test drove a '98 E240 today...

[robparker]

As it say i took an E240 1998 with 110,000 miles for a test drive today. looking around the car it looked great, and had a full service history. Started driving it out of the area and felt very smooth...
but...
when i got it onto the open road it drove fine unless i gave it anything more than half throttle. driving at 50mph i put my foot down, it kicked downa gear but didnt accelerate unless i released to half throttle. It also wouldnt drive above 60mph (i check the speed restristor on the cruise) then sat at a junction i put it in 1st and put my foot to the floor and it crept forward at 5 mph.. i changed it up through the gears until it was in drive... foot to the floor,, still doing 5mph... i released my foot to half throttle and it slowly started picking up speed.

When i took it back to the garage and told the guy he said he hadn't noticed (yea right) and said he would take it to the Benz dealership and have them run a diagnostic on it tomorrow morning. I really like the car/colour/spec etc... but does anyone have any ideas what this could be? could the 5-speed auto be dead after 110,000 miles?? or some sensor somewhere??
thanks in advanced

 

[Mounis]

Free play in the trottle linkages??

I only say that as I'm sure I had exactly the same problem on a 280 estate. Drove perfectly, like a dream, so smooth and quiet but when you wanted some serious power output it would poodle about like it was on a sunday school picnic...

After much head scratching I realised there was too much free play in the throttle linkages and depite my ramming my foor through thr floor it thought I was on a picnic too!!

Tweaked and tightened where I could and it suddenly was a new car... Lots moor oomphh!

 

[Blobcat]

It could possibly be the MAF (air flow meter) that has failed. Very easy to replace.

 

[jberks]

Certainly sounds like the MAF. Very common fault and if we're right and the garage replace it as they will have to, it turns into a + point as its already been done!
No thottle linkages on the 240 - its all electronic.

If you like the car, don't walk away yet -
I assume you are fully appriased of the corrosion side of things?

 

[robparker]

thanks for the replies.
the car does have some slight rust on the front drivers wheel arch, but non else. i'm calling the garage this afternoon to find out what has happened with it. If fixed i'll take it for a proper test drive and see if i can bag it!!