Hi,

I recently purchased a 91 300CE and have a few questions. I am kind of a fish out of water here with sedans and gassers - I usually hang out on the gwagen forums and have had many MBs but always diesel so......

1- There is an obvious lack of something down low on the right front of the engine. There is a mounting bracket and a pipe hanging in space going into/out of the engine and there is a vacuum line also hanging in space which is connected to some vacuum valves over by the turn signal. Comparing to a 92 300E which I got for parts just after the 300CE (it is a long story), it appears there should be an air pump here? How does its absence impact things? I do need it to pass emissions testing so will it be needed to pass the tailpipe sniffer?

2- Since I own old (and sometimes grey market) gwagens, I am in the habit of getting MB parts from specialized sources, now that I have a MB which actually appears in the parts guys computer I am not sure where to go for parts. My local MB dealer has good service but the prices are quite steep too. Are there recommended places to get MB parts? The OEM Stuff I am good on with lots of on-line sources.

This car is amazing. This is the most modern MB I have owned (other than the 98 Gwagen) and although the amount of plastic is dismaying, it is well done and I love to see the same things turn up which have been MB trademarks for years. It makes me chuckle and I have come to appreciate the W124 as a real mercedes!

Thanks for all the great material in the archives! I'll be hanging out here more often it seems.

Adam
Anchorage AK

Not sure, but as you are in Alaska, did they require adjustable headlights like the euro cars? Does yours have a headlight adjuster dial inside the car?

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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

Nope, the car is the usual USA version without the adjustable lights. I do have those on my 1990 Gwagen. They seem really cool until you realize that you rarely have to adjust them. My 78 Citroen has them as well, it is just done by hand with a long wire.

The more I look at the 92 300E, the more I think I am indeed missing the air pump. They are a bit pricey to buy new. Maybe it's time to steal it off the 300E 4matic.

Adam

IIRC the air pump is only used during startup in order to put more air through, hence warming up the catalytic converter. After a couple minutes it disengages and remains disengaged while warm. It seems to be a fairly common failure item.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

AH, Thank you for that info. I will see if it will pass without it. As long as they don't do a close visual inspection, it might be just fine.

Adam

If you have to slap one on there to pass visual, you can usually find one in a junkyard that is shot internally, but the clutch bearings are still fine and it will freewheel all day long. My 300SE has such a pump. Florida has no inspections whatsoever, so a moot point in my case.

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-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition

Great idea! Thanks.