Going to look at a 2002 S430 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cgryphon · #1 03-02-2011, 03:15 PM

2002 S430 for sale not far away. Black, loaded with everything including rear shade, heat/cool seats and NAV.

Any comments on trouble issues, fair price, etc. are more than welcome. It's a really nice looking car, with low miles for the age.

Somebody talk me off the ledge...........

Thanks,

Clay

C280 Sport · #2 03-02-2011, 03:22 PM

Look out for rust and also make sure the air suspension is working too. They are common failure on W220. How many miles? Full service records?

cgryphon · #3 03-02-2011, 09:38 PM

Less than 50K miles. Has records, all dealer serviced. One owner, all in the south, so I think no rust.

Any pricing comments?

Thanks,

Clay

tbomachines · #4 03-02-2011, 11:15 PM

W220s have had the bottom drop out as far as market price. Electronic issues along with the suspension problems are fairly common. I would expect somewhere around $12k, a bit more depending on low mileage and condition/records.

C280 Sport · #5 03-02-2011, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgryphon

Less than 50K miles. Has records, all dealer serviced. One owner, all in the south, so I think no rust.

Any pricing comments?

Thanks,

Clay

2002 S430 under 50k I would pay maybe $14,000 if it was in tip top showroom condition with all books, manuals, keys and records.

Steve M · #6 03-03-2011, 10:50 AM

My wife's 2001 S430 just passed 199,000 miles. It's a comfortable car that rides well. Rust is blooming everywhere, though, so it's not my favorite.

Hers has the staggered AMG wheels. Rear tires last 7-10,000 miles, maybe. I also have a set of the standard wheels with snow tires on them, and I think they look better on the car.

Minor cosmetic issues to check are the trim pieces around the front seat cushions, and the cloth on the B pillar that is staring at you when you open the driver's door.

Lots of expensive airmatic work was done early in its life, and the child seat recognition pads go regularly (setting SRS light) even though there are no children in the car, let alone child seats.

I would say that it didn't have lots of problems until about 100,000 miles or so. Since then it has needed ball joints, both cats, motor mounts, secondary air pump, aux fan, belt tensioner, mass air sensor, and a handful of less expensive problems.

Price-wise I would guess a 2002 with 50K should go for around $12,000 ?

ILUVMILS · #7 03-03-2011, 12:08 PM

Early 220's in good condition are really nice driving cars, but they're like teenagers. No matter how well taken care of they are, they eventually give you trouble.

cgryphon · #8 03-03-2011, 07:26 PM

Thanks for all of the detail so far. Any thing else is of course welcome. This is bar none the best forum on the net.

Thanks again,

Clay

Texholdem · #9 03-03-2011, 07:53 PM

I am ignorant of S-Class issues, but the body of the 2000-2007 S-Class is just beautiful, it is aesthetically beautiful.

DRICHFL · #10 03-04-2011, 01:06 PM

Just be prepared to replace the air ride suspension, they do have a pattern of going out on you. I suggest you check the books and see if they have been replace. If not include that thought in your offer price. The airmatic suspesion is nice but costly to replace.

WANT '71 280SEL · #11 03-04-2011, 01:24 PM

Would you consider an S500 instead? Looking at gas mileage figures, they seem to be similar with the 500 of course giving you more power. I'm going to look at a 2000 S500 w/ 92k miles later this afternoon. I won't hijack your thread, don't worry

I'm curious: for all you nay-sayers, have any of you personally owned the cars? Steve M, do you find the car very diy friendly? A was reading a post from another gent here awhile back who thought the 220 was MUCH more diy friendly not just in ease of doing, but also parts compared to a w140.

Best Regards,

David

Steve M · #12 03-05-2011, 09:43 AM

David,

First, I'm not as accomplished a DIYer as most of the other folks here.
Second, the only MB points of comparison I have are W202 and W210.
Third, our S430 is the car which we can least tolerate downtime on while I'm shopping for tools, parts, etc., and it has therefore been mostly dealer maintained.

Looking through my service history (easy to do, since I maintain an Excel spreadsheet for each of my vehicles which shows what work was done, when, using what parts, who did it, etc.) I can tell you that I have only done a few things myself on this car (we bought it 5 years ago at 107,000 and have put 92,000 mi on it - we know the original owner). They include:

Oil changes, filters, cooling flush, spark plugs, wiper blades, etc.
Headlight lamps
Seat trim (over and over again, it seems)
Front Brakes
Accelerator Pedal
Blower Motor Resistor

It needs a lower left balljoint now, and I'm debating whether or not to attempt it myself. I do not own the necessary tools. It's more complicated than American cars, I think. The valve covers are leaking, which I will do myself when the weather warms up.

I think it needs the dealer's scanner more often than my other MB's, which has led to the dealer getting more of the work that I might have done myself.

The oil filter is in a more convenient location than any other vehicle I've ever touched. It takes forever to replace 16 spark plugs (had the correct tools in hand when I started, and had none of the problems other people have warned of).

As I think about it, most of the time I have spent on this car was tied up in futile and expensive efforts to adapt the car to bluetooth phones, Ipods and Nav systems. But that's a whole other story.

I like the fact that it doesn't have monowipers like my other MB's. What we like best is that I can put the driver's seat all the way back (I am 6ft. 4in. tall) and somebody my size can sit directly behind me.

Well, I've been goofing off long enough. I have to go out in the garage and button up from the blower resistor job (just did it a few days ago, and it seems to have fixed the problem). I don't like dealing with trim under the dash (related to that 6ft. 4 problem), so I don't close it up until I'm sure I'm done. Plus, Cartalk comes on in a few minutes, and I find that my wrenching goes by more quickly if I listen to those guys.

cgryphon · #13 03-06-2011, 10:38 AM

This is really excellent detailed info. Thank you.

Unfortunately, life got in the way and I have not been able to take the short road trip to see the car. I did call and they are asking a crazy amount, like $18K+

Have to go to Atlanta this week so we'll see if it's still there when I get back.

Thanks again,

Clay