My 1992 300E has 80k miles. I was just told by a MB dealership that the entire engine wiring harness needs replacing. They said it needed to be moved out of the way when they replaced the head gasket and that the movement caused a malfunction.

How can a wiring harness with 80k miles go bad? If it is malfunctioning, can't the wires that are "bad" be replaced without spending $1000.00 to replace the whole harness?

This is about normal on the 104 engine but, unusual on the 103. By year unless you've got a CE your car should have a 103 in it. The oldest 104 I've seen in a standard sadean or wagon is 93 but, I'm liable to be wrong.



Joe

__________________
Project Smoker, '87 603 powered wagon
Hauler, 96 CTD can you say torque?
Toy 73 Cougar xr7 convertible
Acme Automotive Inc.
Raleigh NC
919-881-0364

I believe the famous engine wiring harness problem is limited to the 104 engine, and even then it's limited to the years 93-95. What they said is very true for the affected engines, but not for yours.

I think the service people are having trouble to properly diagnose the fault and are beginning to throw parts at your car.

__________________
95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

Your dealership is wrong.

The dreaded engine wiring harnesses are bad on M104 engines from 1993-1995, which would be:

1993 300E (3.2)
1993 300E 2.8
1994-1995 E320

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

they probably broke it, while moving it.
The heat will do funny things to the wires under the hood and, if you are not careful, you (they) may break something.
I just did a head job on my car, which is an '86 with the original wiring. The wiring has lost some elasticity in some places but, I did not break anything...
Something does not feel right. I would ask them to show you the part and an explanation, in writing, of how this happen.
An independant may solder the wiring...

__________________
J.H.
'86 300E