I am looking for a decent winter commuter car.
I found a 1998 E320 AWD Wagon, Blue/Tan with 185,000 miles.
The seller is the second owner and she bought the car as a Starmarked car from Foreign Motors West in Natick with 36,000 miles 6 yrs ago. The car was previously a leased vehicle. She has had the car serviced by the book at the MB dealer. (I have not driven out to see the car) She claims it is 100% perfect no paint work, always garaged and in perfect condition despite the miles.
If this is all true is the car worth $5500?
What are the weakspots to look for in this model?
$5500 is excellent, even with the mileage. Knowing the history is a very good thing. What to watch out for? Normal stuff - wear and tear items, possible AC dying, front fans not working, rust on spring perches (very important), etc.
Get it checked out by a good MB mechanic and expect to pay about $1500 a year in upkeep (may be less, may be more). Sounds like a good one.
__________________ 1966 250SE Cabriolet - 86,000 miles
1983 500SL AMG - 45,000 miles 1982 300D - 66,000 miles
A 4matic wagon had no spring perch rust issues,so no need to worry about that issue,rust in other areas,better inspect,you are in a rust prone state and some benz suffer from rust issues.Even in nice condition max maybe 5G,and no used car (unless it is a refurbished collector car) is in perfect condition if it has 185,000 miles on it.Yow will need new shocks,pricey on the wagon with the self leveling shocks and the 4 matic,you will need the trans fluid changed pricey if you are not a diy'r,and if has never been done the trans at 185000 with no fluid and filter change is about done,so you could end up having to install an over 2500buck part only not labor included trans.If and I mean if the fluid was changed and she could get the records,and you really know how to inspect it or have someone inspect it and it passes,offer 4500 bucks and then you take a fair gamble.
Far better to pay a few more g and get a lower mile later model.I picked up a 1999 wagon low miles in great condition 6 months ago for $9500,you could pick up a 98 with low miles for well south of that.
1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E320 4WD Wagon - $8950 over priced but 130000 miles probably take 7 cash.
1998 Mercedes E320 Station Wagon
Tan exterior, Tan leather interior
Asking $6500 or B/O 126000 rear wheel drive w traction control
they are still good in the snow.
that or you can get a 2000 subaru awd with less then 100k miles for the same 5500 bucks.
good luck on the hunt
I guess my biggest concern is how much life the engine would have left in it with 185k.
She tells me the oil was changed by the dealer every 5k and she had every service done ahead of schedule. I know the dealer she had the car serviced at and they are famous for over servicing their cars. The dealership is in a fairly well to do area and their clientel tend to be "fix it no matter what the cost kind of people"
I need this car to go 20k a year for the next 4 yrs. Realistic? It would have close to 300k when I would ready to say goodbye.
- so rust seems to be the biggest issue
- then leaks
- check for trans fluid/filter changes
miles every winter,that would be a big year all year.Deal breaker unless it had far fewer miles to push it to 300k would need a lot of replacements and money.Pass, and buy a lower mile one,in the short term and def in the long term a much better deal.............
The problem is the high mileage. At that mileage, a lot of components are worn. If you replace them, the car can go on for a long time. However, many components on that car are VERY expensive. A few are more than the purchase price. Here are some approximate prices for some of the components:
transmission - $6k (the 4Matic tranny is more expensive)
transfer case - $4k (many will leak after 100k miles)
front axle/CV - $2.5k
cats - a couple k
.
.
.
on the prices above but you get the point.Trans is the same but 2500 rebuilt the tcase that comes off the end if bad is the pricey part,whole pipes and cats are pricey but you can get oem universal obd2 approved cats for 50 bucks and splice them in.
Shop around for fewer miles or get that 00 subaru.......
ohlord
buy low miles, do your own maintenance,or have deep pockets.If you are not willing to do 2 out of the 3 items you should not consider a benz
Why even ask?? All you can lose is $5500.00. Any major repair will most likely cost more than you paid for the car so buy it drive it till it can't be driven and scrap it.
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