Yea, the vacuum pump is bad and also needs replaced, and I forgot to mention a weird AC problem. While driving it around some yesterday, on a couple of occasions the AC air was warm, vent air. A couple of minutes and then it changed back to nice, cold air...maybe a climate control issue? Low gas?

The cruise control is a big deal for me and I'm trying to figure out how to fix that. The symptoms are pretty classic amp stuff, but I've read several posts about the brake lights. Also, these amps have the coding plug, which many online manufacturers claim also has to be changed, although my local guy says they hardly ever go bad. And, a real big discrepancy - online - in the prices of these cruise amps...so a little confusing.

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RG Newell

1984 300D
1972 250
1986 560SL
1991 300CE

All I can say is that you are lucky I didn't find it first!

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1981 300TD
2005 C55
2004 E500
1999 ML430
1992 400E
1998 C43
2001 SL500
1988 300SEL
1986 190E 16V
1991 190E 2.6

The A/C going warm to cold is an indication that the unit behind the wood has some cracked solder points. You can pull it apart and give it a shot at resoldering if you have some basic electrical skills. I had the same problem in my 300TE when I bought it. Its age, not miles with these things.

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

Ryan, remove the tail light lamps and check for flat spots on the base of each lamp. If you find that condition replace the affected lamps with the correct wattage (21W) Sylvania lamps (actually Osram-Sylvania) available at Pep Boys.

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Fred Hoelzle

Not to hijack, but here's a nice Sportline for $5000 OBO. Drove it yesterday. Everything works and it has a Lorinser Body Kit and brand new Remus Exhaust.

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99 ML320
94 SL600
92 SL500
95 E320 Cabriolet
87 560SEC
86 300SDL Grease Car
80 380SLC Euro

13 Fiat Abarth
02 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
00 BMW Z3
90 Rolls Royce Silver Spur
80 Ferrari 308 GTSI
88 Jaguar XJS12 H&E Edition
99 Land Rover Discovery

I have to give this car a big thumbs-up. I met Kevin recently and looked at the car and test drove it with a view towards buying it. The car is beautiful, even though it's a color I don't count as a favorite, but it looks good on that car. The exterior of the car is clean, no dents, no rust that I could see, and the paint is in great shape. Easily an 8 or 9 out of 10, especially given the age. The interior is similarly in great shape, easily an 8 or 9 out of 10. On the test drive, the car was very responsive, accelerating smoothly and powerfully. You can really feel the difference between the M103. In turns, the Sportline suspension really held the car up nicely and kept the weight of it balanced perfectly on top of the suspension and the wheels. It felt ready for some racing.

I couldn't buy the car because I have three already (plus the Ranger) and I have spent buttloads of money recently on our new house. I still want to buy it, though.

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I never go far without a little Big Star

1994 E500 199/Gray 82k
84 300D (Salty) Orient Red/Palomino 141k
88 300CE (Ersatzhammer) 904/Java 163k -- Turbo Technics twin turbo kit, AMG Gen I body kit, Sportline steering box and steering wheel, Sportline/Eibach /Bilstein Sport/500E suspension, Quaife LSD in 210 mm diff case, Silver Arrow brakes.
88 300CE Brabus 3.6 199 on Black 44k