Just picked up a smacked 95 E300 diesel - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimFreeh · #16 08-07-2012, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

If you do waste a weekend banging/pulling on it, you probably won't wreck it enough that the pros can't fix it, since they would be cutting the quarter panel off anyway...

That was my first thought, take some chains and head over to the alignment tree....

Jim

rs899 · #17 08-07-2012, 11:20 AM

...fancy a vacation in Chihuahua? Yeah $2500+ is rich but so is $4 gas...

rs899 · #18 08-07-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

head over to the alignment tree....

Ah , so you already have a special tool?

I really can't tell from the photo, but a slide hammer should take a lot of that out....maybe...

pwogaman · #19 08-07-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

That was my first thought, take some chains and head over to the alignment tree....

Jim

LOL

chasinthesun · #20 08-07-2012, 12:33 PM

That repair looks much easier than a frt in wack,I had to get a long list of parts including some for the engine on a 85 300sd cheap rebuild ,in all it was around $550 for parts,$500 for the car ,and some cheap elbow grease with a 5 pound hammer in frt of it..

Chris W. · #21 08-07-2012, 01:01 PM

You would have plenty of life left in that car. I'm at 374K on mine, having bought it at 140K. Met a guy with 518K on his. My trans is tired (flaring 2-3 unless I baby it) but completely original.

Mileage is excellent, have not seen anyone top my 858 mile tank yet. Typical tank is more like 750 - 800 depending on how my driving was that period. I've tracked every single tank since 2004, and I average a tad over 35 mpg on my 110 mile commute, about 90 of which is highway at 65 - 70.

If you buy it, suggest preemptive replacement of vacuum pump unless it's been done already, and new O rings on plastic fuel lines. Run synth oil in trans (my miles have been with Amsoil, but I'm no fanboy). I run Rotella Dino 15-40 and change at about 4K, but to each his own. Do the EGR vac line blockoff and linkage mod, it totally improves the car.

And I still run it up to 5000 rpm about once a week for the Italian tuneup, as they say.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D 374K

Jeremy5848 · #22 08-07-2012, 03:36 PM

The admiral makes a good point. If your purpose is to have a safe, comfortable, fuel-efficient commuter, bang out the rear end damage as best you can, get a used replacement bumper, and be done with it. If you fall in love you can always do more to it later.

Any engine can fail its head gasket but I've not heard of any significant numbers involving the OM606NA. The "environmental" insulation in the wiring harnesses can be a problem; the PO did quite a bit of work on my '95. IMHO the EPA mileage estimate is low; you should expect 25+ MPG around town and 30+ MPG on the highway.

If the EGR valve has not yet been temporarily disabled for testing purposes only, do so. Then take the intake manifold and its plumbing apart for a thorough cleaning. Make sure the flaps in the crossover and the intake manifold work. Remove the "throttle" flap just ahead of the EGR valve; it's purpose is to create a partial vacuum in the intake manifold, thus sucking more exhaust in through the EGR valve. Finally, repair as necessary the rat's nest of plastic and rubber tubing that makes up the crankcase ventilator. If those dirty jobs have already been done then you're a fortunate man. See pictures below.

Jeremy

Intake manifold before cleaning:

Top of engine with leaky crankcase vent tubing:

After cleaning:

JimFreeh · #23 08-07-2012, 07:18 PM

For all the jokes about the alignment tree......

I've had a a bit of luck pulling damaged sheetmetal, but this application re the 95 300E has me wanting to do it "right".

I've seen enough positive comments to spend up to the real value of the car.
We'll see next week what the real cost turns out to be.

Stay tuned.

Jim

JimFreeh · #24 08-07-2012, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

The admiral makes a good point. If your purpose is to have a safe, comfortable, fuel-efficient commuter, bang out the rear end damage as best you can, get a used replacement bumper, and be done with it. If you fall in love you can always do more to it later.

Good point.

I've got the donor car, a 94 E320 sedan, for all the damaged parts.

Jim

TimFreeh · #25 08-07-2012, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

On a Diesel buying bender?

Jim is Tim's cousin....

I guess maybe the family is on a Diesel buying bender.

Jeremy5848 · #26 08-07-2012, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Good point.

I've got the donor car, a 94 E320 sedan, for all the damaged parts.

Jim

1994 and 1995 W124s are somewhere between "very similar" and "identical." I got a lot of stuff from a 1994 E420 that fits my '95 E300. Note that the "facelift" that Mercedes did in 1992 (?) and general changes over the years means that many "early" and "late" W124 parts do not interchange; just a caution before you head for the junkyard.

Jeremy

suginami · #27 08-07-2012, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Note that the "facelift" that Mercedes did in 1992 (?) and general changes over the years means that many "early" and "late" W124 parts do not interchange; just a caution before you head for the junkyard.

Jeremy

The facelift actually occurred in model year 1994 cars across all chassis when MB went with the letter first nomenclature.

It gets tricky, though, because the 1993 300E actually has the same chassis number (124.032) as 1994 and 1995 E320's. They put the 3.2 liter M104 engine in 1993, but didn't bother to change the badge until 1994, at least in the U.S. The rest of the world had this 1993 model year car badged as 320E.

JimFreeh · #28 08-29-2012, 12:58 PM

Finally found some time and loaded the E300 diesel on the trailer and drove the Dodge-Cummins over to my body shop.
We agreed on a not to exceed number that I was comfortable with, and I unloaded the car.

It'll be on the frame machine later this week, and there is a possibility that the right rear quarter panel may pull out, which would save a lot of time (and money).
I'll know more by the end of the week, might just get lucky. Already sold the Explorer to a friend of mine in anticipation of getting this diesel back on the road.

Also found out a bit more about the car from the previous owner. Wiring harness had been replaced a few years ago, and the head gasket shows zero leakage. Evaporator was also done, so I'm opimistic that I'm going to get some good service out of the car.

Thanks for all the comments!

Jim

JimFreeh · #29 09-01-2012, 09:51 PM

Took a look at the E300 yesterday.

They were able to pull the RH quarter panel out, fender looks back to original contours.

Only problem is that this isn't the first hit on the car, and there is evidence of bad welds and lots of bondo.

I'm dropping the parts car off on Tuesday, and they plan to section the last foot or so of the fenders and the strip below the trunk lid to get back to the virgin metal shape.

Looks like car will leave the shop for less than the original estimate (replace quarter panel).

Looking forward to getting this one inspected and licensed and pressed into the daily commute. It'll make a positive impact on my fuel bill.

Jim

Jeremy5848 · #30 09-01-2012, 11:26 PM

Congrats -- another one saved from the crusher.