Should I buy this car?

[lino]

I found a car for sale that I believe is imported from Japan. I haven't called the owner yet. These are pictures he took that a friend sent me. I have not seen the car in person.

Details:

1989 Mercedes Benz 300E
89,000 KMs = 55,302 miles
Automatic Transmission
Fully Loaded w/ Cloth Seats
Ground Effects Package
17" Alloy Wheels
Low Profile Tires




The seller has the car priced at $12,500 Canadian which is equal to $10,000 US dollars.

First question, do you guys think it's worth buying?
Second question, what do you guys think it's really worth?

I do realize that it's hard to judge by looking at a picture. I will post more info when I find out more.

Yup, looks Japanese alright! They copied that one to the tee!

[lino]

Originally Posted by BusyBenz

Yup, looks Japanese alright! They copied that one to the tee!

What do you mean it looks Japanese? What is so noticeable?
What do you mean they copied that one to a tee? Copied what?

Thanks

[rickjordan]

I would of thought a Benz that was made for the Japanese market would of been right hand drive.

[manny]

I would certainly want to know the COMPLETE history of the car.
$ 12 500.00 CDN seems like quite a bit for a 16 year old car, despite the low mileage.

[lino]

Originally Posted by rickjordan

I would of thought a Benz that was made for the Japanese market would of been right hand drive.

They are mostly right hand drive, but I have seen many cars come from there that are not. I'm not sure why though.

Here is an example. Take a look at the VIN plate:

http://www.splendidauto.com/viewcar.aspx?carID=8

[Rahulio1989300E]

Looks like it has a Remus exhaust... ($400 alone)
Al least replica wheels if not true AMG...... ($700 alone)
Sharp looking body kit (in my opinion)....... ($1000 I guess alone)
Euro Tail and Head lights........................($450 alone)
I think it has an upgraded audio system too... ($100 to ???????)

And USUALLY when someone buys these kind of accessories for their car, they take very good care of the car....

Originally Posted by lino

What do you mean it looks Japanese? What is so noticeable?
What do you mean they copied that one to a tee? Copied what?

Thanks

I was joking with you! You did say "imported from Japan" and the Japs have been copying MB's for many years!

[TX76513]

On the inside of the driver door jam it will say "MADE IN JAPAN"

[lino]

Originally Posted by BusyBenz

I was joking with you! You did say "imported from Japan" and the Japs have been copying MB's for many years!

Ok ... I got it now lol .

[lino]

I went to see the car myself yesterday. The owner wasn't there so I couldn't get any info. I did however take a few pics.

This is the 1st pic I took. The flash was on. I thought the car was supposed to be black, but it looks like a dark grey.


I took this pic right afterwards without the flash. It has a very nice front spoiler, Euro Bosch headlights and some other brand of clear corners.


No Sunroof


Tail lights may be aftermarket. The large door moldings and side skirts give the car a real clean look. The car also has repeaters in the front fenders.


It was very hard to take a picture of the interior from the light and the rain drops. The rear windows were so dark that I couldn't see anything at all.


The exhaust tips match the design of the car.


The chrome exhaust tips are rusted. This car must have been sitting for a long time. There is no other visible rust other than the muffler. I couldn't find one spot on the body. I saw a 1993 300e 2.8 right after this car and it had rust everywhere around the fenders and quarters and bumpers.


Another pic of the front/side. It was hard taking pics snce there was a car on either side of it.


These wheels did not look like originals. Tires are 215 45 zr17 The rotors are rusted from siting too long. The car was inspected in Canada on October 2004 from the tag I saw which means that the car may have been sitting ever since. The car car probably arrived here last September or Octber.