New pony in the stable... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 02-04-2007, 07:38 PM

1991 300CE.

120k miles on the clock

Tranny rebuilt and headgasket replaced @ 116k miles.

I had been searching for an SL, but after recently witnessing a fatal car accident (as it unfolded right in fornt of me) I decided to pass up on a convertible, at least for now.

I had previeously looked at this particular 300CE (see ad in the car for sale thread) and liked it. So today I brought her home.

More pictures to follow once she is cleaned up and ready to show.

iwrock · #2 02-04-2007, 07:39 PM

AMG body kit?

Monoblocs?

Jim B. · #3 02-04-2007, 08:07 PM

Oooooh, you scored a beauty!!!!!! That is the best color! (It looks like orient red.) That was the color I looked for but could never find. What will its name be?

Any Sportline options planned for it?

I hope you can share how you found it, it's history, and what if anything you would like to do...if it were up to me I would keep mine perfectly stock. Mercedes knew what they were doing when these cars were engineered.
But these cars can accept ALL kinds of wheels, stereo, cosmetic and performance upgrades if you'd like. So long as it wasn't wrecked, has a good history, no aircon/wiring harness/headgasket leak problems you are just about home free. These 320 W124 coupes are incredibly well balanced, and you will LOVE driving it, while looking real good. Believed by many people to be the last of the engineered to a cost no object standard, assembled with the best of old world quality, yet tough, durable, long lasting and will run to incredible mileage.

Compared to the pagoda roof SL, this'll be much cheaper to operate and as you surmised, MUCH safer for regular driving situations.

That's a choice you'll never regret Ernesto.

The only upgrade I'd consider for this one is Eurolights, for the looks AND the performance in night vision and beam cutoff.

You already had the wagon in your stable so you are comfortable with these W124 cars, PLUS a great mechanic for them, all you need to do is to enjoy it.

Riquisimo! Quisiermos....Mas fotos pronto, por favor!!!

BENZ-LGB · #4 02-04-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Oooooh, you scored a beauty!!!!!! That is the best color! (It looks like orient red.) That was the color I looked for but could never find. What will its name be?

Any Sportline options planned for it?

I hope you can share how you found it, it's history, and what if anything you would like to do...if it were up to me I would keep mine perfectly stock. Mercedes knew what they were doing when these cars were engineered.
But these cars can accept ALL kinds of wheels, stereo, cosmetic and performance upgrades if you'd like. So long as it wasn't wrecked, has a good history, no aircon/wiring harness/headgasket leak problems you are just about home free. These 320 W124 coupes are incredibly well balanced, and you will LOVE driving it, while looking real good. Believed by many people to be the last of the engineered to a cost no object standard, assembled with the best of old world quality, yet tough, durable, long lasting and will run to incredible mileage.

Compared to the pagoda roof SL, this'll be much cheaper to operate and as you surmised, MUCH safer for regular driving situations.

That's a choice you'll never regret Ernesto.

The only upgrade I'd consider for this one is Eurolights, for the looks AND the performance in night vision and beam cutoff.

You already had the wagon in your stable so you are comfortable with these W124 cars, PLUS a great mechanic for them, all you need to do is to enjoy it.

Riquisimo! Quisiermos....Mas fotos pronto, por favor!!!

Jim...this was an AutoTrader find. so were my former 1991 420SEL and the 1989 300TE.

The car had two previous owners. It has an interesting (odd?) provenance. I will share it some other time.

It is pretty much stock, except for the wheel. They are MB 16" 8 hole alloys. Standard for this car were 15 (16?) hole alloys. I had been looking for this same color combination (in an SL); it was just luck that I found it in this car. The interiors are light beige.

I have already noticed a few things about the car:

1. The 300TE, with the M103 engine, accelerates faster off the line than the 300CE. As the engine winds up, however, the 300 CE goes faster.

2. This is one heavy car. It feels heavier than the 300TE (it is not) and it feels almost as heavy as my previous 1991 420SEL. With a V8 engine, this car would have been a hoot to drive!

3. A price one pays for a coupe are long doors. Sometimes they go a little out of alignment. The driver's door is a little off its alignment and air "leaks." (anyone has an idea how to properly align the doors?)

4. Build quality is superb. My 1998 E320 is a great car, but I wouldn't mind getting a 300E or an E4320 or E400. The W124 series has some great cars.

5. The M104 has a nice throaty sound.

6. The belt extender feature is kinda useless. I am still limber enough to be able to reach fo rthe belt myself.

7. Euro lights will be the first mod. The DOT lights were just not very good.

Now I need a 560SEC

Jim B. · #5 02-04-2007, 09:43 PM

Maybe the door check strap needs to be replaced? That might fix it. I'd look into that before trying to get the window glass adjusted

The pillarless coupes are more likely to have wind noises "air leaks" than sedans and wagons.

t walgamuth · #6 02-04-2007, 10:53 PM

the "doggy' feel compared to the wagon i believe may be due to the wagon having a lower gear ratio than the coupe.

look at the hash marks on the speedo and see if the max rpm for the engine occur at higher mph in the coupe. if so that means the coupe has "taller gears" ... such as, perhaps the coupe has 2:65 gears and the wagon, in order to deal with more weight, might have 2:88 gears.

so the coupe would run lower rpm on the highway at a given speed and get better fuel economy too.

very pretty car. congratulations.

very comely too.

tom w

BENZ-LGB · #7 02-04-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Maybe the door check strap needs to be replaced? That might fix it. I'd look into that before trying to get the window glass adjusted

The pillarless coupes are more likely to have wind noises "air leaks" than sedans and wagons.

Will do..

BENZ-LGB · #8 02-04-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

the "doggy' feel compared to the wagon i believe may be due to the wagon having a lower gear ratio than the coupe.

look at the hash marks on the speedo and see if the max rpm for the engine occur at higher mph in the coupe. if so that means the coupe has "taller gears" ... such as, perhaps the coupe has 2:65 gears and the wagon, in order to deal with more weight, might have 2:88 gears.

so the coupe would run lower rpm on the highway at a given speed and get better fuel economy too.

very pretty car. congratulations.

very comely too.

tom w

Muchas gracias Tomas!

Rear axle ratio for the coupe: 3.06:1

Rear axle ratio for the 300TE: 2.87:1

t walgamuth · #9 02-04-2007, 11:08 PM

there you go.

you are understanding axle ratios now. you are a fast study.

i am not surprised.

tom w

suginami · #10 02-04-2007, 11:23 PM

So you bought the car! I thought you had passed on it.

If I remember correctly, the previous owner was asking $6,500, and Enrique told you it was worth $5,500.

Even if you paid full price, it clearly seems worth it to me for such a clean car. 300CE's are rare to begin with, and there are simply not many nice cars left.

BENZ-LGB · #11 02-04-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

there you go.

you are understanding axle ratios now. you are a fast study.

i am not surprised.

tom w

Flattery WILL get you everywhere.

BENZ-LGB · #12 02-04-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

So you bought the car! I thought you had passed on it.

If I remember correctly, the previous owner was asking $6,500, and Enrique told you it was worth $5,500.

Even if you paid full price, it clearly seems worth it to me for such a clean car. 300CE's are rare to begin with, and there are simply not many nice cars left.

I got it for less than the owner wanted and for a bit less than Enrique's appraisal.

The original factory radio does not work (bad amp). But I was going to replace it anyway with an Alpine H/U with built in iPod, XM and Bluetooth.

The car is really nice. It needs very little (like Euro lights) to get it from nice to superlative!