FS 320E Wagon 1995....Jackson, Tn. $1750.
Has some "issues", hence the price. 140,000 mi. Driver's window needs regulator as gear is partially stripped. Rear left window switch/motor ?. Reverse gear comes and goes. Still has original first aid kit, minus a couple
of band-aids. Having problems scaling photos, will e-mail per request.
White w/ tan interior.

Location?

West Tennessee. Between Nashville and Memphis.

Can you comment on the following:

Head gasket (replaced or original?)
Condition of wiring harness
Does the AC work?
Overall general condition of body and interior

Thank you much!

Body and interior are in really nice shape. I have been repeatedly asked about the harness and head gasket. We've owned it since early 2006 and have not had to do anything to either. Is there something I should be checking ?

It just means that its already been done or will be needed eventually. If someone buys this car with that unknown its about $3000 worth of uncertainty down the road. Its not a matter of if they fail, but when.

You can easily tell if the harness is original by pulling back some of the insulation and check for any degradation. You can also pull the battery, and behind it would be some of the wiring harness with a tag attached. One side will be the design date, the other manufacture date. If the manufacture date is newer than your car, then you have the replacement harness.

Head gaskets often start as very small external oil leaks. If your car has some drippage from the back of the engine or very front, there's a good chance the HG is failing.

No educated buyer is going to step up to the plate without knowing these crucial facts.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

We just checked...they appear to be the originals. If any one wants to make us an offer, please do. The interior/exterior is good...
Thank you for your help.

Paul - I am not able to get a VMI as apparently MBZ has a policy of not giving that out anymore unless you are the owner. Bummer, would have been nice to trace things out a little since you have no history of many of the 'big items' that eventually need doing on these cars (head gasket, evaporator, wiring harnesses, trans).

My assumption is they are all original, and with the trans reverse "coming and going", its rebuild time. So figure 1.5-3K on that job depending on who does it. then the other 3 jobs are each probably 1-1.5K. One of these with low mileage and those items done are fetching about 5-7K depending on condition and history. therein lies the problem with determing worth. If all need doing, that's about 4-7K.

buy it cheap and drop a om603 in there... call it a day

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

Hi Paul, thanks for getting back about those items. I have had this same car for 9 years and know it well. Your reverse will be gone soon, as mine went. A used lower mileage tranny installed cost me $2000, and I did shop around. There are other options, less or more expensive but that is about what it will cost. My wiring harness is original and is good at 230,000 miles but that is unheard of. I believe that is around a $1,500 job if need be. In terms of the head gasket you can also check the coolant and see if there is any motor oil floating on the top. That is how mine showed up, along with some drips underneath the car. That is roughly a $2000 job also. One problem that occurs with having the head gasket done is that it can damage a fragile wiring harness.

I don't think I am up for making such a long trip for a car that has not had these items addressed, unless it was a very low price. Not that your price is unreasonable.

Good luck with the sale

What is a om603?

... he's a diesel snob.

Ha! Has anyone done that?

Hey now...

If a M119 would fit, I'd rather do that!!!

And I mean "fit" without beating on the sheet metal with a sledge hammer.

__________________
08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

Assuming wagon and sedan front fenders are the same, I believe the E500 fenders could be swapped over, as that had the V8 in it with the flared fenders.