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79300D · #1 03-02-2008, 06:59 PM

I have been trolling EBay, dealerships, cars.com, here... I was trying to find a nice W124 to replace my 1995 E320 Wagon ( 168,000 miles ). I have a friend who is in sales at at the local MB dealer, called me last week with what he said was "something I should look at." I've attached a picture, but here are the details:

1994 E320 Sedan
One owner
43,000 miles ( yes, 43,000 miles )
Immaculate interior.
Never used spare, tools, jack.
Original mats spared with the use of all weather mats.
All books, window sticker, keys, receipts.
The engine compartment literally looks brand new.
Fairly rare color.

Here is my question... I buy these W124's for my 140 mile round trip daily commute... Should I feel guilty about putting a ton of miles on this car?

Jeff

jcyuhn · #2 03-02-2008, 07:40 PM

Nice find. First, no, don't feel guilty. These are massed produced cars, they are made to be driven and used. It's transportation, not artwork.

Second, the spare tire is not safe to use. Tire life is 6-7 years, even if it has zero miles. The steel belts rust, the nylon cords become brittle. I replaced the spare in my 1993 124 a few years ago even though it had never seen the ground.

Enjoy the new ride.

- JimY

Kestas · #3 03-02-2008, 07:44 PM

No - cars should be driven... even fine cars. Why should you save wear on this car? Drive it, and use it up. The only exception is if you did a frame-off restoration and the car is in concours condition, or if there is salt on the roads.

My 95 E320 Cabrio is driven summer only, but I drive it everywhere. Even then, it's only 5K each year. There's road rash on the front of the car, so it's not in showroom condition, but I don't bark it up and it should look good for a long time. My winter car is an 18 year old Mercury Grand Marquis in great shape - also beginning to turn heads. But I drive it every winter, rustproof it, and keep up with any corrosion that may develop.

I'm still trying to use up my 71 Cutlass!

I have a lot of cars and enjoy using each one of them.

Even Jay Leno (known car guy) says that cars should be driven.

deanyel · #4 03-02-2008, 07:55 PM

"Fairly rare color" would be an understatement.

79300D · #5 03-02-2008, 07:55 PM

Yeah, I knew the spare would have to go. The car just got four new tires before it was traded, so I guess a fifth is in order.

79300D · #6 03-02-2008, 07:57 PM

I know I have never seen another one this color. Now.. if I could find a low mileage, special ordered 500E/E500 in this color...

Larry Delor · #7 03-02-2008, 08:29 PM

Get an extended warranty - the kind that will cover wiring harnesses, and electronic throttle actuators (throttle bodies).

Nice find! - Is the price as nice?

Kestas · #8 03-02-2008, 09:38 PM

Do they give extended warranties to 14 year old vehicles?

POS · #9 03-03-2008, 07:59 AM

Since the car is so "new", the biggest perk to that car isn't that it's a show-car with low miles, it's that no one has had the chance to screw it up yet. Drive the heck out of it, take good care of it, and it'll be like you bought a new 1994 E320.

Congratulations. I like the color - never seen it before.

Kestas · #10 03-03-2008, 08:31 AM

POS, that's exactly why I bought my car with 50K, even though I typically buy older used cars. I wanted it new enough so there were no hack jobs done to the vehicle. I tend to be meticulous with my repair jobs.

79300D · #11 03-03-2008, 08:45 AM

Thanks for the comments. The price was really good, plus the 45,000 mile maintenance service is going to be at no cost. My first Mercedes was a new 1995 C280... for the times, this w124 was a far superior car, and not that much more expensive. The sticker on that C Class was almost 40,000.

S-Class Guru · #12 03-03-2008, 11:21 AM

Great looking car. Jump on it.

Good comments about the old spare tire.
So, you guys are saying that if I ever had to use the original spare in my '91, that I might find myself with the world's earliest "runflat"? HeHe.

DG

LUVMBDiesels · #13 03-03-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S-Class Guru

Great looking car. Jump on it.

Good comments about the old spare tire.
So, you guys are saying that if I ever had to use the original spare in my '91, that I might find myself with the world's earliest "runflat"? HeHe.

DG

I needed to put Bruno's 26 year old spare on in an emergency. It held air and worked fone for the 50 mile trip home. It was replaced immediately afterwards due to it's age. I would have repalced it a when I got the car, but it had new tires on it and i just forgot!

Thing I hated was putting on the virgin bundt rim and scratching it!

Will_w202 · #14 03-03-2008, 11:48 AM

I hate to think about being a party-pooper, but low-mile cars always worry me. 40k miles in 14 years? What are the chances the suspension bushings, shocks, vacuum hoses, etc have never been touched? It's still a 14 year old car, and rubber dry-rots. When I bought my 97 with 61k, by 65k I had the entire front suspension replaced under warranty due to squeaks and looseness. Then, you've got a 94 with harness issues, probably the original head gasket. But I'm sure you got a PPI right?

Hope you bought it cheap! To me, low mileage does not justify added retail value on any Benz over 5 years old. I want full records first

Hatterasguy · #15 03-03-2008, 02:05 PM

Looks like a good example, for the right price I would be all over it. I don't really like that color, looks like a girls car. But with used cars condition is more important than color.