mgw_300e

So here's the deal:

I still need my head gasket done and my trans rebuilt. I'm looking at paying in the $5k range for everything. In the past I've looked for possible replacements and found mostly 300e's ranging in the $7k range.

HOWEVER, I just checked autotrader today and found several 400e's that look good (in pictures, anyway) priced $5500-$7000, and some decent looking 300e's for $4500-$6000.

Most of the 400e's are in Dallas (5 hour drive), but some are local.

Given this kind of selection, what would you guys do?

myfirstbenz

Nothing wrong with a solid 300E, but after trying all of the models, m104 e320(mom's) m103 24 valve(bro's) m103 12 valve(my TE) and my m119 400E, I would say hands down the 4.2L m119 v8-32 valves of German GLORY rock the 124 chassis! Put your 300 up for sale. Get a 400E hands down. If i hadn't gone back to school I would have got another 400E or e420, and I will as soon as I am done next year. You will love it. Get a catback flowmaster or magnaflow with no center muffler and the car sounds how perky ***** look .... real nice!
BTW, if you find that you need a new wiring harness WHEN you get one, I'll hook you up for my cost wholesale. I think it was around 300-400 when I did mine a two years ago. Should have kept the harness.

CDP

You already know what I'm going to tell you Matt..

Put the 300E up for sale.

Purchase yourself a nice 400E or a E420 if you can. You can get pretty good deals on them these days. Personally I wouldn't pay more than 4K for any 300E. I'd rather pay more and get a better car.

Good Luck buddy.

Oh yeah, you'll definitely need to replace the engine harness. lol I need to replace mine soon.

myfirstbenz

Let me know what price you find them for right now. I've got a guy out of Oakland that sells me Benz parts for wholesale since I use a shop name I used to work at.

Bigpete123

Sell it, but make sure you don't buy another car that has the same problems!! Take your time searching. Get one that's had the harness redone. The 420's don't have a head gasket problem, right?

Aren't you gonna have a hard time selling your current car with a bad tranny?

Bigpete123

I'm in a somewhat similar situation, except I have spent tons of time on my car stereo... And I've put tons of money into my car otherwise, so I would have an extremely difficult time finding another w124 in as good of shape as mine, even if it is a v8... I still have problems with my car, but once I fix them, my car will be as close to new as a 1990 w/192k.

But if you don't have many attachments to your current car (both financial and emotional), get rid of it and get one you're more excited about.

mgw_300e

not if I ask the right price, I guess. What do you think someone would pay? $2000, $2500?

myfirstbenz

Leave the keys in it in a bad part of town.

Bigpete123

^^ha ha, that would be the best financial decision, but perhaps not the most ethical one, lol

CDP

LOL who cares - the car is almost dead anyways - you're putting it out of its misery.

MB Streetballer

Hey: I have a 300E, put $2500 in repairs 1 month ago. Head job, new water pump, thermostat, rear pinion seal, new rotors front, new brakes all round, new shocks, EHA, new wiper blades, new brake cable and pads, new distributor/rotor cap, new belt, plugs, all for 2500. I had 150K on it but just wanted to take care of oil leaks now and enjoy it rather than waiting till 200k.

It runs like new again! If I sell and buy another, I'll have to do all this work again. Now I know what I got. The only thing I like other than my car is a 500E 1994. See my Streetballer car.

What you think?

myfirstbenz

Clean car SB, I'd get some euro headlights, clear corners and smoke your tail lights so you ditch the yellow . But I think for Matt the message is clear. V8 Baby!

shadowgriffen

I knew this day would come...

Matt if you really think the car is not worth it anymore buy yourself another E, no matter what it is just make sure it's in good shape!

You dont wanna end up in a deeper hole down the road...

here check these out - in your area.

really classy (love this color combo)

http://houston.craigslist.org/car/245220030.html

ooooooh sexy

http://houston.craigslist.org/car/242685167.html

WOW! The Stuff LEgends are made of, DIESEL! this think looks IMMACULATE!

http://houston.craigslist.org/car/241013899.html

bjay51d

dibbs on those euros...let me know

NorCal124

You may have a hard time finding buyers at the 2K - 2.5K range. If a person is going to buy a car they're going to need to put work into they'll want it for dirt cheap. Let us know if you plan on parting out some stuff.

h22freak

matt whatever your decision should be, just stick to 124s all right?
pleasseee.......

however if i were you i would get the v8
rock on mr pham

mgw_300e

What does everyone think I could realistically get for her in the shape she's in? The body and paint are in good shape and the interior is immaculate (thanks OCD).

And if I do part it out, you guys would be the first to know.

Bigpete123

Well, blue book for your car with 199k falls out this way, at least in the Seattle area:

Excellent $3,975
Good $3,525
Fair $2,950

So assuming that the tranny problem is obvious, which is gonna cost around $2k to rebuild, the buyer will want to be at least partially compensated. So maybe if you deduct part of the cost from the "Excellent" price, you're looking at around $2,300. That's of course assuming that the buyer doesn't do his/her due diligence and discover that your car needs the head gasket. If they know about the head gasket issue, they may offer you somthing closer to say $1,800.

I've heard that parting out your car is a huge PITA and typically not worth the money.

mgw_300e

I plan to always own at least one w124! I'd never let the team down.

Koolwipski

I have a 1992 400E. 105k miles. I am considering selling the car, not sure if I really want to, but considering it and may need to. Here is what I have done to the car since April: New A/C, New Transmission, New Motor Mounts, New Wiring Harnesses, Alpine cd/iPod,xm,mp3, new tires, new tint, new floor mats, Power Steering sealed, euro headlights, window motors, new serpentine belt tensioner, miscellaneous other things... What is it worth? I've got chingas money in the car.

mgw_300e

How much you want for it?

Seriously though, what's the phone number of that guy that rebuilt your trans and what did he charge you?

Koolwipski

Hey Matt. Guy's name is Tony Macias - C&C Auto - 210-732-3737. His wife's name is Liz - she usually answers the phone.

I think the total was around $1,250.00 with a one year parts/labor warrranty. Cannot garuantee the same price - but heis good and reasonable in all the other things he has done for me.

As for my car - I am not sure on the price - I can tell you I would need around $8k - $9k to recoup some of my costs, but even I will admit that that is a bit high for the car. The repairs and additions alone since April have run me in the $6k - $7k range. I will most likely keep it and enjoy it. I have a ton of irons in the fire with some business ventures and I am sort of needing to streamline.
Steve

mgw_300e

Steve, I was just kidding about buying your car - I know how much it would take for you to part with it.

Thanks for the referral, if I call there and mention your name would he know who I was talking about? If so, what's your last name?

brianw430

koolwipski, what a great looking 400E! Reminds me of my all time favorite
124, it too was a '92 400E, black with AMG rims and I loved that car. A university music professor bought it from me and I see it in town from time to time. I have offered to buy it back if he ever wants to get rid of it. Great, great car and superb specimen!

Koolwipski

Yes he will know. Steve Kulawik ("Koolawvick"). I was there today and mentioned to Liz that "matt may be calling from Houston"

It is worth a call. Let me know if you head this way.