Correct Pricing for 02E430 and 03E500
 

My beloved 95E320 suffered a catastrophic transmission/differential failure after striking some road debris last weekend and has been declared a total loss. :(

I am looking at newer options but am not sure what the fair pricing is and hope you gents can help:

03 E500, 120K Miles, asking $11,800, clear Carfax, super clean.

02 E430 4Matic, 72,000 miles, asking $10,800, well maintained, clean carfax with dealer service history

02 E430, 145,000 miles, asking $6,500, sport edition, clean.

Are these within the scope of realism?

Everyone has their $.02, and it seems universal that we say the prices are too high (See also Life of Brian, gourd-haggling scene). I think KBB/Edmunds/NADA sites give reasonable reference points that you can adjust based on deferred maintenance for the particular car.
The W211 there is the 1st year. I would avoid it for that reason, and because of the electro brakes they had through 2005.
The 4matic V8 will get pretty bad mileage, so bear that in mind.

My vote would be for the 2002 E430 4Matic. The early W211s are very problematic, especially the first year. 2002 was the last year of the W210 so they are the most refined and have all the updates. Up here in Canada that E430 4Matic would be priced right in line to what I see advertised. If it checks out okay after a thorough PPI I would pull the trigger.

Thanks. I should add that the $10K E430 is a 2001 model.

Eric,
Does that mean you have solved your "limp home" problem? ;)

I use Autotrader.com for pricing info. My dream car would be the 2003 CL600, a V-12 with dual turbos and 490 HP. It would pass everything except a gas station.
Anziani

Ha ha -- yep, in the worst way. :D

I went with the '01 E430 because of the low mileage and ridiculously long and anal service history by the original owner; he took it for dealer servicing for every imaginable problem or non-problem.

This is my first V8, and my first 21st-century Mercedes, so let's see what surprises are in store for me ahead. :)

You will love the E430. We have a E420, the last year of the 124 design and it is a dream to drive. Gas mileage suffers a little but you probably have a 5 speed that should help. Happy motoring!
Anziani

I am looking forward to it. I only drove it on the test drive and it felt nice, except 4Matics don't seem to accelerate as quickly as RWD vehicles. I guess I will have to get used to that.

At least you will have the sure footedness of AWD with all that power in the snow/wet.

My E430 has been the best car I've ever owned. I'm sure you'll love yours.

It is fast, quiet, smooth riding, and dependable. There are virtually no weak spots with this cars, with the exception of the spring perches if you live the in the rust belt.

I routinely get 19.0-ish in mixed driving, and I can return 25.0 mpg all day long in 100% freeway driving doing 75-80 mph.

The only weak spots are the rear window regulators, the CPS and brake stop switch sensors.

Did MB ever fix the W210 rust problem or are all model years the same in that respect?

I just don't think W210's ever got the same rust proof protection that W124's got.

It's not a problem out here in So. Cal. My neighbor is a long-time Mercedes dealer tech, and he's never even heard of a rust problem on W210's, much less seen one.

So there you go.

Thanks for the info.
I'm also in California and would love to pick up a W210 wagon but even though the local cars might not suffer the same fate as the rust belt cars, it still makes me uneasy knowing MB didn't rust proof these cars to their usual high standard. If there is a model year that is better or worse I would like to know about it.

The early 210 diesels are the ones that typically have spring perch problems, its very rare for any of the other 210's.

Well, so far I am loving this car.

The V8 is great and I am discovering where the power kicks in. Bose sound system is excellent. And the interior is cavernous -- a lot more spacious than my previous W124 cars.

I am actually looking forward to rain and snow to test the AWD.