BUYING 1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 TE 4 matic 4WD - any advice

[benjihome]

I have been offered this car. Any advice or comments on the price ect would be welcomed. Thanks for your help. David

1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 TE 4 matic 4WD
Automatic, Estate, AQUA BLUE Met BIEGE LEATHER ELECT SEATS, 1 Owner. Air-Conditioning, Tax, Alloy wheels, Cruise control, Electric windows, Electric sunroof, Foglights, Full service history, Roof rails, Radio/Cassette. .ONE OWNER!!! .. £1,495.

 

[yvrbenz]

Just a heads-up...

early 4-matics across the pond are known for having transfer case issues.

Now, I must stress that I do not have first-hand experience with the 4-matics. I am just passing on info that I have been told.

Apparently the transfer case would disengage the front drive when the car comes to a stop and re-engage it when the car starts moving again. as a result, t-case component wear is quite high.

Again, I have not ever dealt with this myself as I've never owned a 4-mat but you may want to look further into this supposed issue.

 

[Bolide]

My advice: Don't buy a 4-Matic

I have been offered this car. Any advice or comments on the price ect would be welcomed. Thanks for your help. David

1988 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 TE 4 matic 4WD
Automatic, Estate, AQUA BLUE Met BIEGE LEATHER ELECT SEATS, 1 Owner. Air-Conditioning, Tax, Alloy wheels, Cruise control, Electric windows, Electric sunroof, Foglights, Full service history, Roof rails, Radio/Cassette. .ONE OWNER!!! .. £1,495.

My advice: Don't buy a 4-Matic

Buy an E220 or E280 instead



Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[benjihome]

any good ones about?

 

[jimgod]

got my '87 260e for only £400. imaculate car, so would say expensive buy,

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I would pay no more than £800 for it. You don't give condition and mileage but I sold a vgc 1988 300TE 12 months ago for £950 with only 120K on it.

The fuel consumption on that car was 23 average so I would imagine that you would be looking at less from the 4wd. Add in the extra complexity and known problems and I don't see many buyers for that car.

I would be inclined to look at newer 124s, if you take your time you can still find good ones circa. £1500-2000.

Hope this helps!

 

[benjihome]

sorry to show my ignorance, but what is the 124?

thanks David

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

All E class 1986-1995 are 124 series, which made way for the 210 series 1996-2003, which in turn made way for the 211 series 2003-todate.

 

[cubicincubi]

seems expensive but if it is one owner and has good miles on it then it could be a good buy. it must of course have a detailed service history which will indicate what to expect in the future.

the 4 matic is something else to go wrong in my opinion so it must be a good example.

is it with a dealer or is it being sold by the owner? offer £1100 if you really want it as its all it's worth top whack regardless who has owned it.

 

[andy_k]

Don't buy an early 4 Matic - horribly expensive to fix with parts and specialists willing to work on them getting harder and harder to find - note how on your keyboard the 4 and the $ sign share the same key. In the states these cars are referred top as the "$ Matic".

HTH

Andy

 

[benjihome]

thanks all for your replies. have decided to leave it as the service history was noy complete to confirm if the 155,000 miles is correct or not. am gonna look around for a cheap 124 or an E220 or E280 instead - 0r maybe a good nick 300 te