Are there any nice 300Es out there? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

OTTOBUN · #16 12-23-2006, 10:37 AM

no reserve! ends 2nite...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=018&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280062246050&rd=1,1

Michael K · #17 12-23-2006, 04:07 PM

I'm not a member and I can see the "Trading Post" on http://www.mbca.org/

Click "The Star Magazine" then "View Ads" then "Trading Post" then pick your months to view.

Good luck with your search. At this point I would stop kicking tires and focus on working smart and networking. You should be able to determine over the phone if they've got what you want. My personal opinion is that the vast majority of 124 cars being sold today are beat and, if I were you, I wouldn't waste my efforts on them. You're looking for the person who typically wouldn't sell a used car. The trick is weading out all the others. The typical snobby Mercedes owner is too preocupied to sell this time of year. If you take you time, you'll find a good one.

Flat Six, inc. · #18 12-23-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

I'm not a member and I can see the "Trading Post" on http://www.mbca.org/

Click "The Star Magazine" then "View Ads" then "Trading Post" then pick your months to view.

Good luck with your search. At this point I would stop kicking tires and focus on working smart and networking. You should be able to determine over the phone if they've got what you want. My personal opinion is that the vast majority of 124 cars being sold today are beat and, if I were you, I wouldn't waste my efforts on them. You're looking for the person who typically wouldn't sell a used car. The trick is weading out all the others. The typical snobby Mercedes owner is too preocupied to sell this time of year. If you take you time, you'll find a good one.

Thanks Michael.......those are exactly my thoughts. My only problem is it seems the REALLY nice cars are way more than high-retail blue book.......which is all the bank will loan. Unfortunately I don't have much cash.....just very good credit.....

Thanks,
Aaron

Michael K · #19 12-23-2006, 07:12 PM

You're going to get a great one, just wait for it. Like Mr. Paul said earlier, most of the asking prices are a bit optimistic. Two of our stable have come from private sales, and, in retrospect, I'm amazed how much personal chemistry between me and the sellers was part of the equations. Find the one you want, the one that meets all your milestone conditions, and then work out the price. I'll get heckled for saying this, but the seller you're after thinks of his car more as a living extension of himself than is normally considered healthy. More than selling price, he cares that the pet he no longer has room for is going to a good home.

suginami · #20 12-23-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

You're going to get a great one, just wait for it. Like Mr. Paul said earlier, most of the asking prices are a bit optimistic. Two of our stable have come from private sales, and, in retrospect, I'm amazed how much personal chemistry between me and the sellers was part of the equations. Find the one you want and then work it out. I'll get heckled for saying this, but the seller you're after thinks of his car more as a living extension of himself than is normally considered healthy. More than selling price, he cares that the pet he no longer has room for is going to a good home.

I agree about the private party sale.

I like to see how the owner keeps all his cars up...not just the one he's selling. If his other cars are kept in cosmetically poor condition, it's a good sign he's not too careful on keeping up with the maintenance, either.

I also like to see a full record of maintenance, and I require receipts. I'd like to take them at their word, but it's too much of a risk.

G-Benz · #21 12-24-2006, 09:04 AM

Asking prices are optimistic, because few are actually maintained well beyond 100-120K miles.

By this time, much wears out with these cars, and only deep-pocketed die-hards will go through the trouble of spending a few thousand replacing components on a vehicle worth just a bit more than that. And if said vehicle is involved in a collision, the insurance company will just total it anyway.

During this interval, the radiator, coolant pump, tensioner, A/C evaporator, wiring harness, head gasket, and possibly tranny issues may manifest...not to mention bushings, motor mounts, flex discs, and electrical oddities. This is enough to frustrate most owners to just drive them until they die...which these cars are durable enough to do so!

I've got a head gasket issue AND a flaring tranny, but I plan to keep the car and deal with the issues when money is available.

These cars are getting very long on the tooth, and you may have to settle for clean examples that just need some mechanical resurrection,,,

BENZ-LGB · #22 02-11-2007, 02:11 PM

Flat Six, did you ever find the 300E of your dreams?

Keep us updated.

EricSilver · #23 02-11-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Kerley

I'd personally stay away from 124 cars with the ASR "traction control" system.

Why?

kchemers · #24 02-11-2007, 08:32 PM

Found mine in the The Star magazine, 89 300TE just turned 100000 miles all service records only 2 owners everything including the AC works, flew down to Dallas and drove it home