Pre-Purchase Inspection Saves Me $$$$ - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

backstage1 · #16 11-04-2004, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roncallo

Well except for the cylinder heads leaking if they are cylinder heads and not valve cover gasket leaks, I would consider purchasing this car. You might want to haggle a little bit in light of these findings but these types of problems are what I typically expect in a used car.

John Roncallo

Thanks, John. The owner of that car was going to be a tough haggler. Mid 60's, self-made man, owns a huge construction company and is used to haggling with vendors on a daily basis. He's a lot like my old man and guys like this are bulldog negotiators whether it's a million dollar contract or a used lawn mower.

He'd rather keep it in his garage forever rather than lower his price by more than 10%.

The car I'm looking at tomorrow. A 98 with 130k with a slightly lower price range owned by an Anthropology professor. Soft-spoken, totally flexible, extremely polite. Whatever I wanted to do with the car was fine with him. Yet he's also taken it in regularly for service at Ben's.

If his car is better or even in similar condition, I'd much rather negotiate with a guy like this.

~Bill

Cal Ratcliff · #17 11-04-2004, 09:25 PM

The seller agreed to take it to the dealer, but I made all of the arrangements.

backstage1 · #18 11-04-2004, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal Ratcliff

The seller agreed to take it to the dealer, but I made all of the arrangements.

Thanks, Cal. I bet that was a great road trip back home.

~Bill

Eiknujrac · #19 11-04-2004, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backstage1

Yes, that's Ben, from Ben's Workshop.

German Auto Center has a black `89 560SEL with new tires the 16" wheels that come on the later S class. It's got 110k and they want $5200. It's got a rust spot on the back window. They said they've done a lot to it but couldn't tell me whether or not the timing chain had been done yet. It's had 5 owners according to the Carfax. I passed on it.

As everyone has made clear, the `88 I took into Ben's does not seem to be as bad as Ben made it out to be. I decided to follow his advice this time. The seller of that car would rather keep it than knock $2k off the price.

What struck me about this was whether or not you agree the car should be avoided, I don't think much of German Auto Center. According to them, the only problem the car had was the head gasket leak. They told me he brings it in all the time and has them fix everything. If his wife noticed a rattle, it went straight to the shop. Ok, who cares about the aim of the wiper fluid but all the belts are cracked, leaks everywhere, rotting exhaust and the shocks are gone all the way around. How'd they miss that?

I'd rather have Ben working on my car than German Auto Center. I can always pop on the forum to get a 2nd opinion before paying for anything expensive.

I'm checking out another one tomorrow and Ben already volunteered to go for a test drive with me and not charge me for it. Maybe I'll own an MB by this time tomorrow.

~Bill

I completely agree with you. I would take my car to Ben's much more readily than German Auto Center. I actually know the owner, Mitch, of German Auto Center. He bought it from another guy that I new. I actually bought a 1985 300D from the German Auto Center brand new in '85, but that was a different owner. Ever since they screwed me over on the Timing chain cover (long story) I have never gone back. It's kind of weird not going to the German Auto Center to get my car worked on, but I think I'll get over it.

I just love the Atmosphere of Ben's Workshop. You pull up, and every single car in the lot is a Benz. And that might not sound like a lot, but considering that at times there could be 30 or 40 cars, its a cool sight. I like the fact that Ben himself sits down with you to tell you whats wrong with your car.

Anyways, I'm glad you have a positive opinion about Ben's, because I think I have established that as my new mechanic.

backstage1 · #20 11-05-2004, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eiknujrac

I completely agree with you. I would take my car to Ben's much more readily than German Auto Center. I actually know the owner, Mitch, of German Auto Center. He bought it from another guy that I new. I actually bought a 1985 300D from the German Auto Center brand new in '85, but that was a different owner. Ever since they screwed me over on the Timing chain cover (long story) I have never gone back. It's kind of weird not going to the German Auto Center to get my car worked on, but I think I'll get over it.

I just love the Atmosphere of Ben's Workshop. You pull up, and every single car in the lot is a Benz. And that might not sound like a lot, but considering that at times there could be 30 or 40 cars, its a cool sight. I like the fact that Ben himself sits down with you to tell you whats wrong with your car.

Anyways, I'm glad you have a positive opinion about Ben's, because I think I have established that as my new mechanic.

Yeah, Mitch was constantly throwing out different labor estimates for various work and one of his mechanics, doing research on the computer, was constantly correcting him.

Just the fact that these guys were selling cars entered an element of conflict of interest into it. I'm talking about getting a PPI on a car and they're trying to sell me a different one.

Definitely think Ben's is the place to go to.

~Bill