1st Mar 2009, 13:53

I am thinking of buying a 1992 300 CE 24v coupe. just after reading this thread. Makes me a bit worried. Should I be. Would most of you still recommend buying one? What are the main things to look for when checking one out. I will definitely bring a mechanic with me as I really only know how to drive a car, that's about it. Any advice appreciated.

1st Mar 2009, 23:52

Don't be worried because of this post. These cars are wonderful. Just Google and you'll find mainly positive feedback. Check out the link below, it'll ease your mind.

http://www.epinions.com/reviews/auto_Make-1990_Mercedes_Benz_E_Class

1st Mar 2009, 23:53

I would suggest bringing the 300CE to a Mercedes mechanic, they should know the car quite well. And ask for SERVICE RECORDS.

2nd Mar 2009, 15:19

Hi

This is to the original Poster.

I own a 1998 Mercedes c230. It gets great gas mileage, runs really well, has been the most dependable, comfortable, beautiful, reliable car I've ever owned. It has been a dream.

I purchases it for $16,000 at the Local Mercedes Dealership with 43,000 miles on it in 2002/2003. It was well worth the money. At this time it currently has about 118,000 miles, and still runs as good as when I bought it.

It has required little servicing. I take it into the dealer where I purchased it every 3,000 miles for a check up, oil change and whatever else needs to be done. It is a great car, and if you have the money to spend, I would highly advise thinking about buying a 1998 C230.

14th Mar 2009, 23:51

It's me again, the original poster. If people simply used the Internet's wonderful resources and not biased info from Mercedes fanatics they would find out the common faults with particular Mercedes models. The 90's C-class is notorious for a biodegradable wiring harness that is outrageously expensive to repair.

As for the '86-'95 300E like the one I had, I found several for sale online with under 140k miles and failed auto transmissions. My experience is obviously not that out of the ordinary. Evidence of Mercedes problems is plastered all over the Internet if you dig through the Mercedes fan muck. The poor schmuck (my neighbor) who bought my 300E from me had to spend $425 on a tune up and $600 on various odds and ends. How sick is that? Now whenever I see the Mercedes logo, it looks like a hand giving me the finger.

15th Mar 2009, 21:39

It isn't surprising that you have to spend money in servicing and maintaining a car, and that if you neglect it, then you will have to spend even more. That is common to all machines. A tune up on a Mercedes that hasn't received proper attention should be expensive.

Whatever it says on the Internet about specific problems with a model, one basic fact is that lots of people neglect their cars, like the one you bought and sold. If you buy a used car, the most important fact is to check the servicing history and the actual condition of that unit. Statistics, which is the main source of Internet, can say many things, but only a correct reading is significant; many cars have a lot of problems, but well maintained, the same models don't develop such problems.

There are also a lot of E class from 1987-1995 that have never had a problem with their transmission and with extremely high mileages. It isn't just by chance that C and E classes are the most common taxis in Europe. But, again, servicing is extremely important.

13th Apr 2010, 13:03

To the original poster with all the 300 problems.

It would appear to me that what you got was an abused vehicle. Whether it was dumped in a river or simply had the crap driven out of it, bottom line you got it.

I have owned several Mercedes, and Jags as well as American cars. Honestly I believe in a car career that spans over 40 years, I have never owned an automobile with such problems.

What you are experiencing has nothing whatever to do with the Mercedes name. It has to do with who owned it and how it was treated. I firmly believe this.

Always I will walk away from any vehicle that even remotely looks like it has been abused or otherwise modified.

As you say this car was pristine when you bought it... Maybe it was just a little too pristine. You should have had it checked by a Mercedes mechanic.

My system has always worked well for me. I have never gotten burned on a used car.

Even if I did, I wouldn't blame the Name!

Heck, I even owned a Studebaker, loved it... never had a problem

...and a 65 Corvair Corsa, great car... very fast

E type V 12 Jag... expensive, but no issues 30,000km when I got it.

So don't blame the name sonny... Blame yourself for not looking at what was right in front of you!!!

By the way I also have an 87 300E, with 250,000km.. runs great, pleasure to drive. I maintain it well and never have had an issue with it. The previous owner had it serviced by Mercedes since new, as I do.

27th Jun 2010, 05:53

"The 90's C-class is notorious for a biodegradable wiring harness that is outrageously expensive to repair."

True. I thought about buying a Merc once, but I always do thorough research before I buy, which is how I know that Mercs aren't the fantastic faultless cars that people who have paid over the odds to buy a car because of it's badge will tell you.

If I remember correctly, the 190's have water pump problems, which can damage an engine if the owner doesn't check the coolant level. Another (C180?, I'm not going to research and check again) has problems with faulty displays, clocks etc, which is very expensive to fix/replace.

I have to laugh at posts about how people with Mercs that cost 100,000s of pounds have had nothing go wrong with them after 15-25,000 miles; my father's turbo diesel Focus has done 35,000 miles and has absolutely nothing go wrong with it either, but he doesn't get waved at and 'envious looks' from people, which seems to be so important to a lot of Merc owners.

If you do a lot of research, you can find a model that will have less chance of having faults, but buying a car without a main dealer warranty is a gamble with any make; the only difference with cars like Mercs is that if they do go wrong, it's normally cheaper to torch the car and cut your losses.

28th Jun 2010, 13:14

I totally agree. Our family has owned Mercedes E-class and 5-series BMWs. If you can get beyond ego, the Ford Fusion is a far better car all around. Even the experts agree, ranking the Fusion on a par quality-wise with Mercedes and Porsche. Our family currently owns both a Fusion and a Lincoln MKZ (the same exact car as the Fusion with 10 grand of ego tacked on). Both are flawless.