Mercedes-Benz E300 Repair and Maintenance - Get an online auto repair estimate for your Mercedes-Benz E300

Hi,
My automatic window "ground" to a halt while it was down the other day. It sounded like the motor was still working but like some gear structure broke and was ground up. I need to kn...

1 answer

Do I need to replace

Margarita Martin, 1998 Mercedes-Benz E300, Middlebury, CT

when I took my car to change to snow tires, I was told that I needed to replace R Pinion Shaft Seal (rear both). How can I know I really need that and can you explain what it is.
Thank you!

Answer this

need to reset oil counter

plezus, 1998 Mercedes-Benz E300, Stewartstown, PA

how do I reset my oil counter?

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Mercedes-Benz E300 Car Reviews (1)

1996 Mercedes-Benz E300, rohan., Monroe, GA, February 05, 2010 11:20
Beautiful car, only problem i've had is injector pump leaking , and battery keeps draining.

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Mercedes-Benz E300 Problems

Brakes	Due to the size and materials of the brakes on these vehicles, the brakes start to squeak around the 50 percent wear point. The brake rotor surfaces become uneven, causing a lip to form at the outer edge of the rotor. Because of this, the rotors are usually replaced when the pads are worn (pad life varies depending on driving style and terrain). Brake fluid should be flushed every two years to prevent premature anti-lock brake system (ABS) failure.
Engine	Oil leaks can develop around the oil filter housing. Fuel leaks can develop around the high pressure fuel injection pump. The fuel lines around the fuel filter and the fuel pump also tend to leak.
Suspension & Steering	Irregular and premature tire wear can be caused by the lower control arm bushings cracking and causing excessive movement at the control arm pivot point. Ball joints can also wear out prematurely, causing similar tire wear symptoms. The tie rod ends, drag link, and idler arm in the linkage of the steering system can wear out. There is a steering dampening shock that will leak fluid when it goes bad. A knocking noise from the front end can be caused by cracked strut tower bushings. Vehicles with level control that ride harshly in the rear (no give in the suspension, like you are riding on a brick) may have bad dampening actuators. The actuators should be replaced in pairs.
Drive Train	A vibration felt through the center floor of the vehicle can be caused by driveshaft flex discs, which crack and shred, causing excessive driveshaft movement. Not repairing these can cause damage to the driveshaft center support bearing, or, in the worst case scenario, damage to the transmission or differential. High mileage vehicles can leak from the transmission oil seals. High mileage or older vehicles develop leaks at the differential seals and cover; the whole unit needs to be resealed to repair the leaks. The bushings for the shifter lever wear out to the point where they break and fall out. This causes excessive movement (loose feel) in the shifter lever and a clanging-type noise when changing gears.
Electrical & Lights	The insulation degrades on the engine wiring harnesses because the insulating material falls off of the wires and leaves the conductors exposed. This can cause many problems depending on which wires are exposed and what they touch. Throttle valves can suffer electrical failure. The battery can leak acid onto the engine compartment wiring harness, causing damage to the wiring from corrosion.
Heating & Air Conditioning	Due to wear of mechanical parts in the control head, the buttons on temperature control assemblies work erratically or not at all. These control heads need to be replaced for this concern or when the display screen starts to fade out. Due to the vacuum actuators going bad, temperature blend doors in the HVAC system may stop working.

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Mercedes-Benz E300 Recalls and TSBs

Mercedes-Benz E300 Recalls (Recent)

Body, Interior & Misc.: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Campaign Number: 98V256000

Dates Manufactured: 07/1998 to 08/1998

Number of Vehicles Affected: 4,163

Model Years Affected: 1999

Date Owner Notified: 11/1998

Defect Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A WRONG CLAMP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS.

Consequence Summary: THE WINDOW AIR BAG MAY NOT FULLY DEPLOY IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

Corrective Summary: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WINDOW AIR BAG UNITS AND, IF THE WRONG OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CLAMP IS FOUND, THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 20, 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372). ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Body, Interior & Misc.: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Campaign Number: 00V388000

Dates Manufactured: 11/1996 to 02/1997

Number of Vehicles Affected: 16,255

Model Years Affected: 1997

Date Owner Notified: 02/2001

Defect Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THE ABSENCE OF A CRASH.

Consequence Summary: INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Corrective Summary: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAG MODULES. AT THE SAME TIME, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE CONDITION OF THE SIDE AIR BAG MODULE WIRING WITHIN THE DOORS AND REPLACE THAT WIRING IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE.

Recall Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Electrical & Lights: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Campaign Number: 95V031000

Number of Vehicles Affected: 50,000

Model Years Affected: 1995

Date Owner Notified: 03/1995

Defect Summary: THE FRONT PASSENGER METAL FOOT REST CAN, OVER TIME, ABRADE THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE FOOT REST CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence Summary: A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE THE WIRES TO OVERHEAT, STALL THE ENGINE, OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY AN AIRBAG, ANY OF THESE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Corrective Summary: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL WIRING HARNESS CABLE FASTENER TIES AND EDGE PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR SHARP EDGES OF THE METAL FOOT REST.

Recall Notes: SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL; WIRING.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.NOTE:IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Engine: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Campaign Number: 96V058000

Number of Vehicles Affected: 149

Model Years Affected: 1996

Date Owner Notified: 04/1996

Defect Summary: THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY ON THE ENGINE CAN DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE METAL AND BREAK. IF THE DRIVE PULLEY BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE COOLING, BATTERY CHARGING, AND/OR POWER STEERING.

Consequence Summary: LOSS OF THESE SYSTEMS CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO OVER HEAT, LOSE POWER FROM THE BATTERY, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Corrective Summary: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT DAMPER-PULLEY ON THESE VEHICLES.

Recall Notes: SYSTEM: ENGINE; PULLEY; CRANKSHAFT.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6-CYLINDER ENGINES. NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

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Mercedes-Benz E300 Technical Service Bulletins (Recent)

None reported.

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