[ColoE320]

I (we) need to decide which car to keep and which to sell:

My wife drives a 2004 E320 RWD that she got from her mom about 6 years ago. It has about 55k miles on it. I have done most of the work on it. It is in very good condition. The SBC has not been repaired or replaced but shows no signs of trouble. Online valuation shows this car to be worth between $8,500 - $11,000.

He mom died about a year ago & she inherited a 2009 E350 4matic with about 11k miles. This car also is virtually new except that it had been T-Boned on the right side and repaired to the tune of $16k. We took the car to a local independent shop for an oil change and to look to see if they could determine if the repair was done correctly (based on external viewing only). They did not find anything wrong with the car and it drives just fine. Online valuation of this car is between $18,000 - $24,000 (depending on how one discounts the damage & repair).

Which one would you keep & sell?

 

[ZeroGee]

You didn't mention where you lived, but that can be significant. For example, here in NW Arkansas we found it wiser to have one '05 E320 and one ML or GL with AWD. We get snow and ice here in the hills and this occasionally calls for AWD.

Apart from that issue, the '09 has fewer miles (but not significantly fewer), appears to have been properly repaired, and is the same basic size and comfort level. While the SBC and fuel tank / pump issues still face the '04, those aren't an issue on the '09. However, I believe the 350 engine faces the crank sensor and balance shaft issue that the 320 doesn't, but these are less expensive than the SBC and fuel tank / pump.

I love our '05 E-320, but in your situation I'd probably sell the '04 and keep the '09.

 

[ColoE320]

We live near Denver. We can get quite a bit of snow around here. I have never owned an AWD vehicle (FWD & RWD only). I go skiing up into the Rockies many times each winter. I have good winter tires (Bridgestone Blizzaks) on all of our cars. If I get stuck, its because I'm stuck in traffic - not because of the road conditions. The 4Matic might be nice but I would still put winter tires on it.

I have replaced the crank position sensor on the 2004.

 

[Noodles]

By 09 the balance shaft issue was fixed. No worries there.

Also the COMAND on the 09 is a better unit than the previous years of the W211.

I would keep the 09.

 

[boardboy330]

Personally I would sell the 2009 and roll that money into another vehicle to drive if you need one. The E320 is a solid vehicle and should run for many more miles. Accidents can bring out problems later down the road.

I bought an ML a while ago. It was in an accident but it was never reported on Carfax. I could tell because of overspray. I didn't care and still don't. About 2 years in, the paint flaked off the bumper. The repair shop didn't sand the gel coat and prime. They just opened the bumper and sprayed. It was "fixed correctly" according to how you can paint a bumper - but it wasn't done right.

 

[Kajtek1]

Judging by industry standards that deduct 40% for salvage title, looks to me that both cars will sale for about the same.
In such case I would keep 2009, but frankly I am advertising 2 cars for several months. even I want to sell 1 of them.
The 1998 E300 turbodiesel with 265k miles and 2004 E320 wagon 4M with 150k miles.
None of them got offer I would accept, but at least diesel did get some tire kickers, while nobody inquires about more expensive wagon.
Put both of them on CL and see which one gets first offer.

 

[ColoE320]

I talked to a buddy who ran a body shop for a long time. He says that there is a raging debate about how to discount for major damage reported to Carfax. He contends that with modern repair techniques, correctly repaired cars are "as new". While this is not always true, the bigger concern is for repairs not reported to Carfax. Often owners would write a check for a $10k repair and the eventual buyer is unaware.

Also, depending on the type of repair, the car is likely to be as it is for the rest of its life.

Since our independent shop was not able to see any evidence of the repair I'm leaning toward keeping the newer car. I don't want to be faced with expensive repairs (SBC) on a car worth less than $10k.

 

[Kajtek1]

There is no raging debate with insurance adjusters about 40% deduction for salvage.
I know that very often it is unfair, but they are the ones who drive the market.
I think you'd be happy with both cars like I am with mine, but newer looks sure are tempting.

 

[ColoE320]

This was a repair - not a salvage title.

 

[Kajtek1]

That change the situation a bit, but I wonder how $16k repair on $20k car did not make the salvage?

 

[ColoE320]

I think when the repair was done (about 20 months ago) the car was worth over $35k.

 

[Noodles]

It is still hard to find a very low mileage 2009 for under $20k. I have looked. I am not a big fan of the W212 styling and want another 4matic W211.

 

[Kajtek1]

I think when the repair was done (about 20 months ago) the car was worth over $35k.

Since it is not salvage, that should bring you higher resale price, so you might have financial benefit to sell newer car.
As you can see above not everybody thinks newer is better.
If you can't make firmly your mind >>>> flip a coin.

 

[Darkmann]

Why wouldn't you keep the E350?

 

[ColoE320]

I washed the newer car this weekend an looked it over very carefully. It is in near-new condition (cosmetically). I looked over the right pillar (where the brunt of the accident force was taken) and the pillar looks as new.

I'm now more inclined to keep the newer one. A neighbor has been bugging me for some time to sell him the older one. However, ultimately, this is my wife's decision.

 

[ColoE320]

In general is the 4Matic pretty trouble free?

 

[Kajtek1]

4M of this generation is trouble free if you keep eye on front boots.
Factory boots last about 10 years, but they can be torn by road debris.
Once you overlook damaged boot, the dirt will take the joint and those are pretty expensive.

 

[ColoE320]

Another concern about the 2009 E350: Ever since the accident, when rolling up the driver's window (the car was hit on the passenger side), the window will go to the top & then retract about 1/2". I don't know if the other windows behave this way.

The motion almost seems deliberate. Is this something wrong? Can it be easily fixed?

 

[CLASSW202]

Another concern about the 2009 E350: Ever since the accident, when rolling up the driver's window (the car was hit on the passenger side), the window will go to the top & then retract about 1/2". I don't know if the other windows behave this way.

The motion almost seems deliberate. Is this something wrong? Can it be easily fixed?

I would try to reset your windows. turn the key to the on position, bring down the windows all the way then bring them back up and hold the buttons for about 10 seconds, that should fix that issue.

my 03 e500 used to do that every once in a while, that's what I did and it worked.

 

[ColoE320]

Thanks for the tip on the windows. I figured there was some way to reset them but I didn't want to pay the stealer to do it.