Don't you think it's strange that even though the seller works at a mercedes dealership and has full service records, the car is in need of a tuneup?

It shouldn't need anything, sounds like he didn't take good care of it which is especially bad bcuz he works there and had a better opportunity to take care of it than a regular owner.

I think you should look around some more before buying it.

He claimed that oil changes were done on time. Oil looked clean on the dipstick. I guess a topsider was used all the time.

The transmission fluid and brake fluid concerned me though. Maybe I'm just too picky about maintenance.

The interior is like new that I must admit.

This is one of the more affordable high mileage 500E that I've found. The others are north of $25k.

The 1992 500E was the nicest most immaculate used car I've ever seen. Not a spot in the interior, exterior, nothing. Not a speck of oil or oxidation around the engine and all the factory waxing around the engine was still there. I'm just not sure if it's worth the asking price $29k. The car was put on E-Bay and reached $26k but was not sold until now....

Definately look around, and buy one from down south or out west, that is one thing you don't want is rust. Mechanical things you can replace, but once rust starts getting on body panels, in crevises, etc, it's hard to stop it all.

Holson,

If it was me I would would be careful with the decision to buy the car. What really worries me is the fact that the fluids were old and dirty, which is a sure sign of neglect. This can get costly if your not careful. If the seller works for the dealership ask him if he can sell it through the dealership and offer a warranty. Even if you spend a couple thousand more it's worth it.

The rust would worry me a bit too. These cars are coated at the factory with a special rustproofing, only a panel that's been repaired should have rust on it unless it was badly chipped and bare metal was showing for an extended period of time.

My advice, don't let your emotions get in the way.

Hello Adi,

You have to make a decision, do you want to buy the car for 19k and maybe you will have to spend extra money fixing it up, which can easily bring the price of the car back up to 25k.

I don't think you are being picky at all about the maintenance, transmission repair on that car is expensive, I think it's about 3k at least.

Did he show you his full service records, does he believe that doing oil changes is the only maintenance the car needs.

If you get this car I think you should budget 2k for a warranty(mandatory), timing chain replacements are recommended at 100k and that's $1500 unless you have bad luck and the chain goes early which is very expensive.

At the end of the day, it's your decision whether this car is the right one for you, since you are the one paying for it, personally the fact that he did not take proper care of the car would turn me off but the price of 19k is tempting but once I think of the price for a warranty, the cost of repairs that I might have to do on the car, I would easily walk away from it since I would be back at 25K.

When buying a car you also have to judge the seller, this guy is a manager at a mercedes dealership so his car should be in very good condition, it should have had a tuneup already, it should be well taken care of, it looks like he tried to slide by doing the cheapest, easiest thing to do---oil changes---which is not a very good sign.

Good luck

The service booklet shows nothing AT ALL. Looking at the fluids I do not believe that anything but the oil was changed regularly.

If he calls me and agrees on 19k then I think I might go for it as it is a very clean car overall. I would put some sort of aftermarket warranty on it though.

He claimed that before the car's Starmark expired he had many things replaced under warranty before they needed replacement.

The VMI shows things like Dist. rotors, caps, wires, engine mounts, wheel bearings, vibration damper, starter ring?, shocks, pumps, locking system repairs, window regulators, brake calipers, etc. Nothing major seemed to have been replaced.

I doubt that he'd sell the car at $19k until he gets desperate. He loves the car, I can see that.

I might call up on the 1992 again and see if he had lowered the price. Too bad it's not silver.. The dealer's owner is confident that it's an aamzing car and would put warranty on it (100,000mi.)

Once again thanks for all the suggestions..

I'm sorry for sounding like a total newbie. However the 500E is my dream car and I want to buy one that is not overpriced but also will deserve the treatment I will give to it (I'm anal when it comes to maintenance, cleanliness, etc.) The rust is a definite turn-off.

I think I'm letting my emotions interfere with my judgments. At first I did not want a MB with high miles and no warranty anymore... now I seem to have forgotten what I initially wanted.

I don't think you're doing too bad, cars can make you make decisions you vowed you would never make.

I stumbled across a 1994 e500 with 98k miles for $15K at an auction with the check engine light glowing and some kind of skip in the engine, no maintenance records at all, despite this I still wanted to buy it but luckily I couldn't, someone else bought it. Later on another poster on this forum told me the car had to go thru the auction twice more before finding another buyer bcuz of the condition it was in.

I love sellers who advertise full service books and when you get there show you oil service receipts, very funny but you know what they say never give a sucker an even break. :)

Anyway, I understand how you feel, it's tempting to get the car for 19k and save some money for now. The warranty would be a good idea even though aftermarket warranties don't always cover everything but I guess it's better than nothing.

Holson,

Buying a dream car has to be one of the toughest decisions, it is soo easy to let your emosions take over. When I was searching for my car I came across the same situation you did and forum members helped steer me away.

I was very very close to purchasing a 92 500E with 78K on the clock that was supposedly in great condition. When I recieved 13 pages of VMI I wasn't so sure. Everyone here stated that the problems the car had were rare and should not have occurred unless the car was abused or a lemon. My emosions took over and I offered $23K (about 9 months ago), luckily he didn't take it. He was firm at $25K which was $4500.00 less than what he as asking!

I was soo depressed and thought I lost my only chance at owning a 500E. 1 month later I found the car I now own. The wait was worth it, I haven't had any problems, the car is in near mint condition and has had no accidents. Granted I paid top dollar but it in the end to get a good car and no headaches makes it worth it.

Personally I recommend buying through a dealer. They can supply a warranty, secure a loan and have the car detailed and ready to go. You'll pay a couple thousand more but in the end the purchase will be more enjoyable.

I know if I was to sell my top-condition car I would want a reasonable return on my investment of time and money over the years of talking care of the car. Getting a good price would validate my efforts and confirm the car's condition!

As a buyer, you want that top-condition car but are hoping for some "unusual" circumstances where the buyer will let it go for something less.

That would seem to be a rare set of circumstances. :confused:

I've observed that re: 500e/e500

you'll get what you pay for....

If you would like a car in the lower ranges....there's usually work required to return it top condition/ maintence

from prev posts....the 90k+ mileage M119's will need the timing chain rails, chain, oiler tubes (and perhaps monobelt and tensioner, alternator, front suspension refreshening, a/c work,etc.= in the neighborhood of $3k-$6k)

I've observed that re: 500e/e500

you'll most likely get what you pay for....

If you would like a car in the lower sales pricing ranges $19-$25k)....there's usually work required real soon to return it factory intended operating performance/ maintence

from prev posts....the 90k+ mileage M119's will need the timing chain rails, chain, oiler tubes (and perhaps monobelt and tensioner, alternator, front suspension refreshening, a/c work,etc.= in the neighborhood of $3k-$6k)

If you would like a fully maintained regular use vehicle seems like these 500e/e500 will price in the $25k-$35k range (depending on mileage/condition).....and mint garage queens will most probably range in the $35k-$45k ('92-'94)

best regards
-fad

SEEING SEEING
DOUBLE DOUBLE :p :p

Yikes! - - double deleted!

tks-fad

Prices
 

I was visiting family in Mpls, MN last week and noticed a '99 E500 in the local paper for sale. I think it had something like 29k miles, all records, one owner, dealer maintained -- $39k!

-fad and I have had this discussion in the past -- have prices bottomed out? The time to buy is now! Too bad I'm locked into grad school tuition for the next 4 yrs.. :rolleyes:

Hi Ted-

re: 500e/e500 prices bottoming out?

...imho (totally a layperson's perspective), the 500e/e500 may closely follow the US "special interest" vehicle market in general

>Category I: ultra low mileage (10-40k) pristine garage queens
...most likely prices have bottomed out or very very close to it (supply and demand theory notwithstanding)

>Category II: low mileage (40k-60k) pristine semi-garage queens
...most likely prices for this type of 500e/e500 vehicle will behave similar to Category I.

>Category III: Top condition/ fully maintained w/ mileage 70k-100k+
...most likely prices may continue to slightly dip (more closely follow passenger car depreciation and devaluation trends)

>Category IV-V: requires minor to major refreshening
...most likely prices will continue to drop

Anyone else have ideas?

-fad