Hi Everyone

Joined the forum today but have been using it for advice and tips for some time , i would be glad to hear any thoughts or advice you may have to help me with my desision , i have norrowed down my search to 2 cars

No 1 1991 'H' 300e-24 sportline saloon 5 speed auto 118,000 miles with almost a full MB history , i have checked with MB head office and was factory ordered as sportline from day one , has all of the signs i have found on the forum to look for , full black leather sports seats no rear centre seat , fully badged on front wings and on gear shifter , 3 turns lock to lock with smaller steering wheel , and 205 tyres and thicker anti roll bar.

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No2 1992 'K' 320ce 115000 miles mostly MB history full beige leather and completly as factory standard ( this model is not a sportline , however the interior is very simular)

Both UK models and both reasonablly priced , but i just cant choose , any help , pointers or opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Mark

buy both and sell the one you dont like later. =)

300CE! I have a 1991 300ce and I love it! It has a classic look and its fun to drive (not fast, just fun). But really, both are great cars. Im partial to the looks of the 300ce though

300E-24, no doubt about it.
Check if it has a cat (230bhp without).
No wiring harness problems (do a search). Much better handling and those seats are fantastic.
I've owned both (yes, a full sportline saloon ).
I'd swap my 320 tomorrow for another one but good sportline saloons are like rocking horse poo.

You just can't beat the coupe.

Here in the states 3.0 liter 104 motor ignition control modules are failing and they are both irreparable and irreplaceable, i.e. on back order from Mercedes and priced at $3,000 to boot. Cars have been sitting for months. I would stay away from the 3 liter.

Here's a thread on mercedesshop with info on a rebuilt unit....

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforu.../t-116705.html

Sorry, but I don't agree. The 320 is far more troublesome than the 300-24.
There is more possibility of the 320 ECU going wrong than the 300 ignition module. Plus the 300 doesn't have wiring issues, MAF sensor, O2 sensor, cat, coils, throttle body problems etc....
Plus the 300 revs to 7,000rpm and has 230bhp without the cat.

Hi there, im the proudly owner of 3 of there cars ( i know it sounds weird) got a 1991 300 CE - 24 sportline, 1994 320 CE sportline and 1995 320 CE standard. Let me tell yoo that theres a HUGE HUGE HUGE difference between the sportline and the standard version and i would change my sporlines for nothing in the whole wide world. Both sportlines are automatic, 5 gears wich makes them faster, suspension is incredible, fun car to drive, the only difference between both is the grill and lights, performance is kind the same. The standard issue got similar seats than the sportline but they are different, sportline seats are more confortable. I would recomend you buying the sportline, its just such a good car...

The leather coupe seats are the same in sportline trim as non sportline.
The saloon sportline seats are the same as the 500E seats.

If you read closely he actually repaired his by finding a used unit - which is possible but a very competitive sport today. There are several companies that rebuild ECU but not that unit - it's covered in epoxy and can't be rebuilt.

I don't disagree that the 320 has more problems than the 3 liter but the parts are available. The point was that there are 24 valve 3 liter cars that have been sitting in driveways, completely inoperable, for months because there is no ignition control module available, at any price, anywhere. That to me is scarier than the prospect of repairs on a 320. I would actually avoid both engines and go with a 119 motor but that was not an option in the original question.

Dean,

Thanks for the clarification. Hopefully, this part will become more available at lower prices in the near future.