Tell me if this is possible
 

Ok i was browsin around craigslist looking to add to me Mercedes addiction when i came a accross a 1990 300E with 169,000 on it, the only problem is it needs a new starter, is it hard to install a starter on one of these? or is it somthing i can change were it lies

thanks

I would think the bigger problem is all the things you can't check until you install a starter - transmission, suspension, steering, AC... Maybe it's cheap enough as is that condition doesn't matter.

Sixto
93 300SD

Another way of looking at this.... if all the car needed was a starter, this would be relatively trivial fix in order to market the car in running condition. I suspect the problems are even bigger, and that the seller knows that putting in a new starter wouldn't make the car any more attractive or presentable, and thus isn't worth the trouble.

Anyhow, check it out and see what the story is. Maybe it's a little old lady who needs to clear out her garage.

Sometimes all it needs is the air conditioning fixed. It's amazing how many people get rid of otherwise good cars, simply because the quote to fix the air conditioner is more than the car is worth. These are good DIY cars.

If the price is right, diagnose the starter. You might be able to get the thing to start, if you know how to approach it. Then, you can make a real assumption about the purchase. Also, if it is cheap enough, buy a starter, NEATLY replace it. If the car is worth it, buy it. If not, pull the starter, clean it up, and returnm it. The owner would have to agree to letting you work on it before purchase, which if he wants to get rid of it, they probably would.

Tap on the starter a bit before you go all out and replace.


I've heard of "servos" sticking before.

Changing a 103 starter is a little tricky but not too bad. Like a lot of things there's one screw that's hard to get at. But it just takes patience and a selection of tools. But you're going to have to get it up in the air about 6 inches. I would try to get some help to push it up on ramps as jack stands under the cross member would sort of be in your way.

OK I may be on crack on this... so bear with me. :silly:

I remember reading somewhere, it may have been the manual, that you can "push start" these cars by pushing in neutral and dropping the transmission into 2nd (all the way down)... is this true??? I remember reading and thinking that was crazy.

It may have been in the manual for my 300SD I had... not sure about the 300CE manual.

If this is completely insane, just let me know... not that I am going to try it EVER, but if it's possible, might not be a bad idea for this 300E he's looking at.