Wasted Saturday... E320 dud, crazy woman. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TylerH860 · #1 12-20-2009, 06:37 PM

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1499535244.html

I took the red-eye flight out to Denver yesterday planning to pick up this 1994 E320. I talked to the seller 3 times and had some very encouraging photos emailed to me. The seller claimed no issues other than a few paint imperfections, worn interior and front wheel slightly out of alignment from a curb strike last week. Each phone conversation was over 30 minutes long because the woman could not stop talking about herself, mostly bashing her ex-husband and complimenting her honesty, intellect, and utmost care she takes with her cars. She claimed to have a 2007 Audi that she drove more, and has to sell the Mercedes because her ex-husband drained $350k out of her bank account and left her high and dry. I could go on for pages about her personal life, but when I could get her back on subject with the car everything sounded encouraging. No leaks, no serious issues, just had a local german-only mechanic look over it and could provide the number, and had a bunch of service records including a head gasket.

I knew I had to hurry because of the price, and got the first flight out to Denver Saturday, planning to give her the cash and drive the vehicle home. She was going to pick me up from the airport, but upon arrival she claimed she was unable find someone to care for her ailing mother (I know her complete biography and medical history as well). I was forced to take a cab.

The driver tried to screw me out of money upon arrival, claiming to have no change. I forced him to drive to a nearby McDonalds so I could break the $50, and left him a juicy 75 cent tip on arrival. He proclaimed proudly at the beginning of the ride that his home country was Kenya. Nice job fitting the exact stereotype.

At first glance, I was very pleased with the car. Though it was covered with a bit of frost, it seemed the paint, interior, and rubber components were in decent condition.

I knocked on the door and was greeted by the seller, a small, older woman, and was ushered into the crampt main living space. It was difficult to understand what she was saying because the entire living room was overwhelmed with 3 commercial sized aquariums. The buzzing of the filter pumps even made the floors shake. Mercifully she got the keys and we went outside to inspect the E320.

The first problem with the car was the dead power locks. Only the driver's door unlocked with the key. She said she bought it that way (back in 2004) and didn't realize it was an issue. No big deal, I thought. Started the car, and the check engine light kicked on almost immediately. Then came the first confession that it comes on "every once in a while" but the mechanic told her it was only a sensor. I tried to get the defroster going, but the blower would not go out of low. She claimed again that it was that way when she bought it and didn't realize it was an issue. Alarms started going off in my head.

I decided to pop the hood and have a look while the car warmed up. Before I could pull back the safety latch I noticed a red 3" pool underneath the car. Upon further inspection I found it leaking from the transmission cooler lines, but it didn't alarm me as much as the leaking green coolant coming from around the radiator. It was making a lovely Christmas medley on the asphalt beneath. I popped the hood and that's when the real shock and awe began.

In the coolant expansion tank, a nice half inch layer of brown gooey crud floated atop the neon coolant. There was no pressure release when I twisted the tank cap, and my finger-dip test confirmed it was motor oil. To top it all off, the wiring harness was one of the worst I had seen, no doubt causing the electrical issues. I asked for the head gasket service record, and it turned out to only be a valve cover gasket.

Through all this, the seller kept feigning shock, giving numerous examples displaying the content of her character, and never once apologized. It was never her fault for not noticing the puddles the car left everywhere it went. It was her husband's for screwing her over. It was later she admitted this was her husband's car, which he gave to her recently as part of the divorce settlement.

At this point I wouldn't have taken the car if she had given it to me, but I decided to drive it for some reason. The "misalignment" made the car undriveable over 60MPH; obviously the tire was out of round or the rim had bent. Over every bump the R-R shock made a distressing noise. How anyone with a shred of honesty or sanity could guaruntee this car would make it 500 miles home is beyond me.

The 30 minute wait for the cab to return was one of the biggest tests of patience I've ever had. This woman continued to blab about her integrity, her misfortune, her mother, and her ex-husband without rest. The closest I got to an apology was, "So you can see why I fell more sorry for me than I do for you coming all the way out here." (quote more or less)

There was no question in my mind why she had two husbands run out on her and was fired from her job recently. She is insane, narcissistic, stupid beyond belief and does not know when to shut up. When I asked where her new Audi was, she told me she had to sell it, citing her ex-husband and the $3.5 million that she deserved. Initially it was only $350,000. Obviously she was a pathological liar along with everything else.

I somehow remained polite through the entire exchange, though it took considerable effort. The cab pulling into the driveway was the most welcome site of the day so far, and the fare was $20 less than my ride out with the Kenyan.

I'm out $350 and 11 hours of my time. Thankfully I was able to get a flight home without issue. The only silver lining is that I didn't buy the car sight unseen, and had a complete junker delivered to my door just in time for Christmas.

Today she chose to revise the price on her craigslist listing, but not suprisingly didn't disclose the numerous issues I showed to her.

compu_85 · #2 12-20-2009, 07:17 PM

Well Tyler, at least you were able to keep your composure

It's funny how people really out of touch with reality can doll up a car's description.

Last year a friend of mine was looking for a cheap 2nd car, and an 88 Jetta poped onto craigslist not far from me. I went with a couple friends to check it out. It was described as being in perfect shape with cold AC and good tires.

When we got there we were met with a very nervous guy holding the keys. I got in the car to take it for a spin, and attempted to move the seat so I could reach the pedals... but it would not move. Worn bushings are a common problem with the old VW seats, but this was good and truly stuck. I let the owner try to move it forward while I looked under the hood as it ran... noting the wrong coolant and oil leaks everywhere. He got the seat moved and we went for a drive. Not long after the AC quit blowing cold. The man made some excuse. The car hesitated quite a bit, but was allright for a cheepie.

We pulled back into his place and we went for a look under the car. The first thing I noticed was that the fuel pump was dripping fuel. He claimed it's ok, it's just what older cars do. I then looked for rust in the usuall places... and noticed that the seat tracks, which are part of the body on those cars, were completely rotten through, and pieces of angle iron had been hastily welded in place and were sealed to the body with foaming insulation. The insulation had no dirt on it so it must have been recently applied. I asked the man about that and he claimed to know nothing about it, getting more nervous as we poked and proded more. He didn't want to come down form his $1700 price either

-Jason

aklim · #3 12-20-2009, 07:21 PM

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to get a PDI at a local MB dealership? If it doesn't pass that, I won't even waste my time talking to you

TylerH860 · #4 12-20-2009, 07:24 PM

Mercedes of Westminster wanted $250.00 for a PPI.

Plane ticket was $130.00

#5 12-20-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Mercedes of Westminster wanted $250.00 for a PPI.

Plane ticket was $130.00

That PPI pice sounds about right, I would be more concerned about wasting a whole day chasing wild geese.

MercFan · #6 12-20-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

I took the red-eye flight out to Denver yesterday planning to pick up this 1994 E320

Unbelievable story - some sellers should not be allowed to advertise on CL - commons sense should be a basic requirement... wish you had PM'd me - I would have gone out there to scout it out for ya - I live in Westminster, CO.... next time, eh!?

Glad you'd walked away.. sounds like the only logical thing to do - still sucks going back empty-handed.

R Leo · #7 12-20-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Each phone conversation was over 30 minutes long because the woman could not stop talking about herself, mostly bashing her ex-husband...

That was your first warning that she was a flake.

Let's flag her ad into oblivion.

Hatterasguy · #8 12-20-2009, 08:29 PM

Thats why I hate buying stuff. Cars and boats to people lie like crazy.

I remember I looked at a 300SD that was close to me for a guy in LI and saved him a trip. The owner said it was perfect without any rust, when the car was rusted so bad it was amazing. Still to this day I have not seen a worse W126 that wasn't sitting in the mud in a junkyard. If I drive a few hours to see it I would have told the guy to go **** himself.

TylerH860 · #9 12-20-2009, 08:39 PM

I don't mind going to look. There have been a few cars I've driven hours to look at and passed on because we couldn't come together on price, or there was an issue they were probably not aware of. It is my hobby that has sustained itself and then some over the past few years.

Of the dozen of these cars that I've purchased, this was the worst I had seen. The repairs would have exceeded the value of the car 2x.

johnjzjz · #10 12-20-2009, 08:41 PM

i no longer buy anything more than 2 hour drive away -

people $uck big time and you have to assume they when you know their lips are moving They are lying NO MATTER IF IT A NUN of not -- jz

mpolli · #11 12-20-2009, 08:59 PM

Here is a nice one, if you like travelling...

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1517234807.html

mgburg · #12 12-21-2009, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpolli

Here is a nice one, if you like travelling...

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/1517234807.html

"I have a new car and need it out of my driveway."

There's a "telling" sentence there if there ever was one...

compress ignite · #13 12-21-2009, 12:47 AM

TG it wasn't a Purchase.

Ain't nothing like "Feeling the Leather","Seeing the Smoke".

cmac2012 · #14 12-21-2009, 01:45 AM

It is amazing the range of used vehicles you find in the world. I've almost always been patient and kept test driving them til one rang the bell. Three times I finally found something that had about twice the value per dollar as the previous ones I'd driven in the search. Some people just don't know how much life their car has left. Either way less than they think or a good bit more.

mpolli · #15 12-21-2009, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgburg

"I have a new car and need it out of my driveway."

There's a "telling" sentenance there if there ever was one...

That's how I got my car. The guy was a real estate agent. When I got there he had about 4 other new cars in the driveway. Just wanted to get rid of it. That one there has less miles than mine and is a sport model. And if he really is motivated you could get it for 3K maybe.