looking at a few new to me cars- S430, E430, E320. - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

amosfella · #31 05-06-2017, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake12tech

In Canada, finding a W210 that doesn't have rust is going to be a difficult task. They are fantastic cars, and I've owned 5 w210 diesels and never had a major issue. But rust does them dirty. I'd stay away from W220s as well considering they rust just as bad, and if not properly maintained are money pits. There's too many electronics and costly repairs even with my own labor that steers me away from owning those.

A properly maintained early w211 with the 722.6 is a great bet. I foresee owning a E350 in my future. Great cars, but do require a scantool unless you like paying mechanics. I personally don't like paying someone for something I can do myself the right way.

If I'm going for the E class, I'd like a wagon with 4matic. From what I've been able to find out, and I might me wrong, the 4matic had the 722.6 through the 211 line.

Apparently the SBC is covered in Canada for 15 years parts and labor.

As a humerous side note, after reading everything about all kinds of cars on the internet, I think that maybe I should never go anywhere again, I'm just going to hide in the corner with a blanket pulled over my head... Every car I get is out to get me one way or another...

amosfella · #32 05-12-2017, 12:58 AM

In a 2006 E500 4matic wagon, what are the main things to look for before getting a ppi??

97 SL320 · #33 05-12-2017, 05:52 PM

I've linked your post 34 to this thread, your last line fits the other thread perfectly.

stripped allen bolt....

amosfella · #34 05-14-2017, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

I've linked your post 34 to this thread, your last line fits the other thread perfectly.

stripped allen bolt....

Are you asking me if I want to part the engine out of the car?? heck, I'll probably rebuild the tranny at some point. I just got almost all the electrical bugs worked out of the car...

wolf_walker · #35 05-14-2017, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosfella

As a humorous side note, after reading everything about all kinds of cars on the internet, I think that maybe I should never go anywhere again, I'm just going to hide in the corner with a blanket pulled over my head... Every car I get is out to get me one way or another...

You and me both my friend......

97 SL320 · #36 05-14-2017, 07:42 AM

The quote in post 35 above is what I was referring to, I may have had the links mixed up, Will try to correct when I have time.

amosfella · #37 05-18-2017, 03:53 AM

So, I went to look at the 2006 e500 wagon today... This thing was no jewel hiding in a rough place. Maybe a jewel in the rough... But... Seller was a used car lot. In a bad part of town. Whatever. Looked around the car... Wrong rims. Rims are from a ML. Rust issues. Lots little ones that hadn't been disclosed over the phone. So, I decided to take the car for a drive. The ESP warning came on right at the corner of the first block. Fine... Whatever... Drove it up to a friend's body shop. Asked him what he thought about the car's body. Something wasn't looking right to me. Friend tells me that the rims were wrong, tires were too narrow. Car would need a compete respray, and lots of little rust pockets that were starting to form. Figured just for body and wheels I'd be into that car for another $7000 over purchase price. He told me to find something else...

Meanwhile seller calls. Where was I, I thought you were only going for a 15 min test drive, then we could make a deal. I told him that I was at a body shop having a few things I was concerned about looked at. He LOST it when he heard that. Why did I do that... I should have told him... He had a mechanical inspection done, and the car was perfect... If I really wanted a body shop to look at it, I should have told him, and he'd get 'his guy' to look at it...

I walked. Turns out that my bodyman friend knows the seller... Had nothing nice to say about the seller... He'll be getting a nice package of pork chops next time I'm in the city.

So, I went to see the other 3 wagons available in the city. First up was a 04 e500. Car seemed to work really great. Seller seemed like he wanted to work with me to make a deal. Knew my bodyman friend. Talked about something that only someone who knew the bodyman would know. (bodyman had bought the exact same car and fixed it up for his daughter in law) Seller even though he had an appointment coming up quickly took time to let me run the car out on the highway, and let me put the car through it's paces. Car ran great. Has airmatic suspension. Was really comfortable. Told me that if I wanted to come back and take the car to have the bodyman look at it, I was more than welcome to, and if I wanted a PPI, make the appointment, and he'd deliver it there for me. Car had no noticeable faults, and ran very well. No warning light came up. Guy said that he has had minimal issues with it. Recent brake pad change, etc. It had had an accident, however, the damage was minor, and the repair was done properly. The section was cut out and a new section was welded in. Seller said that that had happened before he bought the car 7 years ago. Claimed that he had pictures and a bunch of service receipts for the car. I didn't get to see them, as he had to run, but he asked if I'd like to come back tomorrow and look at them.

Next up was a 04 e320 wagon. Seller was really good as well. Seems to have an rear suspension leak. Car was sitting down low on the rear driver's side. Car also had a shimmy that was either a driveline balance issue or a bent rim... Also, the brake issue light was on. I was concerned that it was an SBC issue. But unlike the other 2 so far, they had all records since new.

Last up was a 07 E350 wagon. Car was owned by a guy with OCD about cars. The only thing I could find wrong was it looked like a dog had chewed the contoured section of the cargo privacy screen. That being said, it was getting dark out. Car ran straight. Seemed powerful. Engine was really good.

As things stand right now, the 04 e500 and the 07 e350 are my top picks. I'm kinda leaning towards the e500 if it's not going to be a money pit. I"ll get an inspection done. It's just a bit more exciting to drive... And I mostly drive highway, so it shouldn't be as bad as in the city with stop and go... Guy with the E350 wants almost double the money over the E500 for a car with 30,000 less KM in the odo...

tjts1 · #38 05-18-2017, 04:34 AM

The 07 e350 has the early m272 engine with the faulty balance shaft. Looks it up, lots of fun to be had with that one.

amosfella · #39 05-18-2017, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

The 07 e350 has the early m272 engine with the faulty balance shaft. Looks it up, lots of fun to be had with that one.

I did look into the problem. According to the info found on MBmedic, the engine serial number is well above the affected range.

tjts1 · #40 05-18-2017, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosfella

I did look into the problem. According to the info found on MBmedic, the engine serial number is well above the affected range.

What about the intake flaps?

97 SL320 · #41 05-18-2017, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosfella

Drove it up to a friend's body shop. Asked him what he thought about the car's body. Something wasn't looking right to me. Friend tells me that the rims were
.

Meanwhile seller calls. Where was I, I thought you were only going for a 15 min test drive, then we could make a deal. I told him that I was at a body shop having a few things I was concerned about looked at. He LOST it when he heard that. .

Regardless of the sellers quality, anything more than a test drive should be negotiated up front. After 15 min the seller will likely consider the car stolen.

amosfella · #42 05-18-2017, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Regardless of the sellers quality, anything more than a test drive should be negotiated up front. After 15 min the seller will likely consider the car stolen.

Well, That shouldn't have been an issue. A few things. I told him that I was going to take it on open freeway, and this was right at the start of rush hour. Getting around at all in that situation in the city is really slow going. Nearest freeway where I could have done more than 40-60 km/h would have been about 20 miles away in jammed traffic. Also, told the seller that I was going to look for some gravel road to go down as the traction control in some vehicles would cause the vehicle to be quite undrivable or very annoying to drive on gravel roads... Seller didn't know where there was a gravel road to be found. I told him that I know of some but there were about 25 miles outside of the city. So, we're talking minimum an hour, and maybe 2.

As it was, the windows were so bad that I nearly sideswiped someone because I couldn't see them a few blocks from the lot. I stopped at a service station to wash them off, and the water revealed a problem in the front quarter panel that troubled me. I only made it a about 20 blocks from the dealership to the body shop...

Interestingly enough, that was by far the dirtiest car on the lot. The others were all washed and polished, but not this one, and he knew a day in advance that I was coming to look at only that car.