I have a 1988 300SEL. When I bought it, it had aprox 130K liles on it. I had a valve job and head gasket done at 140k. The car now has about 175k on it and does not burn or leak a drop of oil. Whoops I take that back...A few weeks ago it started dripping oil on to the exhaust manifold. I replaced the valve cover gasket, a quick fix.

Year: 1988
Model: 300 SEL
Mileage: 186K
Oil Consumption: Less than a quart between changes (non-synthetic replaced every 3k)
Oil Leaks: none
Any top end work: Complete documented service history, valve seals at 151k, upper timing cover seal at 160k

Head gasket replacements seem to be common on this engine, but I have not been there yet, that being said mine has been well maintained with proper oil changes and coolant flushes. A valve jobs seems to be necessary at approx. 150k for a lot of these engines. I haven't had this issue yet. You will find a lot of posts for M103 rough idle problems. As there are a multitude of possibilities that will cause a rough idle. I have seen a lot of people change every component possible only to discover a valve job is required. Overall, the M103 in my opinion is a pretty decent engine, especially the bottom end, plus you don't have the timing chain/guide issues associated with the V8's of the same era.

Tyler, you got a damn M104.




As for me, which engine??? :D


I am on engine #3.


This ones going on the bottle this winter.

I drove my 300SEL from 139k miles to 145k miles, and it used an alarming amount of oil... probably almost two quarts every 1k miles.

The oil light would always come on when I was on the freeway and I would have to stop at a gas station and buy oil.

1988 300CE
Manuf. 05-11-88
(M)103.983-12-120517
124050-1A-764006
Head gasket replaced 11/01 @41,000 (pre-condition of my purchase. PPI by MB deaeler found small leak right rear.)
Valve seals replaced at 65,000. about 4 years a ago. It was burning oil 1 qt about every 1,000. Cheap fix. Problem solved.
105,926 on the clock now.
Present consumption: 1 qt. every 3,000 or between changes.
No oil leaks. Bullet proof.

Year: 1988
Model: 300SEL
Mileage: 154,150
Oil Consumption: NONE
Oil Leaks: NONE
Any top end work: (not that I know of)

I have not had mine very long, but I have not yet noticed any leaks or oil consumption..... time will tell though. :o

1. 1990
2. 300SEL
3. 260k
4. lol, huge. About a quart per fill up of fuel (20gal). So 200-400mi on a quart. Bet my cats have had it.
5. Front main seeps slightly, rest of motor is sealed up tight.
6. Not yet, parts have been amassed... well I did stem seals that slowed the oil consumption
7. Pretty decent service history, dealer from new to 150k... then a small shop for most of that and dealer for major until I picked up.

Car seems to have been primarily a freeway car considering the condition of the front end, huge oil consumption, interior condition, etc.



W124s are geared taller (better on freeway) so I see them with less consumption than the 300se/l. If you drive 60mph on the freeway, the 300se/l is okay... or swap in a 2.88:1 diff from an SDL and you'll be set. 300se/l is also goofy in the city. 2nd gear is too tall, 1st gear is too low

420sel is the current bargain or a 500sel in the W126. Slightly more complex motor, just swap the timing rails and chain then you're set.

I know I sound like a busted record, but an extra 40ft-lbs of torque, 1000rpm sooner is REAL nice. Too bad the 300se/l was never offered with a five speed trans in the US... manual or auto.

The Odo broke at 224k, so current milage is approx.

I seem to consume about 1 quart / 2000 miles of driving. From the plug condition [and the absence of blue smoke] I'm probably not burning it, instead it's dripping from the classic locations [cam cover gaskets].

Been there done that
 

I was beginning to use excess oil. I was burning a quart every 400 miles. No smoke was visable but i was using oil. After doing my homework and reading the forums i had my valve guide seals replaced. I printed the instructions for doing this job without breaking down the engine and carried them to my neighborhood mechanic. We went over what i wanted and agreed on the manner which he would proceed. $175 dollars later i have a 103 that does not use oil. I just returned from a 1000 mile trip that was all interstate meaning i cruised at 4000 rpm for hour after hour with no oil usage. The rough idle has gone away and the carport is dry.

Well, it looks like our new 300E doesn't burn much if any oil! I've driven it over 300 miles since doing an oil change with M1 0w40 and it hasn't changed at all on the stick. :D Awesome!

Year: '90
Model:300CE
Mileage: 215k
Oil Consumption: not used
Oil Leaks: No
Any top end work: No

Year: '91
Model: 300E
Mileage: 212k
Oil Consumption: ~1 qt/5000
Oil Leaks: No
Any top end work: head gasket /valves

Year: '87
Model: 300E
Mileage: 154k
Oil Consumption: ~1 qt/5000
Oil Leaks: No
Any top end work: None, engine upgraded at 120k

Year: '91
Model: 300E
Mileage: 124k
Oil Consumption: ~1 qt/5000
Oil Leaks: No
Any top end work: None

Year: '86
Model: 300E
Mileage: 268k
Oil Consumption: ~1 qt/5000, more before guide seal replacement
Oil Leaks: No
Any top end work: replaced valve guide seals at 260k

3000 miles later (157K)... Oil level still full and clean - oil change tomorrow though. I wonder if mine already had the engine work done. I rarely drive mine over 60 mph though and only take it to 60 mph on a 5 mile stretch of highway heading to my house. Not sure if long high speed drives would make a difference or not though.

Update on mine:

It uses about a quart per 800-900 miles....and gets oil on maybe 3 of the spark plugs pretty good....and a little on another. Two of them remain pretty much clean/dry. Valve stem seals are the culprit...and they're getting replaced next week. I'd not do it, but those plugs that get oil on them foul up and misfire after about 500 miles....and its getting annoying. So I'm getting it taken care of so I don't have to keep cleaning/replacing spark plugs and adding oil. That will save $$ in the long run. :D

Other than that, I've driven it just about 7,000 miles since November and it runs great and is very reliable/powerful.

Sorta the same story.

About 5 years ago, I started burning about a qt every 1200-1500 miles. Had the valve stem seals replaced then.(at 75,000) Now, I don't need to add any between changes. 3000-3500 miles. No other top end work

Before I bought it in 2001 (with 41k then) I had a PPI done and the MB dealer (Lokey in Tampa) said it needed a head gasket as there was an oil leak at the left rear. The seller and I split the cost.

She doesn't leak or burn at all today.

I've read here, and I believe it, that the bottom end of the 103 is darn near bulletproof. The valve and guides will wear because of cam design & lash. The timing chain design lends itself to longer life that a 104.

I still have the original water pump. New radiator this year. New exhaust last year. Original cats still aboard. Fuel system still original, except the fuel pump relay went last month.

1988 300CE
M103.098
110,450 today
Manufactured Stuttgart May 1988
Sold MB Manhattan NYC July 1988.
I am the third owner afaik.

Edit: Who recycled this thread? I just notice I posted on this thread a long time ago. Well, at least I my stories jive.:D

Well, since my 157K mile ' 88 300SEL is not burning any oil between the 3-4K mile intervals, what are the chances that a PO already had work done to the engine?