1996 E320/ How Much More Should I Put Up With!!!??? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Falsapartenza85 · #16 10-17-2007, 10:28 PM

Wait, you wanna talk about great deals?????

Check this out!

Employee SUMMER LEASE PROGRAM- (April to October) SLK280/ $289 per month! and we get 7,200 miles!

Employee Winter Lease Program- (October to April) ML350 or ML320 CDI $349 per month! and we get 7,200 miles!

and there is SOOOOOOOOOO much more! How about 12.5% off M.S.R.P. for yourself and IMMEDIATE family and 0% money factors on leases!

Jealous anyone?????????????

Hatterasguy · #17 10-17-2007, 10:30 PM

I may be in the market for a newer MB next year, just wondering if their are any deals to be had on super clean trades.. Like if a super clean late 90's SL500 was traded in, with sport package.

Ocean View · #18 10-17-2007, 11:58 PM

Only you can decide when you think you have had enough.
These cars are not cheap to maintain as you are aware but there is something about it that makes it worth while.
My 96 has 208K miles on it now and I feel that I have gotten my moneys worth but I am still getting everything fixed that goes out.
Just this year I spend $2800 even though the car is probably worth $5000 tops.
But someday I will toss in the towel and dump it, hopefully after another 100K miles.

Falsapartenza85 · #19 10-18-2007, 08:24 AM

Hey Ocean View!

Have you ever had your trans replaced on your 1996? I love the car, dont get me wrong, and this is the first MAJOR repair to the car in 11 years, so i am feeling lucky. The motor has been BULLET-PROOF reliable! I replaced the O2 sensors, MAF, and Battery this year.

I will need to replace:
-Front Brakes (service issue, not a big deal)
-Control Arm Bushings
-RE-OCCURRING rust spots again!

Overall, I have been fortunate- My green 1996 E320 has been awesome, except for the Spring Perch that was replaced by MB under warranty.

OH, I see you have an 2007 W211!!!!!!! That will be the replacement someday!!!!! How do you like it????? Do you have the Sport Package???

-Mike

Ocean View · #20 10-18-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falsapartenza85

Hey Ocean View!

Have you ever had your trans replaced on your 1996? I love the car, dont get me wrong, and this is the first MAJOR repair to the car in 11 years, so i am feeling lucky. The motor has been BULLET-PROOF reliable! I replaced the O2 sensors, MAF, and Battery this year.

I will need to replace:
-Front Brakes (service issue, not a big deal)
-Control Arm Bushings
-RE-OCCURRING rust spots again!

Overall, I have been fortunate- My green 1996 E320 has been awesome, except for the Spring Perch that was replaced by MB under warranty.

OH, I see you have an 2007 W211!!!!!!! That will be the replacement someday!!!!! How do you like it????? Do you have the Sport Package???

-Mike

Mike,

I have been fortunate to have had no problems with my transmission.
I've also not had any problems with the spring perches, rust, oil leaks or wire harness.
Yes the M104's are bullet proof engines and that was one of the reasons why I kept this car all these years.
Your engine should still be good with only 115K miles, it's all the other expenses that will add up and drive you crazy.

If I had to do it all over again, I don't think I would have kept my car.
It is turning out to cost about $100 less per month less than leasing a new car every 3 years.

The W211 is nice with no problems so far. Yes it has the sport package and this time, I leased it. Going to give it back after the lease is over and get something new.

ILUVMILS · #21 10-18-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falsapartenza85

Wait, you wanna talk about great deals?????

Check this out!

Employee SUMMER LEASE PROGRAM- (April to October) SLK280/ $289 per month! and we get 7,200 miles!

Employee Winter Lease Program- (October to April) ML350 or ML320 CDI $349 per month! and we get 7,200 miles!

If you get your Master Certification, MBUSA will kick in about $200 a month toward a lease on selected vehicles and your dealer should match it. You can drive an ML or an E-Class for virtually nothing! That's the deal I got.

Falsapartenza85 · #22 10-18-2007, 06:51 PM

Hey MILS

What dealership are you working for? It will be a while before I am master certified... But the employee 1 year lease program is fine for me now-

Falsapartenza85 · #23 10-26-2007, 06:19 PM

And just as I have the new transmission installed, wouldn't luck have it that after 60 miles the Check Engine Light comes on....

Lucky Me!!!!

Chadahar · #24 10-26-2007, 06:32 PM

Can I come to work for M-B?? Oh Wait! I'm retired.

Falsapartenza85 · #25 10-27-2007, 09:01 AM

Ok, so I get under the car last night and see my issue- The Trans Overload switch wire unplugged itself... So i plugged in, reset, and drove 60 miles (i love driving my 210's that much!)... No errors!

I dunno anymore guys, i think my heart and my brain need a new C.A.N. because they are just not communicating on the same network....

"Oh Lord, Won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz...."

markg612 · #26 10-28-2007, 01:07 AM

Quite the thread.

As Dirty Harry says, "Do you feel lucky."

I find it interesting you find such fondness for the 104 engine, as do I, its perfection of inline technology for the day, but why not dump the rushed to production low budget body and slide back one year.

Grandiose statements are abound in this forum, and I really hate making all inclusive boasts, but take a look at the W124 from 95. Ten years of perfection that at a minimum are 12 years old as we read and type. BUT, ten years of a car that on the cheap side was over 50K. A car that was two years late to market because it wasn't engineered perfect enough by its designers. the 210 and the ML were the Americanization of a once perfect process of Mercedes that surname to a need to pacify the American ideal of what a german luxury car should be. Cupholders? come on! The 210 was jammed through and delivered to a hunger market, but it is a mere shadow of its forerunner.

My point, dump this prototype gap filler for a 95 124 and enjoy the last of a dyeing breed in Germany engineering. Aside from its biodegradable engine wiring harness, properly maintained, no 210 will ever hold a candle to it.

Yeah know what's scary? When my wife is observant enough to ask me why a lot of the round eyed (210) benzes have so much rust on the doors and other places she says, and then asks why our cars (124s) don't.

Where's Mr. Stumpf now. OOOOOOPS!

My 95 124 wagon listed for 57K, a new 96 ML was 32K and a 210 sedan was under 40K. Now how the hell could they do that without sacrificing perfection?

IMHO

Ocean View · #27 10-29-2007, 12:34 AM

Hey Mark,

I am, sure your W124 is a great car.
But it's still a baby compared to mine.

When you get over 200K miles, then we can discuss which car is better.

Seriously, I find that the W124 looks a bit dated.
The 96-97 W210 with the M104 has best of both worlds.
The great M104 engine of the W124 and modern styles of the W210.

markg612 · #28 10-29-2007, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocean View

Hey Mark,

I am, sure your W124 is a better car.
But it's still a baby compared to mine.

When you get over 200K miles, then we can discuss which car is better.

I have three 124s, 266K, 210K, and 139K.

I agree they are dated, but the 95s are the pinnacle of progression in engineering of a manufactured product.

The 266K is a 95 124.131 car well on it's way to .5M miles. (no rust yet either.)

IMHO

What bothers me most with the 210 is the spring cup issue and the rust along with the plethora of electrical issues. My oldest 190 ripped a spring cup. I walked into the body shop office at Sears Imported Autos in Minneapolis and saw a spring cup on the body shop managers desk. I said, "Off a 201?" He laughed and looked over his reading glasses with a blank stare, and said, "Flip the numbers around, 210." I said, "Oh?" He said, "By the dozen, we rarely see a 201 or a 124 unless it was a POS to start with."

The rust issue is even worse, my 124s are all but corrosion free after many years in Minneapolis salt. The 87 has issues from poor repairs, but the 95s are clean as new. The number of 210s in Chicago with rusted left door bottoms along with bunches of other spots is mind boggling.