Hello there fellow mercedesshoppers, I have been in hot pursuit of an early 90's 124, specifically 300e in white or beige. After a few months and searching and searching, I am torn between two lovers...... now as always I seek the counsel of my fellow mercedesshoppers. First one is this 93 on ebay with 87000 miles , runs good everything works ,nothing needed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=4561112606&rd=1

Second one is a 91 from a local guy who had it on ebay a few weeks ago but it didn't get to reserve, it has 129000 runs good , good interior, only thing I noticed when I drove it, is that oil pressure gauge was not working..., I checked and oil was fine. this guy wants $4500 and no less. Both of these cars look exactly the same and are in about the same condition. I know the 93's engine was slightly different.
Which is the better engine ? The 91 or 93 all other things being equal... except the mileage and the oil pressure gauge (oops .. I guess all other things are not equal) Help!!!!!!!!!!???

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**A few Hondas etc... etc... Not Worth Mentioning**
83 Euro W126 380 sel Money Pit (Sold)
91 W124 300e 2.6. (Sold) 3.0 Motor is Much better!!
93 BMW E34 Touring Wagon (Sold) Sweet Car!!
91 300e (Just 200k with Ease.)Best car ever ???(Sold)
90 420sel (Black with Tan Interior) Best car ever!!!!!!!

I would go with the '91 just to stay with the simpler single overhead cam engine and to stay away from the wiring harness issues.

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Jim

The 93 2.8 was on ebay 4 times in the last couple of months. I am wonder why?
In my oppinion the 2.8 is a great car (if this example proven to be ok)
I have a 2,8 with 190k and is great...fuel economy vs. power

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New Addition to the family
2013 Passat TDI 5Miles
2004 E500 4MATIC Wagon 95k
1996 E300 Diesel 173k Sold
1993 300E 2.8 230k Sold
1994 E320 White Wagon 373K Sold
Still dreaming about ....500E


Radu Negru

I have a M103 but would probably prefer a M104 engine for the future. The injection managment seems way easier to deal with than the finicky KE-III with its idle, stalling and hesitation problems etc. Also, more power and better fuel economy isn't bad either, is it?
Bruno

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1992 300TE 160 kmiles

Funny, I haven't noticed any finicky problems with my car at all....no stalling, (undiagnosed) hesitation problems or what not....The KE-III system is actually very easy to maintain and diagnose, all you need is a multimeter that reads duty cycle, temperature, ohms and voltage, and the factory service manual..... As compared to the wiring harness issue with the M104 that could result in all number of problems that are very hard to diagnose. Of course the fix for this doesn't seem difficult, just expensive for the part....Personally, as a DIYer I think that the M103 is a better motor to maintain and work on...Not that I'd snub my nose at the M104 and hesitate to work on it either.

Another issue for me is that the 2.8 M104 was only made for what? One production year? My personal preference is for the tried and true...and for which finding parts for is never a problem. The Mercedes E-Class Owner's Bible lists the 91 and 92 motors to be the most 'sorted out', with issues like oil consumption addressed by switching to Viton valve seals, and changing the material of the valve guides to prevent excessive wear. Both M103 and 104 motors can suffer from leaky timing chain covers, and both can develope a head gasket leak where the motor blows oil into the coolant. (Mine did, fixed now)

It sounds like the sender for the oil pressure gauge is broken, or the wire to the sender is disconnected or shorted...I would insist on fixing that first, ($65 part) and have the car inspected by a local mechanic. Can the 91 owner produce maintenance records?

Bottom line for me is that you can go and inspect the 91 and confirm its condition. With the 93 on eBay, caveat emptor. It could be a perfectly good car, but how can you tell for sure?

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On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory, sat down to wait, and waiting -- died

I would go with a 91 or look even harder for a 92.

Then drive it and enjoy it..... and a few years down the road, look for a 94 or 95 that has had the harness and evaporator replaced.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

ok so, so far the main issue with the 104 is the wire harness, I will take that very seriously. No.2 So this car has been on ebay a few times before, that I must say is kind of scary.... So far I am leaning to the 91, what do you all think is the deal with the oil pressure gauge, might need a new one? oil pressure sender bad? Did these particularly have any issues on these cars?
By the way can I say it again!!!!! I love this site!!!

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**A few Hondas etc... etc... Not Worth Mentioning**
83 Euro W126 380 sel Money Pit (Sold)
91 W124 300e 2.6. (Sold) 3.0 Motor is Much better!!
93 BMW E34 Touring Wagon (Sold) Sweet Car!!
91 300e (Just 200k with Ease.)Best car ever ???(Sold)
90 420sel (Black with Tan Interior) Best car ever!!!!!!!

I took a look at the link and something looks wrong with the lower panels. I don't know if it's just a bad picture, but the lower panels don't look like they're aligned.

If you are planing on getting the M104 engine, I would suggest you go with a 95.

Otherwise stick with the M103...get the highest year (92?) with lowest miles. Most impotantly get the one with that was best cared for. Since these cars are getting old, maintenance is the key. If the car wasn't maintained on a regular basis, expect a lot of repairs.

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JR
1986 Gold 300E 4Dr automatic