asking $12, 200 but price is not a problem. It;s worth about 11 private party value. But if it's going to have issues within 100k then forget it. Still has 75% of orginal brake pads on it. Drove it about 3k miles a month. Looks new.
I live in Texas, 104* in the shade for months. MB AC is said to be suspect. That's causing me some pause. All records and work done my dealer.
I have a '97 E320 that I've driven 176,000 miles since new--half open road and half in city traffic. The 97 E320's were the last to have the Inline 6 and were the first model to have the 5 speed sealed automatic tansmission. I've had no problems with the engine. It runs as strong as it did new and uses no oil between changes. Regular oil changes every 5000 miles with Mobil-1 strictly used OEM Mann oil fiters. The transmission has never been opened and also works as well today as when new. I did have to have a sensor replaced in the AC unit which was not expensive. Other than that the AC has performed very well here in Southern Louisiana where it also gets pretty warm in the summer. On the third set of brake pads and rotors. Planning to put new shocks on within the next few months (the originals are still on it). In my opinion the '97 E320 was the best of the series.
It get's more than warm around here. I read on post that said the MB even said the car was not meant for hot climates due to the AC. I must have cold air.
The car rides like a tank. Feels built like a tank. That aside I wonder how other 8=97 e320 owners have faired. I can buy a 00 528i for the same money with 60k miles. This is a hard decision as I keep cars for 10 years on average.
I highly recommend the 97 E320 as it was the last year that the I6 (M104) was offered and the only year matted to a 5 speed automatic.
As long as you've done the homework and checked out all the documentation, the E-Class should be a trouble free car that will give you good years of service.
Vehicle: 2001 E430 Sport in Desert Silver and 2002 C320 Sport Wagon in Arctic White
Location: Germantown, Maryland
Posts: 1,510
Just my $0.02. I would get the newer car, Get the 00 BMW. I have owned both cars and you will love what ever you get but get the newer of the two. Both Great Cars!
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E430 Sport
2001 E430 in Desert Silver with Sport Package, COMAND, Xenon Lights, Rear Sunshade, Heated Seats. Added K40 Stealth Radar, 30% Tint, XM Radio! www.premierbasement.com
I can't add anything else coz everyone here is right, I own a 97 E320 altho it wasn't new when I bought it but then again this car had a MUCH better buid than my 98 528i. The car can be a really good friend as long as you take good care of it. And don't mind the whiners over here who have later models. When I first bought the car I was wondering how long will it last but so far the only thing that let me down was the voltage regulator
Vehicle: E320, SLK320, MKV Jetta TDI, Mini Cooper S
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,678
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhansantiago
I highly recommend the 97 E320 as it was the last year that the I6 (M104) was offered and the only year matted to a 5 speed automatic.
As long as you've done the homework and checked out all the documentation, the E-Class should be a trouble free car that will give you good years of service.
Good luck.
As far as history of the I6. If you look at the S-Class S320 up until 1999, it had the I6 (M104) fitted in it. It was not until the S-Class was redesigned that the M104 went out of production. I would take a 97 over a 98 or 99 E-Class any day. And with that low of miles, it could last you a long time. My guess would be that you will have to replace the rear window regulators before anything else.
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Both Great Cars!
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