Hey folks...

I'm in the process of buying a used 1997 E420. It's a one owner car with detailed service records. It has 98k miles and just recently had it's 90k maintenance done. Sounds pretty well taken care of....

Well, I looked at some under-hood pictures and something caught my attention. I circled some areas that seem to be discolored. Any ideas what that is? Should I be majorly worried? The car is quitea drive away from me, so I wanted to see if it was even worth going out to see it. I'm sure you pros can tell me something.

http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=merc1ox1.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/my.php?image=merc2uc6.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/my.php?image=merc3sa6.jpg

 

lacquer / wax.

for protection.

 

Thank you so much Sleepwalker. I hoped it would be something to not worry about. This is my first mercedes...I'm new to this stuff...but also excited.

Thanks again!

 

Wax?
Hmmm
Looks like burnt Oil drippings to me.
Overheated oil and such

SLEEPWALKER; the only reason I think its not Wax/Lacquer
is because the intense heat on the engine would clearly
burn off any wax application.

Hey Shogun80;
When the car is COLD, and you TOUCH it, is it gooey?
OilY?
Does it feel like burnt, gooey Oil?

 

Hey Charles,

At the same time I posted in the forum...I also sent an email to the dealer. He replied with something similar to what Sleepwalker said, but also might answer your thought of it burning off wax.

He said it's actually a protective clear coat that is applied. And over the years it begins to change color as it burns off.

I don't know much about the mechanics of cars, but my family owns an auto body shop and I painted cars for a number of years. It being a clear coat makes perfect sense as to why it lasted as long as it did.

 

Well there you go!
You see I didn't know that!
I love these Forums.
Makes knuckleheads like me actually learn something.

Thanks for straightening me out.

But dang yall; that yellowing; looks darn ugly! [&:]

 

The dreaded Cosmoline they put on these cars when shipping them over seas. It will not effect the running condition of the car. It takes paint thinner and a stiff parts brush to remove it. I spent at lease 3 hours under my 1992 300-E removing the sticky stuff from my transmission casing , I still have more to do.
nothing really to worry about.
BMWs get a worse dose of this stuff than Mercedes-Benz .

RWGintl1955

 

WOW!