Gary, Thanks for the information. Although my commute now is not as far as it used to be, somehow I still rack up 25k miles a year. From what you described, the gas wagon probably will be out of my conformt zone to own...
Tan --- Gary Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Tan, > My take is that for the first 150Kmi or so, the > 1995 gasser will be as > reliable and economical as the older diesel. After > that point, though, the > diesel will still be going while the gasser will > start to need a few more > expensive repairs. > Several things to look for right away on any > 1993-1995 M104 motor Mercedes: > - check to see if the engine wiring harness has been > replaced. If not, you > are looking at sizeable DIY project or an expensive > repair bill in the neat > future. These wiring harnesses have a biodegradeable > insulation that, under > the extreme temperatures of the engine bay, have > been known to degrade much > ahead of plan. Last I looked, the engine wiring > alone went over $800 retail. > Plan on at least 6 hours for the typical DIYer. > - check and make sure the air conditioner blows > cold. Make sure someone > hasn't just topped off the refrigerant in order to > sell the car. At least > 1994-1995 cars had aluminum evaporators that are > prone to springing leaks. > While an evaporator isn't too expensive (about > $200), I've been quoted > anywhere from 13 to 16 hours of labor to gut the > interior in order to > replace the evaporator. I know of several dedicated > DIYers who have > attempted this on their own, but only one has said > he would do it again... > - The early 104 motors tended to have issues with > oil leaks from the head > gaskets. Check this out closely. Options are to live > with the leaks (for > awhile) or pull the head and replace the head > gasket. > - I've been having ignition issues lately on mine. > Seems to miss some at > idle, and hesitate on acceleration every now and > then. The more research I > do, the more I hear of this being common with the > early HFM system used > starting with the M104 in 1993. Most of these issues > are related to the > wiring harness mentioned above, but in some cases > the bad wiring has caused > sensors to fail prematurely as well, and it can take > some time to get it all > sorted out. > Scared you yet? If you have access to any service > history and do your > homework, it's not nearly as bad as it sounds. Many > wiring harnesses and > head gaskets have already been replaced. I simply > love the feel of the W124 > chassis, and the M104 motor is just enough to make > it a joy to drive (though > I'd gladly trade for Dave M's E500). > I've heard a number of people claim if you plan on > more than 20kmi per > year, the deisel is the way to go. Under that, it's > personal preference. I'd > kinda agree with that statement. > Gary Thompson > 1995 E320 > 1984 300D (sold) > > > On 11/14/05, Tan Qu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > There is a 1995 E320 wagon at an european car lot > not > > far from where I work - 80,000 miles, immaculate > > condition, asking for $10,500. > > > > How does it compare to the 1987 300TDT wagon - > > longevity and maintenance wise? I know the fuel > > mileage on the E320 is lower than the diesel > wagon. > > The E320 certainly has whole lot more electrical > junks > > which I assume will cost more to keep up. Any > known > > big ticket items? > > > > Just curious and would like to hear back from the > E320 > > or gas MB owners... > > > _______________________________________ > For new parts see official list sponsor: > http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net >
