I have 1993 300 E , when accelerating it's missing to the point that unless you stomp it its going so slow people are going around me. while at idle the oil needle is holding constant then will jump from say 2.5 to 1 on the gauge. the car was overfilled with oil, but I had the oil changed its now at the correct level. And I changed the plugs making sure of the gap. this was no help. Also the car does not smoke or seem to use oil. I don't have the money to pay for shop and need to fix it myself if at possible. ( please help me)

have you checked your ignition- plugs, rotor cap, wires and spark plugs? Does this happen when its cold or all the time? I have had a similar problem with mine and it got better when the mixture was adjusted, it was running to lean. Good luck and let us know what happens.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Happens all the time, don't know mercedes engins that well. I have trouble finding the things that should be right in front of you. How do you adjust mixture ? Would there be any books or web pages that would help ? It took me three days and this web site to find the oil filter! and I have always messed with my own cars Brakes, mufflers,plugs,oil changes ect. Will listen to any suggestion.

I sense that you are keen to learn the car and this is a good place for information but you have a long road ahead of you, a factory manual would also be helpful but this isn't a carburetted engine that has a mixture knob. Its an electronically controlled system (some call it a nightmare to troubleshoot).
I echo the suggestion to inspect all ignition components, that is always a good thing even the best shops will do a visual test then slap a scope on the ignition to see if its related to just one cylinder.
One thing is possible is the wiring harness on the engine. if you are not aware of the problems associated with this then here is a link: MB Wiring Harness Failure

DDH

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Which motor do you have? There is a 3Litre and a 3.2Litre that year.Two types fuel systems and problems.The 3L M103 motor has a distribitor cap and plug wires you can see.
The M104 24 valve has no visable plug wires
Rich

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88 300E White, sold 9-04
88 190E Black 2.3 sold
90 300CE White, Grey sold 12-24-04
92 400E White,Grey Sold 5-06
90 300CE 91K Signal Red,Black Sold 2007
1989 300CE Smoke silver,Tan Sold 1-08
1993 300E 3.2 M104 motor
1991 300CE White,Grey
1994 E420 beautiful car,gone to new home
1994 E320 Smoke an Parchment.Beautiful car

I should have included that I have the 3.2 engine. plugs & wires are under a cover. I have changed the plugs . Shop wants 89.00 to put it on a inspection computer. They are not a mercedes shop though I do trust them (Christian brother automotive repair) they put a new radiator & a water pump on it for me. but I 'm afraid of throwing more good money after bad.

Car has 160,000 miles on it

Harness always possible,but you may have a bad coil.Put in some new plugs,inspect the old one's for fouling.My car had a miss but with new plugs ran fine for a few weeks.then I replaced the #6 plug and ran fine again.Changed the coil on that cylinder and its fixed.I replaced #6 because that was the plug that showed any wear after 2 weeks.
Some what possible MAS SENSOR,but not sure if mercedes runs ok with it unpugged.Most cars with bad MAS sensors run very well with that sensor unplugged.Quick way to check mas .
Plug wire's and coil extensions need to be checked also
Good Luck
Rich

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88 300E White, sold 9-04
88 190E Black 2.3 sold
90 300CE White, Grey sold 12-24-04
92 400E White,Grey Sold 5-06
90 300CE 91K Signal Red,Black Sold 2007
1989 300CE Smoke silver,Tan Sold 1-08
1993 300E 3.2 M104 motor
1991 300CE White,Grey
1994 E420 beautiful car,gone to new home
1994 E320 Smoke an Parchment.Beautiful car

I'm betting on the wiring harness.

While a bad coil or fouled plugs will cause some intermittent missing and some performance loss, a bad wiring harness will create the sort of havoc you are experiencing.

Mine acted just as weird until the harness was replaced.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

1993 had only M104 engines.

The 1993 300E has the 3.2 liter M104 engine, same as '94-'95 E320's.

The 1993 300E 2.8 has the 2.8 liter M104 engine found in '94-'97 C280's.

Either way, they have the same ignition system: all electronic, with no cap and rotor, direct coil on plug.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

First thing to do on this car is build a reader to pull the error codes from the engine computer. Costs less than $10 in parts from Radidio Shack. Search the forum for "Arthur Dalton code reader" to find the parts list (with part numbers!), schematic and how to use the silly thing.

Got any maintenance history on the car? What repairs/tuneups have been done in the past, and when?

Pull the codes and post them up. Without error codes there's nothing to be done but guess.

Per Suginami, you have either a 300E or 300E 2.8. Doesn't matter which, engine is essentially the same in both.

- JimY

Bad wiring harness was the problem. on going problem 1991 - 1996

I am having the same problem when I'm taking off it gets really slugish and sometimes almost stalls and then when I floor it it starts to loose power at about 6500rpm

What model and year is your car?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Almost certain that its the OVP if stalling is involved.

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k