Looked at a gorgeous Black/Black 99 E300 Turbodiesel today with 163,000 on the odometer. The car was pefect inside and out, and drove as new, BUT the oil was changed per MB reccomendation every 10,000 miles at the dealer. I'm pretty sure synthetic oil was used.. is this acceptable? Didn't MB offer an extended warranty on the engine because of this?

The warranty you refer to is good to 150K miles and is based on the use of synthetic oil. If synthetic oil was used in the E300 I would not be overly concerned about oil related problems. If all the other maintenance records look good I think you may have found an interesting buy if the "price is right."

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99 E300 133K
98 ML320 99K
87 Saab 900 Turbo Conv 123K

turbodiesel,

The extended warranty is the result of a class action law suit that MB settled because the Flexible Service System (FSS) was calibrated on synthetic oil but the manual and technical data for the owner and apparently the dealer service department did not make it clear you needed synthetic oil. I believe this system, depending on your driving style, will alert you to change oil between 7,500 and 15,000 miles. On our 1999 C230 Kompressor I remember I could set it for a long or short interval. I ignored it and changed every 3,000 miles using 15W-50 Mobil 1 at the time.

Some people suffered damages when they used dino oil, apparently, and the MB settlement of the suit resulted in an extended warranty and one free synthetic oil change for each FSS afflicted vehicle sold before the requirement for synthetic oil if you use FSS was made clear. The settlement goes to second and third, etc. owners.

So, I would research this information with the dealer that serviced the car and find out what oil he used. They normally write it down on the service record in book for the car, but they should be able to dig up what they use from their own records if they did not record it in the car's service book. If not, I would shy away from the car. It cost MB a lot settle, so there must be something to the issue and this car you are checking is on the other side of the mileage barrier.

Good Luck! Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

I have the same car with 50,000 miles on it. I was also concerned about the 10,000 miles oil change intervals, but thought I'd give it a try. I lasted until about 9500 miles and just had to change it. But to make myself feel better, I also had an oil analysis done. Turns out the analysis of the synthetic oil at 9500 miles was better than the analyses of other cars I've done with half the mileage using dino oil. I'm sort of convinced.

But I would recommend you look to see if the transmission has been serviced or replaced.

Len
'99 E300TD

Yes, that is another concern of mine, the "lifetime" transmission fluid. It seemed to shift flawlessly and softly. I think I can get the car for $16,000 or slightly less, I think it's a great buy, what do you think? I'll know by tommorow night.

Turbodiesel,
I too have a '99 E300 which I purchased new. I just had the 100k service done by my trusted independent shop. He recommended a trans fluid and filter change. He does not believe in "lifetime" fluids. The problem with "lifetime", especially for diesel owners, is that MBUSA's idea of lifetime and ours usually differs in definition. My mechanic said the trans fluid didn't look too bad but that it needed to be changed. I'll get it changed again @ 200k.
Enjoy,
Ken

turbodiesel,

I had my lifetime factory fill of transmission fluid changed in my 1998 E300D TurboDiesel at the 60,000 mile mark. The dealer was a bit reluctant, noting the "sealed for life" attribute, and when he could not define what that meant, exactly, I told him to change the fluid. Ended up costing $198 as the fluid is apparently pretty exotic stuff. So, yeah, I would check to see if the transmission has been serviced. With that mileage I would work on the price a bit. I am not sure there are a lot of buyers for cars with that kind of mileage on them, regardless of the make and model, for that kind of money. Good luck, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)