I am going to buy either a 97 e300d or a 91 350sd tommorow(maybe), now I read that the 91 350sd is a rod bender - how can I tell if the one I drove today has this issue? The things I noticed about it were that the tempature gauge never made it to 40 if it moved at all I can't recall, however when I turned the heat on all I had was cold air. It pulled ever so slightly to the left, and other than that it seemed to drive very nice.

The e300d had various strange issues, the car pulled to the right pretty good, there was a wind/whistle noise coming from somewhere by the hood release latch, it was actually noisier inside the car than out due to an almost grinding sound when you let off the gas, And lets not forget the oil that was only on one bolt, and then just a bit below it, (as you look into the engine bay from the front the bolt in question was on the front left corner). I asked the dealer about the pulling and grinding and made one of his guys go with me and they heard and saw the same things I did, and suggested it may be unequal tire presure or it needs an alignment which they will do (naturally) before I take it.

Both cars are on ebay and both have clean carfax reports, but after reading all the 350sd bashing and then just not knowing enough about these cars I came here for help. I currently have a 2001 Dodoge Ram 2500 4x4 and get 19mpg average, but I need a car that gets better (great) milage which is why I was leaning towards the e300d.

Here's the links for ebay, what do you guys think? should I just keep looking, or is there hope?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=2493406247&rd=1#ebayphotohosting

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6335&item=2493104247&rd=1

also note the bulge in the rear fender on the '97 is that normal?

Try finding a car from an individual. You will be much happier. Probably you would be happier with a 98-99 E300 with the turbo. Several on the market since the introduction of the CDI.

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1995 S-350
370K + SOLD
1952 220B Cabriolet
39K kilometers + SOLD
1998 E300D
310K +
2012 E350 BlueTec
120K

I got a 97 e300d I like it. Although there was a lot of pitting on the front it needed front brakes, tires and a few other things. I suggest you Check it over well look for any thing that does not work or needs repair and look up the prices because this will add to your final cost. Power mirror knob breaks regularly on this model. If you have serious pitting like I have it will need attention or you will get rusting problems. Add all the stuff you will have to do up then decide weather or not you should wait for another to come up (which it will) they come up weekly now on ebay and I would have waited myself. Hind sight is 20/20 Indy

If you really need great fuel economy you will need to look a bit further afield than either of these two vehicles - a VW TDI would be your best bet. I get 46mpg on average in my Jetta TDI wagon, my friend gets 51mpg in his Golf TDI.

The 350 does have a bit of a reputation, I cannot tell if it is deserved or not, but it probably won't do as well as the e300d for economy. EPA numbers are 28/35 for the e300D and 22/25 for the 350SDL. Both are an improvement on your truck, but not exactly a huge leap.

Kevin

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'85 300SD

There are 5 days left on both auctions, and no buy-it-now prices posted. So if you tell us the actual prices, that may help a bit.

On the 350, any original engine is suspect. If the engine is rebuilt or replaced, then it should be fine.

The E300 had alignment issues early on, but that should have been corrected by now. It took my dealer three tries at aligning before they found out about the eccentric bolt kit to make something adjustable that wasn't before. Even with that done, alignment seems to be tricky on the W210 chassis.

The noises on that car don't sound good and would be cause for concern. Don't give them any money until everything is fixed to your satisfaction.

I don't see anything unusual in the pictures of the E300; it just looks like reflections in the picture. When you saw the car in person, was there a bulge?

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

After skimming the auction and reading your descriptions I wouldn't believe anything the dealer tells you. Get it in writing or don't even listen to it.

These could be good cars but you are on your own in determining that.

Run a carfax. Look for previous owner's names and call them.

Can't speak about the E300D cause I have no experience with one. I have a 1990 350SDL. It has 155,000 miles. I am 2nd owner and have owned it for only the past 6,000 miles. Impressions are that it is built like a bank vault. I have averaged about 28.5 MPG. My daily trip is 40miles of mostly highway. Has lots of power and very smooth. IP pump was bad when I bought the car. I would run a compression test, bit of a bother, but that should help in checking engine health. Also oil usage is a good indicator. If the 350 that you are considering is a good one, you will have a very satisfying car to drive. I would bring either car to a qualified technician that has lots of experience for an opinion.
Regards,
Andre

my experience 97 E300, 29 psi in the tires

10/6 Dirty air cleaner + dirty fuel filter + hot, humid + AC = 25-27 mpg @ 80 mph hwy

10/12 New filters + diesel purge + no AC = 31.53 mpg @ 80 mph hwy

Lead foot all the way

104k miles, same fuel economy since new

Take the E300D to a dealer and have a PPI done, it will cost you $200 but then at least you will know what your looking at.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

cannot emphasize it strongly enough!

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

Whats a PPI ?

Someone bought the 350.

It is interesting that I was looking at some cars on eBay and noticed this dealer. Then I related it back to this thread. Looking at the auctions and the feedback you would think that you couldn't go wrong. I guess you can always go wrong.

well it wasn't me --- I told the dealer I was interested and he said he would have them fixed up, so I called back the next evening, and he hadn't done anything the guy I spoke to said that the cars had just come in and had not been through the shop yet, never mind that they had been on eBay for at least a week. That was the last straw with me... I wouldn't but from this guy EVER. smells too fishy, and as a side note, on their business card office is spelled wrong, its spelled ofiice.