Just Bought a W124 300ce - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#31 06-14-2004, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lino
Can I use non-Mercedes Transmission Fluid and which ones would be recommended? Would it be a good idea to go synthetic?

Any ATF that meets MB's requirements will work. I use Mobil 1 synthetic in my 300E.

Your owner's manual will specify the type of ATF to use.

89-300ce · #32 06-14-2004, 11:04 AM

Congratulations on your CE. I bought mine about 8 months ago and still love it. That's unusual for me cause I'm fickle. The novelty of the new vehicle wears off and then I want something else. I had a hunch that if I still liked the look of the CE 15 years after first seeing it that I would probably continue to like it for many, many more years to come. I plan on keeping this car forever and fully expect its appeal to be timeless.

I saw my first 123 coupe today. Hmmm, maybe I could own two Mercedes. Time to start working on the wife.

Holson Adi · #33 06-14-2004, 03:53 PM

I want a coupe too

Anyway,

I used Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF in my old 300CD (it had 198000 mi.) and who knows if the po ever changed it but it did not leak one bit and shifted great.

lino · #34 06-14-2004, 05:40 PM

Thanks Bud. I have always respected Mobil 1.

89-300ce: Thanks. I guess we share the same car

. The W123 has to be one of the best built Mercedes (only my opinion) and there are so many of them still on the road for a reason. You might wanna buy the W123 now, because when you get the wife, well.....you might never get the chance to get the car

Thanks Holson Adi. I believe that Mobil 1 seems to be well repected all around.

sjsfiji · #35 06-14-2004, 08:56 PM

I might be too late but I hope you did a search on Molybdenum Sulfide before deciding on using it...

good luck,

joel · #36 06-14-2004, 10:30 PM

so what is the scoupe on MS? educate us please!

Nautilus · #37 06-15-2004, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lino
The W123 has to be one of the best built Mercedes (only my opinion) and there are so many of them still on the road for a reason.

Maybe in the US. Around here in Eastern Europe, practically all W123s and 90% of the W126s seen on the road are degraded like hell - too old(around 20 years), spare parts too expensive, incompetent mechanics etc.... and lack of interest, since the W123 is too old and a rather common and ugly design, it provides no prestige to the owner

the W124s are a different matter for being newer and better looking anyway

Although I've seen two exceptions: a beige W123 (200D engine) now on restoration, and a black 560SEC with leather interior which was simply superb

~Nautilus

#38 06-15-2004, 06:06 AM

i would like to contribute to the PPI debate. I have a local mechanic that my entire family have been using for over 15 years. Very honest and i though good. I get him to check out all my cars prior to purchase and he does it as a favour. I recently bought a 1992 200TE wagon in visually immaculate condition inside & out. He checked it out for me and mentioned that the steeing needed to be re-alligned and that there was a small leak from the power steering box, but just to clean it down, add some STOP LEAK before the car was due for it's National Car Test (NCT -State road worthiness challange). I bought the car and paid a good sum of money for it and have had nothing but aggrivation from it ever since. It doesn't drive properly. It is hesitating on acceleration intermittently and nobody can find out why. Have checked out Auto gearbox -OK, checked out carb and fuel injection and delivery - OK, checked out exhaust - OK, minor bits and pieces replaced still no joy.

I think that if i had gone to an indy PPI guy and paid him that he may have spotted that little issue. I think my mechanic is getting a bit lazy when checking out cars for me. I'm stuck with a complete lemon.............Having said that it is approaching it's 108,000 service mark and the last service was 2 years ago!!!. However my mechanic says that is not causing this problem.

I am now at sea for my next car purchase. What do i do. Do i pay a stranger who i don't know to evaluate a car for me for around $200 or go back to my 'trusted' mechanic who let me buy this lemon? I am not in any way mechanically minded so i can't do it myself.

lino · #39 06-15-2004, 10:04 AM

I would definitely get a second opinion from another mechanic. Your mechanic may have your best interest at heart and may very well be honest, but also may not have the experience or knowledge to work on your car. Look around and ask other Mercedes owners in your area that you might see at the local grocery store or shopping district who they go to. What I've noticed is that every area has at least 1 great Mercedes mechanic and they are usual heard about through word of mouth. I'm real sorry that your experience with your car has been that way. I know that can be frustrating. I had my fair share of problems before and that's why I bought the Mercedes, since they have such a solid reputation and usually only require regular maintenance. I'm afraid I don't know of any mechanics in Ireland, but I'm sure you will find someone in the Emerald Isle without having to Kiss the Blarney Stone

89-300ce · #40 06-15-2004, 10:18 AM

Nautilus,

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the look of the 123 coupes although they are just a shadow of my favorite, the 111 coupe. True, clean 123's are getting hard to find but around here you can be sure that they were never winter driven so "if" I can find a local one it would have limited rust.

sjsfiji · #41 06-15-2004, 02:28 PM

Joel,

Here's something I found from "JackD"....

----------------------------------
Do not use oil containing MOS2. (Molybdenum Sulfide)
Although molybdenum sulfide is a very good lubricant, it is a solid (powder) and never dilutes in a liquid (oil). Some of the small oil passages in your engine can get clogged with the stuff.
Having worked in the oil business for a major oil company for all of my adult life, testing, comparing, blending and developing lubricants for major engine manufacturer, I can tell you that a good brand of mineral oil is all an engine requires. There is nothing wrong with high-end (price) synthetic but for most normal application, you are wasting your hard-earned money. I must say the oil comanies have done an extremely good job at marketing their high prices synthetic oil on with they make a very high profit margin.
I sometime compare using synthetic oil in a engine to washing your car with chirurgical certified grade distilled water. It does the job, but at what price?
JackD
----------------------------------
cheers,

#42 06-16-2004, 09:41 PM

lino,

Congrats on your purchase. You'll love the car, especially after you do some discrete mods. I also have a '89 300CE. Have had it for about a year and a half. I'm just lovin' it. If it only had a manual transmission, it would be perfect. Anyway, so far I've put on Sportline sway bars and the Bilstein HD struts. It rides much more harsh now, but handles great! Have also switched to 7" 8-hole rims that came off of a W201 Sportline sedan. The wider stance and tires help handling too. Yanked out the aftermarket Kenwood CD player and installed the original Becker cassette player. Installed an Alpine 6 CD/MP3 changer in the trunk that runs through a RF transmitter on an unused FM channel. I put the changer controll in the ash tray. That way, when I close the ash tray, nobody knows I have a changer installed. RF has been criticized, but it sounds just fine for me. Next up is the installation of my Bosch euros and clear/amber corners with the little height adjustment dial on the dash. Since it stays light later now, there isn't much hurry to get them in.