Number of 124 CE imported to USA in 1993 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JCE · #1 06-16-2004, 09:58 PM

My son is looking at a 1993 CE, and the place is advertising that only 19 were sold in the US in 1993!!!

Does anyone have a link for the number imported that year? Thanks for any info.

1993 300CE

bfargin · #2 06-16-2004, 10:09 PM

The person telling you that is not telling the truth. There were something like 3000 of the 1993 model built with maybe half of them imported to the USA(not exact numbers but close).
Now if they are referring to the Sportline option then he might not be that far off depending upon color. I have sen estimates that approximately 10% of the 300ce were sportline versions.
Either way it is a great car if it has been taken care of.

dakota · #3 06-16-2004, 10:30 PM

Well, the guy was only 2 digits off

. There were 1019 units imported to the US in 1993. And actually I've heard the Sportline percentage is closer to only 2 to 3% worldwide.

See MB-USA web site for import numbers.

JCE · #4 06-17-2004, 01:44 AM

Thanks for the numbers, guys - I kinda thought that the number sounded wrong!

#5 06-17-2004, 12:07 PM

Price seems kinda high on this one. Even if it is a Sportline, it is still pretty high.

suginami · #6 06-17-2004, 12:28 PM

Price is high, but the mileage is very, very low. I also like the color combination. It's the same as mine. Please note that while the ad says the interior color is beige, its official color is parchment.

For a single guy, I actually think the coupes are nicer cars than the sedans.

I'd recommend this one over an E420 sedan.

If I bought this car, I'd do the following:

1. replace the "300CE" badge with E320 as 1994-1995's were. 1993 300CE's have the 3.2 liter M104 engineIt would look authentic because the decklid on the coupes wasn't face-lifted, or rather "rear-lifted", like the sedans. Namely, the coupes, and cabriolet's for that matter, didn't get the chrome strip under the star logo. They kept the black strip that runs between the tail lights.

2. install clear / red tail lights.

3. install Hella or Bosch 500E euro's with clear corners.

4. install an S600 style grill and leave the stock chrome surround. The face-lifted '94-'95 hood / grill is not an improvement, IMHO. When in history has the reduction in chrome been considered an improvement?

Don't forget to have him check for head gasket leaks and engine wiring harness flaking.

#7 06-17-2004, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by suginami
For a single guy, I actually think the coupes are nicer cars than the sedans.

Now, wait a minute there . . .

Us married guys can enjoy the coupes too!

My only child is out of the house now, married to a fine fellow, and there is just me and the wife. For hauling around family, we can use my wife's Avalon. For just me . . . it is the coupe.

- - - - -

I have the same color combination as this one for sale. Just for comparison, I purchased mine in December 2002 for $10,300. It had 74K miles at the time and is a '89 model. I figured that I paid a few hundred more than the going rate, but since it was from the original owner and he had all important maintainance records, I felt it was a safe purchase. Did get him to purchase a headlight lens prior to handover. That was $100, so I really paid 10.2K.

Shortly after purchase, the 75k service was due, and since then, just normal stuff. It really pays to get one with a full service history. Things will still need to be replaced, but you can rest knowing that an effort has been made to maintain the thing.

Other than routine maintainence, what has been done (mechanically) to my car is the valve guide seals, EHA block, gaskets to fix oil leaks, and flex disk. All other costs have been routine preventative maintance "by the book" or non-essential mods (suspension, wheels, radio, etc.)

#8 06-17-2004, 10:17 PM

Just looked up Kelly Blue Book value for this particular coupe. For used cars, they supply three values. I entered the zip code for Fountain Valley, the location of the dealer and entered the proper mileage and assumed the car falls into the Excellent category. Here is what KBB says:

Trade-in Value $9.450
(what a dealership will give you for the car, considering milage and condition)

Private Party Value $11,480
(what you could expect to pay to a private seller or what a private seller could expect to sell the car for, considering mileage and condition)

Retail Value $13,985
(what you can expect to pay a dealer for this auto) The default mileage for a 1993 is 91,000, so indeed, this is a low-mileage coupe.

Still, with the premium for low miles and considering the Excellent catagory, the price the dealer is asking is about $2k more than the high blue book value. Looks like you have some wiggle room for negotiation.

According to kbb, if the car had the "normal" 91k miles on it, a dealer would ask $12,435 (so the mileage premium is about 1.5k)

Bottom line . . . if the service records are not available, pass on this one, unless you can get the dealer to come down quite a bit.

- - - - -

for more info:
http://www.kbb.com

- - - - -

By the way . . . this coupe is not a Sportline edition. It does not have the little fender badge rear of the front wheel. (Or, if it is a Sportline, they took the badge off on the left side.)

JCE · #9 06-18-2004, 12:42 AM

Thanks for the info and updates - I think he has ruled this one out of the running at this point. A bit too much hype and too little history for him to feel good about this one.

Ferdman · #10 06-18-2004, 06:46 AM

JCE, if this 1993 300CE is in immaculate shape cosmetically I'd recommend having a PPI by a knowledgeable MB mechanic. Between you and the mechanic you should be able to determine how well this car was maintained and how it was driven ... lots of short trips where the engine barely got up to temperature or infrequent extended trips. It does seem odd that this car would be for sale at a Dodge dealer. You would expect that a knowledgeable MB owner would have sold it privately. Take particular notice of the head gasket, engine wiring harness insulation and all fluids. If the car is pristine (all original paint w/o door dings and minimum stone chips, maintained leather, clean carpets. It should be obvious if this car was garaged and routinely maintained, or if it sat outside neglected and was heavily detailed by the selling dealer. Closely inspect under the front seats and in the trunk. In fact, the lower rear seats are easily removed by pressing the orange tab and lifting.) and mechanically sound $15,000 is a reasonable target price IMO. As an owner of a 1991 and 1992 300CE I can attest to their build quality and sporty feel, as compared to the 124 sedans. Especially if you prefer to drive with your legs stretched out rather than sitting upright.

pmizell · #11 06-18-2004, 06:36 PM

Vin #856095? I have a current Carfax subscription John if you want me to run a report on this car, and you have the correct VIN.

JCE · #12 06-20-2004, 12:36 AM

Hi Paul:

Thanks for the offer - I think he has written this one off the list. If he finds another one soon, we would appreciate any info on what looks likely to him. Right now BMW3231 and an MB C280 Sport are on the list for looking over, both with extended warranties. A local 124 also may be in the running, but most of the 'mint' ones we look at are not up to their billing to even bother investigating through car-fax.

John