Those engines have over 300k life expectancy.
You are not telling the price, but if the car with 210k is clean, compression test pass and sells for less than $4000 you can have heck of the deal for next few years.
Obviously there is a risk factor on both cars and nothing is being warranted, than again if you get another couple of years from cheap car and sell it for parts when something major fails, you are ahead of the game already.
Good luck

 

last month... I saw a 2002 W210 wagon, white colored... price was 9500$ and it has 243K miles on it... lol

 

I'd pick either of the 210s over the 140, more niggling issues with the latter.

Sticky in the DIYs that lists many common issues so those are things to look at, too. Personally I'd find a 2WD unless you need the 4matic. When you check the records be sure they include transmission services.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

Hey everyone thanks for the replies, The prices are as follows:

1999 e320 4matic 107000 miles at the dealer is advertised for 8000

2000 E320 4matic 210000 miles private is asking 4600

since the 1999 is sold at a dealer, i dont think PPI is necessary but for the 2000 Should i invest in a PPI? Also, what is the compression test?

Also, i prefer 4matic because i do live somewhere where it often snows, not huge amounts, but a few storms over the winter.

 

since the 1999 is sold at a dealer, i dont think PPI is necessary but for the 2000 Should i invest in a PPI?

Yes you should. The dealer's job is to sell you the car, not to inform you of what is wrong with it. They likely know what is wrong with it, and will have fixed the bare minimum to make it legal to sell. The more they have to fix, the smaller their profit margin becomes.

If your PPI uncovers faults you can negotiate the repair of those faults into the purchase agreement, or you can negotiate the price of the car based on the faults uncovered. Or you can walk away from a car that has too many problems. It is better for you to have these options.

 

My 2000 MY mb is only below 120k miles. I hope you get the better one, but again there are still some more good ones out there.

 

BTW. Years ago I was buying a 1985 Mercedes 300tdt with 220k on it over 2000 miles away. I send the seller $150 for the compression test and even local mechanic robbed him for more than that, he paid it and the test come with flying colors. I didn't worry about checking the brake pads.
I drove the car for 3 years and it was one of the best performing models on the road. Sold it for more than I paid for.

 

You're in unknown territory here. There aren't many w210s out there with over 200k miles yet so I think it's hard to answer your question on that score. If you live in a place with only a "few storms" then you should be fine with a good set of (4) snow tires. Don't overlook the non 4matics.

 

good luck on your choice, I bought an october 99 e240 estate last year on ebay and paid just £1655 for it, about $2500 !!!! The car was local to me so I went and tried it before bidding on it.
It had about 233000miles on the clock but was one owner from new with full merc service history.
I have added about 5500miles since then as it is a second car to my 2003 XJ jag v8.
I have been really pleased with it as it really swallows the luggage, runs really well and looks great in silver as well.

 

WAIT!!! until you find something better. I think that for 8k you can find a good one with less than a 100k on it. Keep looking.
good luck from Puerto Rico, luis........

 

Lots of good points everyone, Thanks!

I think my plan of attack will probably skip the 2000 cause it has too many miles, contact the dealer regarding services preformed on the 1999 and continue my search.

One of my main reasons for considering the 2000 is safety. I hear that structural integrity was improved with the facelift. The pre 2000 crash tests dont look very good. =(

 

don't let the high miles scare you, these cars are used as taxes in europe and have 3-4 times more miles than the ones you are looking at and still drive pretty strong. if both the 1999 and 2000 have clean engine and smooth shifting transmission, then i wouldn't take the high miles into account because most likely you will spend equal amount of money on repair/maintainance on either one. since the 2000 is half the price of the 1999, than out of those 2 i would chose the 2000.
but if you are willing to pay more, for around $9-10k you should find really nice low miles 2001-2002 e320's with full records.

what year is the s320? 97-99 are the best years. personally i think the w140 is better built than the w210, and from my own experience less things break in w140. but parts are more expensive.

 

The S320 is a 1997.

 

what's the price of the s320? is it in really good shape? i think the s320 drives and feels a lot better than the e320, especially on the highway. fuel mileage is not that much different, only a couple mpg less in traffic and same on highway.

 

I think both are overpriced.
I just las year bought a 96 E-320 for $5500 with 130K. The book was about $7500, but this year the price has tanked. They can be picked up all day for $4000. Now I know I'm talking a 96, here but they are basically the same car (cept this has an inline 6).

I think this year is a buyers bonanza on most used cars. Take bluebook and subtract about 25- 35% and that is about what you can expect to pay if you shop hard and long enough.
Sorry guys... I just depreciated the value of your rides, but lets get real. Folks are giving things away with this economy.

Aardvark

 

I think both are overpriced.
I just las year bought a 96 E-320 for $5500 with 130K. The book was about $7500, but this year the price has tanked. They can be picked up all day for $4000. Now I know I'm talking a 96, here but they are basically the same car (cept this has an inline 6).
I think this year is a buyers bonanza on most used cars. Take bluebook and subtract about 25- 35% and that is about what you can expect to pay if you shop hard and long enough.
Sorry guys... I just depreciated the value of your rides, but lets get real. Folks are giving things away with this economy.
Aardvark

An excellent point. I paid 11k for my one owner 97 in early 2007 w/ 58k miles. Book was 14k. Its now worth...um what, 4k maybe?? ouch. Not limited to Benz...my wife's 2006 volvo was 22k last year, right now KBB is showing around 14k.
Lucky for you you get to buy(aka STEAL) a car right now with the deals that are out there. I would almost rather buy a clean one owner from the 65 year old man that just traded it in on a new 2009 than one that seeminly looks clean from the dealer. As another poster said, all the used car dealer does is wash it, rip out the floor mats, cupholder and anything else that looks worn, and put it on the lot. Certified MB is a differ story, but I would still buy it from a one owner that toook it in for regular service to the MB shop.

Also, Carfax is not a failproof. My wife's civic was in an accident and when I ran a carfax for our buyer the accident did not show up. oh well... :thumbsup:

 

i tempt to think the second is too high in mileage, while i'm normally against buying cars from dealers so the first one is out of my favors as well. i'd recommend to find a diesel with mileage even reaching 200kmi, which is still ok. the advantage of owning a diesel is beyond of my description, one thing you can be rest assured that in a long run, you'll be much more happier owning a diesel than a gasser...

 

Scary tough, that those few diesel owners on the forum are so strong diesel supporters that many people take their advise just like TV advertisement.
But what if people got smart and start buying diesels?
With limited supply the prices will skyrocket.
I still want to buy another cdi.

 

...
But what if people got smart and start buying diesels?
With limited supply the prices will skyrocket.
I still want to buy another cdi.

LOL... then all my diesel car values will get boosted...
CDI is the ultimate way to go, but you'd prepare for a bug bang...

 

Sorry, but i prefer petrol as of now, i would appreciate more torque and gas mileage but i still find petrol easier to deal with.

The W140 looks to be in decent condition, i have not done much research around it regarding service history etc. I will contact the seller who is private and local.

 

I'd go with the one from the dealer. Dealers usually (certainly not always) know what to look for in terms of problems. Also they most likely took care of any recall or service bulletin issues like harmonic balancers etc.

 

Dealers usually (certainly not always) know what to look for in terms of problems. Also they most likely took care of any recall or service bulletin issues like harmonic balancers etc.

probably not for an 10 year old car with high miles. dealer just clean the car inside out pretty good, vaccum, clean the engine compartment, shine the tires, and at most do an oil change. if tires are pretty old they might through a pair of better tires on. and that's about it. that car dealer is selling for 8000, probably someone traded it in for $4k.
if the car is 10+ years old, i don't see the need to buy it from dealer.
if it's a newer and certified car, than different story.

 

Keep shopping...

I'm not soliciting for Ebay, Auto Trader, etc., but I would keep exploring options. Just for grins, look at what you can get for under $10,000 at this Ebay link. ( It didn't sell, so it's probably still there ) It's not a W210, but you get the idea - 61k miles! You may need to copy & paste.

Mercedes-Benz : 500-Series:eBay Motors (item 250446546537 end time Jun-27-09 11:07:55 PDT)

If you're concerned about safety, God help the poor guy who hits this monster!
I bought my W210 E420 on Ebay for $7890, with 87k on it. It's close to showroom quality. Just know you'll always have to do a few hundred dollars in maintenance after you take delivery on most anything.

Air fare is dirt cheap right now, so if you have a an honest seller who can send you lots of pics, you could fly to the car and drive it home. I have a pal in Brownsville, TX who found a European 500SEL in San Diego on line with 65k miles on it, flew to the car and drove it home. It's FABOO! The dealers are marking old units up $1500 - $2000. Spend $100 on a 1 way ticket and get what you really want. But request service records and buy a CarFax subscription for $29. CarFax will show (reported) accidents and list most dealer serviced items.

Mark in FL

 

I'm not soliciting for Ebay, Auto Trader, etc., but I would keep exploring options. Just for grins, look at what you can get for under $10,000 at this Ebay link. ( It didn't sell, so it's probably still there ) It's not a W210, but you get the idea - 61k miles! You may need to copy & paste.

Mercedes-Benz : 500-Series:eBay Motors (item 250446546537 end time Jun-27-09 11:07:55 PDT)

Seems it sold fast on re listing.
This model of S, especially with the headlight wipers was always my dream car. Especially after Patric Swayze used it for a distraction punching knife thru the gas pedal to the floor.
Buying a car over internet is an art
Doing it several times I learned to "read the shades" on the photos and I always fly with cash in hand to finalize the transaction.
Maybe it is my luck, but I always drove home very satisfied.

 

Take it to a mechanic that works on MB and have a used car inspection done... on both cars if you are that interested. Good luck! Just took a 1400 mile trip last week in my 1998 E320. I'm now at 183,000+ miles. Rock solid.

 

I just saw your thread on the W140 forum and that's the best place to ask about the 1997 S320. But you and we are both lucky to have tirona here who owns both a W140 and a W210. In my mind, the 320 can't be enough engine to power that S-Class battleship. It must weigh close to 1000 more pounds than our W210s.

 

Hmm, a 560SEL? A friend of mine here had one and offered it to me for $3500! First he told me he had all the service records (sounded good) then he said he was having the roof painted by a local shop (sounded bad). I was waiting to have a look but the next thing I knew he said I didn't sound that interested and he sold it "and got what he wanted". Money is a bit tight right now, but I wanted to at least look at it and take it for a test drive.

 

but I wanted to at least look at it and test drive it.

I think you should thank him for what he did
Even I loved the style at the time, now the interior looks very outdated to me.
I sold W123 with that kind of clima control about 7 years ago and don't think I would like to go back.
Than I newer was a fan of black interiors, but this is personal.
Than again, with gasoline shooting for $5 do you really want to switch from your E320 to 12 mpg gas guzzler?

 

Carmax offered my friend $7500 for her 03 Towncar designer series, with 30K on the clock. They explained, they needed to get $11,000 on the auction block, so to give her more would be unprofitable for them. I'm not a Towncar fan, or I would be snapping that car up for $8000.
This is how bad it has gotten. Good if you are the buyer, and want a good deal.

I agree I would prefer to buy from a 1 owner with records.

Aardvark

 

1997 E320

I just bought my Black 1997 E320 with 103K miles. I paid $5000 including taxes license. I have had the car for a month and I love it. I did a carfax on it and it was serviced regularly. So far I have changed the oil to synthetic and added some Lucas hi mileage additive. I also put some Lucas high milage transmission additive. I am having the chassis lubed.

These cars have great paint, strong bodys and last for ever. If you shop around you will find a good deal like I did. I spent two weeks lookinf for this car and bought it the first day it hit Craigslist.

As far as cosmetics I have switched out the old chrome grill with a new blacked out Sport Grill. I just ordered the new HID blacked out lights. I debadged the entire car. I am will be lowering it next and putting on some 19" AMG wheels with middle painted black to match. By the time I am done I will have $6500 into this vehicle and it will look completely different from any other 97 e320.

 

I just bought my Black 1997 E320 with 103K miles. I paid $5000 including taxes license. I have had the car for a month and I love it. I did a carfax on it and it was serviced regularly. So far I have changed the oil to synthetic and added some Lucas hi mileage additive. I also put some Lucas high milage transmission additive. I am having the chassis lubed.

Uhm, I hope I'm wrong in my understanding of your term "I am having the chassis lubed". If you mean your are having moving parts on the suspension, steering, etc lubricated with grease via grease-nipples, somebody is taking your for a MAJOR ride. Mercedes had not had a single lubricate-able point on the chassis for at least the last 20 years. :surrender:
You don't need any high mileage additives, especially NOT in the gearbox. When you install the replacement gearbox (probably in the near future), just use the recommended oil from the dealer. It will give much better service and last much longer without the additives.

 

94 E320 with 258k

Hello All,

I am considering purchasing this vehicle. The car is super clean and this will be the first mercedes I've ever owned.

Please advise?

 

You are in the wrong forum. This is the w210 forum and the car you are considering is a w124 chassis. Post in the w124 forum and you will get better advice.

Fred