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I am a 22 year old who is about enter his senior year of college. I have spent the past two summers doing odd jobs to save up for my first car. I had been looking at "safe cars" that would suit a 22 year old...you know, the Honda Accords and Toyota type situation. However, a family friend recommended visiting "Louis' Garage..."
Louis has a small shop, where he is currently restoring a 1972 BMW from the metal chassis up to new, an AMC Javelin on the mechanic rack, an Excalibur on the floor, and two 1960's Beetles parked out front. We told Louis that we were in the market for a nice first car. He told us he had a 1999 e320 Mercedes, 140,000 miles, for $3900 -- keep in mind that my minimum wage has a significant influence on the budgeting for shopping. LOUIS has been driving it...and based on all of his restoration projects and what we saw, it looks nicely taken car of for an old car. Literally not a single scratch on the exterior.
As a 22 year old who is extremely in love with the idea of owning a Mercedes, I am also very skeptical and a little nervous about taking the dive for a car this old, even though it has been properly cared for. If there's anyone with a car like this and has this amount of miles I WOULD LOVE SOME FORM OF FEEDBACK AND WHATNOT!!!
140k miles is low for those cars.
The W210 body with 3.2l engine proves itself to be the best bang for the buck in MB World in this generation.
Ask about transmission service, check the pilot bushing for leaks, breather and valve covers on the engine, steering rack for leaks and noise and if you are satisfy with aged interior, go for it.
My advice to you is to wait until you've graduated from college, have a decent-paying job and no significant debt. These cars are wonderful, but they DO require a good deal of money to fix and keep maintained, i.e., not idea for a college student, unless your dad pays to keep it up. Set your MB sights on the future; that will help keep you from going to the bank for another loan to fix your MB. Just my two cents . . .
James
I bought a 1999 e320 for $2700 with 193k on the odometer over 2 years ago and the only major job ive had to have done to it was a power steering hose. NOT the pump. It was a $50 hose and a $50 job. Great car if it isn't abused. Smooth ride, almost as nice as a cadillac
You'll love and probably hate the W210 before it's all over. Drives great and feels good to drive, but the cost of maintenance and repairs can be brutal.
I love my 2001 E320, but with only 10,400 miles on it, you'd be pretty surprised if I listed all the repairs that I've had to do to my Garage Queen. For example, the rear windows have probably never been rolled down and back up more than 6 times since new... I'm not kidding... and I've had to replace both rear window regulators!
I just got into my first Benz, and let me tell you the story. About 6 months ago I had a 1999 E320 4matic gifted to me by my aging grandfather with 99,000 miles on the clock. He had given it a wild ride in his last few drives, hitting a few things going over a curb and railing the cats pretty hard but no frame damage.
Well, so far my own repairs have been: 2 new replacement cats $550.00, the plugged cats caused my secondary air pump to fail so I replaced all of that with good used parts for $150.00, tail lights were burning bulbs so I replaced them: $100.00, new Xenon OEM bulbs: $80.00, Spark Plugs: 12 needed for the v6..., Oil change is 8 quarts of expensive Euro oil!!! Transmission filter service and flush of torque converter and tranny: 400.00, New lower ball joints and axles $450.00 replace airbag (removed from good vehicle on ebay) $50.00, Get carsoft computer to turn off SRS light: $300.00, new wheels and tires $1000.00 (used merc wheels on craigslist and new Yokohama tires), New tranny mount $100.00, new driveline rubber bushings front and rear, $75.00parts, few hours install.
So you can see that this free car cost me over $3500.00 to get road worthy and I am sure I am forgetting some of the smaller things I have dont like new bluetooth stereo etc. etc,
BUT I LOVE THIS CAR! I have never had one fit me so well @ 6'5". Thew ride is sweet, enough power on tap but not so much you will get yourself in trouble. I thought I fit well in smaller cars, but after driving this for a few months, and getting back into my Tacoma Pickup feels like I am in a clown car! If you can foot the bill of expensive parts by working on it yourself it would be worth it. If you are relying on a Merc Mechanic be prepared to get shook by your ankles for coin.
It would have doubled the expenditure had I not done my own work...
I have owned 2 w210s, a 98 E320 4matic and now an 01 E55. Both have been very reliable . I do all maintenance myself so the costs are not too bad. The most complicated repair I have had to do was replacing the front CV axles on the 4matic.
I just got into my first Benz, and let me tell you the story. About 6 months ago I had a 1999 E320 4matic gifted to me by my aging grandfather with 99,000 miles on the clock. He had given it a wild ride in his last few drives, hitting a few things going over a curb and railing the cats pretty hard but no frame damage.
Well, so far my own repairs have been: 2 new replacement cats $550.00, the plugged cats caused my secondary air pump to fail so I replaced all of that with good used parts for $150.00, tail lights were burning bulbs so I replaced them: $100.00, new Xenon OEM bulbs: $80.00, Spark Plugs: 12 needed for the v6..., Oil change is 8 quarts of expensive Euro oil!!! Transmission filter service and flush of torque converter and tranny: 400.00, New lower ball joints and axles $450.00 replace airbag (removed from good vehicle on ebay) $50.00, Get carsoft computer to turn off SRS light: $300.00, new wheels and tires $1000.00 (used merc wheels on craigslist and new Yokohama tires), New tranny mount $100.00, new driveline rubber bushings front and rear, $75.00parts, few hours install.
So you can see that this free car cost me over $3500.00 to get road worthy and I am sure I am forgetting some of the smaller things I have dont like new bluetooth stereo etc. etc,
BUT I LOVE THIS CAR! I have never had one fit me so well @ 6'5". Thew ride is sweet, enough power on tap but not so much you will get yourself in trouble. I thought I fit well in smaller cars, but after driving this for a few months, and getting back into my Tacoma Pickup feels like I am in a clown car! If you can foot the bill of expensive parts by working on it yourself it would be worth it. If you are relying on a Merc Mechanic be prepared to get shook by your ankles for coin.
It would have doubled the expenditure had I not done my own work...
I can only compare your ownership experience to a guy who bought brand new Mercedes from showroom and next day spend $8,000 on low-profile wheels and spoilers.
HEY ALL HERE'S THE UPDATE. We came back to Louis after a month because there were certain things he had to fix up on the 1999, but he mentioned to us that he also had a 2001 e320 4matic sedan that a customer had backed out on buying because the customer had found a different Benz.
The 1999 E320 4Matic Sedan had 140,000 miles, the 2001 E320 4Matic Sedan had 138,000 miles. I couldn't be happier with it --at the moment, because all of your posts I find very helpful and frightening as I move forward with my new baby-- and I am driving it like a man in his 70's; there's a lot of differences between my former 2011 Toyota Camry and this beauty, and I am aware that most luxury cars are a responsibility to upkeep.
I am not looking to add decals, spoilers, or "that guy in the hood" modifications. The cd feeder which is in the trunk--had never seen something like that before-- does not recognize any CD's that are inserted. The knob that you pull outwards for the tail light brings up a notification that there is a defective lamp, however I am more than confident in the mechanic that I bought this Mercedes from to address it and fix it.
NOW, is it true that the center console costs a pretty penny to replace (i.e., coffee gets spilt on the panel?)
I am still a little skeptical of this Mechanic for stereotypical Mechanic "****ing you over" suspicions and so on, however his projects I've seen in the garage look incredible (the 72' BMW restoration from the frame up), and clients I've interacted with seem content with his service. One gentleman had a 20 year old Buick which he had purchased three years ago and he was there the day I purchased my Mercedes, only to have the oil change in his Buick. Unrelated story, but I will try and keep all of you up to date on this. So far, my Boo drives like a queen, and hasn't acted up like a diva. Fingers Crossed!
Congratulations on new drive.
Yes, the electronic module under gear shiftier cost pretty money, so making rule of no spilling liquids is highly advised. Some members add boot on the shiftier like later models have to lower the possible damage.
The light bulb message often is licence plate bulb, that is hard to see. Beware that you need to buy Mercedes-rated bulb as other will trigger error. Could also be the PO put wrong bulb.
And keep close eye on front CV boots. They cost $50 , but when overlook-the dirt will destroy joint and bill goes to $1300
Happy motoring
While the mechanic is changing that light bulb, have him check the motor mounts. If they are weak and you hit a bump, the engine will crash down into both power steering lines, slicing them like a guillotine. That wouldn't be a good day. And while you're at it, have him check the spring perches.
It's a great car, but does require some care. Happy driving!
sounds like me when i first got mine. you can let it go for a couple years hopefully like i did. but at the end of the day i replaced my rotors,brakes,cabin air filters,charcoal air filters,tail lights,headlights,passenger and driver mirror,serpentine belt twice,belt tensioner,water pump,transmission fluid,electronic conductor plate with plug for the tranny,transmission filter, and too this day the car always needs something. but i do have 191k so its been through war. parts are expensive make connections,make friends,learn how to turn a wrench for sure. ive owned mine for 10 years+ and never took it to a mechanic
Cheaper than leasing anything new, will run damn near forever if taken care of. I've had mine for about a year now, and put on about 10K miles. Very dependable, so far just wear and tear items, (tires, brakes, tie rod ends, engine mounts). I'm almost to 155K and my first high mileage club badge. Love the car, plan on keeping it indefinitely.
07-30-2016, 09:53 AM
