1999 Mercedes Benz E300

[Guest987]

I am looking at a 1999 E300 Diesel. It has about 225K on the clock. A dealer has it. My question before a purchase. I should get a pre-inspection done? Also, what maybe some things, I might want to mention to the inspector to look for? It is a turbo diesel. Can you tell me what it might be worth, if it checks out ok with the mileage shown?

[torsionbar]

At this point, a fair price depends more on condition and maintenance history, than on the mileage. At 225k, it could be amazing and barely broken in, ready for decades more of reliable service. Or it could be trashed and neglected, a frustrating money pit that will cost many thousands to make it right. Ideally you always want a pre-purchase inspection, performed by an independent 3rd party who is familiar with these cars (i.e. not the seller). I've found that most dealers however are not very accommodating in this regard, so you may be on your own to inspect it, bring a knowledgeable friend, or hire a mechanic to come with you and inspect it on the spot.

Assuming its reasonably clean, in good condition, has been properly maintained, and everything works, I'd value the car at between $3k and $4k. It it has not been well cared for, and needs significant work or has zero maintenance records, then more like $2k or less. If it is in pristine polished showroom condition with full maintenance history and everything is up to date (i.e. it looks and drives like a new car), then perhaps as high as $8k, but this is extremely rare and probably not what you have there.

FWIW, I paid $5100 last year for my 1998 E300 with 150k miles on it. It had a pristine interior, and recently received a full suspension and brake overhaul at the dealer, and had years of dealer maintenance records. It still required repairs to the cooling system, transmission leaks, and a few other things that needed fixing.

[pimpernell]

Originally Posted by Guest987

I am looking at a 1999 E300 Diesel. It has about 225K on the clock. A dealer has it. My question before a purchase. I should get a pre-inspection done? Also, what maybe some things, I might want to mention to the inspector to look for? It is a turbo diesel. Can you tell me what it might be worth, if it checks out ok with the mileage shown?

Spring perches up front need to be closely inspected as they have a tendency to rot out underneath the factory protective coating and can fail without warning. Next on the agenda is to make sure that all the glow plugs are in their proper location. Sellers who have broken a glow plug off in the head and have not had it repaired properly will sometimes tack weld an operating glow plug to the head and connect the glow plug wire from the broken one to that plug so as to prevent a code being thrown. In good condition, the car is a great ride!!!

[Guest987]

What about the engine? Like is it capable of over 300K without a lot of work? Is the transmission in the 1999 pretty solid? What about leaking will it still be like the earlier ones in that regards?

[jake12tech]

Another opportunity to embark on the longevity of the om606. My daily driver has over a half a million on an original bottom end. The top end was re done with timing chain, guides and a valve job at 410k. However the bottom end held good seal, so no action was taken. It's a 99 E300 fully optioned and I've driven it to Florida and back.

Negotiation points for common issues would be noticeable wetness at the injection pump, leaky old plastic fuel lines that are brown (aged and need to be replaced). As long as the rockers are clean and the perches look okay I would not be concerned with rust. They don't really leak a lot of oil either which is nice compared to the older engines. My 606s never leave a drop of oil anywhere and never have.