88 300te - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

raydi07 · #1 03-30-2008, 09:06 PM

Found a nice 300TE on craigslist. Purchasing it for $900. The wagon has been sitting for 2 years so the most damage is the cracked dash. There is a fuel leak under the vehicle about midpoint which i suspect is the fuel filter and the wagon starts but shuts right down. Could be the fuel leak but i will wait to get her home. 2 tires are flat from sitting so it will need 4 new tires, again no big deal.
All windows work, sunroof works, air & heat supposedly were working, door locks all work, seats work, a little dirty inside but nothing some elbow grease won't take care of. PO says it is a highperformance model. Can anyone enlighten me here?

Here's a link to the pics:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=14gplcbz.55v9627&Uy=-bcoe62&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

Was buying for my daughter but she wants no part of a wagon. Since i own an 84 300SD i felt this may make a nice stablemate gasser when i need to pick up some items.

I am looking for comments on this year and model. If i find a 617 diesel I may even relace the gas engine.

Thoughts??

mbdoc · #2 03-31-2008, 08:09 AM

If the car has been sitting that long, you need to start by draining the tank & replacing the fuel filter. Possibly the pumps are still good.

There was never a special high performance model wagen HERE in the USA.

raydi07 · #3 03-31-2008, 10:46 AM

until i get under it the po states it has dual exhaust. Was their a hp model overseas?

Whiskeydan · #4 03-31-2008, 10:58 AM

I'm looking at a 89 300TE with 170K miles. Not being too familiar with the 124 cars I wonder what I should be looking at???

What kind of fuel mileage does the TE get?

lkchris · #5 03-31-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raydi07

until i get under it the po states it has dual exhaust. Was their a hp model overseas?

All 300E and 300TE had dual pipes from engine back.

300E final muffler even had dual outlet pipes.

300TE final muffler didn't.

There wasn't. Give up on that idea.

Arthur Dalton · #6 03-31-2008, 02:28 PM

>

Maybe it is the "Turnpike Cruiser " model ???
..or maybe he was a car salesman....

pawoSD · #7 04-09-2008, 11:28 AM

We're looking at a 300TE too.....we might be able to snag it for $1100 or $1200.....it runs great....all mechanicals are good except the power windows need repair....and the rear hatch won't open. Some cosmetic issues.....but man does it run! Starts right up and FLIES down the road....clean exhaust. W124's ride amazingly. Has 229k on it but you'd never know it by the way it drives.

babymog · #8 04-09-2008, 01:19 PM

Hard to tell without hearing it Paul. Could be the fan, could be the transmission front pump, depends on the sound.

If it's white over blue tex, it was probably a dealer service vehicle.

pawoSD · #9 04-09-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

Hard to tell without hearing it Paul. Could be the fan, could be the transmission front pump, depends on the sound.

If it's white over blue tex, it was probably a dealer service vehicle.

It drove fine......and the sound is hard to tell under the hood.....if it is the P/S pump or hydraulic pump or something....we'd just replace it....that can fail on any wagon.....considering the car is about $1100-1200, not bad for a spare car, even if it needs a little work.

The car is blue with Palomino interior.....so it wasn't a service vehicle....

Do you know how to get the hatch open if the rear lock won't work (nor does the inside handle).....thats the biggest issue. The only other issue is that the rear power windows make no sound/response to the switches, the drivers one makes noise but doesn't move....passenger one works fine. Heat works, A/C might work (too cold out to tell) power seats fully work.....monowiper runs smooth/quiet/fast....rear wiper works....lights all work....defrost works....aside from cosmetic issues and the windows/hatch it seems to be in proper order. It has ABS and it looks like stuff was replaced on the brake system, booster and lines look new. Transmission engages instantly in reverse or Drive....no delay. It shifts well too. It kicks down (reluctantly) from the 2nd gear start if you force it to. And WOW is it fast when it does.

I've never felt acceleration like that before.

It also has the third row seat. I must say, the W124's ride like they are gliding on air! Can't feel anything!

iwrock · #10 04-09-2008, 02:35 PM

Hard to tell without hearing it....

Mine roars at WOT. I love the sound of the straight 6.

As for the rear hatch, the latch is electric, so maybe no power, or popped fuse?

pawoSD · #11 04-09-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

Hard to tell without hearing it....

Mine roars at WOT. I love the sound of the straight 6.

As for the rear hatch, the latch is electric, so maybe no power, or popped fuse?

Its electric? Is there a switch on the outside for it to open it? Or does it require the key? We didn't inspect it that closely....

iwrock · #12 04-09-2008, 04:46 PM

If you push or pull the button to open it, an electric latch releases, and the door opens....

With time though, the vacuum elements in the hatch like to break down... Try to seperately unlock the hatch, and see if that makes a difference.

babymog · #13 04-09-2008, 06:27 PM

Electric rear latch? I opened one on a car with no battery last week, a '91, ... did the same on an '88 a few months back, both in the boneyard with no battery. I know the pull-down is electric, but isn't the latch mechanical? If electric, how did the ones I opened work, magneto button?

The smoothest way to force a 1st gear start in the TE is to shift down to 2 and back to drive while stopped, it will downshift and stay there for a quick launch without flooring it.

olmectech · #14 04-09-2008, 07:01 PM

I've had my 300te for six years. The parts on this car are hyper expensive! The rear shocks cost more than your cars purchase price. My Range Rover is cheaper to drive. Take a look at the parts prices on this website.

pawoSD · #15 04-10-2008, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olmectech

I've had my 300te for six years. The parts on this car are hyper expensive! The rear shocks cost more than your cars purchase price. My Range Rover is cheaper to drive. Take a look at the parts prices on this website.

Yeah....now I think we'll just let that car lie. It was mechanically ok, but had a whirring noise when the engine was rev'd up.....and cosmetics/interior were not good. It would be a money pit....I'll try looking for a normal 300E sedan......that'd be better.