Hey guys, newbie to this forum and to Euro cars really. I can tear a Chevy motor apart blindfolded but Ive never had to touch a MB. Joined here because my friend who is a shop owner just got this '89 MB 300E in from another shop in a deal. The car has been meticulously maintained. It's had only 1owner and the shop it came from did all the service after the dealer. Interior is clean, seats look new, and the body is straight, only the paint has some fading. Under the hood it looks new, no leaks. My friend is asking $1200 but will replace all 4 shocks, floats like a boat right now, and will recharge the ac. I heard these 3.0L (m103) inline 6 motors are bulletproof. The car has 170k miles but runs really good. Fires right up and shifts nice and firmly too, felt solid on the test drive.

Would love to hear your opinions on this year and model as well as in the deal. I like the car and am definitely not scared of a car I have to tinker with here and there. This car will be my commuter car for work and to beat around town. I only live 8 miles from work and its a straight shot on the fwy. Figured itll help keep miles off my new Jeep and my Vette.

No one? Well, I'll go. Buy it. Any running, driving car is worth $1K. The 124 E class is a solid, well designed car that, if in good shape, drives better than most of the new cars you can buy today. $1200 is pocket change for a car, and if that car runs well and isn't a rust bucket, it is a good deal. Good support here on this board for troubleshooting if needed.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 422K

__________________
Objects in closer are mirror than they appear.

The block on an M103 may be "bullet proof" but the headgaskets, not so much. Also, that suspension system, with all the links, control arms, and bushings is easily over $1K to rebuild.

Sounds like it is mechanically sound. Biggest issue for you will be the rubber bits on the suspension. And the A/C and blower controls.
But if it's an A to B car, who cares!
Don't get caught up trying to fix every thing wrong. That's where the major money goes with an old MB.

Sounds like a good deal. Does that tag say 2009? The trunk seems painted, perhaps sun scald repair give the peeling areas, did you do a carfax for accidents? Even so, low enough price for an extended test drive then decide to take care of it or run the doors off

If you've got extra time and money to spend, and tinkering time - go for it. That car would make a nice project to lower.

I worked for a firm that originally headquartered out of Rosemead because of it's artesian well water, for almost two decades. That's on the 60 freeway, right?

It looks very nice. The M103 is a great motor but does have a habit of eating head gaskets. If the transmission hasn't been rebuilt then I would figure on doing it sooner rather than later. 150k seems to be when they go. I would buy it.

Has it passed smog?

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Hey guys thanks for the advice. I believe the head gasket was changed before but I'll double check for sure. The car has been "planned non-operational' for a few years but was being driven until a year ago it seems. It just needs to be smogged in order to get a current registration. The shop will be the ones to smog it. The roof and trunk were painted before. I guess they started peeling before the sides, which have now caught up. Here in SoCal rust isn't really a problem and the car doesn't have any. Rubber in the suspension looked good except for the shocks which are done for. As for the suspension, I believe it's untouched though the car seems to shift well and the trans was maintained regularly. No accidents either.

__________________
1989 300 E
2002 Corvette
2012 Chrysler 200 S
2013 Mini Cooper
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The shop is gonna throw in shocks and repair the ac. Those seemed to be the main things in need of repair. For now I'll probably just make sure it runs good, give it a tune up. From there with time maybe replace things here n there as I go. See if it gives me an easy 15 to 20k mi a year.

__________________
1989 300 E
2002 Corvette
2012 Chrysler 200 S
2013 Mini Cooper
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Yeah that's Rosemead, though I'm right off the 10, borderline San Gabriel.

Thought about putting lowering springs while they did the shocks. Lol

__________________
1989 300 E
2002 Corvette
2012 Chrysler 200 S
2013 Mini Cooper
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Just remembered - the 60 may have been the Pomona Freeway? It's been many years since then......

Nice looking car you're considering there.

Buy the MB and sell the others. When the tires are worn out sell the MB too. You are drowning, wasting your life in a sea of petroleum related crap. Discuss this with a vegan girl, she'll tell you.

Well...there is that ^

Yeah that's the Pomona fwy. It runs east to west parallel with the 10. Rosemead is sandwiched in between both.

__________________
1989 300 E
2002 Corvette
2012 Chrysler 200 S
2013 Mini Cooper
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee