looking at 1991 300se
05-25-2007, 06:01 AM
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1996 W124 E320 Coupé, 1990 W124 300E twin turbo, 1991 W126 300 SE, 1984 Ford Capri 2.8i
I have a 1991 300 SE, which I like a lot and intend to keep for a long time.
With that in mind, I've spent a bit on it, and the major item is likely to be encountered in all of them: head gasket. I've looked at a dozen or so during the quest for my car and in helping a friend to find one, and they were all leaky, as was my 300E twin turbo (same M103 engine) -- rear of the block on the right-hand side. I also replaced main dampers, engine mounts and dampers, and various other things that could have been ignored, the only other essential repair being the brake support link and ball joint on the left-hand front (no doubt punished by previous drivers running over sidewalk curbs), which I think is a known W126 weakness anyway.
Watch out for corrosion under the rear window -- visible from inside the trunk. This appears to be a consistent weakness in all W126 models. Mine had been repaired, although at what cost I know not.
I'd say the performance is adequate, but that's fine by me as a gentle driver. The ride is a little disappointing, but only a little. There is a poise and class about the car, and I think its looks are truly classic -- a perfectly proportioned large sedan (proportions not so good on the SEL, to my eye) and Bruno Sacco at his best.
I decided to choose a 300 rather than a V8 on the advice of my mechanic, and I like its simplicity and relative cheapness for servicing and repairs.
This is an excellent place for the low-down on the W126:
http://www.mb-w126-club.de/gb/index.html
Find the Buying Advice page.
With that in mind, I've spent a bit on it, and the major item is likely to be encountered in all of them: head gasket. I've looked at a dozen or so during the quest for my car and in helping a friend to find one, and they were all leaky, as was my 300E twin turbo (same M103 engine) -- rear of the block on the right-hand side. I also replaced main dampers, engine mounts and dampers, and various other things that could have been ignored, the only other essential repair being the brake support link and ball joint on the left-hand front (no doubt punished by previous drivers running over sidewalk curbs), which I think is a known W126 weakness anyway.
Watch out for corrosion under the rear window -- visible from inside the trunk. This appears to be a consistent weakness in all W126 models. Mine had been repaired, although at what cost I know not.
I'd say the performance is adequate, but that's fine by me as a gentle driver. The ride is a little disappointing, but only a little. There is a poise and class about the car, and I think its looks are truly classic -- a perfectly proportioned large sedan (proportions not so good on the SEL, to my eye) and Bruno Sacco at his best.
I decided to choose a 300 rather than a V8 on the advice of my mechanic, and I like its simplicity and relative cheapness for servicing and repairs.
This is an excellent place for the low-down on the W126:
http://www.mb-w126-club.de/gb/index.html
Find the Buying Advice page.
