I have a '91 300E M103 with 230K miles on it. I'm wondering whether to fix it up or find something with better gas mileage. I'm getting about 15 MPG driving stop and go around town, never more than 40 mph, barely cracking the throttle, revs under 3K. Mixed city/hwy is more like 20 MPG. I've never taken a road trip in it but from a few long drives on I-25 along the Front Range, it seems like I could get 25 - 28 MPG. How does this match up with everybody else's experience? What's the best possible MPG I could get?

Thanks for the help.

Are you sure you don't have dragging brakes,see if rims are hot after a drive.Other than that maybe a M103 expert will chime in.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Not unheard of, the 300E is not geared well for city driving, especially with 2nd gear start. I find that I have to mash it a bit to keep up with traffic in complete stop-go situations. On the highway you should see 25-28, some of us have hit 30 or above on highway trips as well if you are careful. Have you performed any regular maintenance on it? Might want to change plugs, fuel, air filters, etc to make sure you're getting the most out of the engine.

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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

Brakes should be OK. I had the fronts done less than 10K ago at local indie Startech (shout out to Sandor). I'm going to do the rear myself in the next few months since I get a little flutter sometimes when braking, especially with light pedal pressure. The warp might be affecting things but I don't notice a constant pull to either side. It does want to fall off the crown but I think that's more likely to be the suspension. I take your point, though. I'll check it next time I come off the Valley Highway.

Thanks!

Sounds about right!

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1989 300E

2005 Acura TL

2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Swing hard! Take chances!

The two I had got slightly better city mileage, maybe 18, but NEVER could crack 25 on the hiway, and I have a very light foot. I'm lucky to get 25 on the hiway with either of my current M104s, and they are geared for the freeway.

The 87 300TD we had for 13 years, however, never got less than 22 in town, and never better than 29 on the road.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

The MPG numbers don't make me think there is a mechanical problem. If you're doing short-ish trips during the winter, the car spends a lot of time with the enrichment (think choke) engaged. Mileage suffers accordingly.

My 124 very reliably delivered 22MPG with about a 50/50 mix of suburban and highway driving. About 24 on road trips at a steady 70MPH. Never saw 25 that I recall.

I recently drove 1,300 miles from Colorado to Northern California. Got 25.5mpg. I feel like 1991 was the best year for rear end gearing along with first gear start.

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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

I'll second this. 22-24 hi-way is best I ever get. (1988 300CE M103.983)

Thanks. That all sounds true. I put in a can of 44K at a fill up last month and barely got 200 miles out of the tank. I ran it pretty much dry before I filled up again. For the first quarter of the new tank it seemed like it was doing better then before I cleaned it, but with a half tank down it's spot on with the previous 15 MPG around town. I was thinking of pulling and checking the injectors, but it can wait until I do the head this summer. I didn't know that previous years started in second gear. Guess I lucked out there! Looks like I should find a 190 with a 5 speed stick if I want to do any better.

A good tune up will probably increase mileage and longevity. Btw is that avatar Coltrane?

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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

I did plugs, cap, and rotor about 10K ago. Don't think I did the wires. I've put 35K on it since I got it 6 years ago but I've never had the FI system adjusted. I'll probably wait and take it to my local indie next summer after I redo the top end.

Good guess on Coltrane, but it's Charlie Parker. Bebop, not hard bop.

Ah nuts! I didn't even recognize your name as an allusion to the Yardbird Suite oh well, swing and miss!

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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

o2 sensor.

we get about 20 in combined driving.... 24 on the highway

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


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o2 sensor.

we get about 20 in combined driving.... 24 on the highway

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]