300E I WAS LOOKING AT WAS IN ACCIDENT 4-5 YEARS AGO,APPROX $9000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO RIGHT FRONT OF CAR! FENDER,BUMPER,SUSPENSION COMPONETS REPLACED, MINOR FRAME REPAIR,SPOKE TO MB BODY SHOP,THEY SAID CAR WAS REPAIRED RIGHT AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT! CAR HAS 63000 MILES ON IT,JUST HAD 60 K SERVICE,CAR OTHERWISE IN GOOD SHAPE,I THINK I COULD GET CAR FOR UNDER $11000.00 WOULD YOU BUY THIS CAR ? THANKS IN ADVANCE!

ya if the repares were done right and were done using mercedes benz parts it sounds like a good buy. but are they all new mercedes benz parts.

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Dan Younes
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1985 euro 500sel 223k
1986 420sel 86k soon 2 be
1981 300sd 278k sold
1979 240d 298k sold
1983 300sd 272k sold
1989 chrysler 2.2l Turbo
Leabaron 140k
1989 Dodge Carvan Se 295k
1994 S500
(hopefully someday)

they used all new factory m-b parts!

on thing i would take a close look at is the spacing bettween the parts because after my wreck my front end will never look the same

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Dan Younes
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1985 euro 500sel 223k
1986 420sel 86k soon 2 be
1981 300sd 278k sold
1979 240d 298k sold
1983 300sd 272k sold
1989 chrysler 2.2l Turbo
Leabaron 140k
1989 Dodge Carvan Se 295k
1994 S500
(hopefully someday)

Only way to truly tell if there is any chasis damage remaining is to have it realigned and make sure everything looks good. That's the only real way to check for bent chasis bits.

------------------
1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E (W124)
Arctic White/Grey MB-Tex
Debadged
Euro Headlights
1994/1995 Turn Signals and Taillights
16" x 7J 8-hole (Authentic MB)
Michelin Pilot HX MXM 205/55WR16

There are enough 300Es out there in excellent condition that have not been in accidents are are still excellent values for the money. I wouldn't risk it.



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Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

Well, from personal experience w/ a '95 BMW 325i, I would NOT take the repaired 300E. Although comparing the two cars isn't really fair, after havin' the 325i repaired after damage, I found the car didn't really "drive" the same. Although my BMW was repaired usin' all BMW genuine parts by the dealership, there was just something sorta "lost" in the repair process. I personally feel that you should buy a used car w/o any "major" accidents or body damage. Also, if you are posting in this forum, YOU obviously feel somewhat uneasy about the purchase; hence, I think spending more $$$ on a "clean" car is probably a better investment, for resale in the future, and also, on your heart condition =)

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1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 (W124 - Black Pearl/Black)

I have to agree with 420SEL. There are beaucoup 300E's out there that have not been damaged. The prices have come down alot in the last year or two, making them even more of a bargain.

My 300E had experienced some minor panel damage, and had been repaired. I bought it anyway because a) it was only panel damage and b) I looked for a manual transmission 300E for several years. The car was absolutely pristine except for the fact that it had been repainted in places.

Odds are, the one you're looking at is an automatic as are 99% of them. There are zillions of them out there, don't settle for second best. These are fine cars, get a fine example.

My $0.02,

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

Ditto what Larry and Jason say. Also if this was a serious front end or rear end damage you will have nothing but suspension problems for the life of the car I don't care how good the shop was.

yal
88 230E (W124)

IMHO, if covered by insurance, $9,000 damage (MB parts and labour)to a Mercedes-Benz could not have been very extensive. My wife rear-ended a Corolla at 5MPH, the visual damage was minor and, yet, the tab was $2,000. Of course, there is risk in buying a damaged car; however, it could turn out to be an excellent investment if the repairs were OK and the price was right. If you are not a risk taker pay more for a car that hasn't been in accidents. Personally, I would buy it if, in addition to normal inspections and precautions, the following conditions were met:
a) the price is significantly lower (i.e. at least $6,000-7,000) than what a similar car with no accidents would sell for;
b) an extended test drive over the weekend doesn't reveal any problems;
c) the tires don't show any abnormal wear patterns (beware if new tires have been installed);
d) a qualified independent shop doesn't report any problems in performing a front end alignment; and,
e) a qualified independent body shop inspects the front end repairs (visual and measurements) and gives the car a clean bill of health.
Good luck!

Even if the damage weren't extensive, which I find $9,000 worth to be extensive, why bother when there are still so many undamaged examples of this great car available?

Larry

I don't know anything about 300E's but I assumer it's a unibody car. If the frame was torqued then the whole car was torqued. So you're talking about something serious here.
I saw a Volvo 240 once which had been hit in the right front quarter panel and repaired - afterwards the windshield leaked. If you looked closely you could see body distortion around the edge of the windshield. The seal had failed because of this.
That car you're looking at might be OK, but it might have something subtle wrong with it that you won't pick up til you've had it awhile.
Harvey

personal experience with Porches

If done correctly at an authorized shop, there should be no problems with this car and it sounds like a bargain.

Gregory
'83 300D-T
'86 911 turbo

everybody thanks for your advice,you have convinced me to pass on it!
the problem is there are very,very few 300e for sale(Detroit area)!i know that might sound amazing,but its true,i look all week long!
i've even been loking at 300se and 420 sel,but whats around is beat up junk!
i have a 190e that i love,but i want something bigger,any suggestions?
thanks
eek

Looks like your going to have to plan a trip. The internet is a good place to find a used car but you have to be ready to go and take a look at it after all the emails have been exhausted.
Its pretty unbelievable that there aren't any 300E up there in Detriot. There are a lot of them here in New York sitting in lots waiting with an average of about 120k miles on the clock.