Just Bought a 1996 E320!!! Mistake??
 

Just bought a 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 with 58,000 miles for $18k. The car is gorgeous!!!!! Is there anything to watch out for with this car? I was told that the head gasket and the wiring harness are good on these cars. Im getting the 60,000 mile trans service soon. I have all the records too! I was just wondering if anyone was interested in raining "on my parade" and telling me some horrific problem with this car. Oh, btw, it needs an A/C compressor! Where can i buy one??

Mike

Head gaskets are supposedly a continuing problem on the M104. Maybe not a problem, but certainly something that can't be fixed once and for all. It's still a worthwhile engine even if it needs a headgasket every 5 or 10 years.

Try Adsit (www.adsitco.com) for an AC compressor.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

you don't have the wiring harness problem but the head gasket is a possibility. there were a couple of different OEM head gaskets available prior to the upgraded version with the steel inserts. i haven't yet come across a post that says an upgraded head gasket has failed...

I think the '96 has the same engine and transmission that my '94 wagon has (4 speed transmission in yours too?). Very strong engine. Things that I've replaced over 191,000 miles include the head gasket, wires, water pump, ball joint ($800 part on the W124) and an impending fan clutch bearing job. I love the '96 W210 body style. Your car has rack and pinion steering where the '95 had recirculating ball, much different ride.

The updated gaskets don't leak.

They actually have copper inserts.

I don't know if the gaskets back in 1996 were still faulty, but they were definitely bad from 1993-1995.

1996 W210 E320's use the same engine, fuel system, and transmission as 1993 300E (3.2) and 1994-1995 E320's.

It's a great car, and if I were you, I wouldn't have any regrets at all.

Don't worry about what may or may not happen.
Enjoy your car, maintain it well & repair it when something breaks/wears out.;)

Head gaskets are typically made of copper - here is Steve B.'s description of the upgraded units:

m104 head gasket with steel inserts

I too have a 96 E320 and so far no problems. Just had 2 window regulators repaired myself since i bought it preowned. it now has 102,000 miles. Past owner had something on steering arms done and usual gasket problem only. BTW how do you know when an A/C compressor is going bad??? I love my car!:D

These are great cars! Continue to maintain it properly and I'm sure it will serve you well for many miles and years to come. If something breaks, fix it.

Even the M104 engines that experienced head gasket problems is not experienced on EVERY single one.

Enjoy,

I always have called them steel inserts, too, but in a recent article in the Star Magazine, Stu Ritter called them "copper inserts".

It doesn't really matter anyway. We can all be assured that Mercedes redesigned the gaskets to have some kind of metal inserts that prevent them from leaking.

Paid $14600 for ours with 150k on it. Head gasket just now starting to leak on the garage floor. And, today, the first "problem". Motor quit on the wife. It simply quit. But, cranked right back up, only to quit again shortly later. We ended up having it towed home. I'm thinking a fuel problem, but waiting for a reply from here to figure out what to do next.

Nice little car. Doesn't have the ride of the '85 300SD though. Now, THAT was a car!

Sounds like the OVP.

May God have mercy on your wallet!:(

[QUOTE]Originally posted by suginami
[B]The updated gaskets don't leak.

Talking to my parts guy last week he mentioned that sale of 104 head gasket sets is waaaaay down, like 10 or 15 percent of what it once was. Either the first generation replacements are holding up or people aren't maintaining their older cars as well - probably some of both.

I think that most drivers don't mind an automatic with the 400 E or 500E engine.If you want real power that would be my choise.........

William Rogers........