95 E 300 Diesel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

92300SE · #1 09-15-2004, 10:26 PM

I just purchased this car on ebay,it was to nice to let it go...what you
guys think about it: ebay item# 2488968437,good deal or bad deal?

joegolden · #2 09-15-2004, 11:01 PM

Awesome car and looks like a pretty good deal. Have you picked it up yet? How is it? What a deal!

My best friend bought one in Atlanta on Ebay 2 years ago and it was as clean as yours. It had 97k and he gave $13k for it. It ran and drove really nice but developed a problem pretty soon after. The car had a real unsteady idle and the car shook badly. After 2 weeks in the shop he left with a rebuilt injection pump I think and $1500 lighter wallet. He now only has 105k, because he has a company truck, and it has been very reliable and comfortable. We actually towed a small Sailboat to St George island this summer and we ran 75mph the whole way. The car did not run hot and returned fuel economy around 20mpg towing the boat! Great, great cars!

I guess timing chain would be the first thing I would have looked at if I purchased one.

connerm · #3 09-16-2004, 09:47 AM

I have a 95 e300d. Bought it last year with 115k. Now has 137k. TSB issued on the rocky idle (mine shakes at idle too, but tach doesn't jump) says a major reason could be caused by valve guides being too tight. Particularly the exhaust valves are sticky. Solution is to bore them out. Shop says it's like a 40 hour job to do properly. I can live with a rocky idle for 40 hrs x $hop rate.

gsxr · #4 09-16-2004, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connerm

I have a 95 e300d. Bought it last year with 115k. Now has 137k. TSB issued on the rocky idle (mine shakes at idle too, but tach doesn't jump) says a major reason could be caused by valve guides being too tight. Particularly the exhaust valves are sticky. Solution is to bore them out. Shop says it's like a 40 hour job to do properly. I can live with a rocky idle for 40 hrs x $hop rate.

Find a new shop. The place that told you that doesn't have a CLUE! (And did they show you the alleged TSB from Mercedes documenting this?)

nellotare · #5 09-16-2004, 03:58 PM

Great Car! I noticed the VIN Plate says "11/93", yet seller bills it as a 1995 model. He may have corrected this in the narrative.. I didn't fully read everything.. Doesn't really matter because I think you'll enjoy it to it's fullest extent. I know I would! Congratulations!

gsxr · #6 09-16-2004, 04:16 PM

The E300 was imported in 1994 as an "early" 1995 model, and this one appears to have been built in late 1993. Regardless, there were no 1994 E300 Diesels sold, they are all called model year 1995. (Hey, it doesn't make much sense to me either...) FWIW, my 1987 300D was built in May 1986!

:p :p

nellotare · #7 09-16-2004, 04:37 PM

I am now enlightened.. stupidly so, but enlightened.

I was jez thanking.. kinda dangerously thought.. since it's Nov 93 off assembly line and the 93 really means 95, then can't this "late year" assembled car then be called a 96?

gutefahrt · #8 09-17-2004, 02:57 PM

Maybe the mileage was high for the year but who knows it showed well in the pictures. I have no experience with the model or year but was interested in it because the price was not astronomical.

If you are in the Chicago are, PM me I'd love to take for a test drive!

E300D · #9 09-17-2004, 05:22 PM

Hey, we also have a 95 OM606 car.

When we got the car, I went over the PO records, everything seemed to be matching and it was time for the major service interval.

I decided to replace all of the fluids in the car as well as the fuel filters.

If you do search under my name "E300D" you should find my posts, most concerning the 95 E300D and lots of newbie questions!

Enjoy the ride, the best part is cruising at 140km/h its so nice and you still have power for passing. One time I was going on this 2 lane hwy, I got up to 170km/h and the V8 camaro ahead of me wasnt too happy. He would have been even more "unhappy" if he saw the diesel badge

92300SE · #10 09-17-2004, 06:28 PM

Car just had new front brakes done and new climate control unit!,by the selling dealer,the guy told me if I dont want the car he will try to resell it for more money because he took a bath (with all the service done),I paid for it,so its mine...I keep you posted after driving it back 750 miles...

connerm · #11 09-20-2004, 08:51 AM

GSXR,
Yes. I read the TSB from MB re: rocky idle when engine is warm. Mine doesn't shake until its reached operating temp. Indy said he wouldn't do the repair either. I didn't mean to imply indy was trying to talk me into the valve guide job. I insisted he determine the cause of the shaking and he felt the TSB re: valve guides was the answer. What would be your guess as to the rocky idle when warm? I'm all ears.

gsxr · #12 09-20-2004, 12:12 PM

Hmmm... I'd love to see that TSB, but anyway. I had an intermittent rough idle when hot, and the cure in my case was having the injectors tested & cleaned (one or two needed work). I also had the IP re-sealed at the same time, it could have been a delivery valve seal, the shop said one of the internal seals was leaking, but didn't specify.

gsxr · #13 09-21-2004, 03:47 PM

Update: I located the TSB. Here it is, as a PDF file:
http://www.meimann.com/docs/mercedes/606_exhaust_valves.pdf
(only 12kb)

If power output is normal, the problem is NOT the valve guides! The TSB specifically mentions "Major performance loss in medium and upper engine speed range with simultaneous formation of smoke and occasional vibration at idle."

That did not sound like what you described, unless I'm misunderstanding you...?
AND, it only affects 606 engines up to number 12,031...! If your engine number is higher, this is definitely not your problem.

connerm · #14 09-21-2004, 04:36 PM

GSXR, please email me at mcon@loc.gov.

tolive31 · #15 09-22-2004, 12:39 AM

Beautiful car. I believe that's the same seller who had a white 87 300D with ridiculously low miles that went for something like $12k about six months ago.