Road trip in a Mercedes-Benz 300CE that sat for 8 years

I rescue a Mercedes-Benz 300CE that was sitting at a dealer since 2014 ... and endeavor drive it 700 miles back to Salt Lake City
Social - / autoafflicted
Contact - [e-mail]

[@beemer1111]

The shots of the car in front of “The Tree of Life” really show the amazing lines of your car. I also have a 78 280CE, but this 300CE is a sculpted beauty, totally worthy of necessary repairs and upgrades.

[@AutoAfflicted]

🙏🏼 🌳 such an amazing installation in the west desert. I’ve looked a few 280ce, great body lines

[@davejohnson3860]

Very nice addition

[@AutoAfflicted]

Such a fun car! Have you seen what I’ve done with it - full turbo install series on the channel

[@davejohnson3860]

@@AutoAfflicted trying to find it

[@AutoAfflicted]

It was ripping for 6month, Unfortunately I didn’t make a vanity video before the head gasket let loose - now I’m rebuilding the top end /// M103 Turbo Series kzbin.info/aero/PLmTetjzBbZLnz5eOgBMGZrGsGeCn-H0NR

[@matthewsmith8249]

I just did the same thing, same car. 300CE (M104). Bought it in SV and drive it home to CT. There aren’t the words for home much I love it.

[@AutoAfflicted]

Nice! I feel that, such a great vehicle - Benz / Bruno Sacco killed it with design

[@aomar9449]

Great video, love the coupe, tons of potential in this beauty.

[@AutoAfflicted]

Thanks you! I have a turbo kit ready to install 😬 still haven’t decided on the interior but prob gonna fit a c63 interior rather than pay 💰 for a OG coupe one

[@zekeepps9979]

She’s a beaut

[@AutoAfflicted]

Just keeps getting better with every drive !

[@keithgreenaway2690]

What a great find! I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have owned a 1990 300CE since 2004. We have gone to Lake Tahoe every summer for 30 years, I enjoyed your drive up Highway 80. As you know, MBZ put the new DOHC engine from the 1990 300SL in the Coupes in 1990. The extra 50 HP really makes a difference in power. I have owned 7 Benzes since 1984, but the coupe is my favorite. A close second is my mint 2001 E430 Sport which I still have. Both are silver with black leather, in mint condition. Take care of that coupe! They don’t make them as good as these anymore.

[@AutoAfflicted]

Without a doubt those 80s and 90s builds are unlike anything they’re making these days

[@Junior-fd8ux]

Keith that E430 is a cool ride. My uncle purchased one new in that dark green color and I remember it being very fast and good looking. Timeless model to me

[@matthewsmith8249]

I just bought one in SC and drive it home to CT. I love it to no end. Sublime.

[@AutoAfflicted]

Congrats man!

[@brandond3010]

SLC Uber drivers are the friendliest

[@AutoAfflicted]

I got this one on speed dial

[@stephenlittlefield9308]

Oh, no. I purchased an '88 300CE through the internet for $5K and encountered a similar condition to Mr. Auto Afflicted. Like his car, my purchase was a southern, rust free & straight car. Engine leaked, but was sound. Transmission needed service, but was good. Differential was good. But paint, interior, brakes, steering and suspension needed complete restoration. A good paint job now costs $10K. Leather seat reupholstery costs about $6K to $7K. Lots of small stuff also needed attention. Lots of it. The sad part is that my 300CE wasn't worth restoring. In the end, I have about 200 hours and a total of $35K in my now beautiful car. I could sell it for maybe $13K. I didn't do the repaint or upholstery. I love the 300CE, but buy the best one that you can find because parts cost a lot, even if you do most of the work yourself. These cool cars are grossly undervalued.

[@AutoAfflicted]

Agreed ! Hard to restore without pouring in tons of $$ - Check the video to see how I got around all that and now have 8k in to a turbo charged fairly clean coupe .. still need to refresh my front and rear control arms etc

[@tenzichoeyin1188]

She looks good 👍🏾.

[@AutoAfflicted]

Stronger with every mile! Now restoration begins !

[@fasteddy07]

Your sewing skills will be put to the test on those seats!

[@AutoAfflicted]

Up for the challenge 🪡

[@crashedicenutts]

Sunrise run was sick 🤘🤘

[@AutoAfflicted]

🙏🏼 great time to be alive, early in the am 🌄

[@siegfriedbarfuss9379]

The abyss you stared at in the beginning is no way an S55 AMG. Looks like standard M113 or is it?

[@AutoAfflicted]

It is indeed an S55, check it out 👉🏼 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqimm2OGi7uLp5Isi=A8VzosI7RkEYGjww

[@kyledrums702]

This is Dope AG!

[@AutoAfflicted]

Thx 🙏🏼 TK2G

[@NsimbaW124]

I love your videos-they are classrooms. I just picked up a 1991 W124 300CE. Nothing drives like it! And the ride is so smooth, you must be a limousine (get the reference, name the artist and song). Anyhow where can we get parts for these beauties? Everywhere I go I keep hitting a wall.

[@AutoAfflicted]

Prince - little red corvette ❤️ for parts, there is a good community on Facebook for the w124, ebay of course, some plastic parts are available as reproductions… with most parts being NLA, it’s always a struggle

[@sultanalblooshi5119]

I would like to see the sec you own on road trips

[@AutoAfflicted]

I have this SEC driving video .. I’ve since sold the 560 SEC kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX3PgaCklLV-nc0

[@RuggedBrotha]

I like you... I had Rabbits toooo. 23 ovem. And 4 Benzes

[@AutoAfflicted]

Love it! Something about rabbits just fill my void! And Audis and Benz ... I feel a BMW coming on 😬😏

[@munkki1820]

what size rims are there? width and diameter? what size tires?

[@AutoAfflicted]

Front 18x8 with 225/40/18 ~ Rear 18x8.5 with 245/40/18.. I don’t recall the offset

[@valreyjung]

What did you pick it up for? What’s the mileage and what should I be looking out for in terms of maintenance

[@AutoAfflicted]

I picked this one up for $2900. It was listed for 45 or best offer. But I do more commonly see them going for between seven and 10 K in good condition with average miles somewhere over 100,000. This particular car has probably 200,000 miles on it From what the Carfax details. In terms of maintenance, depends on the vehicle you find of course but general engine maintenance as far as plugs wires filters etc. beyond that you’re looking at bushings and things like that in the suspension due to just the age of the car but they are strong runners and will go long if taken care of

[@valreyjung]

@@AutoAfflicted how are the trannys typically are they also strong and long lasting to match the motor

[@AutoAfflicted]

Transmission are strong- if they’ve been well maintained they last forever- they are pretty finicky when it comes to gear oils levels

[@Junior-fd8ux]

Hey brother just found your channel and subbed. My old neighbor, friend of family etc has had a 88 300CE forever. Older man who never abused it and has kept up on it pretty well. 92k original miles silver with grey bottom, black leather. He just had a bunch of work done, a new exhaust from front to back and other stuff I’m unsure of plus got it a fresh inspection. Just found out I can own it for a couple grand and iv always admired the car for obv reason. Should I pull the trigger and is there anything major to look for. Yours looked great with those wheels. Thank you

[@AutoAfflicted]

I’d say it’s a great buy, if it’s been regularly serviced should have no worries

[@Junior-fd8ux]

I just got back from taking it for a nice long test drive.. the seat controls arnt working so well, seatbelt arms not working, woodgrain peeling up on the center console and other stuff like a cracked interior light cover, seatbelt housing missing on one of the passenger seats. With that said it drove amazing. The power really does start to roll on when you get to 60 or so as u mentioned I believe. Overall very nice riding cars and man I loved having all the windows down an roof open going 85 down the road.. sadly the owners brother passed away last night and he’s all over the place so my purchased stopped there and he is going to call me in the next couple days. Fingers crossed. Ps it ran and shifted great but the motor is wet with oil. It hasn’t been cleaned under the hood in years so I hadn’t a clue where it’s coming from down low if there even is a leak but by the looks of it there is some seepage from the valve cover which isn’t a deal breaker for me yet. You got me kind of hooked on buying this car now brother lol. Thanks for the info and getting back to me so quickly!

[@AutoAfflicted]

Those all sound like pretty minor issues. As far as the seat controls go sometimes they just need to be rocked back-and-forth to clear out any corrosion and then they’ll start working just fine or they can be easily found and replaced on eBay. The seatbelt presenters can get a little expensive depending on the parts you need but obviously those parts probably don’t need replacing right away. As you can see with my car I just cleaned up the cracked wood and then wrapped it with carbon fiber vinyl. It is common for these cars to leak oil at the front main seal for the timing cover

[@beemer1111]

A trunk full of junk, lol. I guess at some price it could make sense. I bought a one owner 86 300E, and have proceeded over the last 23 years to perfect the car. The amount of money I spent was absurd, but ever time I drive the car, I am reminded as to why these cars were and still are some of the best hand made cars in the World. On another note, can I get your Uber drivers phone number?

[@AutoAfflicted]

That trunk full of junk turned out to be a really great sound system 🔊 even though it looks like a scary bowl of spaghetti . There is just something about a Benz, they just keep running and they feel so good… my Uber drive tho, keeping that # under wraps 🤣

[@bjccr]

I gotta know how those speaker hit!

[@AutoAfflicted]

Come over for a ride along - still gotta tune the EQ for the boom