1992 Mercedes-Benz

300te Wagon

6 Cylinder 3.0 Liter

Automatic

WDBEA90E0NF203010

Gasoline

Power Windows

We have finally sold our Black Butte Ranch, OR vacation home and now it's time to sell our cars in order to accommodate a professional transition to one of my firm's European offices this fall. I have two cars for sale on here, both super reliable and neither leaks a drop of fluid on the garage floor. THE TWO IMAGES OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SHOW WHAT MIGHT APPEAR TO BE A GREEN BLEMISH ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT DOOR. THIS IS SIMPLY A REFLECTION OF THE GARDEN HOSE OFF THE PAINT. This listing is for our 1992 Mercedes-Benz 300TE, which is offered in a rare factory color of a light green bordering on a light teal. The interior is of the extraordinarily durable, standard issue Mercedes-BenzTex vinyl, finished in Palomino, or a light tan. The interior is so durable it really looks brand new. The wood in the car is real wood and my research tells me it is a Zebrano wood that Mercedes-Benz used on all of their E-Class cars of this vintage. We purchased the car this summer from my old mechanic who used to service my 560 SL at the dealership in San Francisco. We have kept touch for years largely through holiday card exchanges. When we learned that he and his family moved nearby to the Eugene/Springfield, OR area, we invited the family to stay at our vacation home for a week at Black Butte, a golf and spa community, rather than visit us in the city at our Portland home. We reacquainted, and I called on him this summer when I learned that my wife wanted her family from Zurich, Switzerland to have an extended visit at Black Butte before we had to sell and say good bye. Thinking of a no-lose situation and taking a needed write off if necessary when our guests concluded their six week vacation, I called my mechanic, Greg, and asked him if he could assist me finding a car to allow our family guests some freedom and encourage them to feel free to operate on their own without having to be tethered to us. Greg stipulated to find and evaluate anything for us that would be roomy, safe, air-conditioned and reliable for around $5,000, and then sell it or donate it after we sold the house. He told me he'd save me his finders fee because he said his wife was in the market for a new Toyota van and that his 300TE, in fact, would be available, and could be available a little sooner than he was thinking of selling it. He assured me it would be a good, comfortable car where everything worked, including the air-conditioner and the cruise control, two items I remember him saying rarely worked on these once they progressed through life. What we ended up purchasing was a great car. Honestly it feels even heavier and, thus, more solid than my company-leased E-Class of the 2007 vintage. It reminds me of our old SL that Greg used to service when we lived in San Francisco and met him through the dealership. He said he went through everything during his ownership of the TE and made sure nothing leaked. Of note while he was replacing the valve-cover gasket and rear seal, which he said are the main sources for leaks, he also did the valve guides, the head, valve seals, the rear suspension and did everything he knew he should do to provide his family safe, comfortable and reliable transport. I am not a car guy from a mechanical perspective, but knowing Greg was more than assured the car was well-serviced and looked after. It did its job and suited my wife's family this summer without any problems, hesitation or breakdowns, as they drove it clear down the California coastline to Santa Barbara, CA to visit friends and then back up here to Oregon. I have had the car myself for a few weeks now, gave it an oil change and have used it to run errands some 30 miles away and back. The tires are newer Michelins with plenty of tread life left. The motor and transmission run strong with no issues. The radio is the same type I had in my SL and it is nothing fancy and plays tapes. (On this note the speaker covers for the rear speakers are missing; Greg said this happens to just about all wagons where the covers knock loose and fall due to a bad design housing speakers on the armrest/doorpull. If I were to keep the car, I'd update the radio/stereo and put speakers in.) The spare is full-size and there are many options to ventilate from the sunroof down to the air-conditioning. There are no cracks in the dash, no strange smells, no smoker odors, no sagging or stained headliner (it is also vinyl), no pulling hither and yon on the road. And, it gets between 380 miles out of a tank of gas; with the 15-gallon gas tank, that puts it squarely in the low to mid-twenties range for such a heavy car, which is even good by today's lightweight/hi-tech standards. Finally, here are a few of the things that might detract from the car. There are some scratches and little dents, but no rust being a California car. Two smaller dents/dings I are shot close-up in the pictures. There is some slight paint discoloration here and there but it is hardly noticeable. The top is somewhat faded but does not stand out or detract from overall look. The wood grain around the transmission lever and center console is cracked from sun exposure due to the sun reflecting off the downward-sloping dash. The car came with many coats of wax on it and I never got around to having the detail shop remove the wax and buff out some of the little marks associated with the scratches. There is an occasional pine sap spot here and there than can be removed by a detailer, but nothing major or of note. The brakes work well and don't squeak or howl, and the pads, I was told, are almost new. Overall, this is a fun and solid car that should provide the owner several years of safe and reliable ownership. I will attempt to answer all reasonable questions anyone might have about either this car or my son's Saab. Because I enjoy the utility of ebay and have used it before on occasion, I thought I'd give it a whirl and sell these cars. I don't have the time or the enthusiasm to dicker over price. I paid just under $5,000 for this a few months ago and consider anything under $4,000 to be fair, and the Buy It Now price of $3400 to be a good deal. I have started the auction at $2,900 and list without reserve. Whichever car does not sell on here will be donated to the wonderful Boys and Girls Club of Portland on whose advisory board I sit, as such a step will help me with some tax deductions my accountant said I need to take before the year is up. Any questions please give me a shout. I am willing to deliver the car to Portland, free of charge. If you are out of the area and would like to have it shipped, my time unfortunately does not allow me to help you with arrangements, but I or someone who works at Black Butte will be certain the car makes it to the truck. Black Butte Ranch is a private, gated golf and spa community 30 miles northwest of Bend in Central Oregon and is some three hours to Portland/PDX. The Redmond airport is our local airport in Central Oregon and is some 30 miles away from Black Butte Ranch. I will have you picked up from either PDX or the RDM airport should you choose to fly to retrieve the car. Remember I'm here to try to satisfy questions you may have before bidding so no question is a dumb question. Thank you and much good luck!