1990 300CE Adoption Announcement - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BENZ-LGB · #1 11-23-2007, 06:35 PM

Well, after searching high and low for a replacement to my much missed red 1991 300CE I finally found a "new" 300CE to adopt.

Today the adoption papers were signed and the pink slip is safely in my possession.

Vital stats: 1990 300CE
Mileage: 107,000 miles
Ext. color: Dark Grey (Color code 199)
Int. color: Light Grey
Ownership: One owner (the proverbial little old lady)
Selling dlr: B.H. Motors

The car comes with a thick stack of services records dating back to the date of purchase (January 1990).

The car is now at Enrique's getting fluids topped and having a few, minor things attended to.

First major mod: getting European lights.

Second major mod: getting rid of the chrome, 15" wheels. The chrome is in very good shape with only very minor curb rash and the tires have a lot of thread left. Is there anyone out there interested in a set of chrome 15" wheels and tires?

Third major mod: look for a new sound system with XM and iPod capability.

The color is not red

. But the color is a very nice looking color, I saw in JimB's 560SEC and it looks great--so I was sold.

I will post more pics after I get the car nicely detailed.

Thanks to all of you who expressed sympathy over the loss of my red coupe. Also, thanks to all of you who were in the look out for a car for me--you all know who you are

. You guys are all great.

Kevin (powerpig) if I lived in the East Coast by now I'd probably be driving your Sportline 300CE!

Here are the pics:

Jim B. · #2 11-23-2007, 07:45 PM

It certainly is a beauty, all right, Ernesto, even if not red....
You'll really like it, as you already are quite an expert on the W124, you know, appreciate and understand the W124, and the coupes especially well.

If I was a betting man I would say the lower photo looks like it is at Enrique's shop at MR.MB, who must have blessed the car with a clean bill of health.

What also is really good is that is a VERY clean, unhacked, low mileage, original first caring owner car that spent its entire life in sunny southern California. Given the age of its owner, it may never even have seen snow, or poor weather.

The car wears well its period correct license frames from Beverly Hills Ltd. MB (so don't remove them, they are VERY hard to find replacements for). It appears the plates are also the original alphanumeric 1990 California ones for the car, too, without the "lipstick" California script of later ones.

The color 199 is actually called "Black Pearl" (or BlauSchwartz, Blue-Black) in German.

The only thing I could do without on it is the chromed wheel arches, it does not need them, but I am sure you already realize the expense and trouble it would cause if you removed them, and the paint matching problems, holes and dirt underneath you would find (at least not rust, as a So Cal Car).

Your remarks about the wheels give me comfort in knowing I did well to replace the chromed wheels on mine with the painted W140 looking wheels (they are exactly like your Beowulf had). What do you have in mind for wheels?

The Tire Rack alternative, imo, is a good alternative, if you have good 15" or 16" replacements in mind (don't get bigger ones than that). If you are lucky they will have a style and size that fits perfectly without fooling around with hubcentric spacers and that stuff, and will just bolt on, as mine did, they were made with the correct wheel offset for the car.

But in the meantime, you can explore the center cap alternatives on ebay, and choose the original MB ones, (several styles) or other ones that look right to you. (Tire Rack wheels come without them, but DO come with everything else your local tire dealer that co-coperates with Tire Rack will need, lug bolts and so on, to make it an easy experience.)

I know that this is the result of a difficult, careful, and long search; but you were well rewarded, you really hit the jackpot - yet again.

Now go give us the name of the car, then update your sig. and get those Euro lights on it as soon as possible, -- an easy job, for you, as you quite literally wrote the book on CE eurolight installs.

And drive secure in the thought that you might not even BE here to tell us about this car, had you been driving some lesser rattletrap in the first place.
And I hope your aches and pains are all gone by now.

I am just wondering, by 1990 some of the cars were coming with the Mercedes Benz black leather zippered case for the books and records, did yours have that, or the plastic pouch that preceded it?

Great catch - well bought.

suginami · #3 11-23-2007, 07:50 PM

I think you made a great choice, Ernesto.

My vote on the wheels is that you go with the 8 hole wheels like your wagon and your other CE had.

Jim B. · #4 11-23-2007, 08:12 PM

ASA type 8 silver painted ones would look great with a 199 paint job.
15" or 16" would work well on the CE.

I would not go with wheel locks though if it were me though. Not really needed and it could ruin the look somewhat.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/results.jsp?autoMake=Mercedes-Benz&autoModel=300CE&autoYear=1990&autoModClar=

Also, there are lots of center cap alternatives.

These are the center caps I put on mine with the silver painted wheels from tire rack (above)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-Center-Caps-New-Original-Equipment_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43961QQihZ014QQitemZ330190726538QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

This is what it came out looking like on a 1991 SEC coupe that is Pearl Black, like the CE:

If I had the CE as it is right now, I would have to make the decision as whether to leave it box stock, or have the bumpers, lower valances and mirror backs paintged body color, or simply leave it as is. But only Ernesto can answer that question, as it is one of personal preference.

Mistress · #5 11-23-2007, 08:24 PM

Ey Key Linda El Jefe- I am drinking a Mohito in honor of this momentous(sp) occassion.

BENZ-LGB · #6 11-23-2007, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

ASA type 8 silver painted ones would look great with a 199 paint job.
15" or 16" would work well on the CE.

Yep, that is what I am thinking about. In 16" and go with 225/55/16 tires.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

If I had the CE as it is right now, I would have to make the decision as whether to leave it box stock, or have the bumpers, lower valances and mirror backs paintged body color, or simply leave it as is. But only Ernesto can answer that question, as it is one of personal preference.

That is a good suggestion. I want to get used to the new 300CE and then see how I can personalize it.

Jim, it was looking at your car that finally convinced me that color code 199 is a good color on a coupe (what do they call that again?).

I still have to name it....hmmmmmmmmmmm!

Hatterasguy · #7 11-23-2007, 10:24 PM

Nice!

You should get some BBS or AMG wheels for it.

TheDon · #8 11-23-2007, 11:41 PM

very nice!.. I would agree.. it needs euros

iwrock · #9 11-24-2007, 12:07 AM

That color is BlauScwarz.

Blueblack.

Pearl Black.

One of the best looking colors on the coupes IMHO.

Sweet ride Benzo. I want a W124 coupe one day.... Until then, I got me a wagon.

BENZ-LGB · #10 11-24-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

Ey Key Linda El Jefe- I am drinking a Mohito in honor of this momentous(sp) occassion.

Gracias chica!

Interesting that you mentioned mojitos. After transferring the pink slip I drove over to Versailles (the Cuban restaurant nearby Enrique's shop) and had a Cuban lunch. Then I realized that after picking up Beowulf, I also drove to the Versailles in West L.A.

I can't afford to buy more cars....my ever expanding waist line can't handle it!

Thank for the good wishes.

The records that the PO gave me indicate that the headgasket was recently replaced. She also replaced the electronic ignition module--two fewer things to have to worry about.

BENZ-LGB · #11 11-24-2007, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W124.090

That color is BlauScwarz.

Blueblack.

Pearl Black.

One of the best looking colors on the coupes IMHO.

Sweet ride Benzo. I want a W124 coupe one day.... Until then, I got me a wagon.

Well, I have the 300TE, for now at least (my son will soon gets is license).

The P.O. even left the original bill of sale. She paid 54 G's for it.

BENZ-LGB · #12 11-24-2007, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I am just wondering, by 1990 some of the cars were coming with the Mercedes Benz black leather zippered case for the books and records, did yours have that, or the plastic pouch that preceded it?

Great catch - well bought.

Yep...it has the black leather zippered case.

The PO had all four keys (2 master/2valets) plus the 2 flat, wallet keys.

One master key and one valet key come in their own MB leather keyholder.

Don, thanks. Monday I am going to ImportVision (they are local to me) to pick up Euro lights.

Hattie, the AMGs sound tempting. Maybe if I can find a good, used set -- or if I can sell the current ones for a good price.

LaRondo · #13 11-24-2007, 07:48 AM

The pics look nice, very elegant coupe. What's wrong with the chrome wheels ...?

Mistress · #14 11-24-2007, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

Gracias chica!

Interesting that you mentioned mojitos. After transferring the pink slip I drove over to Versailles (the Cuban restaurant nearby Enrique's shop) and had a Cuban lunch. Then I realized that after picking up Beowulf, I also drove to the Versailles in West L.A.

I can't afford to buy more cars....my ever expanding waist line can't handle it!

Thank for the good wishes.

The records that the PO gave me indicate that the headgasket was recently replaced. She also replaced the electronic ignition module--two fewer things to have to worry about.

El Jefe- Don't worry about eating too many flan con coco's you can sign up for my "Body Building Boot Camp," after the holidays. The car is magnificent. La Perla Negro....

powerpig · #15 11-24-2007, 08:56 AM

Congrats! I'm sure you'll be happy with the new "baby". I think I'm going to keep the Sportline for a while longer. I'm still having a problem getting used to the Remus exhaust though. Have fun with it!