Quote:
Originally Posted by raymr
So is it safe to presume that a good running '95 had those issues taken care of? Repair records aren't always available.
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No. Evaporators don't have a near certain failure rate like wiring harness and head gaskets. Wiring harnesses are usually done by now, and are easy to pick out if they're not (date tags and inspecting insulation). Head gaskets can fail early or make it well over the 150k hump, you never know.
My first E320 wagon I purchased cheap. Though it had a new wiring harness, the head gasket was leaking oil externally. The car had 150k when I had it done. The AC always blew cold, no record of an evaporator replacement.
My second E320 wagon got a brand new head from Mercedes at 70k, and the wiring harness looked old, but perhaps not original (date tag was rubbed and illegible) AC always blew cold, once again, no record of an evaporator replacement. Purchased at 110k, sold at 120k.
My 300SEL (M103 motor) recieved a new head gasket and valve seals at about 110k.
That's the other thing to consider. If you go M103, valve seals are a certain repair if they haven't been done already.