Open questions to the gassers
 

Never had one but I am currently looking at
an 89 300se. 146k
What should I be looking for?
what should I be staying away from?

All pro's and cons appriciated

Head gasket leaks,other than that bullet proof

You should be staying away from gassers :)

Make sure you know what you're getting into if idle isn't glass smooth. Once my 91 300SE got to that point, I replaced everything short of the fuel distributor and nothing worked. It soured me on the M103. And I'm a relatively patient sort. I bought an 87 SDL I knew had a cracked head and a 93 SD I knew had bent rods. I enjoy research and getting my hands dirty. I don't enjoy not fixing the problem.

But I'd get another gasser 140 in a heartbeat.

Sixto
87 300D

Jack, have a PPI (pre-purchase inspection) performed by a MB-trained tech who knows that vintage MB automobile and its quirks. Expect that all the rubber suspension components need to be replaced for a 1989 car to ride as designed. Review any/all service records. If there are none I would be wary. Nothing more expensive than a low-priced MB automobile that has been neglected for years.

Oh, and on its best day it did 1 mpg better city and couldn't match the highway mpg of my 95 S420; 16/21 vs 15/22.

Sixto
87 300D

Well the 300e is not gonna happen.....what a POS.
We also looked @ an 87 420......alot more eye candy
but no history at all. It was sitting @ an MB garage
and belonged to a 1 time customer.

Later today, we are looking @ a 92 300te
Any thoughts on this one?

Can you hold out for a 93 non-4Matic? It'll have the IMO superior M104. A 94 will get you the facelift.

Sixto
87 300D

Personally, I'd only want a 4-matic TE. They were the 2nd best handling car they had built up to that point, 2nd only to the 190E 16V, Mercedes factory rally car. The 2WD wagons just don't grip the road the same, nor the 4-M sedans even. The 124ch 4-M wagons have an incredible balance of handling and traction, though most never get driven any where near their potential.

Pity for 4M lovers that it was only offered with the M103 in the 124 series. Mind, though, that 124 4M can be an expensive proposition to repair when it goes bad. I don't know enough to say you should or shouldn't consider it. If you must have AWD (in Florida???) later iterations of 4M are simpler systems and seem more robust.

IMO, and I'm not a performance driver by any measure, you're better served by an M104/LSD combination than M103/AWD if you like to have fun in the twisties.

Sixto
87 300D

I am not anywhere near a performance type driver......
Here in SFL. there are not even twisty roads to try....
AWD is not something that is a must, I would prefer
dependable.....simple.....in that order.

Probably not a situation you'd encounter in Florida but if you'd ever had to do a flying 35mph U-turn on 6 inches of snow to keep from hitting a train in less than 4 car lengths, you'd be damn glad you had a 4-M over an LSD. The LSD brakes 1 of the two drive wheels, the 4-M hydraulicly locks and drives all 4.

I don't think the 104 wins in the simplicity either. Mercedes first few attempts at EFI weren't exactly known as robust, where my 103's CIS can run with the control module disconnected. Everybody has an opinion but after 15 years working on them you can see what I park in my garage from my sig.

Oh yes, AWD has its place and the M103 is no slouch. A bit challenged in a 126, though, if you're used to a 124. I just gave up before replacing the fuel distributor. I figure the 104 is more powerful without being less reliable if you don't mind changing head gaskets now and then, and doesn't have the gross polluter stigma in California. So annoying that registration renewal forces you to a test only station rather than any corner shop even if you've never failed. Then 20 questions about no EGR on early 103s. Sheesh!

Would you attribute the handling of a 4M TE to the weight or SLS? Euro sedans were available with SLS but I don't know if 4M and SLS at the same time.

Sixto
87 300D

The people who drive like that are already all dead, hence the dearth of demand for 124 4-matics.