Very nice ride. I have an Ice Blue 94 e320 Wagon. It's a shame you're getting ragged, but it is your "asking price". if it hasn't already, a 95 with a 130k, is going to need front A arms, and a lot of suspension bushings.

I understand your desire for more air bags, but the only thing that's going to give you more space, is a van [I've done the research because I need the space]. And a van won't handle anything like the Benz wagon.

NOTE Some CD players can be removed from their [in plain sight = steel me] containers and slid into the holder for the first aid kit inside the right storage area.

FYI

These were standard:
=> passenger airbag
=> traction control (ASR)
=> third row seats
=> premium wheels

These were options:
=> heated front seats
=> multi-CD player

Not sure about these as options, but I doubt a MB dealer would sell a wagon without them.
=> cargo net / divider and cover
=> roof bar

Thank you Bob for the (too rare, at least in this thread) reasonable reply. And thanks for the clarifications on the options, and tip for the CD player. My wife is from Bethlehem, PA: I hear you have a very good MB indie in the area?

Do you know how much it is to replace the "front A arms" (I understand that on the W124 you cannot just replace the ball joints?) and all those suspension bushings? Although so far the ride is still as it's supposed to be: precise yet smooth.

There is no doubt that vans are more practical, but I've read of safety concerns with the sliding doors in rollovers: they apparently tend to pop open. Reason for which I understand that the NHTSA is considering requiring new designs with more than just the current two attachment points.

By space we in particular mean a 3rd row of seats, facing forward. And since safety is our main concern (which excludes current vans), it will probably be an MB GL or R, or Volvo XC90. But for some reason MB does not advertise their historical, and hopefully still current, focus on safety (unlike Volvo):
* if they analyze real-life accidents, it does not show up in Google (or other) web searches;
* if they reproduce those real-life accidents in ad hoc safety centers, it is not apparent either;
* and their IIHS results are underwhelming, with e.g. the R (and E) getting only Acceptables for side impacts.

As for my asking price, this is how I "rationalize" it (FWIW):

I bought my first MB, a 1991 300SE (which I still have) from an MB dealership. It was supposed, and seemed, to be in excellent condition, so I accepted to pay KBB’s Suggested Retail Value. Unfortunately, I soon realized that there had been significant “deferred maintenance” on the car, requiring notably to overhaul the transmission, replace the differential, etc.

I bought this 1995 E320 Wagon from an MB specialist. It was supposed, and seemed, to be in excellent condition as well, so I accepted to pay KBB’s Suggested Retail Value again. Unfortunately, I had once more soon thereafter to address the significant “deferred maintenance”.

But this 1995 E320 has now no “deferred maintenance” that I am aware of, to this very day. And again I am not talking merely about the “official” MB maintenance, but also about the additional maintenance recommended by The Star (and in particular George Murphy), including replacing the timing chain, the rear suspension fluid, etc.

So, although I cannot guarantee that nothing will break (anything can break, even on a new car), the absence of any “deferred maintenance” should minimize the buyer's risk and cost. And as a result, and from my own experience above (as well as testimonies on this and other MB forums), this car is in much better shape than the typical “excellent” Retail car. So I have taken the current “excellent” Suggested Retail Value, i.e. approximately $8000, and have added a portion of what I have typically had to add to compensate for the typical “deferred maintenance”. And, even at this seemingly ambitious asking price, I will absorb the other, bigger portion. Which the buyer on the other hand will not have to incur.

If the buyer is interested, I can also try to put him / her in touch with the gentleman (a truly honest and competent mechanic, who also has good reviews on Car Talk’s web site) who has been servicing this car since I bought it. He should be able to convey how meticulously (although not superfluously), and unusually, this car has been serviced: on schedule, using only MB / OEM parts and fluids, MB- or The Star-recommended lubricants, etc.

__________________
1991 W126 300SE (M103)
1995 W124 E320 Wagon (M104)

So let me get this straight... you want the buyer to pay for the approx $3,000 worth of extra maintenance you incurred (deferred or beyond)??

I agree your car seems to be very nice, but the bottom line is that it's still a '95 model with 130K+ miles... and $11,000 is quite steep. Even 8K is pushing it, but you'll likely get more traffic if at most you asked 8K obo. Good luck again.

__________________
My Mercedes-Benz Homepage and W123 Owners Photo Gallery and W111/W112 Coupes & Convs Gallery
2005 Northeast GTG and 2005 Mid-Atlantic GTG and Summer '09 Central FL GTG on YouTube

One lower A arm cost me about $650 to R&R. 94 & 95 Wagons require arm to be replaced. For whatever MB's divine reason the bushings cannot be R&Red.

Hold onto the car till spring. White body with grey interior is ideal summer color combo. You live very close to the river. Boaters like wagons because of the large amounts of stuff they often take for their boating trips. I suggest you advertise in publications serving the boaters in your area. Fill your wagon with 3rd seat down then both 3rd and 2nd seats down and show piks of all the boxes that'll fit. Version [1] Young bikini beauties and gentlemen friends at dockside. [2] Family photo [mom, dad & 2 rats with all their gear. Been there, done that...

Regarding the safety issue. I prefer the better handling cars. If you don't get out of the way, the semi is going to eat your lunch, regardless of what you're driving.

After a few inadequate choices initially, I'm having Neil Danko of Star Service Center in Allentown do everything I can't do.

Next time you wife gets home sick, bring her along and she can "discuss" with mine, our MB "afflictions" while you and I share a few stories over beer & burgers.

Where's the stack of receipts?

__________________
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

For $11K I guess you really don't want to sell it, haha. I will swap you my 97 E420 Midnight Blue for it.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

i am very close to red bank and willing to buy your car but no way i am paying 8k if you wanna sell the car i can come look at it and make an offer

blk90s13@yahoo.com

Umm... He's asking $11,000 for it.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

still ? even tho he said KKB is $8000 haha

oh well i tried why dont you sell me one of yours then

Bob Weir:
---------

Thanks for the potential A-arm repair cost info. So I guess I could consider reducing the asking price by $2000... And wait until spring, thanks for the tip(s). And spring sounds like a better selling time for other reasons as well. And it's not like I am in a rush to sell a car that I am thoroughly enjoying driving...

Regarding the safety issue, the problem is that you can't always get out of the way (waiting at a red light, stuck in traffic, etc).

thebenzbar:
-----------

Rather, I am offering the buyer to pay a little more than for the typical "excellent" car, to not have to pay a lot more for the also typical "deferred maintenance".

MBeige:
-------

I have:
-> all the maintenance receipts from 80K to 130K;
-> all the transaction paperwork:
-->> proving that I bought the car at 80K from an MB specialist,
-->> showing all the work he performed (wiring harness, head gasket and radiator):

How much detail / how many pictures do you want?

edge:
-----

I am afraid that a 97 E420 won't satisfy our need for more space / seats (or airbags) ;-) And, indeed, I need to sell the E320 more than I want to...

__________________
1991 W126 300SE (M103)
1995 W124 E320 Wagon (M104)

Five months ago I bought a Very clean 95 E320 Wagon that belonged to a Service adviser at a MB dealership in California.

It has 130k miles but everything you could think of had been done as he got the parts at wholesale and free labor from the dealer.

I paid a whopping $5k.

At $8k you are going to have a REALLY hard time selling, and at $11k you might as well start a Museum.....

A knowledgeable buyer will want to know if the throttle actuator and ac evaporator have been replaced. Nice looking car by the way.

J. M. van Swaay

wanna make some quick cash on yours ? haha

A vehicle is not worth what YOU think it is worth, it is worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.

Good luck with the sale - it looks like a nice car but for $11K the buyer should get two nice wagons, not one.

I thought I should let you know I that just bought a 1995 E320 wagon. Yours was pretty hard to pass up, I must say, but after hours of extensive consideration, I reluctantly went for this one in KC.

It has 150k on it, good maintenance records, new wiring harness, and a new exhaust from the cats back. Runs and drives perfectly. It has a slight head gasket leak that is being addressed next week for $1100 and worn rear brake pads. No other pertinent issues other than a burned out 3rd brake light bulb.

It seems to be in as good of shape as yours. Interior close to perfect, paint is very nice, etc...











Oh, and I only paid $2500 for it... Meaning I will have a very nice car with most of the maintenance you've done for under 4k, even a bit more if you count the exhaust. Plus, its in a more moderate climate, seeing much less road salt.

Dealing with all this deferred maintenance sure is frustrating. Sometimes I lay awake at night thinking how much easier my life would be if I just paid $9,000 more for yours. Oh well, regrets are a part of life, I guess. Do you think I made a horrible mistake?

How's the sale going, by the way?

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!