I bought a new 300E2.8 in December, 1992. The car was made in August, 1992, if I remember right, so it was a very, very early 300E2.8 and it came with R134 in it from the factory. Hard to understand why any 2.8 would have anything other than R134. As others have said, it came with MB Tex interior. You could get the sunroof as a no cost option and most were equipped with it. The standard 2.8 did not have the wipers on the headlights, it did not have the power seat memory and a few other things that the 3.2 cars had but they were $5000 cheaper. I have heard that the transmisson was different, a smaller one, than the 3.2 liter 300E but I do not know. Most 2.8s had very few options but I suppose some did.

It was a very good car when I sold it to a friend with 80,000 miles (to sell to a friend should say something about what I thought of it reliability) and still is since he still has it with five years and about 80,000 more miles. In the time I had it, the only things of any consequence that I replaced was the head gasket and the MAF sensor. I never thought it was unpowered but that is a matter of opinion, I suppose.

It will seep oil at the front if the seals are not installed properly and it seems very few people will take the time to install them properly. Other than the mess, these leaks usually do not amount to much.

I have also heard all the horror stories about the wiring harness but my former car has never had it replaced so evidently some are OK even if most are not.

Remember it is a 12 or 13 year old car and you cannot expect zero repairs but if the price is right, go for it. It is a great car to drive.