than my 4.0L Jeep...
I remember driving M104 powered 320s though and I thought they were plenty quick. Honestly, probably not much slower at all compared to the 420. But the 420 just feels so much smoother and sounds better (subjective
)
On the highway it easily approaches 23mpg or more. It's more efficient than my 4.0L Jeep...
I remember driving M104 powered 320s though and I thought they were plenty quick. Honestly, probably not much slower at all compared to the 420. But the 420 just feels so much smoother and sounds better (subjective
)
02-15-2006, 06:55 PM
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540 6spd
Originally Posted by Holson
I get about 17mpg (100% city driving, all stop and go, short trips) with a light foot on the gas and about 15 if I drive more spirited (which is hard to resist just to listen to the engine)
On the highway it easily approaches 23mpg or more. It's more efficient than my 4.0L Jeep...
I remember driving M104 powered 320s though and I thought they were plenty quick. Honestly, probably not much slower at all compared to the 420. But the 420 just feels so much smoother and sounds better (subjective )
On the highway it easily approaches 23mpg or more. It's more efficient than my 4.0L Jeep...
I remember driving M104 powered 320s though and I thought they were plenty quick. Honestly, probably not much slower at all compared to the 420. But the 420 just feels so much smoother and sounds better (subjective
)I havn't driven any of them but I had leased a new '97 C280 for 4 years back in '98 and I had a pleasant ownership experience although the tranny had to be replaced at 160Km. (it was the first gen 5spd auto and a common problem on '97 C280's).
I'm leaning towards the 400E personally (I like its size and I find the E320 to be dime a dozen), but I don't know a thing about Benz V8's.
Someone care to tell me the common problems w/ these engines?
Am I making a mistake going for a V8? I'm driving all for cars tormw.
02-15-2006, 07:24 PM
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93 300SE Rauch "Smoke"
My personal experience with the E420 V8 has been great! It is like any other engine you treat it well it will treat you well! Other than caps and rotors and some new plugs I have had no trouble so far. I change my oil and filter every 4k and I just changed the auto trans fluid and filter just last week. The V8 in my opinion does not have to work as hard as its brethren. The smoothness and when you hit the passin gear is to behold!!! 
Smokie
Other than caps and rotors and some new plugs I have had no trouble so far. I change my oil and filter every 4k and I just changed the auto trans fluid and filter just last week. The V8 in my opinion does not have to work as hard as its brethren. The smoothness and when you hit the passin gear is to behold!!! Smokie
02-15-2006, 10:12 PM
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mercedes V-8's have their own set of issues.
main engine wiring harness-aprox $650 part only, lower engine wiring harness-aprox $100 part only. easy 4-5 hour labor at dealer's $100 hour rate.
brakes and rotors don't last too long on the V-8's.
evaporators FAIL in a big way[been there] easy $2000.
w124 radiators easy $800, and waterpumps fail easy $700 around 100k-135k.
trannys seem to die more often on a V-8, $BUX
valve covers, rear main seals weep. you will too.
power steering pumps leak, $700 new, $500 rebuilt.
2 caps and 2 rotors at a time.
these are incredible cars, when right.
unbelievably fast, stop on a dime and give you 9 cents change, gas mileage [properly tuned] low to mid 20's.
if you're on a tight budget DO NOT BUY A V-8!
they can cost you, like you can't imagine.
it's not the price of admission that hurts...
Here's my story, I paid $8500 for my 400e in 9/05.
since then i've spent $8500 on it.
NEW evaporator, major tune up, front brakes and rotors, bosch eurolights/corners, BOTH engine wiring harness', power-steering pump waterpump, radiator-hoses.
i need to have the leaking valve cover gaskets replaced.
surely i'm done for quite awhile...
i've always been a car freak and owned a lot of very nice cars, but this is clearly the most awesome total automotive package i've ever had!
always a thrill. 60 mph to 0 mph in 110'. 0 mph to 100 mph about 12 seconds.
research the V-8 and decide carefully. figure on some expense, especially at 150k. timing chain [if original] immediately, $3000. price it from local dealer.
http://www.500ecstasy.com/forums/index.php?
main engine wiring harness-aprox $650 part only, lower engine wiring harness-aprox $100 part only. easy 4-5 hour labor at dealer's $100 hour rate.
brakes and rotors don't last too long on the V-8's.
evaporators FAIL in a big way[been there] easy $2000.
w124 radiators easy $800, and waterpumps fail easy $700 around 100k-135k.
trannys seem to die more often on a V-8, $BUX
valve covers, rear main seals weep. you will too.
power steering pumps leak, $700 new, $500 rebuilt.
2 caps and 2 rotors at a time.
these are incredible cars, when right.
unbelievably fast, stop on a dime and give you 9 cents change, gas mileage [properly tuned] low to mid 20's.
if you're on a tight budget DO NOT BUY A V-8!
they can cost you, like you can't imagine.
it's not the price of admission that hurts...
Here's my story, I paid $8500 for my 400e in 9/05.
since then i've spent $8500 on it.
NEW evaporator, major tune up, front brakes and rotors, bosch eurolights/corners, BOTH engine wiring harness', power-steering pump waterpump, radiator-hoses.
i need to have the leaking valve cover gaskets replaced.
surely i'm done for quite awhile...
i've always been a car freak and owned a lot of very nice cars, but this is clearly the most awesome total automotive package i've ever had!
always a thrill. 60 mph to 0 mph in 110'. 0 mph to 100 mph about 12 seconds.
research the V-8 and decide carefully. figure on some expense, especially at 150k. timing chain [if original] immediately, $3000. price it from local dealer.
http://www.500ecstasy.com/forums/index.php?
Last edited by ebennz; 02-15-2006 at 11:40 PM.
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02-17-2006, 05:16 PM
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540 6spd
Well I drove all the cars this week. The two E-Classes are out. The E320 I looked at was in real bad shape. I cant believe that a dealer would even try to sell a car like that. The car only had 160Km on it, but it was not taken care of at all.
Its come down now to the C280's. The first one is a '95 white on black ( i hate black interiors) with 115Km on it. The car is cheap (because its white) and drives well. My only beefs with it relate to the fact that its a '95 so it has the old interior, no keyless entry, etc. It didn't have heated seats (important to have up here) or ASR (nice to have) and some of the power features weren't working (one-touch down on the windows, headrests). Its a good car and the milage is a strong reason to buy it.
The second C280 is a '97. The car is smoke silver on beige interior and has 185Km on it. The milage my only problem with this car. The hood has enough stone chips because the milage is mostly highway. Other than that the car is flawless. Every position on the electric seats works incl. the headrests and because its a '97 it has all the toys (keyless, heated seats, ASR, etc).
Which one would you buy?
Its come down now to the C280's. The first one is a '95 white on black ( i hate black interiors) with 115Km on it. The car is cheap (because its white) and drives well. My only beefs with it relate to the fact that its a '95 so it has the old interior, no keyless entry, etc. It didn't have heated seats (important to have up here) or ASR (nice to have) and some of the power features weren't working (one-touch down on the windows, headrests). Its a good car and the milage is a strong reason to buy it.
The second C280 is a '97. The car is smoke silver on beige interior and has 185Km on it. The milage my only problem with this car. The hood has enough stone chips because the milage is mostly highway. Other than that the car is flawless. Every position on the electric seats works incl. the headrests and because its a '97 it has all the toys (keyless, heated seats, ASR, etc).
Which one would you buy?
