[cardyjones]

Hi all,
I've been greatly benefiting from all your knowledge and experience with these cars as I finalize my search for an E320 wagon...

Just wanted to run one car (scenario) by you...

car is at 164k miles and change
body is near perfect, 8/10
interior is 8/10, all switches/knobs work, missing rear head rests and cargo cover, but it's a palamino interior so I'm pumped

This 94 had a top end rebuild w/ head gasket and new valves 30k ago and a new tranny at 4k ago, new blower motor, but unk about wiring harness. mech who owns the car says insulation is fine and it may have been replaced from dealer under warranty. car has been serviced by same mechanic, who currently owns the car, since 27 k and had all records dating from that point forward. he wants 5 grand for it. AC works (so he says).

car drives well, not as spunky as one that i drove that was a POS cosmetically and had no records...

so do the bottoms of these engines fail? like the rings or anything? what else am i looking at for potential repairs other than the wiring harness?

 

[hamada128]

I don't think the wiring harness on those cars has been replaced under warranty.

 

[Ward]

The second gear start could be why it feels slow off the line.
Don't forget to get a PPI from someone else.

 

[94Wagenmeister]

Sorry. The 94s have an updated transmission that starts in first - that runs at a LOT lower rpm on the highway than the M103 set up. My thoughts? Seems to me that with records and a mechanic to back them up (assuming a certain amount of truthfulness), good cosmetics and a decent price like that - run, don't walk, to make that guy an offer. Take it someone to do PPI and look especially at sway bar bushings and strut mounts - all the stuff that's rubber.

And fill out the rest of your profile so we know where you are.

 

[deanyel]

It could have been replaced under warranty or under goodwill, many were, both of which would show up on the VMI from a dealer. It would be extremely unusual for an original harness to survive a head gasket job 30k miles ago. That should be a first gear start car - i.e. post 1991 six cylinder.

 

[Ward]

Thanks for the info on the 1st gear start. I assumed they were all dinosaurs off the line like mine. It's the one main reason my wife hates driving it...which is fine with me.