1995 E300 search questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #1 01-13-2009, 10:32 PM

This will serve as my question thread as I attempt to find a '95 E300 {which is an OM606.910, normally aspirated 6 cyl. diesel}

I finally drove a '95 E300 today. Overall impression of this model of car is very favorable. They certainly aren't what one would call Zippy, [right Tyler!] but they are more than adequate for daily life. The acceleration is very similar to an OM617.912 I thought. [5cy NA diesel. No "T"]
Here is my specific question for this particular car:
It hadn't been started in at least a couple of weeks. Matter of fact it took about 15 minutes for me and the sales lady to even find the car. She first told me it wasn't there. I persisted.

I went to glow the car, and the glow plug light didn't light up. Oh dear! I waited about 20 seconds [about 35-38 degrees outside] and tried to start it. No joy.
I let it glow another 20 seconds, although with no light I couldn't tell if it was glowing. After 5-10 seconds of cranking it finally started. Can I interest you in some smoke!!! And all matter of noise, sounded rather lifter-ish. AND, for the first 30-40 seconds of running now the glow plug light was on!

Then it went off finally. I cut it off and started again and the glow light acted the same way.
After a couple minutes the smoke stopped, so the cylinders warmed up I suppose, but it took about 5 minutes for that lifter noise to stop. It finally smoothed out though with a very smooth and quiet idle. Not even so much as a micro-movement of the oil fill cap, if testing for blowby on these cars acts the same as the OM617. [loosely testing of course]
So, does this sound like several of the potentially breakable glow plugs sound bad? Is that glow plug light staying on an indication of the afterglow function I've heard about?
Declarative statement: "you can't see nuthin' under that intake manifold!!!!" NUTHIN'!. Is there a relay with connector where the glow plugs can be tested similar to an OM616/617?
Again, car drove near perfect. 176K miles I believe. A doctor owned the car since new and they are selling on consignment basis.
Every single function worked on the car except the rear headrests. [was that button on the dash for them I'm guessing?]
Engine had been steam cleaned and looked brand new. Car had lower engine covers in place. No oil on ground where car had been sitting.
I'm trying to get in touch with the Doctor who owns it. They are supposed to be having him call me. I will ask about tranny, wiring harness, glow plugs and any thing else yall recommend or he just brings up.
Now the negative: It's black!!! Why did it have to be black??? Paint appears decent with several dings of course, but it was like it would always be; dusty, smeared, dusty again. Beautiful black leather interior with perfect wood. All wrapped in a black package.

Opinions welcomed. I know very little other than what Husk has been nice enough to help me with for several weeks now. {Thanks so much!!}

Jeremy5848 · #2 01-13-2009, 11:14 PM

Sounds like one or more bad glow plugs. It's actually fairly impressive that it started at all, given the circumstances.

The rear headrests have to be lifted up by hand, then the switch on the dash is pressed and they retract using engine vacuum. Engine must be running to retract.

How much?

JimmyL · #3 01-14-2009, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Sounds like one or more bad glow plugs. It's actually fairly impressive that it started at all, given the circumstances.

The rear headrests have to be lifted up by hand, then the switch on the dash is pressed and they retract using engine vacuum. Engine must be running to retract.

How much?

Asking price is $6K, but that of course wouldn't be happening. Although, you never know with consignment deals. Could go either way on that one.
I wouldn't go above $5K on this one [and the first offer would be below that.

], mainly because I'd be buying a color I don't want, and would have to get a decent deal to make up for the arse whip of black. Black takes commitment which I just don't have for paint/dirt/dust etc...... Possibly being hard to find shows that it isn't a real high priority. It was way in back in another section of the lot.
I do like the fact that everything worked, and worked well and there were no drips of any kind under the car.
Will Mercedes give you service information on a car?? Carfax doesn't turn up any specific repairs, just has about 3-4 "service repair" entries. [they printed the Carfax for me]
They also said I could take it to a mechanic. With the glow plugs inop and the known wiring harness issues I guess I had better figure out where the relay is and check the wiring at that connector.
Oh, and another thing: At some point after I had pulled the car back up at the dealership and had turned it on/off a couple times to watch the glow plug light, the radio started making an ear piercing tone, a real electronic 'audible dog whistle' type of noise. Would go away when radio turned off, back to glass shattering when radio on. volume had no effect, neither did station changing. Don't remember if I turned the car off again or just on/off'd the radio but if finally went away. Weird. And loud!!!

BTW, they also had a W140 of the rod bending variety back in their lot. I was going to drive it too but it was dead as a doornail and I didn't want them to bother finding a booster. It was horrible rough paint and interior. Just a sad mess compared to what it used to be....... They said it ran. Nice stain under it!

**edit**

Here are some pics. I have 2 engine shots on my phone but can't figure out how to get them to my email. [borrowed Motorola Q since my phone smashed last week]

TylerH860 · #4 01-14-2009, 01:36 AM

Black on Black? Sitting outside? In Texas?

JimmyL · #5 01-14-2009, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Black on Black? Sitting outside? In Texas?

I know!!! I'm with ya!!!

TylerH860 · #6 01-14-2009, 01:43 AM

PURDY!

Buy it, then buy a car tent.

Cr from Texas · #7 01-14-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Black on Black? Sitting outside? In Texas?

I had one navy blue car in Texas. AC was permanently set to max and that really wasn't adequate.

For this Texan, any dark color, especially black is a deal breaker. I would take (prefer) a dark interior and add window tint but would not consider a black exterior even at half price.

TylerH860 · #8 01-14-2009, 02:01 AM

While on my 3000 mile road trip with hours of brain dead time, I had a random memory... my parents both owned new black W124s at the same time, and that my dad would complain about the AC. I couldn't believe I had forgotten that!

I called my dad just to confirm I wasn't fabricating it. He said was the early 90s, and he had a 300E that he never liked. The other car was a dark silver 190e 2.6 from what he can remember... So I was pretty close.

husk · #9 01-14-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Asking price is $6K, but that of course wouldn't be happening. Although, you never know with consignment deals. Could go either way on that one.
I wouldn't go above $5K on this one [and the first offer would be below that.

], mainly because I'd be buying a color I don't want, and would have to get a decent deal to make up for the arse whip of black. Black takes commitment which I just don't have for paint/dirt/dust etc...... Possibly being hard to find shows that it isn't a real high priority. It was way in back in another section of the lot.
I do like the fact that everything worked, and worked well and there were no drips of any kind under the car.
Will Mercedes give you service information on a car?? Carfax doesn't turn up any specific repairs, just has about 3-4 "service repair" entries. [they printed the Carfax for me]
They also said I could take it to a mechanic. With the glow plugs inop and the known wiring harness issues I guess I had better figure out where the relay is and check the wiring at that connector.
Oh, and another thing: At some point after I had pulled the car back up at the dealership and had turned it on/off a couple times to watch the glow plug light, the radio started making an ear piercing tone, a real electronic 'audible dog whistle' type of noise. Would go away when radio turned off, back to glass shattering when radio on. volume had no effect, neither did station changing. Don't remember if I turned the car off again or just on/off'd the radio but if finally went away. Weird. And loud!!!

BTW, they also had a W140 of the rod bending variety back in their lot. I was going to drive it too but it was dead as a doornail and I didn't want them to bother finding a booster. It was horrible rough paint and interior. Just a sad mess compared to what it used to be....... They said it ran. Nice stain under it!

**edit**

Here are some pics. I have 2 engine shots on my phone but can't figure out how to get them to my email. [borrowed Motorola Q since my phone smashed last week]

Wow the car looks clean, any motor pictures?

husk · #10 01-13-2009, 11:31 PM

Jimmy, the IM must be removed to most anything on this motor. This engine is very smooth almost gas like. Pictures? pm me the vin ill run a carfax

rrgrassi · #11 01-14-2009, 11:34 AM

The dark painted cars do shine better though! I like the darker ones. White is too common for me. But in the summer at least the paint is cooler to touch. The interior is blast furnace no matter what color though during the summer. This is where cloth seats are better.

davidmash · #12 01-14-2009, 03:38 PM

We have had ours for 2 years now. It's white on white (which I hate). I would have rather had a dark car like my 190. The E300 is my wife's. So far it has been quite solid. Bought it with 63k on the ODO. The only issues we had were the fuel lines shortly after we got it and the wiring harness. The fuel lines leaked like a sieve due to the diesel mixture change too ultra low surfer. The A/C would crap out when it rained or went through a car wash. It was traced back to the harness and since it was replaced no issues. The car has enough power for me but not Mrs. Lead foot. She had a Volvo T5 and misses that POS. I grew up on a 240D so this E300 has plenty of power. Smooth ride, quiet and roomy. Just wish it was black.

I'm going to a MB club tech session on the 24th at Park Place Mercedes to change out the tyranny fluid, oil, brake fluid and coolant plus a few other odds and ends if I have time. It's so nice working on a car with a lift.

300SL24 · #13 01-14-2009, 03:43 PM

Special Edition?

Yep. It's a special edition. With the "special" wheels, leather seats, ASD, heated seats, 6-Disc CD changer, integrated car phone.

The ASD has come in handy here in Michigan, with all the snow we've been getting...

jcyuhn · #14 01-14-2009, 04:02 PM

The late 124 cars have darn good air conditioning. I have a '93 gas 124 and it has no trouble making the interior uncomfortably cold during August in Dallas. Mine is white exterior with a dark grey interior. Just get a good, heat rejecting tint (e.g. Llumar metallic) all around and use a windshield screen when parking. I'm not a fan of black-over-black myself, but when you want a one model year only special, you gotta value clean, well maintained, and priced right over your favorite color combo.

- JimY

JimmyL · #15 01-14-2009, 08:35 PM

There is so much good feedback for me in this thread!! I've very appreciative to all those folks who have contributed. Again, Husk has been awesome in his specific help during my search.
I like hearing about the later W124's having better AC systems, I must admit. And the value placed on a one owner car is hard to discount. But black on black in Texas????!!!!

It would really have to be improved AC!
I've read here that the non-turbo OM606 is a little more forgiving when extracting the glow plugs then the turbo version. So with the afterglow it is normal for the glow light to be on that 30-40 seconds?
I was laying on the IM and with my small led flashlight I could see the glow plugs. didn't look too bad if the IM was gone. No leakage at all from the top of the IP, but I could smell diesel. that could be totally normal though.
I liked the headlight wipers and the Bose stereo really did sound good. But it was Black.....
The lady was supposed to have the Dr. call me today, but I certainly wasn't expecting anything. And of course, I heard nothing. Was too busy to think about it too much until this evening anyway.
Will Mercedes give you the service history on a car, even if you are not the current owner? Can any dealership pull up the history regardless of the dealership of choice the PO had?
David, duly noted. Sounds like a nice car! "Grand Prairie; where our first name says it all!"
300SL24, green? Nice!
Ralphie, I'm gonna let you polish it for me. Often! [shouldn't there be a better way to word that]

JimY, good info, and a very good point!
daw, I appreciate you thinking about my car search. If it was a 2.5 turbo then it was a 90-93 and I've got my cross hairs pointed directly at '95. I've always had a soft spot for the NA......