1995 E300 - Update (Batmobile) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

johng99 · #1 05-09-2011, 12:03 PM

I have now had this car a little over a month (bought here on the forum from Tyler) and want to give you my impressions (good and bad) as well as what has been done as a new owner.
First, I am pretty anal about my cars. I set high standards for the cars, spend some $$ getting them there, and then find that good maintenance keeps them there.
Here were my first impressions:
1) Car looks great. Body and interior are very, very good for the age.
2) Engine/transmission are strong. Car is quicker than I expected, and quicker than my old '93 300d.
3) All controls work as they should. good AC!

Car was worth the price for these two, alone.

However, my driving impressions were as follows:

1) Steering had a lot of play
2) Engine was very loud, especially at idle
3) Car "wandered" all over the road at any speed over 50, and didn't feel "right" like my '93 did.

I took it over to my trusted indie (71 year old german mechanic that is a legend in these parts) and asked him to go over it and tell me what it needs. Here is what he recommended:

1) Most of the noise is coming from the belt tensioner. He recommended replacement.
2) The steering feel and play was due to one bad tie rod end, and also recommended new steering damper.
3) Rear shocks were bad ( I suspected as well). Front shocks acceptable.
4) Alignment way out - all four wheels. Needs to be done anyway with tie rod end.
5) Replace the cabin filter (when he later showed me these they were black. He thought they were original).

We went ahead and took car of all five. Results were dramatic. Car now tracks straight and true, and the road feel through the steering wheel is very good. The engine noise is greatly reduced, but not as much as I would like, and is still quite a bit louder than my '93 at highway speeds.
I noticed that the undercarriage cover is missing - would a new one reduce the interior noise appreciably?
Can anyone else suggest why this car would be louder than my '93?

Anyway, I am pleased with the car - I always expect to put some money in them when I first get them to get 'em where I want 'em. I just drove it a few hundred miles over the weekend, and with gas and diesel here at roughly the same price and so high, it beats hell out of my SEC for expenses. It is just what I was looking for and plan to keep it a long time.

Will update as time goes on!

John

engatwork · #2 05-09-2011, 01:45 PM

Can you post a pic of what the exh system looks like underneath? I'm wondering if it is original?

connerm · #3 05-09-2011, 02:01 PM

Sound encapsulation panels in place won't make a big difference in the amount of noise, however they do keep the engine compartment pretty clean.

What is the condition and age of the tires? They could be making the noise.

Also, two years ago, I replaced my trans mounts. It was howling inside the cabin. Now its quiet(er).

colincoon · #4 05-09-2011, 02:03 PM

Did your 93 have a turbo? I'm assuming it did. Turbos muffle quite a bit of sound.

Stretch · #5 05-09-2011, 02:11 PM

It is nice to read a follow up thread like this - thanks for posting.

TylerH860 · #6 05-09-2011, 04:07 PM

Sounds like she's all sorted. I know I mentioned you the suspension/shocks being original but still solid and very usable. I only heard a few other 606 for comparison for the noise level, and it sounded the same to me. I thought it was just the resonance of that crossover pipe.

JimmyL · #7 05-10-2011, 01:37 AM

Those rear shocks were tired a couple of years ago, so no surprise there. They worked OK and never bottomed, but they were a bit soft.
I never ever got the feel of wandering in that car. Surprised about that.
The engine cover was there. Tranny cover wasn't when I got it.
Engine tensioner eh? Won't be the last.....

Isn't that interior ridiculous!!

So those have cabin filters????

Enjoy that thing. Glad it found a great home! It is worthy.......
Oh, and I absolutely loved the exhaust sound that that car had. Loved it!!

WINGAS · #8 05-10-2011, 03:22 PM

I think the belly pans make a great deal of difference, esp outside the car. I plan on junkyard finding some for mine ( out of my 97 which is at the salvage yard!).