I'm looking to purchase a 99' E300TD. What problem areas should I be looking for? Anything that could go unnoticed to the untrained eye? I realize that I should look for rust, fluid leaks, body work, etc. What else have you guys heard of going wrong? Thanks for any help.
Ed

Glow Plugs getting stuck.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

As with any MB maintaince records are very important. I would also make sure the glow plugs have been done at some point. Yout don't say the mileage but if they have been in their for over 100k I wouldn't expect them to come out.

Also W210's seem to like to rust in a few areas: The trunk lid by the lock, and the doors behind the gaskets is a big spot.

Also the dash boards crack and the window regulators fail.

Do a search on "spring perch" they fail sometimes just keep an eye on it. If you live in a dry climate it shouldn't be a problem.

"Sealed for life" tranns should be changed every 60k-80k, costs about $250. Do a search.

Good cars, they are fun to drive the turbo 606 really can move.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Transmission

Spring Perch

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Thanks for your help fellas. I just purchased a 99' E300TD. It has 92,000 miles. It is metallic burgundy with a leather tan interior. Sweet car. A lot faster than my 84' 190D 2.2.

So what did you give for it, if you don't mind my asking.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I paid $21,500. I bought it from a dealer and it is a southern vehicle. Paint is perfect with just a few rock chips in front. The interior is in great condition. Nothing leaks and engine bay is extremely clean.

I paid $24K for mine . I suppose that is in line then. Always trying to see if I paid too much or got a good deal

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

That's a sweet ride. I'm in Chicago and noticed you're in Madison. Do you know where to get biodiesel around here? I only found one place in all of the Chicagoland area so far.

feece oil in batavia has it for aro 3.40/gal pure sweet b100.

in egv road ready has b20 mixed with 45 cetane diesel for aro 2.31. i am going there later this afternoon after dropping my son off in hoffman est.
road ready is at devon and ellis just a couple blocks west of elmhurst rd. it is a credit card facility with a porta potty. no humans.

there are a couple bp stations in chgo with 50 cetane diesel. one on fullerton and the other on milw ave at rte 22.

columbus foods makes bio d and sells in barrel and bucket qty. there really is no place in chgo to fill up at a pump.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

Not really. The closest to me is about 80 miles away. With the article I posted above, I am really trying to see about biodiesel as to how it applies to us. I figured that even if it weren't true, I suspect that B2 or even B5 would be more than sufficient for us. Besides lubrication of the injector pump, I am not sure what else would benifit. I also have to weigh it against the cost and inconvenience to see if I wanted to use biodiesel, assuming it is more advailable. Diesel is about 1.97 at the Rump Ranger off Hyw 90 in Stoughton, WI. In Madison, it is about 2.09. Don't know why biodiesel is that high. After all, I would think that diesel should be more expensive than biodiesel.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Thanks for your help fellas. Road Ready is 5 miles from my work, so that should work out o.k. Where is Columbus Foods?

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Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

There's one locally in SoCal for $13.9k. Only thing is it has 261K miles. Still . . .?

"Do a search on "spring perch" they fail sometimes just keep an eye on it. If you live in a dry climate it shouldn't be a problem."

On the subject of spring perch, last year I took my 97 E320 to our local Houston MB dealer for a check, Star Motor Cars, they completely denied of any problem associated with this front spring supports.
A friend of mine who works for MB in Toronto Canada, confirmed that this is indeed a problem and that they replace the spring perch on all 210's, no questions asked, and under MB warranty.
There is a Service Action Bulletin by MB with US campain No. 20010100799 that covers all 210 models MY 1996 - 2000, this was issued in August 2001.

I plan on taking my E320 to another Houston dealer with this paperwork and see what happens.

Vahe
240D 77 350K