PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

sokoloff · #1 02-17-2007, 09:51 PM

Started looking for one about a dozen years ago. Stumbled onto my ponton cabriolet and couldn't pass that up. But my wife and I (mostly my wife) got the bug again, so we started looking. I bought the one I mentioned a few weeks ago. It's an '88 red exterior/palomino interior. 38,000 miles, CA car with no rust. Had a PPI done on it and nothing major showed up. Interior and exterior are in really nice condition. Motor mounts had been replaced not too long ago as well as the steering box. Subframe mounts looked good too.

It needs tires since the ones on it are eight years old and showing some dry rot cracks and they are either out of balance or have flat spots, because the ride isn't that good. I'm thinking of going with summer tires since I don't expect this car to spend any time in winter weather and hope it doesn't even see much rain. Any recommendations appreciated. I'll be doing a lot of searching old posts this weekend to find out the answers to some of my questions.

Ran a bottle of Techron through the current tank and it seems like it helped a bit. Here are some of my first observations. Feel free to comment. Temp reads a steady 82°. Oil pressure maxed at 3. Only drops to about 2.5 at idle. Idle rpms are a steady 750. Rpm's are a steady 2100 at 65mph. Guessing at the mpg, it looks like about 20 based on the gauge's needle, but I think that's way too optimistic. Cruise control works. AC blows cold through the center vents. Original Behr radiator in place. Came with a hardtop caddy and car cover.

Items needing attention - steering shock leaking. Hood pad needs replaced. SRS light on. All fluids need changed. Brakes feel a little too spongy - hoses to be ordered and a flush is on tap. Haven't looked at the soft top yet. Mechanic said to not try to check it because he was afraid that the plastic windows would crack in the frigid temps.