I passed on it but you might not.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cphilip · #1 11-26-2008, 09:30 PM

Went to see this wagon in Atlanta this evening. A horrible trip traffic wise. A wreck backed up traffic for hours. Tool me 2 and a Half hours to go what normaly takes a half hour. Left here at 2Pm and got there at 5:30. This is a 100 mile trip for me. But... lets move on.

This is the wagon I looked at. Sounds like a deal doesn't it? Well... maybe is is... and maybe it isn't. Had I lived closer to it and could get my indy involved it might have been. But I passed but one of you just might be interested in it.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/cto/932159396.html

Here is what I was able to determine, in spite of failing light and losing time to really do more than this....

The bad:

One of the grimiest oilyist greasiest motor and under carriage below motor I have seen in awhile. Drippy and can't really tell were its coming from without a real careful long inspection and a good cleaning up. Been blown around in there for a good while I imagine. Could be a small leak unattended for a while or several small leaks even. Not sure if its oil or tranny fluid. Most likely is Oil. This car has a large under plate of plastic like a skid plate and catches everything too and also makes it hard to see from the underside. Needed to be put on a lift to inspect more.

Drivers side front inboard CV shaft has split and separated its boot. Hard to even see the other side but I believe its intact (remember this is a 4Matic)

Oil dark and needs change. Level was sufficient. No signs of intrusion of water/coolant

AT fluid a tiny bit dark but no burnt smell and no signs of contamination.

There was what looked like a motor shock up near the front that was not attached to anything on the top end but was attached to something further down on the bottom. Just sort of flopping around in there.

Drivers side front Tire showing metal bands. Completely bald. passengers side just OK.... Rears decent. Feels like it wants to track left too. Owner says needs an alignment. But likely is the effect of the tires (and possibly the CV joint?

Coolant recover has the lightest colored coolant I have seen. So light I still am not sure its yellow for certain. Some amount of scale laying in there too. But does not show signs of contamination with AT fluid or Oil. It is worn out or overly diluted (or both)

Windshield washer tank empty but I didn't bother to spend time to see if its cracked or not. I do know the light in the gauge pod knows its empty.

Front lower air dam missing a chunk. Will have to be replaced.

Some signs that very farthest back interior has been wet with some slight surface rust on the metal of the rear jump seats. Not serious but at some time water was in there.

Right (passengers side) front headlight does not work. Owners says he has to go in and twist the connector around occasionally to get it to work and then it works. He things its corrosion or loose connection. I didn't bother to investigate.

Rear (passengers side) tail lamp held in from inside the emergency kit panel held in to tail lamp assembly with duct tape. That lamp does work though. but it likely broken back of the assembly and will need to be replaced.

Rear tail gate lock may or may not be working correctly. With car unlocked it had to be unlocked with the key as it would not open otherwise. Did not take time to fiddle with the position to determine problem.

Tristar Hood ornament broken off. DEAL BREAKER!@!!!

The good:

The motor starts instantly and is very quite. Almost cannot hear it start and run. No smoke. Was a dead cold engine. Had not been pre-started as the oil, coolant and motor was cold to touch. Runs quite and smooth up to speed. Feels strong. Did not show signs of overheating and ran at perfect temperature during test drive.

Transmission shifts smoothly and imperceptibly

CV joint in question did not make noise and may not be ruined yet. None of them seemed bad.

No suspension squeaks or groans.

Braked solidly and fairly much straight.

Paint seemed pretty darn good. But, keep in mind, my delay with the traffic put me there two hours late. So arrived at about the worst time to be inspecting paint. I did not see any door dings. And the paint appeared to be very good. No real signs of pealing. No signs of rust in wheel wells. Pretty nice example of body condition. There is one place on the passengers side front quarter panel that has something that looks like it is splashed on to it. Built up. But I cannot make out what it is in the fading light. For some reason it looked like light pink hand washing soap (wild conjection).

Every single switch and gauge works. All Windows (from every position), Seats, Sunroof, Rear wipers and all its accessories... everything. Including that darn empty windshield washer tank light.

Leather was very good. No splits, pulls or stains. Headliner good. All nice and neat interior.

Some things I did not test:

AC and Heat. Meant to but I had about decided to walk away by this time.

Conclusion:

The doesn't have this in his add. The car has 183K on it. Not bad at all. He is not the original owner. It is my guess is that the car was well taken care of at one time. Probably for a good period of time. But not since his time with it. However it remains to be seen if its been in his hands too long or not. There is evidence that it is not a lost cause.

Heck, it might be worth $2150 (his real price). I might have paid it could I have taken it somewhere to investigate that leak. It seems to me though, that the guy could just simply wash that engine, change the oil and put on a decent set of front tires and grease and slap a CV replacement boot on.... AND FILL THAT DAM WINDSHIELD WASHER TANK... if he wanted to sell it. I mean you need to make some effort eh?

I gave it some thought but finally just decided this was not one that I could take on without further investigation. And since I am 100 miles from home thats not going to happen easily. And so I lowballed him with $1000 offer and, when he refused and told me it was a $5000 car and would only take $500 to put right, I thanked him for his time and left. Had he shown some interest in the $1000 at all I might have been willing to go up to maybe $1500. Not sure I would have though. And he didn't. He asked me if I would take $1000 for the car. I told him no I wouldn't. But, then again I would have prepared the car for sale properly and GOTTEN $3000 for it!

I last saw him mumbling his way back into his house.

He seems a sort of odd fellow in some ways. May be down on his luck a bit. Had another car (SUV of some type) there for sale. And at one point told me he was needing money. I imagine not employed or something like that.

But... some of you Atlanta folks might want to take a look. And, who knows, he may keep coming down. But, my search continues.

tinypanzer · #2 11-26-2008, 10:59 PM

"Tool me 2 and a Half hours to go what normaly takes a half hour"

Have you tried porno?

cphilip · #3 11-26-2008, 11:31 PM

hehehe...

By the way... this same guy has the same exact car listed at two different prices on Charlotte Craig list. I dunno why.... the car in in Atlanta.

And again, by they way, what is it with some of these Craig List sellers acting like you are doing them a favor if you ask for simple information. Some of their adds are quite demanding or their attitude is just as rude when you simply ask for some pictures.

One of them emailed me back telling me it would be a lot of trouble to bother to take them. And she simply said to me "tell me if your really interested before I bother to take them". I replied "how the heck would I know if I am interested without seeing at least a bit of what it is your selling?" Perhaps you don't really want to sell? Her add, said "Must sell" in it... She never sent me any pictures by the way. Nor did she answer any of the few questions I asked about.

And then another one said "Serious inquires with contact phone # only!!"... I emailed him and said "how the heck am I supposed to know if I am serious about YOUR car when I don't even see one single picture of it and why would I send you my phone number until then? Let alone when you don't even provide yours? I am looking and have been looking and someone will get my money. It could be you, but it might not be. Send me pictures and your phone number and we shall see. If not... then good luck to you".

I mean... WTF is this all about? Are they wanting to sell or not? Certainly they can tell scammers from real responses. And expected to get a lot of inquiries that don't pan out right? If not then quit selling on the internet!

TheDon · #4 11-27-2008, 12:31 AM

awwwww maaaan. I wish I had the money for it.

dangol'benzo · #5 11-08-2009, 02:59 PM

I hear what you are saying about CL sellers, however on the flip side of that: In this economy, I make a fair amount of my income from commerce on CL. It irritates me to no end when I get a one line email with no contact info- such as "gt pics", or "pics?" most of the time I dont even respond. it is, of course, my duty as a seller to make sure I can offer the most info possible in my ad, including pictures.

Hirnbeiss · #6 11-09-2009, 07:33 AM

Judging from the level of deferred maintenance it was owned by a UGA alum (not necesseraily grad). Best to not touch with a 10-ft pole.
Go Jackets!