Tragic 300E Story - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mcameron · #1 05-05-2007, 10:51 AM

Hello all:

Since purchasing my 1989 300E, this forum has been so valuable to me that I couldn't put a price on it.

As above I bought my 300E in May of 2006. Had work done at my Indy shop to get the car road worthy again. I purchased it with a new engine installed with only 60K miles acquired from an old lady who only drove from her home to either church or supermarket.

After installing/replacing 2 fuel filters, fuel regulator, bushings, radiator w/ hoses, reservior tank, rear brakes, and some other misc things I can't remember now the car was driving like a dream.

On November 4, 2006 I walk through the parking lot of a shopping center after doing some shopping to notice my car stolen. I was devastated.

By some miracle, this past March I get a call from the Police Department informing me they recovered my car. Not only that but the car was intact from their initial visual inspection.

I go to pick up the car and it doesn't start for guy at the impound. Come to find out battery was snatched out. I have to towed to my home for evalualtion. Replaced battery, however there are these 3 color coded wires I have no idea what they are supposed to be connected to. Top off all the fluids before starting engine in an effort not to damage anything. It took about 5 minutes to get it started and when I did, the thickest white smoke was coming from the exhaust, indicative of a blown head gasket.

I pull myself back together after finding that out, then I attempt shifting out of gear to find out the car doesn't budge in any gear. Now I have a transmission problem?

I don't know what to do at this point. Re-invest all the money already spent or just chuck the car that I grown to love. I'm taking it back to my Indy mech and have him give me a detail rundown of the problems and I guess I'll decide what to do with her from the diagnosis.

Wish me good luck!

The Swede · #2 05-05-2007, 11:18 AM

Sorry to hear of your loss. That's a bummer. We won't know exactly what's wrong for a while, so there's no point in worrying about it now.

When you get the lowdown from the mechanic let us know and proceed from there.

aklim · #3 05-05-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcameron

I purchased it with a new engine installed with only 60K miles acquired from an old lady who only drove from her home to either church or supermarket.

That would make me nervous. IMO, those are the hardest worked cars. No time for the moisture to evaporate off.

Hatterasguy · #4 05-05-2007, 10:12 PM

Well that sucks. Unless the car is rare or has a lot of sentimental value I would never take a stolen car back. Whoever stole it beat it till it wouldn't go anymore then walked away. You should have just kept the insurance money and told them to auction or junk it.