Sorry for the late response, ive been tied up with work but thanks for all feedback. Story on the car is I stumbled upon a CL ad with no pictures titled "Mercedez". The ad said runs and drives runs a little rough in the cold because it has a bad carburetor. I thought, for 500 bucks and knowing its not actually carbed, it would be worth a look. When i pulled up, the car had couple imperfections here and there but overall its very clean for its age, and it was running. I took it for a drive, cycled through every gear etc. It drove smooth for the most part, i thought what the hell what do i have to lose. So since ive owned it, i changed the fan clutch and spark plugs.
Oil pressure reads 3 on accel and just above 2 on idle iirc.

As I reread your post, I didn't notice until now you said the car sat for two years. When you started it up and ran it was it on the 2 year old tank of gas?

244brick, unless you are an accomplished DIY'er recommend taking the 300E to a reputable indie who knows that vintage MB automobile. Realize that you should have had a PPI (pre-purchase inspection) performed by that same indie before buying the car. It sounds like the engine may need a new timing chain tensioner. Have the indie go over the car and advise what engine work must be addressed immediately. As mentioned, owners don't let MB automobiles sit for 2 years unless there are problems that they don't know how to fix, or they can't afford to fix.

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Fred Hoelzle

so you're actually suggesting spending ANY money to have a $500 car PPI'd? to paraphrase the OP/buyer you CANNOT go wrong at $500.....now if you go blowing 4 grand trying to have someone fix the car that is a different story but to get it and try to fix it on the cheap? no worries

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0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.

I've got a $1000 87 260E. It will soon become a $4000 car with a number of repairs. It has only 135k miles and a minimal amount of rust and runs straight down the road. Who can ask for a good car like this and not pay $4000 overall?

Unless your $500 car has rust or major component issues, motor, trans, It's probably worth it. If you want a cheap car, buy a KIA! (ok, just kidding).

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DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV

Smart thinking. I'll add that to my regular search terms. I just found this, in part, using this misspelling "Transmision is got leat Pablo espanol or me jor oferta."

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http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...aman/Fleet.jpg

Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

244brick--- Rattling noise from behind the timing cover on a m103 is not a good thing. The chains on m103's typicallly do not stretch. In fact many recommend not replacing the chain because the replacements are not solid chains. The master link must be "peened" which can be a little touchy. I would recommend replacing the chain guides and tensioner rail ASAP. A proficient diy'er can probably do the job in a full day, or over a weekend. I doubt you have a tensioner issue, but to r/r the tensioner for inspection and reset it only takes ten minutes.....

The engine currently in my $300TE (yes I paid $300.00 for it, 89 model) was given to me because it jumped time at 186,000 miles. The chain guides had failed and the tensioner rail was coming apart. When the chain jumped it bent every exhaust valve in the head!

I have fallen in love with my $300TE! I'm glad that I didn't part it (which is why I bought it). I have done a good bit of work to her; but I would drive her anywhere. Put a little over a thousand miles on her last week going to Florida. FWIW--- I am a professional technician, and many of the parts I source are from the local pull-a-part.......my SEC gets the "top shelf" treatment...