Pete's '95 E320 Build Thread
 

Hey y'all. I have been lurking this forum for a long time. Now i finally had a reason to become a member.

I had been looking for a 300CE for months. I live in Yuma AZ so there is not much to choose from. Everything was so far away or out of my price range.
I went to Utah to visit family and was browsing craigslist and up pops this face-lifted 1995 e320. I hadn't even known they went by the name "E320" so i never thought to search on it. Anyways, I rolled out to Northern Nevada and swooped up this Lady in Red. The owner was a cool guy that was a benz collector. He had 8 of them. It felt right, so we settled at $5000. I said a quick prayer and drove this car 2 hours to UT and then the next morning another 7 hours all the way back to Yuma.

I have always loved pillar-less coupes. I have owned a lot of cars but this is the first Benz i have ever owned. Now that i have had it for awhile i understand the love. The way it feels. How solid and smooth it is. The way it drives. The craftsmanship.

I'll shut up for a second. Here's some pics from that day i got it


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...1ea20cc338.jpg

Only got pulled over once (no plate)

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...cf90646a69.jpg

Seeing seat covers scared me. I figured the leather had to be atrocious under them.We will get to that later.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b32bcd632c.jpg

So, i am the 3rd owner now. I was blown away about how meticulous the recipts and work on this car were kept. Everything since the car was born is in these folders. Along with the original manual and the E320 Bible book. I have never bought a car from someone that kept such good records on it

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...ff61814fd3.jpg

Pillar-less coupes! FTW

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...6fdc5352c0.jpg

Here's the build sheet / VIN details on her

VIN WDBEA52E7SC221541
Model Year 1995
Model E320C
Engine 104992 12 082608
Transmission 722369 04 099545
Order Number 0 5 705 60110
Order Location UNITED STATES (USA)
Interior LEATHER - BEIGE (265)
Paint 1 IMPERIAL RED (582U)
Paint 5 65
Approx. Build Date 1995-01
Code Description
222 RIGHT FRONT SEAT, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
240 OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR
241 FRONT SEAT LH ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE WITH MEMORY
251 RADIO MB - EXQUISIT - USA
291 AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER
300 STORAGE BOX IN FRONT TRAY
301 STORAGE BOX IN THE REAR
340 ADDITIONAL 3RD STOP LAMP
412 ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF WITH TILTING DEVICE
420 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4-GEAR
430 HEADREST IN THE REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT
443 TEMPOMAT (CRUISE CONTROL), AND STEERING COLUMN, ELCTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
461 INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
494 VERSION FOR USA
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
543 SUN VISOR WITH VANITY MIRROR, ILLUMINATED, LEFT AND RIGHT
551 ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM
581 AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
592 HEAT-INSULATING GLASS, ALL-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE, BAND FILTER
600 HEADLAMP WIPER/WASHER
639 ELIMINATION OF FIRST-AID BOX AND WARNING TRIANGLE
652 8-HOLE LIGHT ALLOY RIMS
668 MODE OF PACKING VE III WITH STYROPOR BUMPER RAILS
805 CHANGE OF MODEL YEAR, THE LAST FIGURE SHOWING THE NEW MODEL YEAR
810 SOUND SYSTEM
862 WATER-BASED PAINT
916 VEHICLES FOR HOT COUNTRIES - ADDITIONAL PARTS

She made it all the way home with no issues. Here she is parked next to the Queen

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...49618fa682.jpg

I have had a game plan in my head so i am going to get right to working on her. I will try to update everything within this thread.

Proud to own a Benz, even if it is 28 years old.

Welcome to the family my friend. She's a beaut!

Thanks man, i appreciate it

Updates!

Oil Change, Brakes, Tires, Wheels, Springs and a whole lot of cleaning, shining, fixing, troubleshooting and polishing!

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-13.jpg

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-14.jpg

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-15.jpg

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-16.jpg

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-17.jpg

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-18.jpg

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-19.jpg

https://straight-p.com/e320/e320-20.jpg

what spring pad are you using?front and rear

im using factory spring pads. i could probably go up just a 1/2in in the rear but for now its good

many rubbing issue

looks soooo clean bro, I just got my first car w124 and finished installing 18” wheels
Lemme know how she looks btw I bought it for 1300 cad lol
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...762a11ab4.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...faac8dc0d.jpeg

Well, it's been awhile since my last post. Hope you all have been well. I have done a lot. From Maintenance and troubleshooting to aesthetics.

My sunroof switch on the overhead dome light was broke. I sourced a used one on eBay and was surprised to see my sunroof open for the first time. It needs some help with a hand when closing it to get it flush with the roof though.
I got new inner and outer tie rods. Passenger side was loose and making some noise. Then of course got an alignment again.
Replaced the power steering filter and fluid (FEBI Bilstein / Mann Filter)
New air filter
New cabin air filter
Replaced the blower motor / regulator / resistor and finally have AC blowing cold
Replaced Fuel Pressure Regulator (bosch) i was having problems startinbg the car when it was warm. This fixed it.
Replaced the Radiator and the thermostat (old one had a crack that was JB Welded and finally spewed out)
New stereo: Head unit, dash speakers, rear deck speakers and a subwoofer with amplifier. (the previous owner had so many things wired into it so i cleaned out all that old dated spaghetti)
New battery (900CCA)
Paint (1 quart of 582 Imperial Red basecoat and plenty of clear coat and activator from the Spray Source)
Gen 1 AMG front bumper (replica) with fog lights and duckbill spoiler (prepped painted and installed last week) I prefer the Gen 1 look of the bumper over the Gen 2. Dont yell at me haha

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4cde78689a.jpg
1995 E320 Coupe
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...c62c238036.jpg
3/4 View
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...bcfbc63cd3.jpg
Side view


Issues i have to tackle next. 🤔
Occasionally, a couple months ago, only when shifting from Reverse to Drive i heard a pretty aggressive Clunk! If i just hold the brake and slowly shift and wait for it to engage it acts fine. (not the flex discs, those are all good) But it seems to have too long of a delay
When i unlock the doors, the drivers door doesnt quite fully unlock so i have to crawl through the passenger side to open. I think it is a vacuum issue.
My drivers side window rolls up a little too far into the weatherstrip. I need to find to set its high (closed) point a little lower
(i have been doing a lot of research on these but if anybody has advice feel free to chime in)

Here's a little video of painting the bumper and spoiler

You Tube