Quick Opinion Needed - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

shoe · #1 11-10-2002, 11:36 AM

I am looking at a 98 E320 with 100K highway miles, 100% maintenance records. The catch, $21K is the asking price. Does this sound high for the milage? My wife and I are leaving in a few minutes to look and drive it. Donnie, Steve, anybody send me an answer quick!

Gilly · #2 11-10-2002, 11:44 AM

If the car is really in nice shape, at 100K, it's probably a fair price. Look at the brake fluid, if it's really dark or black, the flush hasn't been done. if this for example was neglected you'd be left wondering if anything else has been skipped on. For the price I would expect the tires will be good for over a year as well as the brake pads. Find out if the climate control filter was done, including the charcoal filter which is about $200 and is supposed to be done every 45,000 miles. Watch for any leaks from the side seals on the rear differential.
And of course check out the body for dings, wheels for scraping on the edges, things like that. Like I say, if it's a straight body and the maintenance has been kept up "to the letter" it's probably a fair price. Check Kelly Blue Book (KBB.com) to recheck the price for your area.

Gilly

stevebfl · #3 11-10-2002, 01:43 PM

Quick highway miles should have left hardly any signs on that car.

I'm not much into car sales so I don't know the price relationship, but it sounds as though its 5k or more below what a lower mileage car would bring. I would have the car professionally checked out and if you wish to slowly put another 100-200k on a car getting such a vehicle could be economically advantageous.

shoe · #4 11-10-2002, 02:08 PM

Ok, here's the deal. Body perfect, brake fluid like new, one owner maintaned by dealer with all records. Owner told the dealer to do what it needed at each maintenance interval. Tire's a year old and look good. Interior is show room clean and everything works. About the only thing I could find during a test drive was a slight pulling to the right. The owner told me he would repair anything we found wrong so a front end alignment would not be a problem. Here's the best part, the owner told me to make an offer when I asked if the price was firm. I asked about $19K and he said if it was cash we had a deal. It looks like a real deal. Now, what kind of maintenance will this car require. I do all my maintenance and repairs so I am not into a bunch of valve adjusments and things like that. I am ok with oil and filter changes tire rotation and normal maintenance items. Can I reasonably expect another 100K over the next 8 years of normal use?

suginami · #5 11-10-2002, 02:20 PM

Properly maintained, I don't see any reason why a Mercedes wouldn't last 200,000 miles. They do all the time.