,,,And I have a few questions please. It's a 97 with just over a 100k and it has a few issues. It will be an as is purchase and just want to be sure I ain't getting in over my head. They will let me have it for 12,500 seems to be very clean, non-smoker no dings at all.

#1 The driver message center is telling me to check the engine, also have the little check engine light lit. It starts good, drives good.

#2 One of the rear windows won't roll down, probably an easy enough fix, right?

#3 Should I bother with doing a self diagnostic on the a/c? It would tell me quite a bit wouldn't it?

Any other things that are peculiar to the E class that I should look out for? Hooror stories mainly like bad wiring harnesses and leaking evaporators mainly. I am for the most part a 126 chassis kinda guy (126nut) and have no experience with this body. I do know the engine a bit, I have worked on a S500 with the M119 engine? and it is quite similar to the 4.2, correct?

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Chas

Had a 380SL, 450SL, 380SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL

Got a Euro 500SEC right now.

A pre-purchase inspection will tell a lot.

Have the check engine problem checked!! Catayltic converters can run $2000!

Window problem could run $150-200.

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Try and learn the maintenance history, it will tell alot. If it was neglected as in its current state it would be a cautionary sign. If you view records it may also answer some of your questions as to what's been replaced. A careing previous owner is what I would shop for.

An inspection would a comforting move. It also may help with negotiations.

Hope it works out.

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Delsman
92' 400E, 107k
BMW 535i, 165k

I'm not sure $12.5k is a good price at all.

A quick search on autotrader.com shows a ton of cars priced at $13,995 and below, some with less than 100,000 miles.

I even find a few high mileage cars advertised for less than $10K.

Plus, buying a car with a check engine light when you don't know what's wrong is simply lunacy.

This chassis has no hidden problems, like engine wiring harness problems, bad head gaskets, or leaking a/c evaporators.

Same M119 engine as W140 S500.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Thanks to all,

And especially to Paul who has tagged me right, I think I may be a lunatic. I have agreed upon a price but have not paid as of yet, looks as if I will pay and take delivery on Monday,, so I may have time to get my brain into order.

I got the price down a bit, for the most part being that the radiator sprung a leak on the way back from my most recent test drive. I got them down enough to pay for a new one, figured it was probably gonna need one sooner or later. It is just such a sexy car, really scoots with that 4.2 DOHC V8 under the hood and drives so tight, hard to say no.

I just need a bit more help on the only problem that seems to continually nag on my feeble brain,,, The message center says something about "engine electronics", do ya think that helps to narrow the cause down just a tiny bit?? When the radiator started spewing, from the upper hose connection, the message center went to "low coolant level" in short order. I was wondering if it perhaps was low on coolant from the get-go maybe that was causing the driver message center to give the "engine electronics" alert?

Thanks in advance,

126nut, maybe soon to be "210nut"??

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Chas

Had a 380SL, 450SL, 380SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL

Got a Euro 500SEC right now.

Chas, call the seller and insist that he allow you to get a pre-purchase inspection done by a certified MB technician or the deal is off. Otherwise you're gambling on what repairs are required. Anyone who is selling a car with the Check Engine light on has probably not maintained the car properly.

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Fred Hoelzle

And he probably already knows what the problem is and what it will cost to fix, hence he is selling. At least he didn't just reset the light prior to you arriving like most 'B' lots do. A test drive is never long enough to bring a hard code back in, it seems.

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'96 C280 (gone)
'97 C36
'05 C230k

I would not buy that car without a PPI done by a dealer. Unless you could get it for under $10k. The owner knows what the check engine light is, if it was a cheap simple fix he would have done so.

The early W210's had problems with the spring perch's snapping off. Inspect the joint for rust coming through the undercoating. If you see any don't drive the car!!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks to all,

I have decided to pass on this car.

It also had a few other problems, a slight shimmy in the front end at highway speed, a cracked dashboard, weird tinted driver side mirror which was amber in color and blurred, only one remote key set which was broken at that, missing the tool kit for changing tires, and was also missing the CD cartridge in the trunk and no owners manual. Oh yeah, and it needed a radiator....

What was I thinking?? Figure I might just drop another five grand or so and get a E430.

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Chas

Had a 380SL, 450SL, 380SEL, 420SEL, 500SEL

Got a Euro 500SEC right now.