Hey guys need feedback about this S320 For sale - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

HoustonM3 · #1 11-01-2006, 10:34 PM

Hey guys I am looking at this S320 to use as my daily driver , ( I drive about 100 miles per day) in Houston. I went to look at this car and besides the fact that it is dirty because of the weather here this is what I noticed.
Has a few dents and dings nothing major, the rear emblem is not in the correct spot , so I assume it has been repainted at some point. The carfax is clean. Inside besides some tears / cuts in the leather in a few places in the back and one place in the front the interior is clean. The fabric around the seatbelt ( A pillars? ) is coming apart on both sides. The driver vanity mirror has to be played with to get it to come on (This is common right?) Also the sliding shade for the sunroof is hard to open and close ( I noticed the fabric towards the rear of the shade ( When closed ) is coming apart. Here are the things I noticed that are wrong with the car.
The rear passenger window is not working. They are in the process of fixing it. When i turned the lights on the lights behind the spedo and tach ect. ect. did not light. They were not aware of this problem and they are going to have it fixed. I also noticed a slight shimmy in the steering at around 60 ( tire balance issue? I also think it needs to be aligned ). Also the car had not been driven in the past few days and when I drove it on hard acceleration when I first took it out the transmission seemed to skip ( Im not sure if it was because the car was cold ) . As I drove it this went away. What do you guys think of this car for the money? Im sure they will take $8,000 for it. Let me know

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-BENZ-S320-CLEAN-95K-MILES-LEATHR-ROOF-SAVE_W0QQitemZ170044745534QQihZ007QQcategoryZ6336QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hatterasguy · #2 11-02-2006, 10:59 AM

Needs some TLC thats for sure. You see a lot of W140's in that condition, I'd hold out for a better example.

page62 · #3 11-02-2006, 01:04 PM

The car sounds like it's had a very hard life. And you plan on driving it 100 miles a day? It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out this car will be a money pit.

graftdesign · #4 11-02-2006, 01:49 PM

I'm always leary of used small indie dealers. If they will take 8k for it I'm sure they bought it for 6.5k tops... which you could do on your own from a private owner.... or buy one in better condition for the money. The dealers obviously have to make a their money back and then some, so they clean 'em up at a detail shop for $200 bucks and sell them at a good margin.

Hatterasguy · #5 11-02-2006, 08:23 PM

From what I have seen of the market, and unless these cars tanked in value recently. For a nice S320 of that vintage you should be paying $12k-$18k.

So adjust your price range a bit!

I did run across a very nice 1993 300SE last year for $7,500. This was a good example because the evap core and head gasket had been done in the last year!

The cosmetics and maintaince were also excellent.

Having said that for $8k I think you are better off looking at W124's and W126's. You won't be shopping at the bottom of the market with those cars. $8k can get you into a nice 1995 E320.

HoustonM3 · #6 11-02-2006, 09:36 PM

The market here in Houston does not support those prices. These cars are going from 8-10K. The car has no mechanical issues and in no way appears to be driven hard. The only issues are purely cosmetic on the inside. The car has all the records, I most likely will pick it up this weekend. Will let you guys know down the road how it turns out.

Brian Carlton · #7 11-02-2006, 09:42 PM

It would be very hard to convince me that a vehicle that has dents and dings all over the body, tears and cuts in the leather, rear passenger window that is non-functional, no dash lights, shimmy in the steering, etc...........is a well cared for vehicle that has "no mechanical issues".

Sorry, but you've got the rose colored glasses on. This vehicle is going to burn you.........badly.

HoustonM3 · #8 11-02-2006, 09:54 PM

Well let me run through a few things first, I noticed 2 dents on the body and if you live in houston that is going to happen to even the most careful drivers. There is a seam that came loose in the drivers seat and one cut in the back seat ( maby another deep scratch ). Regulators in these cars go out its just what happens and the same goes for the fabric on the B pillars , the same thing happend to our 1990 560SEL that we purchased new. As for the dash lights it is just an issue that will be delt with and in my opinion has nothing to do with the car "having a hard life". The vibration in the steering wheel is due to the fact that the tires need to be balanced. Again a "Wear and tear issue".Its the mechanical issues that I am mainly interested in not "Wear and tear" items that are expected with any 9 year old car. Thank for the input though guys.

Ferdman · #9 11-03-2006, 05:18 AM

HoustonM3, have a PPI (pe-purchase inspection) done by a tech trained to work on MB automobiles and who is intimately familiar with the 140 cars. Then you'll know what immediate repairs this S320 needs and what repairs it's likely to need in the longterm. As Brian mentions, you want to avoid a "money pit" and this car has the symptoms from your description.

page62 · #10 11-03-2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoustonM3

The vibration in the steering wheel is due to the fact that the tires need to be balanced.

You've seen the car, and we haven't. So it's your call overall. Most folks tend to raise a red flag with regards to small, independent dealers who generally buy their cars at auction. But again, if you say you've got the car's service history, that's several steps beyond the norm and is a BIG plus.

One thing however, the shimmy can also be caused by worn ball joints. Just FYI...

Hatterasguy · #11 11-03-2006, 12:51 PM

Hope it works out:

376 S320's listed on autotrader.com. This is my kind of S320:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=209685175&dealer_id=72901&car_year=1998&search_type=both&num_records=25&keywordsfyc=&make=MB&transmission=&model=S320&distance=0&make2=&address=06460&advanced=&certified=&max_mileage=&max_price=&sort_type=priceDESC&min_price=&body_code=0&end_year=2007&keywordsrep=&color=&start_year=1981&drive=&engine=&srl_sort_type=priceDESC&fuel=&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=147

Gary Ganaway · #12 11-04-2006, 07:33 AM

I'll sell you my 85 380SE, w/105K, for $5500. No cuts ,cracks, stains on seats or dash. One tiny dent on drivers door. All service history since new, etc, etc.
Used as my daily driver--solid quiet and uses regular gas.

My daughter lives in The Woodlands and I'll drive it down. There is no way I would buy the W140 in condition you mentioned. My long history in buying cars is that cosmetic condition generally predicts over all care.

sixto · #13 11-04-2006, 04:12 PM

I got a 95 S420 with 125K miles in Houston. Minor scuffing in the driver bolster where the seat belt rubs, child seat impressions in both outboard rear seat positions, loose lining in the A- and B-pillars... I figure that's the way they wear. That car seems to be a little more worn for 95K miles but I suppose a heavy and/or careless driver will do that.

The W140 is one car where wheel shimmy could be mean more than a wheel balance or alignment problem. The heavy car is known to wear balljoints.

The transmission concerns me. When cold I expect delayed shifts. Nothing I'd describe as skipping.

I suppose you think more like me than the other respondents - why would you want a W126 if you can have a W140 for the same money? Condition be damned

I have a ton of respect for the W126 but a W140 suits me far better.

Sixto
93 300SD

snp8990 · #14 11-04-2006, 04:26 PM

The W140 is such a wonderful car,all I have to say is enjoy driving it and treat it with care.The badging doesnt have to mean it was repainted,maybe it was labeled as an S500 and someone changed it back to S320 and got lazy on the job.Our 1995 S320 is labeled S500 from the previous owner.
But,I also am selling my 1998 S500 with 108,000 miles and in perfect condition,4 year/unlimited mileage warranty,17'' S600 rims,Obsidian black over beige.Basically,its lived a good life,never ever neglected.

Tully Lee · #15 11-04-2006, 09:27 PM

I have had a 1995 S320 and currently have 1999 S420 with only 41,000 miles.

I can tell you this- they are very expensive to maintain. You better have a warranty. Buying a car without an inspection is death. Period. The S320 had a fan blower motor and control panel speed control go out $1800.00. That is just the start.

Also, a common head gasket problem was more $$$$. Be careful and buy
the best example you can. I bought the last year of the big body SClass two years ago with only 18,000 miles (S420). Only problem is that the values of
this cars have dropped fast and hard. At the time I paid $27,000 for the 1999two years ago which was top buck. However, would be lucky (and I mean real lucky) to get $15,000.

The market is small. People who like the W140 / S Classes can afford new ones. It leave a lot of secondary S Classes in the open market and they
just do not hold their value well. Compare a Lexus LS400 and S320/S420/S500 and see what holds its value better.

I have had my share of problems on the S420- wheel bearings, ball joints, window seal failure to name a few. I do not think I have ever driven the car with everything working 100%. But, the safety I feel driving the bank vault down the road makes it worth it. I think?

Hope this helps.

Tully Lee