Help
I am torn though
say its not really his to sell?

I hear the same noise inmy engine & worse
It might just be nothing
or they both are clunkers

It's the first I've seen & I have a few in $3000 range to check

The engine was so big cluttered
so many thngs in it
looks like a nightmare to work on
well compared to my empty Volvo compartment
simple lots of room

It went reverse foward ok
I just was able to drive foward & back in his driveway
seemed smooth
does have a gas type exhaust stink

I had him depress gas
I checked exhaust it was clean without smoke

gauges said oil pressure & temp was fine

Oil looked good

How much can you tell about an engine from oil pressure?
can heads still be worn?

One thing I didn;t like was rust on the hubs of the front parts that have the belts
the housing was rusted
very odd as the rest of the car was really clean

Ooooh
Help

it won't last long
Brown wasn't so bad
has the red fire extinguisher too

do you mean the wheels are ok
the smd?
or the car in general?

I think the $3K was todays deal & he can't get records
but do I take a chance?
I'd like to find a really clean one silver lower miles
I just can't trust what he says
seems like things don't match up

arrrghh

Thanks everyone


there was a womans name on the title
guess brown was ok

He admits he bought it from Cars4 cause
he has bill of sale
Arrrgh

I don't like him sating it was his father in laws

Suppose soemthing is not right w transfer?

He'll do $3K I can give him a dep tonight

He swears the info about the maintenance is correct
& the car was in one family from 87
so they donated

Now what?

only records found start 2001
at 196,000 miles & apparently the car was used less than 300 miles
from 2003 to now

It also failed emissions last 2 times
2003 failed then passed
2005 failed then passed day later

mileage was only 100 miles or so in 2 years
guess the car sat & it didn't pass
it did smell a bit
don;t know if it passed legally this time
I bet this guy knows where to go to get a certificate
LOL

well paid $15 for report
which bascially says the car is 6 years old
a glitch
the vin is an old vin


its on the car inmany places
So....
arrgh

current miles 196,293

last mileage check in 2005 was 196,126

so only 150 miles in last 2 years

Car hasn't seen much driving in past 4 or more years

could have hidden problems
but as he says I could resell it for what I paid

yikes

You have a decision to make that most of us with MB have had to make at some time. EIther pass it up and save more money or take the chance and not be angry later. I still think you could resell it while being honest about its past for $3000 as is. I dont think the guy is being honest, but I doubt he is really hiding anything, I have yet to meet an honest car salesman and he sounds like he wants to make a buck. Offer him $2800 cash, tell him it will need a tune up and new hoses to be sure it is highway safe and you will need the money to do it. If he wont take the $2800 walk away and feel good about it, if he does, buy it and feel good about it. Either way, buying older cars is always a trial by fire. Good luck, it looks nice in the photos and everyone loves the EUor car over the US version. The wheels are a great touch and dont worry about what size they are, 14,15 or 16 inch work well on the SEC cars and wont hurt anything. A good paint job in Brown aint so bad...

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Classic case of a curbstoner if you ask me.

http://www.consumerhelpweb.com/auto/acurbston.htm

A few years ago I assisted a lady from Chicago who bought a Mercedes '80 Diesel 300SD off an ebay auction where the car was near the San Francisco airport which was not far from where I lived.

The car had been donated to a Jewish charity, who put it up on the ebay auction.

The California title was signed off on the front by the original owner, whose name matched the name on the original title.

The Jewish charity was registered as a California dealer, to be legal.

On the reverse side of the title the "Dealer Transactions Only" part that said "sold through auction" would have been filled out by the charity, which would have filled out it's name, address, date of auction, and signed by an authorised selling agent of the auction, the correct mileage, releasing its interest in the car, which is given to the purchaser.

In this case, the auction buyer obviously bought it cheap at the auction, maybe for $1500, who knows, and wants to resell it for a quick profit.

So, without seeing the title myself, my guess is that so long as the title you saw had the ORIGINAL owner's name on the title, and the signature on the front of it matched the owner's name, and the signature on the back was that of the cause4cars auction was correctly filled out, in the right place, the chain of title probably wasn't broken.

It could be that the auction buyer, the curbstoner, had the car smogged on07/09/07 and hoped to resell the car for a profit right away without registering it in his name. The smog certificate is valid for 90 days so he is covered there.

There needs to be a "Bill of Sale" though (in this case). The caus4cars place would have provided one, to the curbstoner (now your seller) and if you saw it you would know how much he got it for at the auction. Probably LOTS less than $3000.00!!!!

YOU would need a bill of sale too! Unless the cause4cars place left the buyers name blank on the bill of sale to the curbstoner, you would need one from the curbstoner.

Complicated, hunh?

The other part of the story doesn't ring true to me though. If the car was originally his father in law's car why then how come it was donated to charity (for a tax deduction) then he got it as a buyer, and a month later is selling it?

The father in law could have given the curbstoner a power of attorney to sell the car directly (to you or other) and cut out the charity entirely. Either the FIL could have gotten the $3,000 for himself or wanted a tax deduction for himself rather than the cash money. Who knows?

I don't much like the idea of going for a test drive at night so the car with no licence plates can't be seen but maybe that is just me.

The license plates gone could have been personalized plates (look on the title to see) but I wouldn't like it if they were were regular ones and just gone. I would get a bit suspicious...

Some of those auctions cars are real junkers, on their last legs; the one I helped the lady get wasn't, but it was cheap, and it did have its share of problems to be sure.

Did you get the license number off the pink slip (title)? What was it?


He will take $3K for it
I has a brown painted front bumper
nice looking car

Engine took a few times to start second time
it idled fine
oil pressure & temp was fine
idles at about 900 & with AC on it dropped to what 600 700 which is what someone quoted was normal

tires are 55 profile 16 inch
can't remember the first number
could have been
255/55/16

the wheel have SMD on them if I recall

body is clean of rust
rubber gaskets around door jam are starting to harden & crack.

All in all I guess for someone who doen't mind sinking money into it
its a good start point at $3k
but I am concerned about title & the engine milage
All the wires & boots look pretty old
When I look under my hood
there is a big difference
mine looks like new

He says he never would clean engine as sometimes things go wrong with water etc.

Curiously he was selling a E 190 MB that was his sons?


He had a guy drop by to see that

He could be just selling.
The guy said don't you sell cars all the time?
He didn't answer
The guy wanted to trade his car
then he wanted to pay him in diamonds




PLEEEEEEASE explain to me how this guy could NOT be a curbstoner (unlicensed dealer!!)

RIIIIIIIGHT. And my name is . ...Carol Channing

LOL

So that's the story

I bet everytime I look at a car
there will be another story

He seems like a decent guy but I just don't know what to believe.

The car also had a emission stink
you know the big engine kind of give you a headache smell?
Is that reason for concern.[/QUOTE]

Umm. Yes.



[QUOTE]

At first I thought I heard a slight tapping clicking sound from top heads
thing is upon listening to my Volvo I have the same sound but worse
so perhaps its just nomal operation
I guess an engine can;t be totally silent
this wasn't noise but it was sort of a distinct tap or click if you really got your ear at a certain spot

All numbers match
also has origianl tool kit & spare
Just wonder who changed the wheels & they did look a bit close as in high
compared to my Volvo 14 wheels which has more fender well.

16" wheels do fill up the wheel wells better on a 500SEC than 15" wheels. That was even mentioned in the road test magazine articles when they first came out with those cars.

Just wondering, have you read any Kafka novels lately? It sounds like you just stepped into a living example of one!!!

Don't worry, there are lots of other fish in the sea.

Sincerely,

Jacques Costeau!!!!


[/COLOR]

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Just a quick reply on the mileage. I have an 85 500SEL that consistently gets between 19 and 21mpg on the highway with Regular unleaded and averaging over 75mpg. I've gotten as high as 21.68 mpg on a 300 mile leg of a road trip. I just keep the tires filled up to recommended pressure and the air conditioning does not currently work on mine. Not bad for a 23 year old car.

__________________
'85 500SEL 173k "Benny" Slowly rusting out in MN. (sold to my brother in WI)

'01 E320 Wagon 4matic 89k

'87 volvo 240 DL Wagon 146k + x miles current on blocks

'80 Kawasaki KZ750 LTD 11500 miles --the daily driver--

Yep
Drowning over here
Guess you never know when you buy
buy this guy did lie about the car vbeing his father in laws
what the heck
why lie & show me a title
it would become apparent at the sale

I suppose it will transfer fine
its nice for $3000
but I suspect has had little care or use in 4 years or more


Title had agoura hills CA
Saw the womans name
Last name Douglas
can't find a listing
but that was 20 years ago
don't recall plate #
but he did say his father in law was using it
boy he can spill it...

Help
well maybe he wants to make a quick $1500
I don't care if the car is good

Yikes this is eating at me
Still it would be a glorious car in silver
its ok in brown
& the lie & unsure mantainance

ouch

right now just afraid of a big 8 cyl
its daunting
2 heads to build
LOL

still I would just love to take it out on the road & go somewhere
If it needed more than I could
then pass it along to someone else

Obviously you caught him out in a lie about the FIL. I am sure he must be a curbstoner.

Did you run the Vin# on the free Russian Website? Put it in here and see what happens.
http://www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng

If the paperwork is OK, (specifically, the sign offs on the title are correct) and the bill of sale to you is forthcoming, the car could still be all right.

They were top of the line cars when they are new.

You are an intelligent buyer if you are on a budget and are holding back some of your money for possible future repairs.

If you put a deposit on it, with a fellow like this, be sure to get a clearly spelt out bill of sale, and having one in clear with his statement in clear language that either he is the titleholder or authorized to sell it would help.

Or at least a signed receipt for the bill of sale.

While it's not good the car didn't go far in the last few year, it is not fatal either.
Good luck whatever you do

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

cool
year is still weird w this vin

but has oprions

Model500 SEC
Engine117963 12 009640
Transmission722311 02 204027Order0 - 227 67179
Approx. year1990
LightsBOSCH
Cab01044
DealerNuernberg branch (227)
Interiorleather saffron+java (234) Paint480Unknown code
Options228auxiliary heater
auxiliary heater (с 01.11.1974)
auxiliary heater (only provision for installation in w 210)
256rear axle with limited-slip differential (с 01.11.1965 по 30.11.1991)
410Unknown code430headrests in the rear (с 01.01.1977)
444tempomat (cruise control) and airbag (с 01.02.1980 по 31.10.1993)
452two-tone horn (с 01.01.1963 по 28.02.1993)
470anti-lock braking system (abs) (с 01.06.1978 по 31.10.1993)
504outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (l.h.d.)
taxi version, f.r.g, and outside rear view mirror on the right
532automatic antenna without radio set (с 01.01.1963)
543sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)
551anti-theft warning system (с 01.11.1978 по 31.03.1998)
570folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest
580air conditioner/Tempmatic (с 01.11.1982)
590heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), Germany
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - Germany (с 01.01.1972)
600headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
611courtesy lamps for front and rear doors, with W124 also for central doors/W202 front doors only (с 01.11.1978)
64015-hole light alloy rims (с 01.01.1990)
682fire extinguisher (с 01.04.1970)
812rear-mounted loudspeaker (с 01.11.1974)
870Unknown code871Unknown code

It's hard to cheat the smog stations. If they get caught they pay $10,000 in fines and their shop gets closed. It's not worth the risk for them to do that.
There undercover inspectors too.

But who knows? Money talks. Hell, Bob Dylan said: "money SWEARS"

These cars will suffer a LOT of abuse and still run. It is not good for them to just sit around. But it could be brought back.

You would need to establish a baseline. That might include ALL new fluids: Oil change, new (Mercedes Benz only) coolant, a brake fluid change (required every 2 years anyhow), possible inspection of the air filter, spark plugs and wires, and of course, belts and hoses, and the power steering pump fluid.

Maybe a couple of hundred or so at least. I would definately try and get that off the $3,000 as was said...

Silver ones look nice. But it is hard to find them now in colors you like. I looked around for over a year for my favorite color: cabernet red, but could never find one. And, that was over 10 years ago, too, when more were around than now.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

figure about $1000 to get it stable
well hope?

I suppose if he truns these cars over
he knows a guy
so no undercover problems
who knows
can't you just hook up another car
not like these things have computer bar codes


but brown is not that attractive to me
engine needs hoses & spark plug wires etc
they all look dated to me
but thats not in itself going to hurt anything sitiing
but best they be changed

OOOh this is frustrating

thanks for the help

Paint code for the car on that report #480 = Manganese Brown.

see:http://www.landiss.com/paintcodes.htm

The fire extinguisher is mentioned also, and those are pretty rare, so it sounds like the vin# correctly mentions the car you are looking at.

It is evidently a Euro car. Probably the notation of model year 1990 is a mistake, especially if it has a California title issued in the 1980's.

The Russian free website has inaccuracies sometimes.

By the way, if you buy a used Mercedes, any one at all, you get a free service: Mercedes Roadside assistance. Totally free, even if you are the 10th owner and the car is 50 years old. Did you know that?

Call 1-800-FORMERCEDES and they will send out a tow truck from the dealer (or a contract tow company if you are in the boonies) and you will get a flat tire changed, a battery jump, or a couple of gallons of gas if you ran out.

All for free. I have used it, it is great. Like getting AAA service for free.

Once, I had them come out to where I lived (SF) and they put in a new battery for free, right there at the house. IN THE RAIN! A new MB battery.
Only $130 and labor was free. (Some years ago). Saved a trip to the dealer or a shop. Wonderful.

If you buy a car with 196,000 miles on it, you are also entitled to a free HIGH MILEAGE BADGE (250,000kms=155,000 miles) so long as you send in the form with proof of ownership verified by a dealer. Comes with a nice certificate also.

It is a beautiful grille badge for the car to wear. But we are getting ahead of ourselves, you did not buy the car or anything.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Wow
thanks
its the car
ooooh decisions

ac worked great
volvos died

oooh

it had exhaust smell though
needs a good cleaning?
not been used in very long?

oooh

A big plus also: Timing chain done at 150,000 miles. Bigger plus: proof of that, with repair receipt.

It should include the plastic guide rails (which can crack and crumble, and old ones look root beer brown; new ones look white) and tensioner, along with the new chain.

If you are curious, you could remove the left hand side valve cover and look.

With luck the injectors are still good, and won't need to be replaced. I did it at 100,000 just as preventative maintenance. Just put Chevron Supreme fuel exclusively in the car. The Techron additive in it really does work, as advertised. It keeps the injectors clean and with a proper spray pattern.

The automatic transmissions are VERY reliable, and if the fluid is changed every 30,000 miles or so, they can last 250,000 miles with out a rebuild.

If it smells burnt, or looks brown and there is no record of a change, I would do it.

Inspect the rear diff. fluid too. It is a special kind for Mercedes Benz and if the car went over 60,000 miles without a change, I would change it also.

I do hope the aircon. works. It is the achilles heel of these cars. Mine finally quit, it was last renewed in 1999. I wish I was in LA so that MR.MB in Tarzana could fix it. He is supposed to be the best MB mechanic there, no BS, reasonable price and the best reputation.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)