Ok, purchase candidate # 2 from my prior post (not the fully doc'ed 95 - that has all, all docs/ receipts, etc).

Anyway... candidate # 2, 93 300E, 95K or so miles... has all the dealer service stamps on book, but NO RECEIPTS!!!!!! So, how can I do a visual to see if the following was done, b4 I waste $ on a mech checking it out.

a. wiring harness - easily viewable or is it hidden on the sides of head somewhere?
b. head gasket - If they did a factory head gasket, I am sure I am not going to see dry gasket sealent seaping out LOL. So, anyway to tell if changed gasket?
c. Evaporator - being behind the dash, I know I can't see it, LOL.. or can u from the bottom of dash or something? Anything else I can check to verify if changed or not?

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment

There should be a label with a date on it where the wiring harness goes into the engine computer. In my E420, it's right near the passenger side firewall. Not sure if there's a battery there on the 300E.

As far as the evaporator - you may be able to read a date code stamped somewhere on the receiver / dryer. Not sure though. This part should be behind the driver's side headlight (it will have a glass sight facing straight up).

Head gasket? Not sure.

Hoep this helps.

Troy
1995 E420 80k

After all the reading that I have done for the last two years, I know the cars have this and that that go bad, etc.. but had no clue what where I was looking for ... I figured a wiring harness was easy to spot... I did see some wiring on the front dr side of the head, guess that could be "the" wiring harness. It looked fine, not dry nor cracked.

The head gasket? There was some of that red stuff on the front towards the top side of the head , the very front, not sure if that was "technically" part of the head, as the rest of the head didn't seem to have any sealant drip.

Evap = behind dash, so had no clue... will have to look into the dryer issue.

The thing about the dealers here, they are not going to take the time to give u that info over the fon probably... I would have to go in person (guess I will if I have to).

Over all the 93 looked great! Svc book was only stamped until about 55-60K miles (it was a 2 owner car, so that is probably when it got sold... wonder if the sec owner did anything maintainancewise since no more stamps...) NO receipts at all neither. Paint , leather, etc...? Immaculate.. Where it not for the known issues with these cars , it looked great... Cosmetically it was immac... Center console wood lid that slides back was broken... so probably $$..

Rock bottom price $6.9K.... he said he was ok in having the car ppi'ed...

Now just wondering about the other E class 3 hours away with all maintainance records for 2 g's more... If I could only verify if harness, evap, head gask was replaced on this one, I would pick it up tommorrow

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment

The thing about the dealers here, they are not going to take the time to give u that info over the fon probably... I would have to go in person (guess I will if I have to).

Hi yosshimura, it sounds as though you expect someone else to do all the leg work for you!!! Finding a good used MB isn't quite so easy. If you're trying to avoid paying for a PPI, forget it! Without a qualified tech giving the car a good look-over, you'll probably wind up being disappointed.

Thanks for the info guys... LOL, no not trying to avoid a PPI... get with the program.... u must have missed my other posts that last few days / weeks, LOL....

I am just not going to ppi every car that I think is a candidate for purchase. I do a visual first, then have a qualified mech do an extensive ppi.

Thanks for the clues guys. The guy has my #, if he decides to lower price and call me I will entertain it. IF NOT, I am going with the 95 E320 full doc'ed... just $2K more, and I know everything has been done. $2K than what I wanted to spend right now, but figure cheap insurance.

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1995 E320 smoke silver / parchment