Genteel posters, your opinions please (boy that's a dangerous request with this bunch!). I promise it's not about which oil you use

I test drove a '93 300D 2.5 turbo last night with 83kmi on the odo and I am considering buying. It ran quite well: some distinct clatter on cold start-up (I'm assuming this is normal since these motors weren't direct injection), and after warming it up around town, it pulled quite easily up to 90mph on the freeway (as fast I would go in the dark with mixed-rain snow coming down). The car tracked straight and felt pretty tossable. The car's interior was about the cleanest W124 I have seen: glossy, unscratched wood, perfect seats (though they were Tex, so of course), new 8-hole alloys, and no musty smells even though it had been sitting outside in the rain for some time. Diamond black on black interior.

I was smitten with the car (except for the chrome fender flares - yuck), until after heading home, my brother-in-law who went with me, mentions he noticed a sticker in the glove-box reading "Airbag replaced 3/96". Now, under the bright lights of a gas station, the body looked very straight to my inexperienced eye (no ill-fitting panels or gaps, very nice looking paint all around), but it would had to have been in a fairly serious accident to have the 'airbag replaced' no?
I'm going to check the VIN for a salvage title, but is it true that the car could have sustained enough damage to deploy the airbag, but not total the vehicle? At what speed of collision do they typically deploy? My gut reaction is to stay away even if no salvage title is discovered, but I don't want to pass up such a nice example if it is indeed, such a car.


Thanks much in advance,
- Ryan

__________________
'95 E420 - 'Shadowfax' 138kmi.
'92 Volvo 740Turbo Bard 193kmi
'74 240D - 'Ol' Green' 4spd Manual 104kmi. (sold )
'77 300D - 'Red' 223kmi (sold)
'75 240D - 'Bianca the Blue Bomber' (sold)

I have one and absoluely LOVE it!!!!!

I have heard of situations where the airbag malfunctions, although not on a Benz. Carfax will tell you, but you might just ask the owner. There was a report of a guy who slammed the heck out of his driver door and deployed the side air bag.

__________________
Peter
1985 300TD 4-speed 212K
1992 400E 343K
2001 E320 72K

The airbag light could have come on, and the redid the system, or the airbag cover could have split from time (happened with my 300SDL).. lift the hood and look good at the front end.. look at the front support. If you see ANYTHING that looks funny, it was probably in an accident.

But this car may have not been in an accident, there are many reasons why the airbag could have been replaced. Ask the owner straight why the airbag was replaced in 1996.

John

Seems that it would be easy to track who did the replacement of the airbag....the car had to been under warranty when the airbag was done.....so the dealer may have done it and therefore can be tracked at any MB dealer using the VIN

Good luck ...those are great cars..I used to own a 92 model
The MPG and durability of that car(if it has been properly maintained) will astound you.I used to get about 32-34 MPG on the highway...its also a very stable and nimble car and the Tex interior will last forever


Warren
1992 300SD 129K
Columbus Ohio

Repainting is often detectable by looking for overspray on the edges of the trim and molding pieces. Also, you might see evidence if you get down and look up under the front - scraped oil pan or suspension components?

Also, it might be possible that someone would have the airbag replaced if the SRS light came on. It might not have been the real cause of the indicator light coming on - but you know dealers......



Ken300D

Thanks all for the quick responses fellas! I hadn't considered the myriad other reasons for the airbag replacement. That comforts me signifigantly. Unfortunately the owner has only had the car for two years (needs to thin the fleet of four vehicles) and had the car after the work was done. Will get the VIN tonight when he gets home and we'll see what shows (both title and dealer-replacement-wise), and go from there.

It was a heck of a car, and I would expect the same unflinching reliability/durability of my current W123. The only other thing (aside from a thorough PPI), is to check if it has ASD. I really want some form of traction control for Seattle weather. Did the ASD-equipped car have the same yellow triangle (!) light in the middle of the speedo? - that would be the quickest way I could think of checking....

Thanks again - and I'll keep the board posted!

- Ryan

__________________
'95 E420 - 'Shadowfax' 138kmi.
'92 Volvo 740Turbo Bard 193kmi
'74 240D - 'Ol' Green' 4spd Manual 104kmi. (sold )
'77 300D - 'Red' 223kmi (sold)
'75 240D - 'Bianca the Blue Bomber' (sold)

If the car has ASD it will have a yellow triangle in the middle of the speedometer and also a warning light low in the cluster that says.."ASD".....the light low in the cluster will only light if the system is malfuntioning or just when you turn the key to start the car.....



Warren
1992 300SD 129K
Columbus Ohio

Dieseldude,

I have one question, what is a "Stachelwalze" regardless of color? Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Heheh Jim...I wondered if anyone caught that!

It means 'Tractor' in German. At least according to one online German/English translator. My high-school german is almost non-existent now, so don't know if its grammatically correct though...

__________________
'95 E420 - 'Shadowfax' 138kmi.
'92 Volvo 740Turbo Bard 193kmi
'74 240D - 'Ol' Green' 4spd Manual 104kmi. (sold )
'77 300D - 'Red' 223kmi (sold)
'75 240D - 'Bianca the Blue Bomber' (sold)

While I wait the agonizing hours for the 300D's VIN (owner is at work, didn't drive the car today), I've been doing more research:

Found this listing in Alldata's website:
93V108000 JUN 93 Recall 93V108000: Air Bag Non-Compliance

Any previous owners of these cars have one replaced from this recall? Just a thought that may have been why the example I drove had this 'airbag replaced' sticker in the glove box.

Also, somwehat off-topic, but what exactly are the Service Bulletins? Are they factory answers to common customer/complaints that don't require replcement or modification by a mechanic?

Regards,
- Ryan

__________________
'95 E420 - 'Shadowfax' 138kmi.
'92 Volvo 740Turbo Bard 193kmi
'74 240D - 'Ol' Green' 4spd Manual 104kmi. (sold )
'77 300D - 'Red' 223kmi (sold)
'75 240D - 'Bianca the Blue Bomber' (sold)

dieseldude,

I think the gender is right, as a tractor is a suitably masculine thing, but the word "Rot" when used in the context you use it should be "Rote" so the phrase should be written "Der Rote Stachelwalze" if you care.

Sounds like a slang expression, a typical descriptive compound word in German instead of a new one that is shorter, but more entertaining. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)