Hello folks

I've got a 1993 300e with 205k miles on it.
It has been running fine until just recently, like today..
I came to a stop and noticed the engine was idling very badly and when I went to take off it felt like it was running on 4 cylinders - no power.

When I got home I pulled spark plugs to find 2 near the front of the motor had oil on top of them. Like puddled when the plug screws in. I had noticed in the past when I replaced plugs the one in the rear (near the windshield) also had oil in the hole where the plug sits. But now it has oil on top of 3 plugs and is running really bad.

Is it time for a head gasket? My wiring harness is pitiful too. How do I tell if it is a head gasket causing the rough running. No oil in water.


Thanks

Jack

Looks like I found my problem. Crap wiring, what else. One of the coils driving two of my spark plugs had shorted wiring on the primary side. I used some toothpicks to get them from shoring out as a test and the car ran fine.

I still have no clue why there is an oil puddle sitting on top of where the spark plugs are threaded in at. This will be my LAST German car. What crap!

Tried to past a picture here but no worky.

Anyone know where I can get a wiring harness and how much.
I doubt I will spend much more money on this beast.

It needs a valve cover gasket. There are 6 round ones around the recesses for the plugs. It's a pain to get the cover back on; as soon as you turn the cover upside-down to reinstall it they want to fall out. Guys will recommend various ways to glue/tie/tape, etc them in so they stay put during installation.

You may need the 3 secondary wires and the 3 stubs under the coils, or just the ones that were soaked in oil, although the engine harness is famous in these for failing.....

Gilly

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Thanks, So I guess I don't have to worry about a blown head gasket. Any harm not replacing the valve cover gasket other than a small amount of oil loss?
The secondary wires driving the rear coil was not soaked in oil just the lack of insulation between the wires causing a short and hence no fire.

Maybe I should not complain too much about my Benz or German cars, after all it has been a real reliable car and has 205k on it. Not to mention 11 years old.

How about the wiring on the throttle control... Can that be repaired or does one have to fork over $1500 for the part with the wires.. I know someone said its best to replace it since the motors wear out but I don't plan to keep it much longer.

Thanks again Gilly for the info!

Jshaheen, like you stated a car with over 200k miles and 11 years old. No matter what company made the car, things are going to wear old, and maybe even not work properly..

Go buy yourself a 1993 lincoln continental, with 200k miles on it... drive it 10 minutes and tell me again what crap a german car is. I dont think you realize how good you have it with a german car with that mileage and year.. Nothing ages like a Mercedes in my opinion.

I enjoy bringing my car in for smalll jobs here and there when i dont feel like fixing it myself.. When i pick up the car everyone in the shop keep telling me how beautifully kept my car is... The amazing thing is i really dont do all that much to keep it "young".. My mom has a 1999 Jeep Cherokee and its a full time job to keep that damn thing from falling apart.. And she doesnt beat on her vehicle

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2001 Mercedes-Benz C320 3.2
1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E 3.0

Sometimes you'll just see a few drips or streaks of oil going down the plug holes. Then I'd say just ignore it if you only plan on keeping the car, lets say 6 months or so. If there is oil actually pooling or puddling in the bottom of a hole, enough that a removed spark plug has oil on it, it would be a good idea to get the gasket replaced.

You can buy just the engine harness for the car, it's not as expensive as you think, I believe it's in the $250 to $500 range. Probably best left to someone who has done it before, should be around 2 hours of labor.

Gilly

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