Wisdom of barge experts required
Discussion
I've been seeking a cheap barge and went to look at a 1998 E300TD today. It drove fine, except for a slightly lazy shift on the slushbox.
Pros: The interior is leather and in good nick barring a grubby driver's seat and steering wheel, good quality tyres with lots of life left and newish discs and pads suggest the PO looked after it and it has a new MoT.
Cons: Galactic mileage(176k but TBH it doesn't bother me), heater/AC fan's on the fritz(someone's tried to bodge it with a dangly wire with a switch on the end but it no workee), alarming rattle at idle from (I think) the camchain, and four crusty wheelarches(the front spring pans look good though and the underside is clean).
Have I lost my mind?
Pros: The interior is leather and in good nick barring a grubby driver's seat and steering wheel, good quality tyres with lots of life left and newish discs and pads suggest the PO looked after it and it has a new MoT.
Cons: Galactic mileage(176k but TBH it doesn't bother me), heater/AC fan's on the fritz(someone's tried to bodge it with a dangly wire with a switch on the end but it no workee), alarming rattle at idle from (I think) the camchain, and four crusty wheelarches(the front spring pans look good though and the underside is clean).
Have I lost my mind?
Depends on how much? The build quality of Mercedes during the late 90's early 00's was crap and there are a few reasons why the heater don't work, but search the Merc forums for more info. 176K isn't bad....but again depends on what sort of mileage that is ..towing /town/motorway etc.
Personally I would have gone for an earlier W124 model, (I assume you are talking about a W210?) as they are a far superior car.
Personally I would have gone for an earlier W124 model, (I assume you are talking about a W210?) as they are a far superior car.
N Dentressangle said:
Find another with no autobox or engine problems. Just my 2p worth.
Agreed. Tons of well loved barges around for peanuts at the moment so no need to settle for one with a list of issues. Unless it is literally give away cheap, and if it is just run ot until it won't move anymore and sell it for bits. N Dentressangle said:
The autobox and the cam chain rattle are the worrying bits there, aren't they?
Isn't anything heating and A/C related also supposed to be an unexpectedly huge (as in a couple of grand at retail rates) job, due to Merc burying several of the key components so far in the dashboard that most of the interior needs to come out in order to fix them? Or was that only earlier models?Timberwolf said:
Isn't anything heating and A/C related also supposed to be an unexpectedly huge (as in a couple of grand at retail rates) job, due to Merc burying several of the key components so far in the dashboard that most of the interior needs to come out in order to fix them? Or was that only earlier models?
Yes, it's going to cost horrific amounts if you're paying labour. OTOH, it's stuff you could possibly live with for a while. Or maybe not.We easily forget that these were very expensive, sophisticated cars: they're not cheap to put right, there's a huge amount to go wrong, and parts cost money even if you do the work yourself. It's why most people would rather stick to simpler, smaller cars when bought older and secondhand, not just because they lack imagination and 'daring'
Find a 'good' one, and attach a Holset HX40 to it... and some plumbing. 450 BHP and 700Nm anyone? Seriously though, I looked at these for a while, for the aforementioned reaons, but couldn't find one which didn't have the rust, and didn't have some questionable noises from beneath the bonnet. Its a cracking engine, really it is, but its the age old problem of a car being cheap to buy, but still demands a more expensive up keep, typically outwith the financial capabilities of the owner. The ones the have been a 'pride and joy' and show it, with one owner from new etc are not only hard to find, but expensive to the point at which I would consider other cars.
hidetheelephants said:
bmthnick1981 said:
Agreed. Tons of well loved barges around for peanuts at the moment so no need to settle for one with a list of issues. Unless it is literally give away cheap, and if it is just run ot until it won't move anymore and sell it for bits.
Is a grand give away cheap? How about this?
I am running one myself mine is a 2 litre it seems pretty bombproof the above is the 3 litre SEL spec so all the toys and leather interior seems a lot of car for the ££
I am running one myself mine is a 2 litre it seems pretty bombproof the above is the 3 litre SEL spec so all the toys and leather interior seems a lot of car for the ££
magpie215 said:
How about this?
I am running one myself mine is a 2 litre it seems pretty bombproof the above is the 3 litre SEL spec so all the toys and leather interior seems a lot of car for the ££
Stonking cars - but that should have a/c and the detailed write up makes no mention of it - I wonder if it's workingI am running one myself mine is a 2 litre it seems pretty bombproof the above is the 3 litre SEL spec so all the toys and leather interior seems a lot of car for the ££
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