Oppo, school me on the W140

"CodyVella" (codyvella) 10/23/2017 at 22:29 • Filed to: None

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More precisely, the S300, with a 3.2L Straight 6. My quest for a winter beater has taken a drastic turn. The X-Trail I wanted fell through, and I acquired a $1500 2010 Civic Sedan which I in turn gave to my sister. So today’s Bad Idea Of The Day is this W140 S300 I found for $1000. If it’s not on a salvage title, this could be a sweet winter chariot.

I’m wondering if any of y’all know of any problem areas with these cars, or if there’s anything I should look for. I know maintenance is high, but I really only need it to last 5 months without major failures. After that its fate will depend on what kind of mechanical shape it’s still in.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

My other option is a 1989 Plymouth Horizon that snapped a timing belt (but it’s non-interference). Not sure if you’ve gathered yet but, I have no preference toward any automaker. I just like things that you don’t see every day.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:38

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Not a Juke, 2/10.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:41

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Swanky.

CodyVella > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 10/23/2017 at 22:47

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Still Not a Juke but I really want an X-Trail. But y’know, Ontario, rust, Nissan.

CodyVella > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:47

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My post was Kinda’d so here’s the ad it did away with.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/oshawa-durham-region/mercedes-benz-s-300-1992/1307419840?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:49

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*Ontario, rust, any cheap car.

MM54 > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:49

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Plymouth Horizon or a Mercedes S300, such tough decisions!

Steve in Manhattan > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:52

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Wildly complicated, lots of hydraulics probably about to go bad. If you can fix it yourself, maybe. If you can’t rebuild an ABS pump, run away. Fast.

Nibby > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:56

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very very expensive to maintain but the transmission and engines are usually solid. the electrical stuff and such are the ones to look out for.

also keep in mind even though they can be had for dirt cheap you’re going to have to do maintenance on a 20 year old car that was the 2017-equivalent of $90,000+ new

syaieya > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 22:58

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I tried to revive a 95 model. The transmission is relatively frail and worth the value of the car for 95s but the 92 may be the 4 speed still. For all early models the rear arials pop up for help reversing.

Motors are super common, asr was an option and failure of it has killed better cars than a base 140.

The 6 could be had in lwb form.

Lock pumps, assist pumps, and a couple computers fail and ask decent money comparitively.

I wanted to get one, but i wasnt willing to drop 2 grand on one when v8s arent much more. And either way youre looking at vaugely the same fuel numbers.

CodyVella > syaieya 10/23/2017 at 23:03

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I read that the pre-’93 models has issues with the ignition control modules which can get pricey. I’m no stranger to working on German cars, granted I’m more used to Porsches. In terms of DIY repairs, I’m pretty confident with my abilities, especially with German things. It’s more the price of the parts that has me worried. That said I have heard these are mechanically tough cars.

CodyVella > Nibby 10/23/2017 at 23:04

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It’s taken me a solid 10 years but, I’ve finally figured out German electrical systems.

CodyVella > MM54 10/23/2017 at 23:05

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Part of me really want’s that Horizon with its 3-speed automatic.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 23:09

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The inline sixes on those w140s tend to blow head gaskets. Also the biodegradable wiring harness. Run away.

CodyVella > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 10/23/2017 at 23:11

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Apparently the wiring harness issue is limited to ‘93 and newer cars. Pre-’93 cars have issues with ignition control modules.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 23:42

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Coming straight from our local AMGTECH,

“The average quote I build for them is over $10k from a basic inspection. Not to mention the fact I think they’re ugly and not terribly comfortable or rewarding to drive. In my opinion, they don’t live up to any of the hype. Not even close. Their owners usually have a different perspective. Meaning they would otherwise be driving a 90's accord due to their budget. So regardless of how much of a rat it is, it will almost certainly still run and drive. Being an S class, it’s almost certainly going to be an epiphany of an experience and cause its owner to become absolutely enamored after spending most of his life with twenty year old econo boxes. I’m not knocking anyone with a low budget mind you, I grew up broke as hell and stayed that way years into my twenties, but you see the “nice” and expensive things through rose colored glasses because of it.

CodyVella > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/23/2017 at 23:53

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Well in that case I’m probably going to try in vein and attempt to resurrect a Plymouth Horizon.

Man, I got excited for this thing lol. It’s so nice to sit in (compared to my Xterra and 944)

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > CodyVella 10/23/2017 at 23:54

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Have you considered an LS400 ?

CodyVella > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/24/2017 at 00:12

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I did inquire about one. I’m mostly looking at anything under $1000 within driving distance of me (less than 2.5 hours away). I did find an LS400 that needed a gas tank (it didn’t have one at all...) for $750 but it was gone when I called.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > CodyVella 10/24/2017 at 00:16

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They’re pretty fantastic cars...

fintail > CodyVella 10/24/2017 at 00:20

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I am leery of ads where they get the letter prefix/suffix order wrong. No “Sxxx” cars until model year 1994. When basic facts are wrong (or deceptive to make it look newer), I worry about the finer details of the car.

Not to mention what you already know - wiring harnesses, head gaskets, 25 years of neglect, the toll of winters in that arctic heckscape, etc.

These are cars where you find a mint preservation piece and baby it, not where you resurrect a mess or try to get lucky driving one on the cheap. The cheapest MB is usually the most expensive.

CodyVella > fintail 10/24/2017 at 02:05

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I’ve slowly been steered away from the Merc and into the cheap Dodge Omni I found. My dad had several Omnis during the late 80s so, I have a decent knowledge if these simple cars.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/24/2017 at 02:37

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Thanks for saving me the trouble 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > CodyVella 10/24/2017 at 02:38

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*cough* 4matic 210 *cough*

pip bip - choose Corrour > CodyVella 10/24/2017 at 05:29

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do it!

avalonian > CodyVella 10/24/2017 at 08:56

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How on gods green earth did you get a 2010 honda civic for 1500?!?!?!?! Let me know where lol.

fintail > CodyVella 10/24/2017 at 09:35

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A better choice for your wallet, no doubt.

When I was a little kid in the 80s, my dad a Horizon. He was quite pleased with it, it was generally reliable, good in the snow, and performance was more than adequate (for the late malaise era).

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/24/2017 at 09:50

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My fucking luck... So my ABC pump failed spectacularly this morning, at 100,027 miles... Little white ABC light came on, then maybe 30 seconds later it went red, sank to the ground and now it’s sitting in a puddle of its own fluids lol.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/24/2017 at 10:19

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*sad trombone* You’re sure it’s the pump and not just a failed line? Usually the pumps just stop pumping rather than expel their lifeblood in a glorious fountain of death.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/24/2017 at 10:56

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I’ve had all the major lines replaced, and my mechanic said that the new noise I noticed when I picked up the car last was coming directly from the pump, somethings about an input bearing or something.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/24/2017 at 12:37

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CodyVella > avalonian 10/24/2017 at 16:08

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Family friend. He works for Honda with my Dad and he bought a 2017 CR-V and he couldn’t be arsed with selling the Civic. Told us “Bring $1500 and a set of plates and you can take it”

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/24/2017 at 16:31

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Also, going back over it, it was probably more like 5-7 minutes of white ABC warning message before the pump actually went and I got a red message.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/24/2017 at 17:39

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When the engine overheats do you do you keep driving until it stops? 

Kidding, I wouldn’t have stopped for a white warning either.

MM54 > CodyVella 10/24/2017 at 17:51

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If it were a manual I would actually consider it tempting if in decent shape; otherwise the Mercedes would be a pretty clear winner to me.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/24/2017 at 18:04

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I was only a mile from work damnit lol!

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/25/2017 at 12:14

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You were right, it was a line. The only line I haven’t replaced... Luckily it’s the line right next to the pump, so I’m just going to replace everything while I’m in there. I might just go balls deep and tell them to fix everything currently wrong with the car. That’d bring it to something like $5700 total, but it might be worth it to not have any issues for the first time since I’ve bought it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/25/2017 at 15:08

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Honestly not a bad idea. As much as you love it now, imagine how much you’d love it if it were problem free for a while and working perfectly!

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/25/2017 at 16:05

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To be fair, there’s not much wrong with the car currently. The PSE pump, passenger airbag sensor, and some driveline joint.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches 10/25/2017 at 18:48

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Those things can easily cause annoying problems though.

syaieya > CodyVella 10/25/2017 at 21:15

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Honest, these are still very wrenchable cars. And the biggest things that kill the 6 cylinder models are heater cores and transmissions.

I’ve seen 4 of them through the local junkyards in the last couple years, all bad transmissions.

Just keep ahead of things as they break, maybe grab a few spare items along the way if you find them cheap, and it’ll treat you as well as you treat it.