11th Jun 2006, 16:22

If you chose to repair the AC on an old car be prepared to spend a lot of money and there are no guaranties that it will work in the end. Just leave it broken is my advice.

The Idle problems / electrics problems sound like a broken over-voltage protection relay. Does your ABS light come on while starting? If not then replace the fuse on top of the OVR, or if that doesn't help replace the OVR completely. It can be found behind the battery.

Best regards.

Tjep Feenstra.

12th Nov 2006, 01:41

I have to agree with the original reviewer. These cars are obnoxiously expensive to fix, and much fixing they need! They are a real spoiled brat if you don't stick to maintenance to the letter. Very anal cars. My near mint 1987 300E was a money pit. Within 108k miles, pretty much everything electrical related failed (windows, stereo, cruise, switches, lights, etc.) The transmission needed to be rebuilt, transmission mounts and motor mounts went bad, and on and on. Quite simply a rolling money pit. I've owned far cheaper American cars that were less problematic and definitely cheaper to maintain. It's pretty sad when an American car that retailed for about $12k new in '92 is more dependable than a Benz. Also, my experience with Volvos is that they are FAR cheaper to keep up. I've had much better reliability experience from them. The thought of owning a Mercedes now scares me. Headaches and a thin wallet are not my idea of an enjoyable ownership experience.

12th Nov 2006, 15:12

I agree with the earlier posts on reliability. I have a 1991 2.6 190E and it just gets up and starts perfect every day, even with 160,000 miles on the clock. The doors still 'clonk' like a merc should, and the engine is very smooth and quiet with a suprrising amount of power. The only interior thing to go bad in the 3 years I have owned it is the rear electric window, although this was shot when I bought the car and I have never bothered fixing it.

I have also owned a similar era SAAB 9000, in which the whole interior almost disintegrated, with loose panels all over, electrical nightmares and 3 gearboxes. If Mercedes still made cars in the 'over engineered' way I would buy another in a heart beat. My independent mechanic has told me to steer clear of anything post 1996 (Chrysler integration period). Sadly I need to sell the 190, and I know that given her mileage she will only fetch a few hundred quid, but I can guarantee she will still be cruising along long after my friends new shape C180 is on the scrap heap.

4th Dec 2006, 00:48

I own a 1990 Mercedes 300e 3.0. It has 229,852 miles on it. No engine knocking, no transmission problems or anything. I have kept the maintenance up, but have neglected to EVER change my timing belt. My timing belt has over 200,000 miles on it, and has not broken down on me yet. The only problems with my car is that it needs two motor mounts and a transmission mount, ($458) and a valve job ($1,400) top that for reliability.