1987 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300E review from North America

Please note: because this car was an interim vehicle for me, and only driven for a few months, I am unable to determine precisely whether the problems I am about to list developed while I owned the car, or already existed, and were only noticed as I began to drive it regularly. All are fairly minor anyway.

The right rear brake hangs up frequently, and sounds like it's worn down to where it's metal grinding on metal.

When braking at very slow speeds, especially while turning the wheels (such as pulling into a parking space), there is a very noticeable pulsation in the brake pedal, and then the brakes will suddenly lock. I'm not sure whether this is related to the worn rear brake, or is a separate ABS problem.

Every couple of weeks, the starter will fail to engage when the ignition key is turned. After two or three tries, everything will be fine.

The heater won't turn off; not a problem back in early march, but getting to be a little less fun as summer approaches.

The driver's window sometimes has trouble rolling itself up without my pushing up on it with my hand.

The driver's seat springs are wearing out, so it sags to the left a fair bit.

The fuel gauge reads accurately only down to the quarter-tank level; after that, it wavers between empty and half-talk, or will suddenly go dead, only to jump back to the correct level when the engine is revved.

The seatbelt warning buzzer died, but it was an annoying buzzer, so I don't much miss it.

The interior is very spacious and comfortable, at least for the front seat passengers. Backseat travelers might find it a little cramped, especially if they're riding with a tall driver.

I found the controls to be a little confusing and somewhat awkwardly placed. Even after a few months driving the car, I still have to fumble and search to find certain things. The radio controls, for example, don't light up, so it's nearly impossible to change stations, etc., while driving at night.

Driving it, especially at lower speeds, feels sort of like piloting a bomber; it's not a very responsive car, and everything from 0-45 mph feels like more or less the same speed - like you're barely moving at all.

It's pretty sluggish from a dead stop, unless you put your foot to the floor, and even then, it takes a while for it to finally decide to downshift and get itself moving. Once it gets going, though, it's really a very powerful car.

Even with its couple of rust patches, cracked foglight covers, etc., it still holds on to a definite sense of dignity and class. It's run-down, certainly, but it's still very obviously a nice car. I feel like a bigshot driving it. It's a car that definitely won me over, the more I drove it. I would buy another if the opportunity arose.