Mercedes-Benz 300TE-24

Mercedes-Benz 300TE-24

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Discussion

b4bby

Original Poster:

267 posts

187 months

Thursday 1st January 2015
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Having had the car on the road for a few week's now I thought I'd start my own thread about It.

It's a 1989 Mercedes Benz 300TE-24 Seven seater In smoke silver with brazil brown leather Interior.

It's got a nice spec on It which Include's electric ortho/memory leather seat's tilt/slide electric sunroof, front/rear electric window's, climate control, cruise control.



























I bought It damaged earlier this year and have had It repaired at a local bodyshop which consisted of new front driver's wing/headlamp panel and headlight.

After covering approx 300 miles on mixed road types It drives really well so far and I love the 24 valve 3 litre engine, very smooth and can shift reasonably well If needed to (It's the four speed auto version).

After having a quick look over It most thing's still work (even the really comfy ortho seats) as they should though there are a few thing's on the to do list -

1. Speedo doesn't work so currently driving with the satnav on everywhere - Hopefully a speedo cable change will cure this.

2. The passenger front electric headrest doesn't want to go back up after lowering It - I think I can hear the motor working with the switch pressed so possibly just stuck from lack of use?

3. Passenger rear door's electric window switch doesn't work though It work's from the centre console.

4. Self close bootlid doesn't close Itself however I can hear the motor work when shutting the boot.


Nothing really bad I guess but I'll hopefully get them all working and I've now got the part's to give It a good service Including plug's , air/oil/fuel/auto gearbox filter's , Water pump, New distributor cap and rotor arm and a filter for the steering rack.

And finally It need's a good clean Inside and out, there's moss and grime from lack of washing on the badge's and window rubber's though the paintwork Itself Is good.

Finger's crossed It's a quiet day for me tomorrow and I can make a start on It.

Edited by b4bby on Thursday 1st January 23:56

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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That's a perfect spec car - why do I never get to see these cars when they go on sale! Champagne exterior and brown leather with orthopedic seats... Lovely!

Does the rear window make a noise when you press the button - I've done two window regulators on my w124, they are a known weak point.

b4bby

Original Poster:

267 posts

187 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
quotequote all
0a said:
That's a perfect spec car - why do I never get to see these cars when they go on sale! Champagne exterior and brown leather with orthopedic seats... Lovely!

Does the rear window make a noise when you press the button - I've done two window regulators on my w124, they are a known weak point.
No I think It's silent when pressed though I've only tried It once.

There was a scary moment when I tried the electric sunroof for the first time as It stuck In the fully open position however after moving It about a bit seems to have cured It.

The same with the rear wash wipe that shuddered a bit when almost at the end of It's sweep for a while but after some more use has seemed to fix Itself.

Remagel2507

1,456 posts

191 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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I like that a lot and its got a serious amount of spec for an old car, I never realised you could get a self closing tailgate on these.

sawman

4,915 posts

229 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Thats lovely - exactly the sort of thing I was after when trading up the merc 190 - ended up in an outback via a W202! as I needed the estate space

idiotgap

2,112 posts

132 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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What a great find, wonderful spec. I hope you love it as much as we love ours.

I've never seen true self close on an s124, but they all have auto shut (I'm not sure of the official name for it). You close the bootlid gently and the motor kicks in at the end drawing it in the final inch and engaging the catch.

5potTurbo

12,480 posts

167 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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The classic JRG MB! wink

Looks like a great car - always wanted one of these when I was younger. A thorough clean inside and out and it'll look even better. smile

mak2503

110 posts

134 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Absolutely beautiful. I love these things and the colour spec looks spot on. I have a thing for brown leather in a car and this one looks in superb condition with every extra you could possibly think of.

londonbabe

2,044 posts

191 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Lovely car. Best colour too. (i.e. the same as mine!)
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the bodywork and how good was the paint match? Mine needs a couple of new wings and a bi of tidying up in the same areas.


anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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I love everything about that. The colours, the switches, the lot. If ever there was a "car for life", this would be it.

CharlesdeGaulle

26,086 posts

179 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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I share the sentiments of previous posters - it looks great. I particularly love the brown interior.

EskimoArapaho

5,135 posts

134 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Lovely old boat, and a great spec. Did you manage to find one with unbroken front springs?

Dr G

15,159 posts

241 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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I'll 2nd/3rd/19th that; great old thing.

Would swan about in that quite happily over a lot of newer 'better' cars smile

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Have to agree with all the above - lovely!

Sidewindow

300 posts

222 months

Friday 2nd January 2015
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Lovely car and love the interior! Looks in great condition. My Father had one when I was growing up, cream with brown faux leather (accidental middle eastern taxi replica). The speedo broke one day, the needle shot round to 5 o'clock with a loud 'ping', he never got it fixed as it was an expensive job. This was about 20 years ago though.. and he was quite tight! Hopefully it's quite a simple fix.

b4bby

Original Poster:

267 posts

187 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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Thanks for the comment's guy's and gal's!

Sorry I did mean soft-close on the tailgate rather than It closing It totally by Itself.

Oh and I found out It has an electric steering column too, makes getting a good seating position a bit easier.

The bodywork was £600 for the front corner repair/paintwork plus part's.

Colour match Is good though he did get It wrong the first time round.

I've not Idea If the suspension has any problem's underneath but It's drives well enough so far, I'll know more when I get It up on a ramp.

The other half surprised me at Christmas with a neat little present that I fitted today -



It think It's great though I don't know If It's breaking any law's showing an expired tax disc?

First time I've driven In the dark tonight, good god the headlight's are a bit dim I'll have to look Into getting brighter bulbs asap.


Edited by b4bby on Saturday 3rd January 20:29

londonbabe

2,044 posts

191 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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re: the headlights.
Get a packet of fuses, and replace every one. They will be corroded by now. It's amazing what a difference it makes to the headlight brightness (and wiper speed, and window and roof speed). And if it's still not bright enough, then some decent new bulbs will sort you out.

As for the speedo issue, maybe it's not the original binnacle?
I've never seen a 24v with an economy gauge. I mean, what's the point? It drinks like a dipsomaniac!

b4bby

Original Poster:

267 posts

187 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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There's a economy gauge on this import 300-24 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQI4MuZI9pA

Though I've not seen enough of them to know If they are rare on the 24v cars.

0a

23,879 posts

193 months

Saturday 3rd January 2015
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londonbabe said:
re: the headlights.
Get a packet of fuses, and replace every one. They will be corroded by now. It's amazing what a difference it makes to the headlight brightness (and wiper speed, and window and roof speed). And if it's still not bright enough, then some decent new bulbs will sort you out.
I will try this tomorrow (one of my bulbs went tonight in any case!).

petrolveins

1,780 posts

172 months

Sunday 4th January 2015
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What a stunning colour combo. I simply adore the brown leather. I fear if I find any clean looking 80s Merc with brown leather for sale I will just buy it on impulse.