Hi,
New to the forum.
Nice to meet you all.
Got a question for you about a 2001 Mercedes C240. There is one for sale that I'm looking in to... the question has to do with a bit of rust, rims, and the hood ornament. (Of course, this is considering the mechanical and electrical systems are running well - but I haven't got to that part yet.)
1) This vehicle, interestingly enough, doesn't have a star ornament but rather a small circular badge. Also, there is a large star in the grill. I thought this particular model should have a star ornament but a plain grill. Is this an aftermarket option or does it denote a certain "trim"? Also, would it be possible to install a star ornament where this circular badge is?
2) I didn't really inspect the car yet, just drove past, but saw there was a small bit of rust above the driver's side wheel. Does this seem too problematic to repair? The vehicle is nicely priced, but if this rust problem is a never-ending battle to get and keep repaired, it might not be worth it. Knowing the car has a small amount of rust, would it be worth it to purchase it and repair or just avoid this vehicle?
3) The right side of the vehicle (passenger side) has black rims, but the driver's side seems to have the original rims. The black ones are hideous. Can you find the original factory-installed rims and how much do they cost? I've been having a very difficult time finding any reliable info online so far.
I still need to contact the owner and get precise info, such as mileage, condition, options, how it runs, service records, etc. But it seems this car has had some aftermarket optimization (the rims and hood ornament/grill, for example). Seeing as this car will be out of warranty, what is your opinion on it? The price, especially among comparable cars, seems quite reasonable (again, if it's in reasonable condition). Would it survive the duration of the loan?
Thanks very much in advance for your help - I appreciate it!