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  #31  
Old 11-25-2003, 10:56 AM
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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Tom, thanks for the advice...I mistyped...the mileage of this car is is around 42,000. The car was completely repainted and carfax shows accident but no evidence of it anywhere. The asking price is $25.5k but I'm confident it can be had for less. It looks to be in great shape but certainly worried about the history.

The other 500Es I've seen have 80,000+ miles, and the good ones are priced in the upper 20s, some in the lower 30s.

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  #32  
Old 11-25-2003, 12:51 PM
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If it has a pedigree, it will be expensive

Rich, I bought my car in Sept 2000 for $48,500. with 26,700 on the clock from the original owner and with a full service record. The car now has 39K on the clock and other than scheduled maintainence (every 3K mi or 6 months whichever comes first)has only cost me 1500 to replace the TA which is a common problem with these cars.

I know of many folks who paid less to acquire the same vehicle not so fastidiously maintained and spent a small fortune getting the car back up to factory spec. If you go on Autotrader right now and punch in just the 94 E500 your zip and all locations, 6 will pop up. The 040 black one just up the road from you in Bryn Mawr PA is the most expensive at 38K asking(If kept pristine, it will hold that value as well as your 560sl) to the least expensive at somewhere in the teens.(that one could cost you 10-20K over a 3-4 year range to return to factory spec)

EXAMPLE you can understand: I paid $41K in '94 for a 1989 SL with 5700 on the clock owned by the oil dealer for all the hi line cars in the gr8ter Boston area. It cost nothing other than scheduled maintainence and I sold it in 2000 for $25000 with 44K on the clock. That was six years for 16K. I know the 560SL was/is an exceptional value and I am pretty sure the E500 is and will continue to be. (I have a couple of folks pestering me to sell in the low 40ies to them and one of them is the original owner)
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  #33  
Old 11-25-2003, 01:04 PM
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1995 E320 (Wagon) R-134a. In New Hampshire, drive it all over, temps can hit 100, usually in the 80's and 90's. A/C is as cold as anything else I have, no problem in traffic or anything. Works great. Definitely a 500e is a far better car, and in my opinoin, is better looking too. I just bought my MB in September of this year, and was fortunant to get a killer deal for a car in near perfect condition with 35k original miles.
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  #34  
Old 11-25-2003, 01:20 PM
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Thank you. I agree on the need for due diligence and fact that better maintained cars should command a premium. I'm having a hard time making the jump from my 560SL because of how reliable it's been...never once left me stranded. But, I want something with four real seats and a 0-60 in the 6s.
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  #35  
Old 11-25-2003, 05:41 PM
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My Volvo 960 is for sale. I hate giving that car up, it's great. Almost bought a newer (2nd generation) Range Rover. Decided to stick with ol' reliable. Think about it, is it really worth it. I think the 500 E is a great car, but you need to weigh the advantages / disadvantages.
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  #36  
Old 11-25-2003, 06:00 PM
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...that damned 560sl could run another 20 years. If I don't get rid of it now, I'm going to be driving it a long, long, long time.
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  #37  
Old 11-25-2003, 07:44 PM
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If you choose the correct 500e you will inherit many many trouble free miles while not giving up anything from ole reliable SL ...

you will be ahead of the game with the correct 500e since it will provide you much more of a car and driving experience vs. the SL

as already mentioned, the key is to get a correct car (500e or any used candidate car for that matter), fully maintained if not more than factory recc'd schedule maintained...with wear and tear items correctly addressed at the time of failure/ issue,,,this will reduce the Pandora's Box syndrome and reduce the downside risk of unexpected repairs

wear and tear items are fully documented here and parts are readily available

hope this helps
-fad
'94 E500 (44.8k) Starmark!

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  #38  
Old 11-25-2003, 09:46 PM
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Thank you. I need to find a good 500E quickly. I have the money set aside and my wife already started buying new curtains. If I don't move quickly, my 500E is going to be turned into a new kitchen.
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  #39  
Old 11-26-2003, 12:28 AM
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Egads, man! You can't drive a kitchen! Doesn't she understand this?
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  #40  
Old 11-26-2003, 12:34 AM
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You'd better act fast, man!

We did a refi on the mortgage, and I sat on the money for a while.

Instead of getting a newer used car (or two), my wife ended up spending the money on new windows throughout the house, French doors opening up to the backyard, new paint throughout the whole interior of the house, new 6-panel interior doors, and custom baseboard moulding, too.

Learn from my mistakes....

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  #41  
Old 11-26-2003, 11:41 AM
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Just arranged for the buyer inspection at MB. I wish I could have it looked at by a body shop as well but not enough time...she's already done the living room curtains and now on to the dinning room.

Yes, this car has a problematic history, but it really looks excellent and the other 500E I found with low miles has been really altered.
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  #42  
Old 11-26-2003, 12:54 PM
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Location: Milton MA
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Wink You know what PT Barnum said

At least have the MB shop put it up on the lift and check the frame and chassis. If the bodywork is so good that you can not tell where it was damaged, maybe it was done by an "artist"

Last edited by TomE500; 12-04-2003 at 10:54 AM.
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  #43  
Old 11-26-2003, 02:24 PM
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Thank you for the advice. I've told them to do so and I am the one paying for the inspection, which they advised is absolutely the right way to do it (vs. letting seller arrange). As you said, there are other good 500Es out there and I've contacted another buyer who has one priced a lot higher, more miles, but seems to be well cared for.

In any case, my wife's home remodeling is going to do more damage than any car wreck.
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  #44  
Old 12-04-2003, 10:45 AM
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brief update...I came damned close to getting a 1999 porsche 911 instead and my wife was not at all happy...excellent strategy because now she is begging me to get a sedan. inspection got put off on the 500E until tomorrow morning.
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  #45  
Old 12-04-2003, 10:55 AM
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Greetings Richard1- not sure if these have been mentioned before however- if these are not part of your PPI, I'd suggest having these items closely reviewed:

-rear main seal (for leak)

-transmission tunnel insulation blanket (known to come loose and can wrap itself around propellor shaft) there is update part ~$60 retail part cost- - however the labor is big $ - - trans must be dropped for the r/r

-rear SLS components: if the rear ride has no give- like there is no suspension- - typically failed nitrogen spheres are the cause

-a/c evaporator (leak)

-air pump (noisy bearing)

-power steering pump/ hoses

hope this helps
-fad
'94 E500 (44.9k)

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