Winter Car
 

Looking at putting my 95 E300 Diesel away for the winter (in Chicago, a diesel in the winter is a PITA in my opinion). Considering a 89 300SE for sale locally. Presuming the car checks out with my local indy, can this be a daily driver to get me through the winters? What's it like as a daily driver? I have a set of winter tires on rims size 195 65 15. Can I use these on the SE?

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks, George

If you are in Chicago or suburbs you should be OK. If you say Chicago because it is the nearest city anyone has heard of, Stick shift VW's and Subarus make great winter rats in bad conditions.

Don't be fooled by my listed location. I've driven more than a dozen years in Michigan and western New York (think Buffalo).

I'm your neighbor (sort of) in Oregon, IL, about 100 miles due west of chi-town, and I have an 89 300se as my daily driver. Works fine in the winter, starts every day, even when the temp is well below zero. I've never felt the need for anything other than good all-season tires. 195 65 15's are a little small, 205 65 15's are the correct size, but they should work OK if the offset on the wheels is correct. W124 wheels won't work as you probably already know.

George, search for a 1995 E320. I bought one as a "snow car" and it drives/handles wonderfully. In my opinion a 300SE seems too large nimble winter driving.

Whatever car you favor it's a great idea for the local indy to thoroughly evaluate its condition.

x2 on the gas 124. If you like the 124 already, an E320 will spoil you while still leaving you wishing for the diesel in the spring. Think an extra 100hp (ish) and cheaper fuel.

Personally, I liked my '95 with ASR, gives you true 4-wheel ABS and the traction control, really handy in slippery city traffic, be sure it has a new wire harness (as you probably already know). Many here are afraid of the ASR, so without is fine too with good winter tires.

Thanks for the words of wisdom guys. Can't seem to find the fuel tank capacity of the 300SE? My 300D has a 23 plus gallon tank which makes for fill ups every two weeks. I presume my winter fill ups will be once a week (or more) with this beast-oh well. Taking off in the diesel at 6am in the winter, plugged in or not, is no fun.

Oregon, Illinois is a nice little town. Took the family there last year to see the Lorado Taft's Black Hawk sculpture overlooking the river. Beautiful!

Around here a good VW can be had for a lot less $ then a good Mercedes. I would look for a 96-99 Jetta with a manual trans (the automatics are not reliable over 120,000 miles).

Just remember that any old car you get is going to need a lot of suspension and rubber parts replaced, and a Mercedes has about twice the parts of a VW...

-J

Theses cars are heavy and stable and can take you safely from point a to point b. All depending on your driving skill. Heated mirrors, headlight wipers, heated windshield washer reservoir make life easier in the snow. I had driven mine for years never an issue. ( 1990 se)

And one wheel drive with no weight over the drive axle ;)

I own a 300SEL, if I had driven it first before purchase (long story) I would not have purchased it. They are turds to me, weight difference between the SE and SEL is about 250lbs apparently, so pretty insignificant.

They are underpowered and far too much hassle for its worth (how about 3500rpm @ 70mph worth of accessory drive wear). A 420sel is the deal currently of the gasser 126s, not a huge gas guzzler yet not a true fuel miser... at least it has enough power to get out of its own way and burns 87 just like the M103 car. Yes, I have had no problems running 87 in my gasser 126s.

My climate is very different so I cannot say what works well for your situation. I would probably look for some used 4x4 or AWD vehicle to minimize my chances of being stuck should that situation arise. Just remember two open diffs on a truck/SUV are pretty worthless if you get the weight shifted wrong... BTDT and cost me $250 to be pulled+towed out of my own driveway.