The E-class All-Terrain is the great-grandfather of the 300TE, which was the first Mercedes-Benz car with all-wheel drive. Back in the early 1990s, the 300TE 4Matic was the most luxurious longroof on the market. It had seven seats, computer-controlled all-wheel drive, and hydraulic self-leveling rear suspension. This wagon is in great shape and has low mileage, making it one of the best models still on the market. It has a good chance of selling for a very high price. That makes it look like this Mercedes-Benz 300TE 4Matic came from Vail, Colorado. Rich families could be seen riding these fancy longroofs from Killington to Whistler and probably all the way to Vail when they were brand new. The car had heated seats, a computer-controlled all-wheel drive system, a hydraulic self-leveling rear suspension, and room for seven people. Due to its high price, though, it was seen as a niche buy. Still, the idea was well-liked enough that it lives on today as the E-class All Terrain. Bring a Trailer is a sale site run by Hearst Autos, which also owns Invoice Pricing. This particular 300TE 4Matic has been used on ski duty and has not been damaged by the salt. Instead, it looks like it was carefully kept in good shape by not being used much and the cold, dry air of Colorado’s Rockies, similar to Otzi, the Iceman. Perhaps the finest wagon of its kind that isn’t in a museum, these 4Matics aren’t very common either. It only has about 28,000 miles on it, and there isn’t much wear on it. Less than a third of the 12,094 300TE 4Matics made from 1987 to 1995 were in the United States, even though Mercedes fans often have many of them for sale. The 300TE 4Matic and the 300E saloon that went with it were the company’s first modern all-wheel-drive cars to come out in the US in November 1989. However, the real story of the 4Matic began at the Frankfurt IAA show in 1985. In answer to the success of the Audi Quattro, the event was a German battle of the all-wheel-drive bands. The Porsche 959 and BMW 325i “Allrad” (also known as the 325iX) made their debuts. Mercedes-Benz showed off the 4Matic all-wheel drive idea on a W124-series sedan, but it wasn’t ready for mass production yet. The 4Matic system was run by a computer, just like Porsche’s PSK system on the 959. It worked with Mercedes’s new anti-lock brake system, acceleration skid control, and automatic differential lock technology to improve the grip. These systems used to be cutting-edge technology for making cars, but now people think of them as normal. The W124 was a high-tech, agile mobile bank vault made for millions of kilometers of autobahn, even though it had only been in production for a few months. Not yet known as the E-class, that was the time. It was a great car, but to change it from rear-wheel drive to all-wheel drive, some creative ideas were needed. Instead of building an expensive, all-new front suspension, engineers in Stuttgart made springs that were long and ugly, with a part that folded over the front axle shafts. There were more than sixty sensors and different hydraulic connections that connected the electronic brain to three differentials. These included the locking center and back units. Rear-wheel drive was the system’s default setting, but power could be split 35/65 or 50/50 based on the mode chosen. Plus, wagons came with a hydropneumatic load-leveling back suspension, as if that wasn’t enough. The 4Matics drove similarly to the regular six-cylinder W124 and S124 wagon, even though they had better grip. This made the system unobtrusive. Even though it didn’t have much more ground clearance, it could still get over any obstacle, whether it was snow, mud, or mush. You could spend the whole day driving in peace and ease with all the Mercedes features. Washers for the front lights? Do the seats have motors or heaters? It feels almost like something from today. In the US, only the 177-hp, straight-six 300E, and 300TE were offered with 4Matic. However, the wagon’s starting price in 1991 was a shocking $57,900 (about $133,490 today), which meant that not many people bought it. In the US, 4Matic stopped being made in 1994 when the “300” was remade as the E-class. It came back in 1998. These wagons last a long time if they are well taken care of, but as the first owners found out, if they are damaged or used too much, they usually need expensive repairs. Parts are also expensive, which can turn off even expert collectors. Remember the strange springs? This is the only one who can make copies of them. This car, on the other hand, is very well made. Everything about it, from the 15-inch Gullideckel wheels to the roof rack, looks almost brand new, even though there are a few small scratches. The car has always been a Colorado, and it looks like the only one ever made, right down to the leather seats that are almost too good to be used. It might even make you feel bad to drive because it has such low gas. Nobody is putting a price on this time capsule car, so it will definitely sell for a lot of money. You might not be able to find a better one anywhere else, and it might still be cheaper than trying to fix an old one. On March 27, the sale ends.
