380Se ARE THEY GOOD ENGINES OR SHOULD I STAY AWAY??

I found in the paper a 1984 380se with 54k on it i was wondering do these engines have problems and what is the gas mileage. What is the up keep costs by the way?
thanks

[Q]

I drive an 85 with 102k on it. I haven't owned it long, but I have put a bit into it. Mostly neglect from being parked out in Texas sun. Other than that, same old stuff...cruise control flaky, idle speed control module, resistor tips on plug wires, etc.

The thing runs great. I get 12 mpg. I did a 1000 mile trip and got 16 mpg. The torque comes on real early. It is not fast, but it is not anemic either.

[Ashman]

From my understanding, the 380 engine comes in two flavors. one with the vulnerable single timing chain, and the other one with the better, dual timing chain system.

I think pre 1985 was the single chain, and 1985 and older is the dual timing chain.

My brother specifically searched longer for an 85 380SL because it had the dual timing chain versus the single timing chain in the pre 1985 models.

Some people have updated the pre 85 versions to the dual timing chain.

i am not sure on any of this, but this is what I remember from when my brother was buying his car 3 years ago.

BTW. his car is not extremely fast off the line, but the engine is smooth and has enoguh power.

Hope that helps,

Alon

Pre 1984 cars had the dual timing chain. I found a 107/SL buyers guide in an old Road & Track and they say that mercedes switched to a dual timing chain in 84 on the 380 engine. Even if it is a single timing chain it should be fine as long as the chain is changed periodically. Good luck. BTW, ashman, I went to your site and caught a glimpse of what I thought was a Range Rover in the background. How do you like yours? Is yours as unreliable (but fun) as mine?

Jesse
98 C43 AMG
94 Range Rover

[Ashman]

Hehe Yup Jesse Thats a glimpse of a range rover. 1993 County LWB 4.2

Its my brothers car.

He has not shut up one day since he got it about this or that being wrong with the car.

It does drive nice and is a very fun car, though I keep telling him to slow down, and that driving at 70Mph on Sunset Blvd. is dangerous, but he continues to do so.

The only real problem the car has is the stupid air adjustable suspension. Those damn rubber air cusions for the suspension are more troublesome than they are worth. other than that, the car drives and runs great, especially for a range rover with 135k on the odometer.

if I were to tell you how much aleve I have had to take to relieve the headaches he's given me about that car, you'd be shocked. hehe

He's had the car for a year, and it hasn't needed much work, but that suspension has to have something done about it. The air cushions are leaking, which in turn screws with the whole system. in the morning after the car has been sitting for a while, its basically as low as it can go in the back, which is where the leak is.

The car does tow our 5500 lb boat like a bat outta hell. That means it tows it with little effort. 65 mph up the grapevine easy.

I have told my brother to get rid of it and get either a slightly older one without the air suspension, or a benz. He loves the rover so much, he'll never switch. I guess thats because he learned to drive on another one we had years ago. a 1990 Range Rover County LWB 3.9. He just loves the car to death.

The first car I drove when I got my license was an 85 190E that my older brother had I only drove it a few times, but I did drive it the first day I had my license, and it was a great driving experience. I was hooked on benz way back then. too bad I had to drive an 83 GMC jimmy K5, then an 80 MGB, then an 89 Jeep cherokee before I got my first benz. All the cars I drove were great to me. Each one was a great experience to drive, and each one had its problems. I felt indestructible in the Big truck, and had a ton of fun in it. but spent a lot of money on oil, brakes and spark plugs. the car had some problems... I loved the MGB. Small, nimble, quick for what it had, handled good, and convertible. The car was also very good looking and easy to maintain. I did however have to replace the gas tank, and only had a few other minor things done to it. It took me 30 minutes to rebuild the carb halfway on it one day. The jeep, was great for towing the boat and for hauling computer equipment when needed. I have had to do a bit to the jeep, alternator, waterpump, harmonic balancer, radiator, thermostat, Fuel injectors, neutral saftey switch, some idle controller, ohh and the rear differential was replaced 3 times. First time it was a grand to do. second time under warranty plus they replaced the whole housing. it was bent... third time was after a faulty bearing failed, that ruined the one axle and stripped a couple of teeth. Even with all that, I still use it to deliver computer equipment to my customers and it has 135k on it, but only if I can't fit it in the benz. hehe

out of all the cars I've ever driven in my life, The Benz is as rock solid as they come, and drives nicer than any other car I've driven.

If you want, I'll try to snap some pics of the rover. Just let me know.

Alon

[Edited by Ashman on 12-06-2000 at 12:40 AM]

Ashman,
I've got a 94 SWB (67K mi, beluga black, sorrell hides)with Air Suspension problems as well. Tell your brother that they make conversion kits for the air suspension that come with everything you need to convert it into a coil sprung vehicle. The kits are about $400 through atlantic british (www.roverparts.com). I've heard that the car will actually ride better with the coil springs than with the air suspension. Atlantic british sells the converison kit with ARB springs that raise the ride height about 1-2 inches. I came out to my car at work today and found the passenger side front wheel as low as it could go and the rest of the car at normal ride height. It is almost embarassing! I'm definately having that kit installed soon. If you don't mind i'd love to see some pics of the rover. From what I could tell, it looked pretty nice(but not as nice as your 300CE).

Jesse

98 C43 AMG 12k mi.
94 Range Rover 67k mi.

[jackmac]

They changed to dual timing chains in 84, but there was a service advisory and Merc updated a lot of the older ones when they were a few years old. YOu have to make sure it's been changed. The single timing chains are fragile, especially after all this time. I have an 84 380SE. It's not fast off the line, but it's fast enough. On the highway, it's plenty powerful and glides along at 80 mph all day long. My mileage is in the high teens.

You Are kinda scarying me away from this car with the gas milage cause my 500 gets 23 to a gallon and it is a 5.0 .
Anything other than the chain to worry about.

My 380SE has averaged 15 MPG overall. It seems low but the car is heavy.

[bstreep]

If anyone is interested, I looked at an '85 380SE this afternoon here in San Antonio. Pretty much trashed, but would make a good parts car. The timing chain jumped (looks like it caught a piece of the plastic rail), punched a hole in one of the valve covers, trashed the valves. The kid wants $1900 for it, I offered him $500, but I don't think I'd give him that...

For those with a 126, it might be worthwhile. Guy advertised it as an excellent exterior and a good interior. Needs a paint job, bumpers need paint?, interior is trashed - back seat may be salvageable. Looks like it sat out in the South Texas sun for 15 years. Email (bstreep@satx.rr.com) me if you are interested, and I'll get you the phone number.

Bill Streep
'57 190SL
'92 300E

Originally Posted by jackmac

They changed to dual timing chains in 84, but there was a service advisory and Merc updated a lot of the older ones when they were a few years old. YOu have to make sure it's been changed. The single timing chains are fragile, especially after all this time. I have an 84 380SE. It's not fast off the line, but it's fast enough. On the highway, it's plenty powerful and glides along at 80 mph all day long. My mileage is in the high teens.

I am only fifty-two. I must be getting old. I got 22 mpg from my 380se when it was running. If you guys come through South Carolina and run upon a black 380 going too slow push me along don't just give me the finger.

[lesrrt]

Have done this single to-dbl t-chain conversion to my 82 380 sel. Also removed the heads and the valves to resurface everything. Probably did overkill overall, but I average 19-21mpg respectively. I run this car 75-80mph back-and-forth to work every day. Not much off the line, but it cruises when it gets on top as mentioned above. The car has 130k now and shows no sign of any failure since the 8k mi I put on it. les

[el Miguel]

My 85 380SE has 207,000 miles on it and counting. I had the chains replaced at 140k and have owned it for 9 years. No problems to speak of. Mileage is not bad unless I run the air and then it loves gas! I'd say 15-18 mpg average.
Mike

[126nut]

My first Benz was an 82 380SEL which I bought in 95 for $1200, off the back of a wrecker I may add. Jumped time, bent valves, usual havoc wreaked upon the engine. The body was excellent though, just repainted by a well respected body shop here in town. I was never really impressed with the off the line performance but found that if you really put your foot into the pedal it would get up and go quite well, cruised at 80 no problem, typical Mercedes in that regard. Sold it to some loser that totaled it out just a few days later, got a letter from the impound yard to go get my car, the car I just sold?? The poor guy was too ashamed to call me, hadn't even transferred the title yet. It was a sad day but better him then me I guess.

Watch out for oil leakers though, they had their share of head gasket leaks just like most V8's of similar vintage. Even at such low mileage I would definitely do at least a chain, tensioner and guides, even if it is a double row setup.

[OhioMercedesBoy]

When I was 3 my father bought a 1985 380SE. I remember riding in it home from the dealer - one of my earliest memories actually. We had that car for several years before the 420SEL caught his eye - but other than a failed power window switch, it was troublefree for the 85K miles he drove it.
Mmm, I still can hear that 3.8 winding up getting onto the highway - what a sound.
~D.J.~