Got myself a 1987 260E. Overall car looks pretty reasonable....but the engine lacks all power at all. Foot the floor does close to nothing...

Swapped out the spark plugs so far and it solved the horrible idle (it idles nice now)...but I am still left with no power at all. To give you an idea... think 20second 0-60.

Should I look more into electrical or fuel delivery for the horrible lack of power?

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

I would check the fuel pressure and go from there...I had a very similar problem with my 560, and it turned out to be a horribly clogged fuel filter.

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Right. I have no records for this car at all...Going to write a letter to the assumed previous owner of the car to ask if they happen to have any information on the car at all...Maybe somebody will be nice, ya never know.

If the spark plugs looked like they have not been changed in a long time...Its highly possible the fuel filter is the same deal. I have a spare one in my MB part box I will probably start with that.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

I don't know about contacting the previous owner...I called the previous owner of my 560, and he was one grumpy old man, let me tell you...

He told me to stop bugging him, and that he didn't care that I was having problems registering the car, and basically just hung up on me after saying he didn't want to deal with it. O_O

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

If the fuel filter doesn't solve the problem then check for clogged catalytic converter(s).

Why did you buy another M103 car with problems? Did you ever solve the problem on your TE?

I agree on the clogged filter idea. If its running that poorly there's probably a whole list of stuff it needs though...

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

yeah, I'd go with the fuel filter solution myself....

The TE's rough idle is hardly noticeable these days...and I need to buy a fuel pressure gauge before I go ahead with anything else on that car. Saw this car and for the price I paid it was a no-brainer.

The car doesn't run half as bad as you think. It actually idles smoother than my TE!

Gonna do a compression test and swap the fuel filter tonight.

Should the fuel filter from my 300TE work with the 260E? I bought a spare one a while back.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Just did a compression test:
1: 190
2: 190
3: 182
4: 185
5: 190
6: 190

Looks great

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

You realize it lacks 40cc relative to the 300...what's your gas mileage like?

__________________
'88 300TE, 175k, black RENNTech 3.6L Recaro C's AMG 1 SOLD
'92 500E, 110k, Spruce green, stock SOLD
'94 E320 Cabriolet, 130k, E500 wheels, Emerald green SOLD
'94 E320 Cabriolet, 110k, black, stock, SOLD
'88 300TE, 229k, dark grey, SOLD
'90 300CE, 212k, white, new paint, SOLD
'91 300E, 209k, white, rebuilt head SOLD
'74 914-6, grey, 2.7L 325hp twin turbo Audi conversion

You mean 400cc right?


Good to hear that it runs good and has good compression! I should test it on ours sometime....its probably fine though.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

missed a zero...

__________________
'88 300TE, 175k, black RENNTech 3.6L Recaro C's AMG 1 SOLD
'92 500E, 110k, Spruce green, stock SOLD
'94 E320 Cabriolet, 130k, E500 wheels, Emerald green SOLD
'94 E320 Cabriolet, 110k, black, stock, SOLD
'88 300TE, 229k, dark grey, SOLD
'90 300CE, 212k, white, new paint, SOLD
'91 300E, 209k, white, rebuilt head SOLD
'74 914-6, grey, 2.7L 325hp twin turbo Audi conversion

Of course But it has no power at all...Takes foot to the floor to get up my hill...The engine sounds happy though (sounds smoother than my 300TE!) so I think you guys are probably right about the fuel filter. Gonna try and get at it tonight.

It needs tags and a smog...so I haven't been driving it on the road so I can't tell you the MPG it is getting.

Once I get the new fuel filter in I'll go get it smogged.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k