Lookin at a beat-up 95 E300D..... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mr.Kenny · #1 08-04-2011, 11:54 PM

I'm considering a 95 E300D with 198,000 miles. Owned by same family since new; but passed down to teen who is now an adult. This is A "must sell need money" deal.
Dirty inside and out, dented here and there, no rust.
Timing chain rattles at idle, but the rattle instantly goes away when revved a little.
Muffler broke off at neck, and is in trunk.
Transmission supposedly overhauled like 6000 miles ago...no receipts; they are 'back home' with the folks.
Air compressor clutch is on but no cold air....?
Drives smooth, shifts normal and stops straight & smooth.
Some of the glow plugs have been replaced but some not.
He says it won't start in winter if the block heater is not plugged in. (Bad glow plugs?)
Engine is quiet & seems to run nice and pull pretty good for a non-turbo.
(Needs a lot of little niggling interior & exterior things fixed)

Okay I do all my own wrenching, paintwork and have restored & fixed up a lot of cars. (But I am getting a little tired of doing this)

Is this car worth more than $2300 at this point and am I an idiot for considering it?
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sixto · #2 08-05-2011, 12:03 AM

Any desireable options like traction control, heated seats or orthopedic seats?

Leather or tex?

Sounds like it'd be worth $1500, maybe $1800. I'd have trouble paying $2300 with the looming glow plugs issue.

Sixto
87 300D

Mr.Kenny · #3 08-05-2011, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

Any desireable options like traction control, heated seats or orthopedic seats?

Leather or tex?

Sounds like it'd be worth $1500, maybe $1800. I'd have trouble paying $2300 with the looming glow plugs issue.

Sixto
87 300D

Tex and a light was on on the dash i think it was "TC" he said he had it checked out an was okay.

okto · #4 08-05-2011, 12:31 AM

How do you know the rattle is the timing chain?

Mr.Kenny · #5 08-05-2011, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okto

How do you know the rattle is the timing chain?

It was fast and way up front on the motor, (I was even looking at the fan and accessories); as soon as oil pressure pops up a little it quits........i know the clatta clatta of a diesel at idle. This was more of a ...a.....a fast timing chain clatter.

chazola · #6 08-05-2011, 04:17 AM

obviously I've not heard it but could be the tensioner shock/spring, they can make a hell of a rattle at idle when worn.

scottmcphee · #7 08-05-2011, 08:18 AM

The rattle could also be a vacuum pump readying itself to go?

To me, the car described sounds like an unloved beater. It would take a whack of service receipts to convince me otherwise. As put I would have a hard time paying more than $500 for it. But it doesn't really matter what you pay to get into it, there could easily be a couple thousand more to get it right.

Find a better example, the car is not special, consider something else.

boneheaddoctor · #8 08-05-2011, 08:41 AM

Young adult....obviously not loved the car....add in "Must sell NEED money" and you have a lots of reasons to be dishonest.

Personally I'd have it checked out by an Independent qualified mechanic that knows these and see what they say. They have no skin in the game and should be objective. And would be money well spent. If a dealer could get you in and out quick even better. Lot of unknowns...and lot of expensive things might be overdue.

But heck....you could probably make money parting it out for that price.

compu_85 · #9 08-05-2011, 08:43 AM

For what it's worth the "timing chain rattle" on my car ended up being the serp belt tensioner.

That car sounds like a basket case that needs a lot of love. I wouldn't go over $2000.

-J

GregMN · #10 08-05-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

Is this car worth more than $2300..

No. It is a parts cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

... am I an idiot for considering it?
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Yes. (well, you asked )

hd wood · #11 08-05-2011, 09:23 AM

You may want to consider if it has a head gasket issue first. Also the glow plugs are an issue. It's very easy to strip out the threads in the head then you really have an issue.

As to value I bought a decent one with very high mileage, 275,000, owned by a salesman. The engine has never been opened (til I had to do the headgasket and glow plugs) and it burns no oil and the tranny has never been touched. Best engine I have out of five.

You may want to call some yards who are interested as to value. I have a friend in Conn with a 124 yard and I believe he said he has to pay close to $3,000 for one of those if it's complete with a good head.

ds190 · #12 08-05-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

I'm considering a 95 E300D with 198,000 miles. Owned by same family since new; but passed down to teen who is now an adult. This is A "must sell need money" deal.
Dirty inside and out, dented here and there, no rust.
Timing chain rattles at idle, but the rattle instantly goes away when revved a little.
Muffler broke off at neck, and is in trunk.
Transmission supposedly overhauled like 6000 miles ago...no receipts; they are 'back home' with the folks.
Air compressor clutch is on but no cold air....?
Drives smooth, shifts normal and stops straight & smooth.
Some of the glow plugs have been replaced but some not.
He says it won't start in winter if the block heater is not plugged in. (Bad glow plugs?)
Engine is quiet & seems to run nice and pull pretty good for a non-turbo.

Is this car worth more than $2300 at this point and am I an idiot for considering it?.

You have described my father's car mostly (his does not have multiple little cosmetic issues or muffler repair needs), and the car is NOT A PARTS CAR or basket case!! Geeze, you guys are way too tough

A/C: could be leaking evaporator (top 3rd weakness of this car imho), leaking Schrader valve, leaking hose, or just plain low of r134.

Rattle: there was a FSB about possible timing chain noise, so to replace the chain tensioner if so. Could also be belt tensioner spring or pulley or shock (as said above), or water pump.

Winter starting issue: sure, probably needs glow plugs, and removing them is top 2nd weakness imho. If the glow light does not during the glow sequence but does light up after car is started, that means bad plugs.

The engine wire harness insulation cracking is the top weakness imho. The head gasket can be an issue because of the aluminum head and iron block.

Check the flex discs and center support bearing bushing, the motor mounts, and the front strut mounts. Be prepared for a radiator or thermostat or water pump, antenna stuck up, door checks breaking, rear window regulators breaking , bad blower motor or regulator or the 30a fuse, cruise control failure, voltage regulator, and fuel leaks (fuel return lines, O rings on lines to IP and main filter). That's some of it

I say buy it for $1900.

Zacharias · #13 08-05-2011, 03:04 PM

You said: "But I am getting a little tired of doing this."

I know this feeling. I also know what happens next, when it's me.... I get about a third into the car, find all the other stuff that wasn't obvious at the time (which means at that point I'm actually about halfway to where I planned to be), and say:

"What in god's name was I thinking?"

I highly doubt the car even got oil changes, under this kid's 'care'. Hell, do you think he even checked the oil regularly?

Mr.Kenny · #14 08-05-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

You said: "But I am getting a little tired of doing this."

I know this feeling. I also know what happens next, when it's me.... I get about a third into the car, find all the other stuff that wasn't obvious at the time (which means at that point I'm actually about halfway to where I planned to be), and say:

"What in god's name was I thinking?"

I highly doubt the car even got oil changes, under this kid's 'care'. Hell, do you think he even checked the oil regularly?

This is exactly what happens when I buy a project car...or any car for that matter. I just usually expect more wrong than it seems at first and then I am not disappointed .
He says he "loves the car and doesn't want to sell it" but that "love" wasn't very apparent in the condition. He showed me a Rotella oil bottle in the trunk so at least he is using a diesel oil.

boneheaddoctor · #15 08-05-2011, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

You said: "But I am getting a little tired of doing this."

I know this feeling. I also know what happens next, when it's me.... I get about a third into the car, find all the other stuff that wasn't obvious at the time (which means at that point I'm actually about halfway to where I planned to be), and say:

"What in god's name was I thinking?"

I highly doubt the car even got oil changes, under this kid's 'care'. Hell, do you think he even checked the oil regularly?

You know......I was laughing my butt off when I read that....because I've been there too.