http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=2495504430&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

120K miles for less then 2 grand? What am I missing, besides for some reason I can't shake the fact that somthing seems shady...

There you have it; odo probably hasn't worked in 100,000 miles.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

You are missing two things:

1) The odometer is not currently operating

2) The seller makes no representations on how all of the mechanicals are working. Nothing describes the steering, a/c, transmission, engine, etc. These items could all require a lot of work and, by ommitting the representation, he would not be misrepresenting the vehicle. Buying them on e-bay is risky enough. Buying them blind is even worse.

It might be well worth $2,000., especially if it has no rust. But, this one would need to be looked at in person prior to a decision.

but then he shows

I feel a whole lot better about the vehicle now that I know that he believes the true mileage to be about 120K.

Yeah, you're right about the mechanicals. It's just that there seem to be hardley any mercedes here in the Rocky Mountian areas. They are all on the east coast or west coast and a ton cheaper than anything I have found here. My best bet seems to be to find one one on Ebay like in texas, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2496373819&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT , and have myself a little road trip. The cost of fuel and/or plane ticket are far less than the inflated prices I see around here.

I would recommend that you attempt to setup a PPI on any vehicle that you might be considering, especially one that is a long distance away. There are portable services that do this type of thing, however, I'm not sure on how much experience they would have with a M/B diesel. Of course, a local mechanic, with experience in these cars, would be the best choice. If you have the time (several days), you could seek out an indy and have the seller bring it over there, if it is reasonably close by.

The other possibility, and a riskier one, is to fly out there with the deposit in hand. This is not easy to do because of last minute airfares, however, if the vehicle is not what the seller states that it is, you just fly back home. If it checks out, then you drive it. Most sellers do not like this approach one bit because of the potential of you backing out of the deal. In fact, they might even demand the deposit before you even drive it. This would be a mexican standoff at the worst possible time.

Another one with odometer problems. However, I will say that this seller has some good feedback on several different vehicles. But, note that he has only been in this business, under this name, since January.

Another one that requires you, or an independent mechanic (preferable) to check it out.

Remember that all of us suffer from the "rose colored glasses" syndrome when going down to make a decision on a vehicle that we have already decided that we want. It is fraught with risk.

Did any of you notice the paint in the closeup pics? Looks like a spray over to me.

The chrome pieces around the fenderwell--wonder what they're hiding? They didn't come from the factory!

Not a pic one of the drivers seat although all other seats were photographed.

This guys format/wording looks all too famaliar. Check out item #2495935733. Although not under the same sellers name, the format/wording is almost identical and I know the seller of the item # I gave you is shady . And shady is a very knid word for this guy. I haven't checked but it would be interesting to see if these guys have "done business" with each other in the past.

Cheers,

Bill

Just checked and no they haven't "done business" before.

Still suspicious though. Knida strange they are both from the same small [very small] town although the one seller sometimes lists his items location as Oxford and other times as Cordova.

Cheers,

Bill

If the cars located in Maryland, don't they require annual inspections? Would these show on a carfax along with mileage?

Bill are you a teacher? Man kids never understood how easy it was to tell if they written their own paper.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Maryland doesn't have annual inspections. Emissions every two years but the saftey is only when the car changes hands. Lot of junkers in MD.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Old Navy--I'm not but my wife is!!!

So I take it you agree with me. The only guy I saw with this format -- now, suddenly, there's two. Hmmmmm....

I'm no teacher but am a VERY seasoned auction buyer and can smell a rat a mile away.

BTW-I'm an antique dealer/restorer so I know a rat when i see one.

Cheers,

Bill

Bill, you can ripoff the format from any e-bay ad any time you wish. You can take this format and then put in your own data for your own auction. Anybody can do this at any time so I don't think you can draw any conclusions from it.