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  #1  
Old 01-23-2015, 12:49 PM
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Thumbs up 1995 E300 Diesel problems to look out for?

Hey guys,
looking at picking up a clean 95' E300 diesel but I'm not too familiar with the W124 chassis. The car has 175K he's only asking $3,100 which seems really low. Is there any particular problems to look out for. Ive heard the evaporator and wiring harness are common issues. Any help with this is appreciated thanks!

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  #2  
Old 01-23-2015, 01:31 PM
winmutt's Avatar
85 300D 4spd+tow+h4
 
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Where? If the car has ASD, make sure it works. Make sure the GP light comes on (cold start), if the light is non functioning you might be up the creek with stuck GP's (inspect to make sure they all look OK externally). Ask if the wiring harness has been replaced. While not as critical as the gassers the GP wiring in particular should atleast be rewrapped. Other than that, all the regular things. With W124 you want to see if you get rear end or torque steering indicating things (links/mounts) in the back need fixin'. Thats not a bad deal. They are non turbo and a bit of a pig off the line. I am looking for one with a bad motor/trans but a great body for a 606.96x upgrade.
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1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
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  #3  
Old 01-23-2015, 01:44 PM
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Fuel lines in the engine bay can be a bit of a PITA.

If the clear plastic lines are very brown / discolored, you'll want to look in to replacing them and all of the o-rings associated with them. Delivery valve seals are also something to ask about: PeachPartsWiki: Replacing the Delivery Valve Seals

That last will be the rubber return lines. If you're familiar with OM616/617 motors, the return lines are not nearly as easy to work on. You have to pull the crossover pipe and the engine cover underneath that to access them. And the injectors are dropped down inside the valve cover, so you don't have as much clearance to get the old hose off the nipples. The other fun part about those, if one is leaking, it's almost impossible to tell without pulling the cover.

Also, if you can check the car when cold, see if the throttle sticks. If so, I'll put money on the linkage going to the cruise control module (underneath the intake manifold) is gummed up. But don't just take it off, buy a new one first. It's not expensive, but the plastic linkage ends are very prone to breaking. Kind of a one-time use part. Sucks that MB moved away from metal ends while still using mechanical linkages.
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  #4  
Old 01-23-2015, 02:28 PM
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Awesome thanks! is the vacuum system still as extensive as the W123 models in terms of door locks, tranny, fuel shutoff valve?
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  #5  
Old 01-23-2015, 03:51 PM
Diesel Preferred
 
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Location: Charleston SC
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Vacuum is still used for all the above.

The glow plugs have a nasty habit of breaking off in the head, which usually requires that the head be removed so a machine shop can remove the broken parts left in the head.

The head liners tend to pull away from the foam insulation and sag.

Suspension rubber ages, after ten years it will be pretty much dead. If the rear wheels lean in at the top, you'll have some work to do there.

The monovalve assembly is prone to cracking/leaking, easy to spot under the hood close to the battery.
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/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC
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  #6  
Old 01-23-2015, 04:19 PM
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Unlike the W123 cars, there's a pump under the rear seat that supplies air pressure and vacuum for the door locks and for the (optional) pneumatic seats. The engine vacuum pump is used for other vacuum 'consumers.'

The '95 E300D is the last diesel with a mechanical fuel feed linkage; the '96 E300D (W210) and all later diesels are fly-by-wire. The '95 is also the last MBZ diesel to be able to run without a working electrical system (once you get it started).

The OM606NA engine makes only 134 HP and needs to be wound up pretty good, there's not a lot of low-end torque. It is otherwise a good engine. The later turbocharged version of the OM606 is better although totally dependent on the electronics. In general, the W124 is one of the last cars that are easily DIY-able, although perhaps not to the extent of the W123s.

I've had neither glow plug sticking nor delivery valve seal problems with either of my 606 engines. I did have to replace the headliner, as Max mentions, and am still working with the factory to see about a fix for the monovalve cracking problem that affects all '95 E300Ds and a few very late '93 300D2.5 Turbo cars.

Jeremy
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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
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  #7  
Old 01-23-2015, 04:28 PM
Diesel Preferred
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy5848 View Post
I did have to replace the headliner..
I've facing that problem now. Really thinking about trying to retrofit a stretched/suspended type headliner from earlier in the 124 series. I need to find an early 124 sedan in the junkyard and see how the headliner is attached.

The MB Classic Center in CA quoted me over $1000 for a new headliner.
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/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC
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  #8  
Old 01-23-2015, 04:31 PM
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Quote:
monovalve cracking problem that affects all '95 E300Ds
I have not had that issue on either of mine. Best car ever built as far as I'm concerned.
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  #9  
Old 01-23-2015, 05:56 PM
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Don't take these as gospel because my 95 has 370k and has had several owners that weren't easy on it.

I just recently fixed my ASD, to have my power steering pump break off. it literally broke off the mounts. a reman one was $400. I'd look at that.

I also have a coolant leak at the rear of the engine, very small, not always leaky, just drips a drip or 2 now and then.

Engine mounts are good for around 100k I hear. I'm preparing to tackle that job soon.

A BIG issue is the engine wiring harness. they decompose.

I've also heard of the EGR clogging up oil passages causing valves to sink into the head. I'm not sure if I've got this or some other issue that causes a dead cylinder for a minute or so on cold start.

My Driveshaft support bearing was also bad. Flex discs on the driveshaft.

If the rear suspension is sagging from springs, you can put adjustable camber arms on it to correct the tire wear, its not the ideal solution but I figured if i replaced the springs I was gonna do the entire rear suspension and I have neither the time or money for that.
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1982 300D (w123, "Blue Car")
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  #10  
Old 01-23-2015, 06:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarod View Post



Engine mounts are good for around 100k I hear. I'm preparing to tackle that job soon.
Not a difficult job but you'll need a long thin (1/4" or 3/8") socket extension to go down through the intake manifold on the driver's side, to R&R the top bolt on that side, unless you'd rather remove the manifold.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarod View Post
I've also heard of the EGR clogging up oil passages causing valves to sink into the head. I'm not sure if I've got this or some other issue that causes a dead cylinder for a minute or so on cold start.
Defeating EGR and cleaning the intake manifold will get rid of most of this problem unless the valves have actually receded into the head.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jarod View Post
If the rear suspension is sagging from springs, you can put adjustable camber arms on it to correct the tire wear, its not the ideal solution but I figured if i replaced the springs I was gonna do the entire rear suspension and I have neither the time or money for that.
The rear suspension is nice until you have to service it and discover a bunch of old/cracked/worn bushings. Received wisdom is to be careful of aftermarket rubber parts as some don't last very long.
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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
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  #11  
Old 01-23-2015, 06:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by engatwork View Post
I have not had that issue on either of mine. Best car ever built as far as I'm concerned.
Let me know if you ever do. I'm keeping a list, have half a dozen names and VIN numbers. The vehicle serial numbers (last six of VIN) are spread across the entire year's range of production for the '95 E300D with combined monovalve/aux pump with part number 001-830-40-84.

Jeremy
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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
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  #12  
Old 01-23-2015, 06:51 PM
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Headliner

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxbumpo View Post
I've facing that problem now. Really thinking about trying to retrofit a stretched/suspended type headliner from earlier in the 124 series. I need to find an early 124 sedan in the junkyard and see how the headliner is attached.

The MB Classic Center in CA quoted me over $1000 for a new headliner.
With a lot of care and wiggling I was able to remove the old headliner from the car and scrape off the old glue that turns into goo after 10-15 years or more. With the (apparently thin Fiberglas®) base clean, a local upholstery guy recovered it for $60 (not Alcantra!) and I put it back in. Although the glue-removal job was not fun, the worst part of it was definitely the R&R. Makes one wonder how the factory got it in—I suppose the seats were not installed yet.

I seem to remember that the pre-facelift headliner will fit only if you replace all the other interior parts along with it. Not sure of my facts here, please investigate before spending a lot of money.

Jeremy
__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
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  #13  
Old 01-23-2015, 11:20 PM
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Regarding the headliner - look around for an auto upholstery place near you, and give them a call. I had the headliner in my '97 done for about $250 installed about 2 years ago, it looks factory.
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---------------------------
'66 VW 1300 96K miles
'97 E300D 239K miles
'85 300D 203K miles (sold Sep 2012)


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  #14  
Old 01-23-2015, 11:50 PM
Skid Row Joe's Avatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tanner View Post
Hey guys,
looking at picking up a clean 95' E300 diesel but I'm not too familiar with the W124 chassis. The car has 175K he's only asking $3,100 which seems really low. Is there any particular problems to look out for. Ive heard the evaporator and wiring harness are common issues. Any help with this is appreciated thanks!
That's some higher mileage for the price, but is Low Retail on that year model, without regard to it's miles. See what else the car needs now to make it right though a paid PPI before agreeing to any price.
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  #15  
Old 01-23-2015, 11:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxbumpo View Post
I've facing that problem now. Really thinking about trying to retrofit a stretched/suspended type headliner from earlier in the 124 series. I need to find an early 124 sedan in the junkyard and see how the headliner is attached.

The MB Classic Center in CA quoted me over $1000 for a new headliner.
Headliners are $450.00 tops at an expert indy shop. That includes the MB sedans with a moonroof. Just had my W210 sedan done a year ago. Sounds a tad high there to me.


Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 01-24-2015 at 12:08 AM.
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