Wanting to purchase a 94-95 E320 wagon..........
 

We want to purchase a 93-95 E320 wagon for our family.

Do these cars have any weak points I should be looking for?

What kind of mileage can I expect to get out of the car before the engine and transmission call it quits?

Is Ebay a source so long as the person has excellent feedback?

Thanks Barry!!

E320 is a gasser, unless you want the 2-E-Lemon body with the aluminium CDI.

If you mean the E300 diesel, from what I have gathered, the OM606 is powerful and every bit as good as an OM603 or OM616/7. But, having the chance to look over one (but not drive it) I feel they have too much plastic and "build-to-cost" style to suit my wants.

As with any car, some people have no problems, some things like frozen glow plugs, and some say they are lemons.

As for me, if I don't get a VW TDI first, my next car will be an SDL.

Based on current events, I would not even think about using eBay to buy a car unless I can see it in person or know for a fact it's good (Have a friend or forum member look at it).

BJ, since your also in Ft. Wayne...I believe there is a '94 E320 wagon in the peddler's post. I just saw it yesterday in Scott's. I think it said best offer and may have had 100k miles. Where abouts do you live in the fort?
Thanks
David

David it's funny you mension the car in the Post, we looked at it on Sunday!!
Nice car but it is a 93', and I really wanted a 94-95 model.

I still might consider it for the right price.

We live on 33 between Ft.Wayne and Churubusco.

I looked at your profile and I am also a technician.....of the diesel type. I work at your local full service Caterpillar dealer Macallister Machinery.

Nice to know that someone on this site lives around here!

Huh, evey summer I'm on 33 all the time to go to Lake Wawassee. I don't ever see anyone here even remotely close to Ft. Wayne, or even in Indiana for that matter. Honk if you see a w116 chasis 300SD. It's pastelle blue. I need to take pics for a 116 roll call.
So what did you think of the '93? How much did they want? I also recall an ad in the POST for a '79 diesel that said pretty good body and 340k miles. You wouldn't have happened to have looked at that car would you have? I was thinking about going to see it just to ponder the idea of a winter beater. Sorry about rambling, anways, let me know about the '93. Where was it located?
Thanks
David

P.S.
About the technician thing....
Your more of a tech than I am. I just work at my uncle's used car dealership as a mechanic, so I like to consider myself a mechanic. I'm only 18 so I don't have an ASE, but I can say I've learned a lot from wrenching on MB's, and the GM cars that he sells.

Even though the 1993 is called a "300TE", it is really an "E320": it has the chassis number and 3.2 liter M104 engine as 1994-1995 E320 wagons.

You could buy real Euro headlights, which will put out better light output than '94-'95 lights, and you'd be good to go.

So the 94 and up headlights arent as good as the euro's?

BTW they were asking about 10k for the 93' wagon so I said forget it.

I'm patient though I want to wait for the perfect car.

I see alot of very nice wagons on ebay too!

YES, '94-'95 headlights look like euro's, but they produce the same ouput of light as the earlier headlights. They only thing going for them is that the look like euro's. The appearance of the '86-'93 headlights really detract from the look of the cars.

If you want real light - if you really want to see where you're going, you need to purchase real euro's, for either the '86-'93 style, or the '94-'95 style.

The difference is that the grill portion of the hood was redesigned for '94-'95, and the headlights have to fit the different shape of the hood.

The interior of the 1993 300TE is exactly the same as '94-95's.

The differences are all exterior. '94-'95's have:

1. the updated hood / grill.
2. "euro style" headlights
3. clear front indicators with a yellow strip
4. red / clear taillights. '93's have red / clear / amber.
5. the impact strip on the front and rear bumpers is painted. On '93s they are black.

You can do like I did: change the headlights, front corners, rear taillights, and paint the bumper impact strips, and only the most obsessed Mercedes afficionado would be able to tell the difference.

The body design is good (94-95 wagon) ride and handling is really smooth, but mechanically...it is below average. For occasional use, it's ok but for daily use, you will bleed if not with money, oil. Lot's of them on dealer's lot in the bay area. Three dealers I've checked would only get my wagon as a trade-in for 6K, a really bad offer for a car with above average condition. As such, I decided to make it as my grocery transporter. NOT RECOMMENDED!