New member needs your help please. Thanks!
 

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Dear All,
I am a new member and have been going through the forum to get information. Although I am a new member, I am not however new to Mercedes. I have had in the past several W123 diesels and the late W124 Diesels. I am however now crossing over to gasoline:behead:

I am looking to get the 1997 E320 loaded to the max with pretty much every option that was available at the time. It has been kept up very well and serviced well and has around 70K miles on it with all services performed in timely manner.
My main questions were some that I was not able to find answers to partially because of my limited computer knowledge.
I know that there were some problems that existed with the 1994-5 W124s as far as head gaskets, ac condenser, as well as throttle actuators, and the notorious biodegradable Wiring harness. So my question is whether all these problems were fixed in the 1997 E320 or not. If so, what major problems did the 1997 E320 bring along with it in its genealogy.
Secondly are all the owners of the 1997 E320 satisfied and would they recommend others to get one.
I plan on using it as an everyday driver and I drive an average of 8000 miles per year with more than half being on freeways and everyday in the city about 5 miles. I am also going to try to add a poll about satisfaction and reliability.
Thanks in advance fellow members.
Should I go for a 2000 or 2001 E320?

I have a '97 with about 85,000 miles and had only two problems.
Some of these transmissions had problems that most were taken care of under warranty, these are the early electronic transmissions. Seems to me it was an updated module of some sort. Check the records for service work.
The other occurred recently was the head gasket, that is still an existing problem, unless it has been replaced.
I don't know about the throttle actuator, some one else will probably answer that.
The wiring harness is not an issue.
I am very satisfied with the car and plan on keeping it.
Ed

Thanks for the reply Ed. I also see that you have a 1999! How would you compare the two? which one is better, the 1997 or 1999? What are the differences as far as reliability and the amount of money required to keep them in tip top shape? Is one more expensive then the other to maintain?

Not a whole lot of difference. the big one is starting in '98 it is the V-6 engine. Very smooth however they require synthetic oil. Some engine problems with the 98/99 models when MB did not use it in the first two years, but mine is fine. (I bought it from my daughter and knew the history, otherwise I would be super cautious about these years.)
It has a variable ratio steering which is really nice, a newer model radio, an electronic key system, couple other small goodies.
Same transmission as the '97. This transmission came out on the S-420 in '96 and the E-320 in '97.
Prior to buying this, I had a '94 wagon and had planned on keeping it, but my daughter made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I do like it better than the '94 except for the body style, but that is personal preference.
Whatever you get, get the service history, if it is available, be skeptical. A private owner should have it. An MB dealer can print out everything they have from their computer.
Ed

By the way, what part of the country are you. There has been some discussion of spring perch failures attributed to rust. Rust is not a problem for me, but I have had my Indy check anyway, nothing.
Ed

Don't forget about the spring perch problem, ... where the spring perch's spot-welds fail and the entire thing separates from the car, dropping one front corner and sometimes the spring. My friend's '99 had this happen in '03, a non-salt car.

Thanks, I'll try to get more info about this subject

Should I think about a 2000-2002 E320?