We have a 1989 300E which has become a danger to drive! It is VERY sluggish on take off and until the car gets completely warmed up. Once you get it out on the highway and get up some speed, it runs okay, but if it cools off, it's like you are taking your life in your hands trying to pull out onto the highway. Please help!

There are a lot of things that can cause your problem. Always check the baisics first #1-is it getting full throttle?,#2-is the basic tune-up OK?
#3-is the trans starting out in the right gear?
300Es are famous for fouling plugs due to worn valve guides and/or rings not sealing (pull the plugs after a cold start and see if they are oily)
All gasoline engine require more fuel when cold (maybe it's too lean)
The plugs need more voltage when cold and MBZ coils fail often.
Hope this gives you some ideas!
Mike

Thanks for the advice, Mike. I will give this information to my husband and perhaps the mechanic can look into it. It has been a little hesitant for several years, but now when you push on the gas, it almost feels as if some sort of pressure or vacuum is pushing BACK against you ... like you're driving into a head wind or something. It's really weird, and really dangerous.

Thanks again, and if you think of anything else, please let me know.

peg777, it would help to know some additional information about your 1989 300E ... mileage and whether or not you perform routine preventive maintenance described in the Service Booklet. Sluggishness could be that it needs a variety of things ... fuel filter, spark plugs, distributor cap & rotor, ignition wires, coil, oxygen sensor, etc.

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Fred Hoelzle

Hi!
My '88 260E has the same symptoms but obviously nowhere near as bad.
Over the last 6 months or so it has become sluggish at low engine revs. At higher engine revs (2500-3000 and over) it goes great.
I've done fuel filter, air filter, plugs, checked valve timing when I did timing chain.
I was wondering if injectors may cause this issue? Mine has done 250000kms and it has never had new injectors. I heard they may not last that long.
Anyone have an opinion on this?

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Tony
76 W116 280SE
74 W107 450SLC
88 W124 300E
82 W123 280TE