Short version of a long car drama....I am in need of a winter driver here in PDX.... I was given a Saturn VUE (nice car, but there so riddled with issues, and mines got 160K... But its worth $4,000!) and its not staying... I'd rather pay and fix a mercedes...
Yes I am aware of a PPI, I think there's one in McMinnville.....
This will be my 3rd Benz... I know of the wiring harness crap and the head gaskets leaking, but more worried with the belching head gaskets..IF so, I am better to stick with the Tupperware bowl on wheels I am driving
Clean! good start,records would be nice? or PI ,lots can go wrong with theses cars,but you can repair them pretty easily,for some reason their more fun to work on than other cars? must be the brand.
For what its worth the older one !
Main reasoning - supposedly has all the records and 1 owner.
No wiring harness issues. No 24V issues
Look at the end of the day each of the engines 103/104 had their ups and downs. The older 89 looks lovely and clean but they don;t mention any warranty or buyback option etc.
If its possible I'd get her checked by an independent MB guy and see what he thinks but I dont think you could go far wrong at that price.
__________________ 1988 W124 Midnight Blue CE300 (223,000 kms) MB 'Facelift' front, S600 Grill & Zender Body Kit
Bilstein & Eibach Pro Kit Suspension (lowered)
Ergon (Italian) E 17x7.5" Wheels ET35 Nexen 5000 235/45 ZR17
Being restored : Zender "star" 16 x 8 Wheels / Pirelli P7 225/55 R16
"Only two things are infinite, the universe & stupidity - and I'm not sure about the former." - Big 'AL' Einstein
Price is too high on both of them-dealer hype for sure, You could easily put the purchase price back into them and you'll have what....a $6K-$7K old Benz worth $3K. Better to find one privately and let a independent mechanic give you a run down of its ills. Some ills you can live with and pay for as you drive it. PPI/Carfax at least to see previous wrecks and if they have been underwater etc. Trust either one of those dealers and you might as well just give them your checkbook.
The PNW is filled with these cars, keep looking. They were hugely popular from Portland to Seattle. Or....buy one from an enthusiast here on the forum....
Kevin
Last edited by Real1shepherd; 11-19-2012 at 07:36 AM.
200,000 miles on gasoline engine is breaking point for lot of potential buyers. The seller is extremely optimistic.
Some think older W124 is worth more than newer W210. I don't. You can buy equivalent W210 for about $2000
Agreed....200,000 miles is the point where a lot of stuff needs to be done. Most have leaking head gaskets by then and the head anyway, needs refreshed by that mileage. Transmissions are about to go, or at least lose reverse and most suspension parts are shot, you may lose A/C evaporator etc. Many owners got to this point and just stopped maintenance, which means you're walking into a firestorm of repairs.
It's a good bargaining chip though-a high mileage gasser. A used car salesman though, will just glare at you, smile and then totally bullshit his way through the sale ignoring what the car needs.
Confronted with enough evidence of future repairs however, a private individual will almost always lower his price-your choice.
Never ceases to amaze me that your US guys think $3000 is a lot for a used car.
For $3000 here you get a clunker, a well looked after MB sets you back twice as much as that.
I know its a car yard but that older MB claims a lot of docs and 1 owner. So you lose a few minutes of time. Go see what they have because 2nd guessing that its automatically a lie and a ripoff means you may well miss out on exactly what has been advertised ! A good well maintained MB maybe.
Private sellers can be just as big liars because in a lot of cases they know diddly squat about the history and lie just as much as a car yard to get the thing out of their driveway. Unless that person is someone known and respected on here like Jayare or the like of course.
If your buying a $3k car you accept it has faults and realise that your not buying a brand new car ! Don't discount car yard sales because of pre-formaulated prejudices and tales of woe. You know that vehicle may well have been traded in by a long term Benz owner for something newer and bigger who couldn't be bothered trying to sell it privately. He/She wanted his new car give me 1500 and my new car and I'm gone.
Sorry just saying I think we shoot caryard sales down based on pre-conceived notions developed over a long time. Each vehicle should be considered on it's own merit and evaluated independently. You never know when you might find a damn good bargain car albeit at a slightly elevated price !
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... But its worth $4,000!) and its not staying... I'd rather pay and fix a mercedes...
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