Hi folks,

I'm a long term lurker, and I've been reading voraciously about the 96-99 e300d's. Lots of great info here and I'm ready to take the plunge.

I have a car that I'm considering. It's a 99 with 259 k kms (160k miles). black on black. He's asking 16.5, which is about average up here in Canada.

-The battery is new
-Glow plugs all new in 2005
-fuel lines from shutoff to filter new last year
-front spring perches done 2 years ago
-comes with winter + summer tires on rims
-3rd owner, dealer maintained since new with complete records

The price seems "about" right, I hope to knock it down a little. It's 1000 kms away, but I'm sending someone by to look at it tomorrow before I have it inspected by an independant Mercedes shop next week.

Is there anything in particular I should have them look for?

Two questions:
Has the sealed transmission been maintained, meaning filter & oil changed in a reasonable intervals? They are supposed to last 100K miles but will go much longer if maintained.
The A/C evaporator is a costly item to replace on these cars, if it has not been replaced you may be in for a surprise, of course living in Canada is a plus when it comes to A/C.

Vahe

Thanks for the tips, I'll ask about both of those items. Air will be important, I travel to Montreal regularly and it's no treat in the summer without air.

Just to clarify, did you mean the filter & transmission fluid should be changed at 100k, or the transmission itself is only expected to last 100k? That would be scary

These sealed transmissions are expected to take you through the warranty period which is about 100K miles, after that it all becomes your responsibility as far as MB is concerned. I know many 210 cars, gas and diesel that have gone close to 200K with original transmissions untouched, but you never know. Most private shops will tell you to definitely change the transmission fiter/oil at 50K intervals as a preventive maintenance measure if you intend to keep the car, but if you have a high mileage and the thing has not been serviced, DO NOT TOUCH IT, keep on driving and hope for the best.
I have a E320 97, had the tranny oil&filter changed at 70K miles and plan on doing it again in about 40K miles.

Vahe
240D 77 350K

I would change the trans fluid anytime I was uncertain of its age, and would continue to do so thereafter on a reg basis on any 722.6 trans.

While not familiar with the going rate in Canada, CDN$16.5K sounds way hi to me. I'd think that mileage would be more like USD$12-14K if you are patient.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Thanks for the tip on the fluid change. What does a fluid change usually cost? I take it the lifespan of the transmission is typically more than 100K?

Yes I've been watching e300d prices in the US, and they are typically 2-4k less than up here, all things considered. They are much more common down there, and unfortunately we can't import them due to differences with bumpers and glass (I'm told). I've actually been told that they're the same items, but they are MPH rated instead of KPH rated. Stickers, essentially.

Either way, there are 2-3 cars in the same generall area, all within $500 of the same price. This one has a few plusses... (winter tires and rims, proximity) and has service records back to new. There's another one for the same prive with 209k kms (50 less than the one I'm serious about) but no records whatsoever.

And as for being patient, I have been watching for a while but now I need to jump within a couple weeks. Our current daily driver, a 96 Jetta 1.9 turbodiesel is on life support. The IP is shot, I'm feeding it with a low pressure fuel pump... but it has weeks, if not days left. Need a car, post haste!

This looks like pretty bad advice to me, why would you recommend such a thing?

Actually, that's been my experience as well, although not particular to these cars. I once made the mistake of changing the transmission fluid on my girlfriend's jetta that has 200k miles. The car worked fine, but it had never been changed and I thought I was doing her a fovor. Never saw third gear again.

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

My 210 will turn 165K miles tomorrow, 18K since august. 98, black/black. I love it. In addition to the already mentioned be prepared for motor mounts and a belt tensioner. Not big expenses just nagging. I think my biggest worries are the sticking glow plugs, they can get expensive. I bought my car in august for $10.5 with no records, divorce sale, wife burned the records! With the exception of air leaking fuel lines it has been trouble free.

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

Look for maintenance records on the fuel system and glow plugs. By 62K miles I had to replace fuel line seals, IP delivery valve seals and glow plugs. These items are one thing to deal with by themselves, but from a labor standpoint the intake needs to be removed for all of them.

I do all my own work, so the labor doesn't spook me. The fuel lines & O rings were all done last year, and the glow pugs were last done in '05. I'll probably pull and clean the intake manifold and do the plugs pre-emptively.

I'm looking forward to the switch from VW to Mercedes. My VW diesel has been a nightmare. Great engines, with an awful car build around them.

Hey Cal, I just reread this and recognized your "handle" and signature from the infopop biodiesel/SVO forum.

You're running a Greasecar system with co-pilot, correct?

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Jake
1999 e300d PlantDrive WVO/SVO conversion
**note to self: oil changed at 268k kms**
1990 Toyota 4Runner FrankenDiesel swap

Yes I am, been running flawlessly since Nov. I would like a little more heat though.

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

Thanks for the input. The engine mounts and tensioner are already on my list, I've added the tranny fluid & filter if it hasn't been done recently. The threads about glow plugs have me a bit spooked, although these ones have only been in for 3 years.

Too much money, and too many miles for that price.

You must also know that rust is underway on a car this old in Canada, with this many miles on it.

I would look for a '99 with 1/3 less miles on it, and $2K less in price. Also, I would buy a car from the southern latitudes of the United States, to negate the rusting effects of buying a car up there.

My Mercedes-Benz diesels have looked pristine, even with 300K+ miles, and 16+ years of use. Always garaged and polished.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert