1989 Mercedes-Benz 300-Class Reviews, Pricing & Specs

(1989 300 SE W126 S-Class, short body, 3.0 inline 6.) It's a very comfortable car and everything works. It moves for the most part, but when driving in the mountains, it can be sluggish at times. It handles great for being a big tank and it's reliable as hell. Cruising on a highway is great- very smooth "meaty" feeling. The car is solid. I put $2,000 into it when I bought it, and since haven't had any problems. The interior and exterior are in very good shape, the gas mileage is fine for a car this size. Maintenance is easy- change the oil once a year, add a quart once every two months- no leaks, just burns it up 'cause it's old. Yeah, it's fun to drive- it starts conversations for some reasons.May 03, 2010

this car has a fantastic suspension, you can't feel much of road imperfections. It has good fuel mileage and its a diesel, diesel cost much less than gasoline, you can even use used cooking oil to run this car as i had tested it already. This car has a very durable engine that will last you a lifetime. This is a classic car that you can use everyday. It also has an automatic tranny for more relaxed driving especially for out of town adventures,it's easy to maintain this car, just the regular oil change. over all its a very good car.Aug 28, 2009

It was fast in its day, still quick now. It takes about 9 seconds to rocket to 60. I handles well with the right tires and brakes very fast. It has an unmatched build quality and has needed minimal repairs in its 200k miles thus far. The styling is very classic, yet functional and the interior is comfortable and has features many current models lack. The gas mileage isnt great, but its from the 80s. This car is a blast to drive.Aug 17, 2009

The car is made like a tank, probably the safest car on the road. While performance may not be top notch its a wonderful and comfortable car to be in. Acceleration is slow in the diesel but handling and breaking are outstanding. Repairs are expensive but well worth the german price tag. Bosh makes excellent parts. Interior is beautiful and comfortable. The exterior is up to the individual. I think its a beautiful car. Gas mileage is excellent for a car this old. Maintenance is,... well its a mercedes. Built to last but built to hit your wallet on occasions. The car is a privilege to drive. The best investment i have ever made.Jun 06, 2009

One of the favourite cars that i have ever even riden. Old but riding it was like being in a new car. Loved it... still do. Shame that i had to sell it because the only thing that was bad about it was the fuel consuption. The gas tank was 99 liters so when you filled it up it costed well over 100€. And when it took around 10-15 liters in 100km that isn't cheap.. at least for me :) But at this moment i would take it back if possible...Jan 18, 2009

Built like a brick privy (albeit one with leather upholstery and wood trim). Minimum maintenance, yet highly reliable (has not “failed to proceed” even once during the 8 years my family has owned it). The engine has somewhere near 500,000 miles on it, but it still works (though the new low-sulfur diesel makes for a rougher idle when not warmed up, and adds to the level of smoke under hard acceleration unless a fuel additive is used). The transmission has around 300,000 miles on it, yet shows no signs of throwing in the towel (although the old saying about Mercedes transmissions shifting rougher as they age, instead of breaking down, proves true in the case of my vehicle). The break and accelerator pedals have a linear feel, and have just the right amount of feedback/feel, and the breaks are very effective (break too suddenly, and one might be forgiven for believing that the vehicle has hit an immovable object such as a curb or a wall). Steering also has the perfect balance between feel/feedback and power-steering assistance, and the handling is estimable for an automobile of its mass and vintage (riding on all season tires with mere 16” wheels). The suspension is perhaps one of my favorite aspects of this vehicle, as it affords the perfect balance between road feel and insulation. This model has enough suspension and steering feedback to communicate exactly where its handling threshold is, yet the suspension insulates the vehicle’s occupants from the larger potholes and dips in the pavement. The steering feel and suspension of this early 80’s Mercedes design (which remained largely unchanged until 1991) is, to me, still unmatched by newer models of certain would-be competitors of the re-badged Japanese and American variety. The highway fuel economy of 25mpg is also admirable for a late 80’s vehicle weighing 4000lbs. Urban fuel economy can be improved if one endeavors to maintain an engine RPM below 20,000, which is where this vehicle achieves its peak torque. One complaint has been the reliability of the air conditioning system. I am informed by my mechanic that the majority of the AC components for this model where sourced by GM. Although critical functions such as the windshield defroster and heater have never malfunctioned, the Air conditioning is not very reliable/efficient during the warmer summer months. Another common malady that most, if not all, vehicles of this model suffer from is cracks in the dashboard and peeling of the wood trim. Furthermore, the front driver’s side window motor ceased to function after about 250,000 miles. The sound system is also unacceptable by modern standards, and if one intends to purchase this model, one should budget for a replacement system. Also, this vehicle has no cup-holders, which could be a problem for some. I would recommend this vehicle to someone who is looking for a comfortable, reliable, durable vehicle with European driving dynamics and relatively fair fuel economy, and has an understated/tasteful exterior design and a well constructed cabin. Definitely not recommended for those with a juvenile delinquent driving style. Jan 13, 2009

The 300SD... Poor performance, but this car isn't meant for the track. This car is the perfect everyday, drivable car. It will ALWAYS get you from A to B and with a "little" modification, it is one of the coolest cars to cruise around in. The well-built solid steel German inline 5 diesel engine (the famous 617 model engine) has been known to churn out over half a million miles with only regular maintenance. And of course you get Mercedes timeless styling. While diesel costs more at the pump, the car gets around 28 mixed mpg, and if it is ran on bio-diesel, the cost per mile is better than a Prius. (And more environmentally friendly) I love this car and I think everyone should own one at least once in their life. It is a perfect example of "they just don't make em' like they used to". (My car was made in 1982, but the years only go back to 1989)Dec 10, 2008

One of the finest handling cars i've ever owned. Brakes wonderfully, turns sharper than anything i've ever seen, and handles like as champs. It was fairly cheap to own, very fun to drive, but it could have been better on gas. I loved the way it looked. I just wish that this page would go more in depth with models, as mine was a 1988 300ce, the coupe model.Aug 27, 2008

Peformance times on the car were quite impressive, my specific model was a 1989 300E with around 150,000 miles, and for the age on the inline 6 cylinder engine it had some impressive sprints and moments of torque. Handling in the car was very precise and cornering made cutting through windy roads a blast. However, the reliability, probably due to age, was completely horrid. Blown head gasket, blown gaskets, surprise leaks, faulty transmission and air conditioning, made this car a hard thing to keep running. I sold the car just due to the estimated mechanic bill for the blown head gasket (a little over 2 grand, when car was worth 3500) but it still was a grand car especially since it was the one I learned how to drive one.Aug 07, 2008

Actually it's an '87, so about 21 years old. According to the 2nd owner, the car's odometer 'broke' 3 years ago and has been at 149k ever since. While I've had to replace the motor mounts and an engine support arm, it's really put a sense of ownership into the car-not to mention the whole cap/rotor/plugs/oil routine- but with proper maintenance it should live to see another decade. Haven't driven many 'performance cars' so i can't properly scale. It moves when I need it to, had a few over steer experiences but that's my fault :) and the brakes need more pressure on them than I'd like. Love the poise my 300E has, you'll find a smug on my face every time i walk up to it. When a car is older than the driver, you tend to appreciate it more. Aug 04, 2008

I love the color and the economy gauge, which I spend approximately 45% of my time sampling. However, at one point the tape deck refused to turn off and was constantly whirring about until my friend yanked out the stereo unceremoniously. The things weighs a ton, but you can get decent gas mileage if you keep an eye on the economy gauge. Moon-roof is a plus.Jul 19, 2008