Buying a 1992 300SE...Need Help!

I would say skip it... the tranny along will cost you far more than you paid for the car. Unless the owner already replaced the tranny.

W140 body that you are looking at are notoriously expensive car to maintain. $2500 is cheap though... If the owner can produce all the service records, then I'd jump... otherwise, I probably would take my chance with it and that is because I know how to fix Mercedes...

Otherwise, it is a speculation... you can have a MB specialist look over the whole car and advise you.

Thanks for the fast reply....

So the only major worry should be the transmission? I don't think that the owner has ever replaced the tranny but he says that all maintenance services have been done in a timely manner. With that said do you think the tranny will still need to be replaced soon?

Gabe

Ditto to Tiger's comments. 250K is, IMHO about the useful life of a reasonable maintained engine and transmission. This is definitely NOT the best way to enter the M-B world. If you want a M-B, look for a E300 / E320 with 100K to 150K miles and a service record. Much more manageable proposition than this big tank.

Oooooh! MONEY PIT!

On Sep 30, 4:39 pm, "-->> T.G. Lambach

Thats true, im owner of a 1993 w140 in my country i spend recently like US$ 2.000 in fix tranny ( mecanic was a friend) inyectors for my model cost US$ 1.000 each one!!!! somebody tells me i can change all inyectors and inyection rail from a W124 3.2 24 valv hope so.....

WOW....I am so glad I took the advice and decided against buying it.....I would have not been able to afford the maintenance.

Regards,

Gabe

Anyway, W124 3.2 24 valve has basically same engine and transmission as W140 3.2.(104 engine), and lifetime/maintenance cost are the same. Difference in ma=EDntenance cost is in the body parts (suspension, electric/vacuum control parts etc.). And here it really costs, particularly if you are not diy.

My 1991 W140 3.2 (in Europe they started in 1991) has run 500.000 miles. Head was rebuild 150.000 miles ago. Engine and transmission runs perfectly alright. Just made a 4.000 miles trip across the alps with a 1.6 tons caravan and 4 people. Only problem was a tendency to overheat at full load uphill (outside temperature was around 40C).

Suspension though needs some care now (ball joints, bushings, springs etc.).

So, be careful but not scared with W140. It has a lot of qualities too.

/Jens

Anyway, W124 3.2 24 valve has basically same engine and transmission as W140 3.2.(104 engine), and lifetime/maintenance cost are the same. Difference in maíntenance cost is in the body parts (suspension, electric/vacuum control parts etc.). And here it really costs, particularly if you are not diy.

My 1991 W140 3.2 (in Europe they started in 1991) has run 500.000 miles. Head was rebuild 150.000 miles ago. Engine and transmission runs perfectly alright. Just made a 4.000 miles trip across the alps with a 1.6 tons caravan and 4 people. Only problem was a tendency to overheat at full load uphill (outside temperature was around 40C).

Suspension though needs some care now (ball joints, bushings, springs etc.).

So, be careful but not scared with W140. It has a lot of qualities too.

Jens,

As I recall thus was the firest year for the "sealed transmission" that has no dip stick or requiremnt to change the fluid? Just curious, what )if any) maintenance has been done on your transmission?

It still has dip stick.