Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-21-2003, 11:47 PM
86560SEL's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: east Tennessee (southeast USA)
Posts: 3,015
86 300E- considering- are the 300E's reliable?

Many of you know I have been searching for a 300SD. Tonight, I located a local 86' 300E 4dr sedan. I have only seen photos of it. It is stated to be in excellent running condition and "low miles". It does not say how many however. Are these good cars? What problem areas do these cars have? They are asking $2100 for it. Any information appreciated.

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-22-2003, 01:40 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 388
This model comes up on every MB enthusiast's "Best built MB ever" list - usually at or near the top.
__________________
Bill Streep
San Antonio
'57 190SL (toy)
'08 S5500 (mine)
'09 CLK550 (wife's)
'06 SLK350 (daughter's)
'11 GLK350 (daughter's)
'03 CLK310 (spare)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-22-2003, 08:53 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,272
Yes, the 300E is a wonderful car, but consider that the list price of a base 300E in '86 was $34,700, and $2100 is on the low end of current asking prices, so don't set your expectation level too high. Based on the asking price, this car probably has a number of problems, due to deferred maintenance or repairs.

In particular, repairing a non-functional A/C system can cost about the asking price if the evaporator requires replacment, so you might be better off paying more for a car with everything functional.

Do a full functional check of all systems and ask for maintenance and repair history documentation, but don't hold your breath. Also inquire about the rate of oil consumption. Unfortunately this car might be one major repair away from car heaven.

Duke
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-22-2003, 12:01 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 333
I bought an 86 300E 2yrs ago

I bought my 86 300E 2yrs ago and I'm satisfied with it. There are a few minor things wrong with it, but overall it's solid.

If their asking price is $2,100 I'd be a bit skeptical. If it's runs good mechanically, it's a steal. As with buying ANY used car, get a professional to inspect it. I suggest the MB dealers. This will give you a clear picture on the car's true condition.

Keep in mind this is a 17yo car so there will be quite a few things that may need replacing. But if the previous owner took care of the car, I don't think you'll run into problems that are out of the ordinary.

Good luck,

jrmd01@yahoo.com
__________________
JR
1986 Gold 300E 4Dr automatic
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-22-2003, 12:28 PM
Ali Al-Chalabi's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 1,837
Great car and long as it has been cared for. As previously mentioned, I would be slightly catious about why it is only $2,100.
__________________
Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-22-2003, 09:48 PM
csnow's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Mass
Posts: 1,127
Totally depends upon the "deferred maintenance" factor.
You could easily sink another $2100 into it, and have a forty-two-hundred-dollar twenty-one hundred dollar car...

If it is has been kept up, I have found the annual care, feeding, and repair costs to be reasonable.

For any car, you really need to like it to go through the trouble of keeping it going at 17 years. That is the main thing.
__________________
1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-23-2003, 09:32 AM
drbrandini's Avatar
GO DUKE!
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Wrightsville Beach NC
Posts: 1,512
Great cars when cared for, as stated many times above I'd be careful of a $2100 300E.

"There's nothing more expensive than a cheap mercedes."
__________________
Brandon



2008 S550
1957 Dodge D100
1967 VW Microbus 21 Window
2001 Suburban
2004 Beach cruiser bicycle
-----------------GO DUKE!-----------------

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here." Patrick Henry 1776
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-23-2003, 01:25 PM
Benz300's Avatar
Benz Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: new jersey, usa
Posts: 804
Well, the w124 is a good body style etc etc, but just so you realize, buy the car for $5K and then keep 5K aside for the repairs coming your way in the next 3 years.
You'll get a zillion replies on this post, but the bottom line is the w124 has it's share of problems, more so than any other mercedes model in my opinion.
Bottom line... put money aside for it's repairs (lots of it) and don't just focus on the selling price as it's total cost of ownership.
good luck.
__________________
Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-24-2003, 02:52 PM
Zeus's Avatar
Moderating, Eh?
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,774
300E

They're an excellent, all-around, well built sedan. Mine has close to 300,000 Km on the original engine - only oil changes done, even the valve seals are still original. Only thing I've replaced in the engine compartment (aside from maintenance items) has been the water pump. Even then, it didn't fail, the gasket was leaking. Mech suggested that I replace the pump anyway due to labor. I agreed.

It's a fantastic car. Make sure that you buy one that has been well maintained and it will last you a long, long time. Good luck!
__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-24-2003, 10:01 PM
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 5,318
They are great cars, but the ACC systems are marginal, prone to failure and expensive to fix. The rear suspension can eat you alive fixing clunks and a tendency to wander. And around 200K, the injection system can develop problems that no one except Steve B can diagnose and fix.

At least in the DC area, it is getting very hard to find shops that can fix them because the '86-88 models don't retain their fault codes. At $2100, I would bet it has one of these problems that someone doesn't want to spend the money to fix.

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page