Here's one of my favorite shots of the old 58

another, from the back seat

The only engine I'm not afraid of.

The reason I spent 12K for the thing. Not a lot of rust.

beautiful rm:) - I'm sure it drives as nice as it looks.

glmoy

Doesn't your new 190e have power seats as standard? The ebay ad says so.

Haasman

rmmagow,
Beautiful, beautiful '58. I have a real appreciation for vintage cars in that nice of condition. I would love to own a car like that. A perfect car to drive by the breakers on a crisp fall evening. Enjoy it and let me know if you ever want to sell it.

Yes- that is one reason I passed on it. Originally it was engine shake at idle, but while driving it- it had a very harsh 1-2 shift and a very fast 2-3 shift. I thought something was wrong with the transmission, so I passed on it. It was not easy- as the car was a 2-owner, garaged since new, southern car, with ZERO rust, original shiny paint and nice interior. Also- it was white- which really looks good on these cars and I think it is a fairly rare color. Perhaps I will find another soon.

Haasman,
Yes the new one I bought has power seats. My old one the '88 has manual seats and with me being on crutches, I cannot get the leverage to push them back while standing up to get into the car.

rmmagow,
Ah. when life was simple and cars were easy to work on. The great old days. Great looking car.

I bouht my 1997 C230 about 6 months ago and paid $7995.

Seller needed money badly. My luck.

___________________________________________________
Not too many MSFT millionaires, just not as many SLs from which to choose in the Northwest. I live in the Palm Springs area during the winter and the 500SLs are called "PS Chevvies" here....not quite a dime a dozen but very cheap compared to the rest of the country. Many are one-owners and very low desert miles as the cars are only driven in the winter season....winter here meaning no rain, snow, sleet, or salt and temps mostly in the 70s and 80s.

Bought my (111k mi) 88 300e on eBay last February for $2200.

Flew into Long Island on Valentines Day, picked it up and outran the President's Day storm down the east coast back to Nashville.

What will keep it from being a great deal is the hood and trunk are oxidized badly enough to require a paint job.

Other than that, most of what I have done to the car has been extended maintainence and would be required on a much newer one with about the same mileage.

1994 E320 Wagon 77,000 miles >
 

for which I paid $14.6k at a non-mercedes used car dealer in NY in May 2003. Turned out to not be a good deal - needed $6k of work right away (rear and front suspension bushings, flex disk, tuneup, timing cover seal, minor body work, motor mounts, cat back exhaust system). I have had it 8 months now and I am afraid it is going to need an evaporator core - funny smell and small loss of freon. It is also still on original head gasket and wiring harness. Drives like a dream, though.

1977 280e** Bought in 1992 5k C$, drove it form 170 miles to 410 mile....the best car I ever owned

1978 300D*** Bought in 1997 3k C$, never really able to get the right mechanic to fix it!!!!!
Gave it away ( for free) to a struggling musician needing to get to Nashville (Christmas 1999)....He has an intimate knowledge of MB's and still drives the car daily.......problem free for those who know how to tinker I guess..

1985 380SE*** Bought in 1999 8K C$ ( 270,00km on odo.), a beautiful big Benz!!!! Great car, now has 430,000km, ready for a newer one...........

My cars
 

I bought a 1994 E 320 with 82,000 miles on it. Paid 8000 for it off of a lot. Michelin's are about 80% tread left. Replaced power mirror switch and antenna mast. Very satisfied so far.

Purchased a 1994 E 320 wagon 2 years ago for 12,500. It had 84000 on it and I've put another 20,000 on it. Only one electrical short connected with stereo wiring in rear. Have current air conditioning problem that may well require evaporator replacement. Very satisfied so far.
So far, no wire harness or head gasket problems.

What an interesting thread. I bought my 87 300E with 146K miles two years ago for $4K. Using the resources of this website I repaired the non-functioning blower motor for zero dollars. I balked at paying MB $180.00 for a new one so took it out and replaced the worn down brushes. It also needed a tune-up so I replaced the cap, rotor and wires ($169.00). The front discs needed to be changed after about a year. In addition, I replaced the alternator ($500.00) and a rear wheel bearing.($200.00) I installed a six disc CD changer in the trunk but I owned that already. So all in all I haven't spent that much on it in the two years I've had it. The car runs well and is so quiet at freeway speeds that I'd buy another just like it in a heartbeat.
Thom

just bought 1994 s 320 ( immaculate) 100000 miles full M B history
for 6000 pounds stirling, about $8400. would this be expencive, about right, or cheap for you in america

Bought my 1995 300e Diesel in 2000 for $18,000. It had 84,000 miles on it. I knew previous owner, he took excellent care of it. in last 3 years, I have added front brakes, oil changes, light bulbs and now the glo plugs need to be replaced.

Just bought a 2000 320e 4 matic with 34,000 miles for $32,000, which price includes the Starmark warranty of 100,000 miles or April of 2008. Mercedes put new tires on it, etc. I am very happy with it.

I have to admit I love the design of the older Mercedes. That '58 is beautiful. I have seen some old Mercedes that look like Bentleys. It's nice to know that no matter how old your car gets, it will always look like a million.

I wish all of you and your respective Mercedes a very Happy and healthy New Year.

price for a mercedes
 

I paid $1900 for an '89 190E 2.6 with 213,000 miles on it...in good shape, interior almost perfect. Starts on first crank and drives great. I think that was a good deal

1990 Mercedes 560SEL....price I paid = divorce
1992 Mercedes 500E....price I paid = alienation of new spouse.

Owning the two best sedans ever made (by anyone!)....priceless

pinch me
 

1989 300CE $5k, 152,000mi, one year ago

Beautiful car, my first MB. Looks and runs perfect. Now has 165,000. Oil changes and some preventitive maintenance, that's it. Goes like crazy, faster from 60 to 80 than from 40 to 60.

Hanging out on this site worries me. There must be some trouble coming, but I'm willing to spend some $. Just waiting for something to break. Biggest problem so far is I got keyed and will have to pony up my $500 deductible for a $3,000 paint job.

I hope everyone has such good luck in '04

I finally got back from Las Vegas yesterday and drove through the worst snowstorm in Oregon in years. The car used zero oil and had Mobil 15-50 synthetic in it most of it's life. It was so cold that it would make your auntie freeze, nine degrees with 20mph winds. Passed many semi-truck and trailers in the ditch as well as other 4WD's. One passed me at over 50mph and he was in the ditch with other cars about 10 miles later. I just kept plugging along at a comfortable 30mph.

Vegas and CA heat was hard on some plastic underhood parts and I will have to do a brake job, but as a plus it came with almost new Goodyear 70's. The owner even left in two high end speakers in the doors and left all the cables for the stereo and the amp in place. Annnd......I got books and records in a nice leather case.

I'm happy.:)

ArizonaDAK said
"1992 Mercedes 500E....price I paid = alienation of new spouse."

Buy her a Mercedes.......Problem solved?

I paid just under $30k for my cabrio in December '01 with about 60,000 on the ticker. At the time the book value at Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, NADA, were all around $40k. Since then it has ratcheted downward. I quit checking. I've added 20,000 miles as my daily driver, with my '78 Honda CB750 being my alternative form of transportation.

Good deal? It looked like it at the time. I planned to keep the car a few months and sell it for a profit. Don't think I got screwed though. I am infatuated with the car. The only significant money I have spent on repairs is for a water pump (around $700). I only fear the dreaded evaporator.

Paid $3250 for my 300CD.. spent a lot of $$$ on it and sold it for half.

Paid $18k for the E420 but the dealer put new tires, new shocks, resealed the p/s pump, new brakes all around, some belts and tensioner, a new fan clutch and of course it came with a stack of receipts for everything (light bulbs,tire rotation, etc. included)

hhm Celica.. $5k :D - The best $5k I've ever spent. It's such a fun car to drive. Not exactly relaxing or pleasant on long journeys but a great car!

1999 C230 Kompressor Sport sedan
 

Purchased 1999 C230 Kompressor Sport sedan in 11/03
88k miles-$10,600 USD
KBB $16,500
Selling around here for $18,000+ at dealers
Working through the "bugs" and getting ready to send off to body shop to make the exterior "pristine"

'97 E320
 

Bought my '97 E320 new on the European Delivery Plan for $47,500. It has all options except the xeon headlamps and
a road handling option (foget the name).

I think the build quality is excellent and have enjoyed it very much in spite of some problems, most of which M-B fixed at their cost. Given the experience of picking it up at the factory and driving it around Europe for two weeks with my family, I think I spent wisely.

Hope to do it one more time in my lifetime.

happy New year to all!

This is kinda fun, I'll jump in too.

1984 300D purchased in 1993 for $7500 (maybe $7700; can't remember exactly). 160K miles. Sold in November 1999 for $5000.

1998 E300 purchased in May 1998 for $38K. 8k miles. Sold in April 2003 for $26.5K.

1987 300TD purchased in November 1999 for $12.5K. 92K miles. Currently at 135K and definately not for sale.

1993 300E 2.8 purchased April 2003. 88K miles. Disclaimer before the price - this is the most perfect used car I have ever seen. It is all but indistinguishable from new, both the cometics and the mechanicals. Was under Starmark until traded in the month before I bought it. Has had the head gasket, wiring harness, radiator, and a bunch of other common 124 ailments already addressed. Anyways, paid $12.5K. A bit too much, since the dealer accepted my first offer (they were asking $13.9K, which is why it was sitting on the lot). So far it has needed an alignment, 90K service, and a water pump. Can't complain, really.

Almost bought a 500E last month, but just couldn't get past the color combination - smoke silver over black. Think I'm going to purchase a motorcycle as a toy instead.

- JimY

Bought my 1979 300SD in August for $1100. She was the original owner. I don't plan on ever getting rid of it. Unless i found a cheap perfect fintail.:cool:
David

But Holson, your CD went to a good home and is being properly cared for. Changed the oil for the third time already and it uses not a drop :D

Runs like a champ and due to an axle failure in my other one it has been getting daily use.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Got my 1991 300SE in February of 2000. It had 83,500 miles and I paid $19,995 US. It was a one owner car and had been maintained perfectly. Actually looked like there had never been anyone other than the driver in it, window switches, floor mats seat corners were all perfect. I have done all of the maintenance on it but had to have a local shop freshen up the trans and replace the valve stem seals last year. Other than those things and a few minor things I have done, it is the perfect car! This is my 3rd MBZ and every dollor I have spent has been worth it. In my opinion the W126 is the best MBZ ever.

bought a lemon
 

Bought in 2000, a 1995 S-320 for 23,500k with 70k miles. The worst car Ive ever owned. Drives great on occasion but its always in the shop because of the problems MB built into the car by way over engineering even the most basic systems. Go to any LEXUS web site and you dont find 10% of the probs with MB, and there are way more Lexus in the world. Im probably going to buy one soon. The only thing MB has going is brand loyality, people think that little moniker on the hood means they have "arrived". A small minded outlook for a car no better than it is. Im on my fourth and last MB, I am fortunate that I can afford a high quality car but MB aint it. They are getting worse not better.

"They are getting worse not better."

That's because they are getting Chrysler-ized.

I agree with ArizonaDAK. MB's have now become accessible to the masses because the company wants to make money from all spectrums of income. I consider the only true MB's to be the S, SC (no longer made), G and SL class vehicles. There was nothing more impressive than a black S600 zooming down the road at 120 mph! The other models were created simply to appeal to everyone in the U.S. One model which I don't think they will bring here is the A class which is a subcompact MB used in Europe.

If you think about it, how much thought and effort were put into making a car (C class in particular) for under $30K? C'mon, if you paid upwards of $75K for an MB, you were getting a luxury car and you were proud of it. Now that MB is pushing the Maybach, that will be the benchmark for luxury. Also the sound of a MB being made in Tuscaloosa, Alabama doesn't have the same allure and history as being made in Stuttgart, Germany.

what are members paying for their mercedes
 

After reading this and other MB forums, I'm not so sure I will have another MB after my old faithful '89 dies...the newer ones are not as good anymore. My primary car currently is an '01 VW New Beetle TDI...never misses a lick, diesel is cheaper than gas, and it's still under warranty for another 7 years/80,000 miles powertrain.
Just might have to get another VW...or switch back to Cadillac.

Yo, Boudreaux, you may be right. But I am incredibly proud of my little '98 C280. How much thought? Well, I have yet to find even a 2004 piece of Detroit iron that has as much thought put into it as my little "economy class" '98 C280! It may not hit 120 mph, but it's not the C280's fault, it's the fault of our Texas speed limits!

I bought my 92 300E with 166k for $2300.

It needed a radio and door panel clips were broken. Front transmission seal was leaking. It stopped using some sealer.

You can't deny that the W123 and W124 chassis cars are some of the most durable cars on the road, then and now. The new E class cars are not nearly as substantial. Almost everything in our world is designed with a short lifespan, so that we have to go out and purchase another. Examples are everywhere, from lightbulbs to the very homes we live in. I can't believe the build quality of some of the junk we sell for a million dollars here in Dallas.

92 400E 75k miles, $19.5k (purchased 11/99)
00 ML430 38k miles, $29k (purchased yesterday)

Although not an S, SC, G or SL I am very impressed with the performance of my E class and look forward to enjoying my ML upon delivery.

Both cars were purchased under the MB Starmark certification program.

I agree, 95E320cab. Here in Houston everything is pre-fab from Perry Homes, Plantation Homes, etc. My home is only 4 years old and all of the tape and floating on the walls is coming apart, mold/mildew on the Hardiplanks, carpet padding is separating, outrageous HOA dues for no service, etc.

But I digress. To the owners of other models in response to my thread, it is in my opinion of what a MB means to me. The E and C class models are fine cars also but when a company tries to appeal to everyone, somethings gotta give. It is like the old adage of not making all of the people happy all of the time. Whenever I saw a S600/SL600/SC600 with the V12 badge, I knew these people had money. Who else would buy a car that cost more than some 4 bedroom homes and was secure like a bank vault?

It is the cachet of Mercedes-Benz that made it a status symbol. It kind of sickens me when I see some MB's tricked out with 24" wheels and all of the other unnecessary garbage deemed to improve the performance of the car. This car was built and engineered by Germans with a certain concept in mind which meant that it will be perfect. Have you noticed that most European cars are NOT built with cupholders which were required for the American market? My car doesn't have one nor do I desire to retrofit it to accept one. It is a Mercedes, not a minivan.

All auto manufacturers have caught on to building obsolescence into their cars because if the car lasted forever, they wouldn't have repeat business. The last good American car I had was a '77 Pontiac Grand Prix (yeah I know it was a boat) but it was durable and the sheet metal was thicker than the sheets of paper we now have on our cars. Personally, the only thing American I would buy now are older Chevy pickups and Corvettes.

Lets see
1988 300 SEL with 143,000 miles purchased in March 2003 for $4900. Interior and exterior in excellent shape however the engine needed work.

1989 560 SEL with 103,000 miles purchased in October 2003 very good mechanicals ok cosmetics paid $6500.
Now the problem is between my wife and I we have four cars and two drivers and I can't stand to part with either of the Mercedes.

Reading through this thread, I was suprised at how few of the people here purchased their cars new

May I add another very important fact - - SAFETY. MBs are very safe cars. I am told they are built with a steel cage around them. I know of someone who was driving a 2000 320e and was hit head on by a drunk driver in a monster SUV (the one made by Cadillac). The MB may be totalled but its driver was adequately protected and walked out of the car. Yes, maybe repairs are more frequent on the new models, but are they not still one of the safest cars on the market?

Boudreaux wrote:

Here in Houston everything is pre-fab from Perry Homes, Plantation Homes, etc. My home is only 4 years old and all of the tape and floating on the walls is coming apart, mold/mildew on the Hardiplanks, carpet padding is separating, outrageous HOA dues for no service, etc.

Isn't this why there is warantees on homes and Benzes??? :D

It may be the safest car on the road, but you'll be driving the dealer's loaner Geo most of the time :-)

Glmoy:

I would say that warranty's from builders and auto manufacturers are not in place to cover expenses from poor quality of design and build. Rather, for unexpected, out of the ordinary problems. I know of a particular instance where sheetrock crews nailed through a piece of PVC plumbing just before a house closed. Water turned on and flooded the house. Need a builders warranty, but I wouldn't blame the incident on the builder necessarily. If an alternator wears out in the first four years of operation in a new Benz, I say it did not last its anticipated useful life and should be replaced under warranty. However in 7 years, if my $80,000 Benz rattled and squeaked and systematically broke into tiny little pieces I have to pick up out of the floorboard and save, I would say that the quality of the car was not as high as it should have been for the price paid.

Bought my 1989 300CE with 74,xxx miles just about 12 month ago and paid $11k. Got it on eBay. Spent about $500 on routine maintenance and an oil leak. Other than that ,I enjoy a trouble free ownership. Next will be a replacement of the original Radio
and speakers. The antenna does need a new mast. A little rust under the right rear light needs attention soon.

Can a NJ forum member recommend a good paint shop?

I think I spent too much, compared to what other members have
paid, but since I have no apparent problems for the past 15k miles, maybe the price wasn't too bad after all.

Would like to change to a four door E320/420, but that would mean selling the Coupe. Too nice a car.

Embarrassed
 

I am too embarrassed to tell you guys how much I paid for my car. I purchased my 1995 E320 Special Edition about 7 years ago. It was only two years old, had 22K miles, two years of factory warranty, and 1 more year Starmark warranty, so I suppose it was really almost new. It seemed like a good deal at the time. I still love it and I don’t regret the purchase, but when I see how much, or rather how little I could pay to get another one, I feel a little silly. I could even get an E420. I have to say, however, that I truly love my car. I am hoping that I don’t have to buy another car in my lifetime, so I guess it is OK that I spent too much.

In Canadian dollars
 

I piocked up my 1992 500E with 127,000 km's (78,000 miles?) for $30,000 ($24,000 American?). It is a sweet wagon and is an early build (10 / 91). It is a rare car here in Vancouver and I love it.:cool:

Shaun

Dear Made in Germany and all my other friends on this site:

Can you recommend a good mb mechanic in our area. I live in New Providence, the town next to yours.