E280 W124 is driving me insane
 

I'm having a few problems with my 1995 E280. It fails to start some days from cold unless I push the throttle slightly. Have replaced the fuel pump and ovp relay. It's losing coolant but this seems fairly intermittant too. There is a slight oil leak at the front of the engine around the area the top timing chain cover meets the bottom one. To top it all it appears my obd just doesn't work when I Push the button on my tester the led lights but fails to flash after I release the button. Have I bought a right dud that is going to cost me a fortune! Thought these were tough as old boots after my 1992 230E.

Questions
 

How many miles on the car?
Where are you geographically?

The car has done 94 000. I'm in the Uk.

Sorry
 

This vehicle was not imported here = no service information.:(

I suggest you join

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

Surely this vehicle is the same as (or very similar to) the 300E2.8's that were sold in 1993, just with the updated bonnet/hood and headlights - it should still be the M104 engine in a W124 chassis. I seem to remember the 300E2.8's being sold as 280E's in Europe as a replacement for the M103-powered 260E?

The coolant leak may be coming from the head gasket at the rear of the engine on the driver's side (in the UK, in the US, it's the passenger side).

Don't forget your wiring harness - that can't be a US-only issue.

MB Wiring Harness Failure
 

MB Wiring Harness Failure
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=927185#post927185

On the cold start issue I would try a new fuel pressure regulator - cheap and easy to put in. On the oil leak see the Steve Brotherton article on 104 head gaskets under "DIY Articles" above.

Head Gasket Replacement
 

Head Gasket Replacement
on the M104 Engine
by Steve Brotherton

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/M104HeadGasket

Cheap??
 

$444 is cheap for a pressure regulator??? (That's the price listed in the buy parts section)

Ooooops
 

Sorry, I was looking at the wrong car. Ignore the last post.