1988 260E (are the good? are they rare?) common woes?

[86560SEL]

I am considering a 1988 260E, but do not know a lot about them. I have not seen too many. I think it is a 2.6L inline 6-cyl. Are they good engines? Any trouble spots I should be aware of? Thanks!

[gp87210]

Its a m103 engine, which is out of a 190E 2.6.
From what I have read, the 260E was not very popular and was later re-badged as a 300E 2.6. Other than the engine, A 260e is the same as a 300E but comes with fewer standard options and some slight trim changes.

[86560SEL]

Thanks!

And I think that is a good engine... Am I right?

[cc260E]

Mine is from 1988, 400 000km, original manual gear box, original clutch, original engine, and one owner (me).
Range more than 80 000km with a set of tyres.
No rust anywhere.

Indeed there are that parts that get worn but all in all great.

A fantastic car and engine if well treated and maintained.

Same consumption as in the first days (between 8.8 to 9 liters per 100km -I dont know in gallons per miles).

[Impala]

I owned a 1989 260E for a couple years and was happy with the experience. Though the engine (M103, 2.6L) had about 20 horses less than the 300E (M103, 3.0L) of similar vintage, I never found the car underpowered. In fact it pulled strongly, especially at highway speed. The engine also had a nice growling sound to it.

I think a well maintained specimen, at the right price, is definitely worth considering rather than just written off solely because it is a 260E.

The following thread may also give you more input:

260E v 300E

[nglitz]

I like mine, '87, 220,000 miles & still pulls great.

[ILUVMILS]

I just replied to a post about high mileage MB's. "How many miles are Mercedes good for?" was started by AMG300CE. Check it out.

[86560SEL]

Thanks for the additional information. They seem like decent little cars. I think I will check this one out. I am also considering a 1985 300TD wagon, as well as a 1985 190E 4dr- both automatics.

[jchowe420]

In fact it pulled strongly, especially at highway speed.
my old 230E also pull very strongly at highway!

260E is a nice car, it has the MBTEX which some said it is better than leather
some did not come with headlight wiper

[brianw]

I also had an '87 260E. It had 320,000+ miles (maybe closer to 350,000 but the odometer broke and I didn't fix it for a few months) and was an excellent car with very little in the way of maintenance. It had the original upper and lower engine, tranny and even exhaust! It had one valve job before I bought it at around 170,000 miles. It sat outside through Iowa winters and never gave me any troubles. I traded it in on my girlfriends CLK320, and it is still running to this day as I see it form time to time.

My experience was beyond good.