I need advice on purchase
 

My '80 300SD is getting a little tired. More correctly, I'm tiring of the maintenance. My arthritis makes turning wrenches a painful experience. I am facing a new A/C compressor install, and all that that entails. Though the engine and tranny are still strong, lots of rear suspension issues, and weak paint signal that I have hit or passed the point of diminishing returns, and just no longer relish these DIY projects like I used to. I'll probably end up parting old Eva Braun out.

Within the next couple of months, I want to purchase a mid-90's E-class or C280. I can spend $5-8K, but would prefer spending in the lower end of that range. Naturally, I'd like a low-mileage, dealer or Larry Bible-serviced creampuff. Is it likely that I can find a decent MB, of these types, in this price range, and what should I look for as potential problem areas with these models?
TIA
__________________
1980 300SD 146K miles.

it seems
 

not too easy.

but it doesnt hurt to try.

tom w

Mid 90's C280s and E Class cars have a number of well documented problems that get pricey. On both cars:

Head gasket leaks (M104 engines)
Wiring harness failures (1993-1995 M104 engines)
Overvolt Protection Relay failure (M104 engines)
Mass airflow sensor failure
Harmonic balancer failure (M112 engines, early years)
Transmission problems with first year of 722.6 5 speed transmissions (98 model year I think)

On the C280:
lower ball joints wear out
lower control arm bushings wear out.

That's all I can think of from the top of my head. There is plenty of information on this site about these common issues. I have a 94 C280 and the car has had the head gasket, mass airflow sensor, the OVP, lower ball joints, LCA bushings PLUS the A/C condenser and the water pump. All this plus regular maintenance such as fluids, filters, brake parts, tires, etc. Since buying the car 6 years ago I've averaged about $2500 per year (Canadian, and that includes some body rust repairs) but I'm a little fastitdious when it comes to putting money into my car. Its been expensive, but I love it and wouldn't trade it in. Just be prepared to have it cost more than your SD.

don't forget some E-class w124s had the a/c evaporator failure-fun dash removing work.

E400 lower ball joint comes with LCA $300

W124 both rear wheel bearings try $800 for parts and labor, must dissassemble whole rear end and have special tool.

spring perch failure on some early W210 E-class 1996+.

sometimes it's better to stick with what you know and love. some say the 80s MB were the best engineered cars. for your 1980 a/c go with R12.

Why not keep the old girl for tinkering at your own speed, and spend the 5K on a used Honda?

For the amount of money you want to spend don't even bother looking at W210's. You will be looking at the bottom end of the W210 range for $8k. But that will get you pretty nice 1994-95 E320. Good choice, other then the wiring harness and head gasket pretty solid examples. Don't rule out a C220 either the 4 bangers are tough little motors.

yeah an older Honda that was made in Japan! not the newer pos US made versions.

cars are expensive period, I just did a co-workers Honda Civic pwr steering pump;-reman-$300 without pulley, pulley from the Honda dealership $60.

I would go back to a 90-92 300E or a 89-91 300SE, 3.0 103 motor - both will be less trouble than a 93-95 3.2 124 and a nice car should be in the price range.

I disagree, the M104 is a better engine. Less prone to head gasket failure, tons tons more power, and they don't burn oil like the M103's. Valve stem's improved.

IMHO the 300SEL ain't a great combo just buy a 420 the I6 in the W126 is a dog.

Besides the OVP which is now dying and needs replacing, I've had all those problems aswell. Control arm bushings have been done twice. Also I'm on my third wiper linkage... my linkage failed on the factory and second hand one....this puppy is actaing up again...

I'm pretty sure that the m104 would have more head gasket failures, but does have a superior valve train. And an SDL guy calling the M103/126 combo a dog?

Jorg

I'm in the same boat as you and have been doing a lot of research lately. I have come to realize that the 1995 E420 has to be the best and has no head gasket issues.

I thought that too, until I started to read about the spring perch issues. The added weight of the bigger engine makes it more prone to failure. Make sure the car hasn't been exposed to road salts that corrode the spot welds in that area.

If I remember correctly, early series W202's had issues with the HVAC systems. That was improved in 98+ I think.

-Michael

The engineering of each engine makes the head gasket failures on the m103 and m104 entirely different.

On the m103, when the head gasket fails you usually get coolant/oil mixing which can lead to extensive cooling system damage - radiator, water pump, hoses, etc. etc.

On the m104 however, the usual head gasket failure only causes an oil leak on the rear cylinder head. Although it may be more common, it usually isn't accompainied by coolant/oil mixing (except in extreme cases) and can be ignored (for awhile - not forever) as long as the owner doesn't mind the leaking and checks the oil level on a regular basis.

Also: the 1995 w124 E420 doesn't have the spring perch failure as the w210 1996+ E420/E430 cars do (to my knowledge).