Joined the Wagon club

[cphilip]

After much hunting and looking and disappointments, I stumbled across what I think (and hope) is the one.

This one is dry as a bone and probably (cannot confirm yet but inspects out as) had its head gasket done and wiring harness. The harness looks new in the places I inspected (or newish anyway) and no hint of any oil leak (or any other type of leak either) and the gasket that is showing (edges of it) are the most smooth and new looking ones on any I have looked at.

The car has always been a southern car. I am the third owner.

The first owner was in Atlanta and kept the car meticulously clean and serviced. The car has full records from that period up to 90K. All done at the Atlanta dealer. All books are with it. Including window sticker. From then it moved to Charlotte NC and also appears to have been just as meticulously maintained but no real documentation (appears was maintained by a certified Indy (some in the back of the books slips indicate this) but the its only another 50K. This dealer bought it from Carmax where it had been traded in. He decided to keep it and drive it a little while (3K or so). Then put it up for sale last week. He knowns nothing about them really. Not anything from what I can tell. His first experience with a Mercedes.

It sits at 150K miles.

Is extremely clean and everything works perfectly with exception of the power headrests. Has a factory disc changer, a phone system and all tools and first aid kit. Has all the books. Drives, shifts and runs as new. Coolant is proper type and no signs of contamination.

It does need a front windshield wiper blade...

It is Polar White with Parchment (window slip says) or Mushroom (German VIN site calls it) interior. Both give interior Code as 175 but call it different names.

So far its a real Gem. It does need a good wash but... for now...













I gave the man $3600 for it. Drove it home from Charlotte on Friday.

[94Wagenmeister]

She's a beaut! What size tires are on it? I think mine has plus ones, and after driving 195/65R-15 snows, I really like them. Need to buy a new set of summers in the spring.

P.S. Might your interior be 'Palomino'? I think 'Mushroom' is darker. Yours looks like mine

[cphilip]

I really do not know! I will have to check tomorrow.

All I can tell you is that the window sticker says "Parchment" but when I run the VIN at the Russian site is says "Mushroom" for this car. I think they just keep changing what they want to call it is all. And this one can look a bit lighter with full sun and flash. VIN is WDBEA92E1SF342913

[bluestripe67]

It does look very nice. I'm partial to wagons, had an '89, now '01. They really get the job done and look good doing it. Dennis

[POS]

That looks very good - I can't find the wagon I want; a w123 280TE with low miles.

[cphilip]

They are Vredestein Hi Trac's in 205/60 R 15's. What is the stock size?

Never heard of this brand of tire before but searching around seems to have good reviews and ratings. These run real stable and quite and have a great deal of tread left.

I am even more convinced this head has been off. Some more clues are the wiring harness has definately been removed (and likely replaced) because the original clips that held it to the fire wall end have been taken off. Cannot seem to locate the part number tag though. And some of the plastic covers have been removed and then put back on slightly off properly fastened (I rectified this). Plus the edges of the gasket that can be seen are very fresh and well defined like new gasket material would be. Seen enough old ones to notice that this one is much newer.

It does need a new Hood Blanket. It has come loose in one corner but it is also very brittle so needs to be removed and replaced.

[babymog]

Vredestein is not a very well known tire here in the US. It was very popular on SAABS and VOLVO when I was somewhat into those.

OE was 195/65 HR15.

[TheDon]

nice catch.

Interior might be like a parchment.

[babymog]

Looks like parchment, aka: mushroom.

[cphilip]

Yes... its listed as 175 but the window sticker calls it Parchment while the Russian site also calls the very same 175 as Mushroom.

Does anyone know if a earlier E320 hood blanket will fit the 95? Need to find a hood blanket and none of the usual parts places (including here) seems to list them.

Seems the tire company is headquartered in the Netherlands. And the tires themselves have a very good reputation for both quite and rain handling. And they are not cheap here either. Like $150 a tire.

Went through the ordeal at the DMV today and paid the Property and Sales taxes. They raped me for a tad over $300 before it was all done, taxes, tags and title. Seems the county thinks it worth more than I did. But of course they need money badly to provide these kids with a poor education!

[lkchris]

Yes, MBUSA messes with color names for the USA market and perhaps thinks Americans wouldn't like Mushroom. My GL is "desert silver," a color called travertine beige elsewhere.

In any event it's a nice combination.

[cphilip]

I am particularly fond of Mushrooms so I think I will just call it Mushroom and be done with it! LOL...

Now mind you that the car often appears as if it is two toned and it is not. The difference being the way light plays on the lower section for some reason. It is solid Polar White with chrome accents.

I do like the color combination. It should be particularly kind in the Summers here in the South.

[deanyel]

Originally Posted by cphilip

Now mind you that the car often appears as if it is two toned and it is not. The difference being the way light plays on the lower section for some reason. It is solid Polar White with chrome accents.

The light is playing on marble grey matt clearcoat which would make it a two tone. But if parchment can become mushroom two tone could certainly become monochromatic.

[cphilip]

LOL... that was clever.

By the way.... the data plate inside the door says this was manufactured in 12/95. Making it about as late a 95 as your going to get.

[lkchris]

Originally Posted by cphilip

LOL... that was clever.

By the way.... the data plate inside the door says this was manufactured in 12/95. Making it about as late a 95 as your going to get.

For even more information than on the dataplate, you can subscribe to free to MBUSA's online spare parts system. You can not only look up all your parts, you can print out a "datacard" for your car showing build date, motor and transmission numbers and all installed options.

http://epc.startekinfo.com