Hello Gentlemen -

I am tired of paying the $ required to maintain my 1988 300 SEL in a running condition, and my mechanic says that he does not want to work on it any more. He advises that I sell it due to some phantom electrical problems???
My wife will not drive any thing but a Mercedes.
Anyway please tell me what is the best used model and year Mercedes to buy.
I am looking for reliability.

Thanks - Scott

That would be the best possible MAINTAINED and DOCUMENTED mercedes you can find in the price range.

I hear good things about the early 400E. decent performers and a good engine.

Id go for one of the following-

w124 300E/E320
w202 C220/C230/C280

Finding a decent C for under $10k could be a challenge depending on where you are, but there are soo many of em out there that it shouldnt be impossible, esp. if you look for an earlier model. I wouldnt go for a 1994 though just becauuse it was the first production year. the W202 is basically bullet proof if, and youll be one happy camper if you can find one that has been well cared for. One thing to look out for is leaking head gaskets with W202's, but if the head gasket has been replaced it should be fine. If it hasnt, replace it asap if u wind up getting a W202.

Happy car hunting!

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Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

My 1994 c280 had the head gasket and harness issues, which I took care of asap. Other than that it has been an amazing car. It was a one owner with all books and records too. I plan on driving it for a long time. I'm very impressed with it.

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1994 C 280 117.5k, White (Good as new)
1997 Toyota Camry 149k Miles (Not so pretty anymore)

1990 190e 2.6 95k (Sold-Should not have)
1981 240d Stick ??? Miles...sold

That SEL you have is 17 feet long. Did you want something a little shorter, or did you want to stick with the 2 zip code lenght, and merely get something a little newer?

Seeing as you have a 300 now, and are therefore not really concerned about break-neck accelleration, I would agree that a nice 124 body E320 would be a nice choice, and you would probably be left with some change for tires and things.

PS: I don't know the issues with your 300SEL, nor do I know your mechanic, but reading that he doesn't want to work on it anymore, raises a yellow flag in my mind.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

why not find a new mechanic? The car your looking for is the car that you have, what "phatom electrical issues" are you talking about? If the mechanic is competent at all he should be able to figure out a W126 benz, they arent that complicated at all.
Ryan

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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.

so he doesn't want to take your money, fascinating. what sort of phantom elrectical problems do you have? i have never experienced any with my 300...

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Jonathan
1998 S600
2001 E430
1994 E320
1991 560SEL
1994 Turbo R

JS is HOT!

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Jonathan
1998 S600
2001 E430
1994 E320
1991 560SEL
1994 Turbo R

I wouldn't want to own to old of a Toyota they are not a MB. Parts cost a fortune and they are a pita to fix. I can not see someone like myself restoring a 17 year old Camry or even a Lexus LS400.

But for $10k you can get an almost new Camry or Accord. Or as Paul sudjested a 4 year lease on an 05 or 06 model.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

[QUOTE=Hatterasguy]I wouldn't want to own to old of a Toyota they are not a MB. Parts cost a fortune and they are a pita to fix. [QUOTE]

Well I keep waiting for my 1983 Cressida to die so I can "upgrade" to a w124 MB. I've owned the car for the past 19 years and really haven't had to fix much of anything except the alternator, and A/C system. Oh, I did have to put in a new differential seal about 2 years ago also. Runs great and is my daily driver with no rust. Sure is in better shape than most early MB's that I see around my parts.

The good news is now I will just pass it on to my daughter in a couple more years. Sure hope I find the MB to be half as reliable and enjoyable as the Toyota has been. I only hope to keep the MB for 10-15 years so I guess I've lowered my expectations after reading so much here...

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JD

Which one is best? That is soooo easy!

It's the one you see right after you bought the one you own.

When are ya gonna buy that damn diesel B?

When are you going to breathe fire out of that 603?

Who is the mechanic? Where does he work? Avoid both. Find yourself one that will be able to work on it.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

That's just plain creepy, Peroxide-man. I stopped and looked-over a sweet SDL. 210K. No major body damage (few door dings) paint is in pretty good shape (few stone chips here and there). Garage-kept. Window gaskets all in excellent shape. New tires (Kelly). New brake job (1 yr). New glow plugs (1 yr). All systems work except sunroof needs assist closing but opens right up and pops up okay. New lower ball joints (and other front end stuff that I fail to recall, sounded very freaking expensive though). Engine sounds tight. Transmission kicks down on que and goes up through the gears like silk. Flat-out, the gear changes are noticeable but no noise or engine or transmission run-up like slipping or something. Transmission fluid smells and looks normal. Owner uses all synthetic fluids everywhere. has replaced all of the vacuum hoses and check valves. Will throw in pair of unopened Bilstein front shocks he bought but hasn't installed.

2nd owner is in charge of a fuel loading facility at a refinery. First owner was a local physician. Both used it for interstate drive more than anything else, as one had a job out of town and the other used it for once-per-month trips to Houston. Current mechanic says the owner is tediously careful in maintenance and only brings the car to him for major items (suspension). Owner claims he has all of 1st owners service records (exclusively serviced at local dealership). Present owner keeps a logbook of everything he does--fuel amount and price, miles between fill-ups, all maintenance, repairs, and adjustments.

Downside #1 is the interior. Lots of cracking upholstery. Passenger seat is cracked through to whatever guts are inside. Upholstery is torn and pulling away from door posts around seat belt retractor, driver's side. New Sony stereo system (I wish it had the old Becker so I could hook-up XM through the cassette. Anybody around here want to send me their Becker?).

Downside #2 is that the A/C leaks 3 cans of R-12 over the summer (May through October).

Downside #3 is he's asking $5K.

I figure $1,000 minimum for fixing the A/C. It's a must-have down here.

I can let the sunroof go for a year while I spend money on the A/C.

Needs new leather on both front seats but the back seat and compartment still looks nearly new. So say $1,500 for refinishing the seats. Another $500 for the door post rip and other likely things.

So spend $3,000 fixing-up a 17 year-old, 1987 300SDL that cost me $5,000.

$8,000.

"Honey, you know that education for our kids? I need that money so I can buy an old car and pour money into it."