1993 Mercedes 300CE Convertible - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

richard28 · #1 05-26-2009, 04:43 PM

Just purchased one from the Bay; head gasket done by MB dealer in Sept. 2004 at 92,000 miles. Is it reasonable to assume. as I did, that with 107,000 miles now on the car if the wire harness had been destroyed by the head gasket job the symptoms would have already appeared? A/C blows cold - I don't recall if stock is R12 or 134. Oil and tranny & other fluids changed regularly. Any other things to check when it arrives? Thanks.

POS · #2 05-26-2009, 05:10 PM

You won't know about the wiring harness until you get it and check it - it sure seems that almost no one has repaired those unless they're hard-core MB guys who know better. The three issues on the w124 are the transmission (get it serviced the minute you get it), the evaporator (God awful expensive - you'll know if the AC has a bad smell to it), and the wiring harnesses (which aren't that bad compared to the other two!). Good thing the head gasket was done, and you probably ought to check the top function.

TylerH860 · #3 05-26-2009, 06:11 PM

Alot of wiring harnesses have been done by now simply because they hadto. Mechanics will pop the hood to diagnose an electrical problem, and refuse to do anything before replacing the wiring harness.

You should be able to tell pretty quickly if its been done or not. I can't imagine someone re-using one either, unless they are cheap.

G-Benz · #4 05-27-2009, 12:12 PM

Actually, the defective harness issues involved the deterioration of the insulation of the individual wires...you can't tell visually just by looking at the main wire loom without cutting into it and inspecting the wires inside.

That said, most have had the harness change performed. Those that have not eventually experience a myriad of electrical issues, especially after the harness has been disturbed (like during a head gasket project).

You are probably okay if you haven't had issues yet...

richard28 · #5 05-27-2009, 12:52 PM

Well, here's hoping, as I'm flying to Chicago on Saturday to pick up the car and drive it back to NY. My fingers will be crossed, and I'll research on this site good MB shops in Chicago if I'm in need. Thanks.

suginami · #6 05-27-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard28

A/C blows cold - I don't recall if stock is R12 or 134. Oil and tranny & other fluids changed regularly. Any other things to check when it arrives? Thanks.

Your car came from the factory with r134a.

tan man · #7 05-28-2009, 12:45 AM

Well you already bought the car so there is no point worrying about the wiring harness. If there are no problem lights coming up on the dash and the engine performs properly then leave it alone.
Take it for a drive and get to know the car, the list of things to check with make themselves obvious.
Whenever I purchase a car I like to change all the fluids and filters to give me a base point of maintenance, regardless of the maintenance records. Oil & filter, trans fluid & filter, air filter, differential fluid, power steering fluid, brake fluid flush, coolant flush. In doing these things I become more familiar with the car and get to know it better. That's when I look around for rust, clogged drain tubes, disconnected ground wires. Lubricate every door, trunk and hood hinge, the antenna, operate everything to see if there are any sqeaks. Doing that maintenance and detailing the car usually tell me all I need to know.

richard28 · #8 05-28-2009, 10:15 AM

Thanks, Paul- did the factory R134 systems also have the bad evaporator?

Yesterday I spoke to a service advisor at the dealer in Chicagoland, who kindly went going over the service history. He told me they had replaced the front & rear brakes and rotors in 2004, and the water pump in 2002, about 15,000 miles ago, so that's another major PIA job out of the way.

Tan Man, thanks for your advice, it's a good idea.

G-Benz · #9 05-28-2009, 10:24 AM

Mine is a 93 and I had the bad evaporator...replaced around 95K miles...never an A/C-related problem since.

suginami · #10 05-28-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard28

Thanks, Paul- did the factory R134 systems also have the bad evaporator?

My personal belief is that only the earliest W124 models had high failure rates of bad evaporators. I believe evap failures in later cars like yours are the exception, not the rule.

When I sold my 1993 300E a few years ago with about 165,000 miles, the evap was original, as was the entire a/c system. It had never even been recharged, and it still blew ice cold.

lee polowczuk · #11 05-28-2009, 12:07 PM

I think you got a good car. I was bidding on it...but you got it.

I thought the seller had documents that the wiring harness had been replaced.

He had an entire printout from the dealer

btw... i am in the process of buying a showroom 300ce... i was going to buy both.

good luck!

johng99 · #12 05-28-2009, 12:45 PM

My 1993 300d had evaporator replaced in 2004. No issues since and has been an extremely reliable car. My 1995 E320 is having the evaporator replaced as we speak. I am not sure about the later models being less prone to the issue.

richard28 · #13 05-28-2009, 01:41 PM

Thanks, Lee, I sure hope you're right. Were you the previous high bidder? Two additional vintage mbs would have been a great score!!

Is the showroom car a convertible too or just the regular coupe? My son has the 1988 ce I bought about 5 years ago, and he loves it. These older w124s are fabulous, especially if the major problems have been taken care of.

lee polowczuk · #14 05-30-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard28

Thanks, Lee, I sure hope you're right. Were you the previous high bidder? Two additional vintage mbs would have been a great score!!

Is the showroom car a convertible too or just the regular coupe? My son has the 1988 ce I bought about 5 years ago, and he loves it. These older w124s are fabulous, especially if the major problems have been taken care of.

I was the previous high bidder. It is a coupe. Someday I will have a convertible, but this is good for now. The car has been set up with sportline sway bars, a lorinser kit, bilstein hd shocks. Mint. Maybe you can see the ebay link. Picking the car up on Wednesday.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180355806638&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=

suginami · #15 05-30-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee polowczuk

I was the previous high bidder. It is a coupe. Someday I will have a convertible, but this is good for now. The car has been set up with sportline sway bars, a lorinser kit, bilstein hd shocks. Mint. Maybe you can see the ebay link. Picking the car up on Wednesday.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180355806638&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=

That is an incredibly clean coupe.

I also notice that he installed the facelifted '94-'95 hood and grill, but didn't mention it in his ad. That wasn't a cheap updgrade.

I also see he painted the valve cover gasket and hood hinges red...a nice touch.