1990 300E. Great condition, just hit 81k. Brake rotors need to be replaced (bit warped) but other than that really clean. I'm really happy so far, the w124 drives absolutely amazing...the more I drive it the more I like it. Like buying any car, still finding all the little faults while driving it and praying there isn't anything I missed. Might have an exhaust leak (there is a bit of a "hissing" sound coming from beneath the car that is louder than most M103s I've heard). Of course, pictures!


I owe my deepest gratitude to the American government for giving me a generous tax return, thus allowing me to buy a gasser

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__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

That is nice. Back when Mercedes' looked good in silver. I think because it's more of a satin silver, than cheap jewelry with orange peel silver

Although magnificently shiny, I can attest to the 'orange peel' appearance factor in my '99 MB's desert silver paint. I bought the car new, so it was made that way at the factory. Guess that's just the way they're makin' 'em nowadays.

Welcome to the club.



I got 253k on the blue wagon in my signature.




I love the way the W124 drives and handles. Wheres the hiss coming from?

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Nice 300E! Mine is a 1990 also. Ours has been awesome....have had it 1.5 years and driven it over 15k so far with no major issues/never been stranded. The M103 is a smooth nice engine.

I just redid a lot of the suspension on ours and now it handles extremely well.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Hey Tom, good luck with the 124. But you should have gotten a coupe. You and your lady would look smashing in a 300ce.

Were the harnesses a problem in 1990? Were leaking head gasket a problem on the 1990 vintage?

PS: WTF happened to the 'cats? El foldo

The hiss would likely be your fuel pump. Look behind the passenger side wheel well. I had both an exhaust leak and a very loud fuel pump with my 300SEL.

When I rev you can tell the difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOPEo7mXKpA

My '95 E320 fuel pump is a bit louder than normal as well, but nowhere close to my '91 300SEL. Thankfully they're easy to change.

Nice car!

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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!!!

Looks like you have a set of later model W126 floor mats in there...

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

It might well be my fuel pump...I've noticed it most when I accelerate alongside traffic, it isn't a constant which is why I suspected an exhaust leak pretty far up the pipe. Its also pretty sluggish not just off the line, but seems like its missing a bit of oomph if you mash it anywhere. I was hoping that my tune up would help with it. Its definitely driveable but I was hoping that the switch to gasser would fuel a bit of my performance appetite.

On order:
- spark plugs
- ignition wires
- cap & rotor
- Brake rotors and pads
- ignition lock cylinder from MB (its being a pain)
- odometer gears....found today that its reading is only about 70% how far I was actually going. The car is in phenomenal shape so the actual mileage I would estimate around 100k, certainly no more than 120k. I'm a bit pissed I didn't notice it on the test drive but as they say "buyer beware". The only thing I'm worried about is service intervals and fluid changes if it has been off for a while.
- any fuel lines and brake lines that need replacing...brake hoses for sure.
- Valve stem seal kit for whenever I get to that
- trans filter and fluid
- Fuel filter
- air filter

Did I miss anything? Anything M103-specific I should be concerned about other than the valve stem seals?

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Thanks! I do like the coupes, I went to look at two of them but they were both in rough shape. I saw one up in the cars section a few months ago that was beautiful and in NJ but was sold before I was able to save up the cash. I've heard the harness issue wasn't until 1993 or so (hoping someone can back this up?) and headgaskets were more a problem on the 3.2L M104 engines. I'm pretty happy with the sedan, I think its one of the cleanest I've seen...just a little anxious on the odometer issue I found today (see above post).

I have NO idea what the nova team has been doing lately. Its been like night and day between pre and post season, they were such a mess the past 7-8 games. Thought they had the last game towards the end, but then they blew it like usual maybe next year!!

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I'm not sure, they do fit pretty well. In the picture it looks brownish due to the light, but up close there are very few blemishes on it. They do resemble my w126 mats...I'll have to do a side by side.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Its the M104s that had the wiring harness problems.


The 103 is a good solid motor, aside from the valve seals.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Head gaskets on M103s are almost as wide spread as M104s. I'd say its a coin flip if you'll ever have to deal with it in the next decade. I've owned 1 M103 and 2 M104s, none of which were on their original head gaskets.

I hope your AC works. If you don't have much oil consumption between oil changes don't worry about the valve seals.

Iwrock has gotten 253k out of 4 engines. Please post photos of the 3.6 swap.

__________________
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!!!