NEW TO ME 1998 E320 Wagon
 

Hey folks. I picked up today a 1998 E320 Wagon. I hate when people don't take care of these cars. I cleaned all day on it. The interior is nice, the body is nice as well.Just a few little scratches here and there. So far the issues I see are as follows.

1. Oil level sensor light is on
2. Fog lamps don't come on
3.Rear interior lights come on when I close the door.
4. Probably needs a front brake job
5. Needs rear tires as well.
I am new to this car model so it is a bit foreign. All the electronic crap i am not used to. If anybody has any tips and tricks with this car please chime in.

Thanks
BB

How about a little more info so we don't just fling remedies....otherwise
1. add oil
2. replace both fog lamps, they could both be shot.
3. I have a 95 E320 but I think the 98 may be the same, there is a dash board switch to turn the rear interior lights on/off
4. Brake job & tires are straight forward.

How many miles on the car?
Any history of maintenance (other than not keeping it clean)

BB,
1. Check the oil level. Either you need to add oil or the level sender is bad. Replacing the level sender should be a simple DIY job, although I have never replaced one on that particular engine. Best to do during an oil change after draining the oil pan.

5. Buy 4 Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires. Michelin is offering a $70 rebate on a set of 4 until November 15th.

If you mean that the 'Check oil light' comes on after turning on the key and waiting a few seconds that is normal. If you mean that you get a 'Bad oil level sensor' warning after starting that can mean a bad sensor OR with these cars it can be a battery is failing. The ECU is looking for a battery voltage of ~12v. If the battery isn't holding a good charge overnight you sometimes get false error messages from the electronics such as BAS or loss on 'sync' for the express window feature and sunroof.
There is a fuse in the panel at the left end of the dash for exterior lights. The door must be open to access the panel. Check the fuses with a DMM not just eyeball. These cars do have a problem with fog lights. There is a wiring harness kit for repairs. Also, lights in general can have continuity issues. You will notice many bulbs have no wires connecting them. Power is supplied by socket making contact with it's housing. This can give false warnings that bulbs are burned out when they are not.

Also, you might want to make sure that the anti-noise panels on the underside of the car are in place. The large front one behind the bumper protects the fog lights and other electronic components from getting wet.
This is normal if the ambient light level is low enough such as pulling into the garage on a cloudy day. BTW, all lights are supposed to have a fail safe feature to turn them out after a preset time.
The brake pads and discs have minimum thickness values for determining their service cycle. Whenever you do a Schedule B service they should be measured and recorded. Most owners get at least 2 or 3 pad replacements per disc replacement. Once you know their condition you can rely on the brake pad warning sensors to monitor the pads.
Check out a site like TireRack to see what's available for your car. Michelin is a safe bet if money is no object. But other brands will give a good ride and wear longer. If the tires are wearing unevenly you might want to get a 4 wheel alignment at the dealer. Hardly anyone else has the right equipment for it.

Some other suggestions in no particular order.
1. Join mbusa.com. Free and has good tech info section.
2. Join epc-net. Free for NA owners and you can check on parts issues.
3. If you Owners Manual is missing buy one. Call 1-800-MERCedes or go to a dealer. If you have one, read it thoroughly. There are lots of electronic features that take a little time to figure out. For example, you can set the passenger rearview mirror to adjust to any alternate position while the transmission is in reverse. Tilt it down to see the curb while parallel parking.:)

Once you get all the issues sorted out, it's a really nice car to drive. 28 - 30 MPG on the highway @75 mph with the A/C running is not uncommon.:D

Good luck.