Someone should go over it. Since two previous owners are known you may find out what has been replaced over the years.

Sometimes even like the car currently looks people may have spent dollars on it. Perhaps the spun balancer was the last straw for the previous owner.

I very much doubt the story of turning the engine over with the bolt could have made it loosen unless the engine was pretty well totally seized and even then it would have taken some effort.

It is a better chance that someone changed the front seal and did not really torque the bolt well enough sometime. So I would be looking for info if one of the previous owners changed the seal or had a shop do it..

On my home desktop
 

the color is definitely Cabernet. The other red of this era was called Garnet which is much more red and lighter. Almandine? Never heard of it.

Looks like my 87 pre euro headlights and deer hit.

http://i.imgur.com/JMV4IsN.jpg

HA!

Not me. In the sake of marital bliss I'm not buying another MB for a while. Shertex is a good bet though.

wow that color looks pretty darn good cleaned up!

i wasnt planning to say who was gonna grab it until its a done deal, just in case it doesnt happen. its not shertex though, but i can tell you the forum member likes long walks on the beach, a good book about puppies and iced tea on the veranda, and favors the switch blade over all other edged weapons

im pretty sure shetex prefers the bowie knife, but he'll have to comment

That seems to confirm who I have in mind...

I prefer toenail clippers, thank you very much. Dibs on it once I get my livingroom cleaned out and I'm off probation

I know who were talking about and hope he buys it. He'll take good care of it.

Yes it indeed is Cabernet Red, check out the resemblance of this 1990 300E right here. It's just faded slightly is all.

Saw your car's twin yesterday in Casa Linda. A cranky sounding one at that. Love the color combo on that year of MB diesel.