yangchi

Looking to pull trigger on one, 2007, with 95k miles. seemingly all stock, only thermostat and a ignition coil was replaced as far as the owner is aware, but he only bought it less than a year ago from a MB dealer.

Looks clean, drives smooth, except a very very slight vibration around 60mph, nothing after 70.

I've owned many BMWs, and while the 60 mph shimmy was very annoying, it was very difficult to completely eliminate it without completely revamping front end.

That said - not sure if here's where I can even find resources for the wagon - things like what I need to look out for for a 07 at 95k miles, and what I can expect to be doing in the next 30k miles to keep it reliably on the road for the family.

Thanks in advance guys!~

kajtek1

Was it CPO year ago? That would be good sign.
I combined PPI punch list at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/gene...nspection.html
But that is a long one.

cetialpha5

What's the VIN? Early 2007's still had the balance shaft problem. Also do you have the rear airmatics on the wagon? If they haven't been changed, not sure you could go another 30k without replacing them, those are usually about $500 for an Arnott aftermarket part, oem is more.

2MERKS

"*except a very very slight vibration around 60mph, nothing after 70"
Could be front rims are bent, or bearings are shot.

cetialpha5

Or the motor mounts, the control arms, ball joints, bad tires, etc. Can't really tell until a mechanic gets it on a lift and pins it down.

kajtek1

If that is bad wheel, you need somebody with his head down at the wheel at 60 mph.

cetialpha5

Yeah, or they could just inspect the wheel and balance the tire.

kajtek1

I like my idea better

yangchi

Was hoping someone could confirm the history I'm given - that it was a one owner returned to dealer, and sold to current owner in Oct 2015.

WDBUH87X77X216472

Thanks in advance! Is the Balance Shaft problem something detrimental or something can be relatively easily corrected?

yangchi

I'm told it was a one owner returned to MB dealer as a trade in for a newer car.
Current owner bought it in Oct 2015, and he gave me a laundry list of what the MB dealer did to the car before putting on the used car lot. It was 91k miles in Oct 2015, and now just over 95k.

There were a list of things done, but other than buttons and door sills and cracked corner lights, the only things caught my eye were leaky coolant which they replaced lower hose, and a centrifuge cover leak which they replaced.

Under current owner, he did thermostat and one ignition coil, nothing else.

I'm going over your long list of PPI right now. I guess I can still back out if it's problematic and too much to up-keep being a 4-Matic....

yangchi

In reading thru the list - have a few questions I'm not sure I understand:

- Green coolant - why is this red flag? just not using MB coolant? BMW oem is blue, but lots of coolants are green. Trying to understand the logic.

- Blowby test - What's the expectation here? I did open up the cap, and there are oil spraying out - similar to my BMWs, the cam spits oil out if the oil cap is opened. Not sure the logic here.

- MIL and Instrument Cluster check. What does this entail since they are marked with ***s. What do I look for?

There are a few I won't have a way to check without getting more involved., like checking drive shaft and trans oil / clutch oil, etc. it drove OK, except the shimmy - which I still wonder if many people here have the same issue or if all drives smooth (like I said, BMWs have this issue on older cars if suspension is not 100% tight).

kajtek1

Green coolant has chemistry that eats aluminium engines and leaves build up in radiator.
Blowby test is substitute for compression test, what on modern engine becomes very difficult.
Some engine spray oil when you open the cap, but you can still put a napking on the hole. If napkin stays, it is good. When you need a piece of cardboard to stay, it is questionable.
Ford truck owners for comparison are happy when reversed cap stays on the hole.
CEL will tell you PO neglected the car. Just in last month we had 2 members coming with issue of CEL not lighting what made them fail the inspection.
PO managed to disable the CEL to cover up the issues.
So plugging scanner is pretty important.
The list I made originated as CPO inspection and include checking stuff that is consider cosmetic. Buying several years old car, you have to allow some imperfections.
Than sometimes you get lucky. My latest purchase with over 160k miles, beside front spoiler scratched on curbs has only 3 rock chips and 1 minimal scratch at the lock.
No dings. Hard to believe as in CA manage to have a car with no ding means parking it at far corners at shopping malls, but happens.

cetialpha5

The engine number on that car is 272972 30 470453, balance shaft was up to 2729..30 468993 so you just made it. Had it been affected, it would not be a minor repair as you have to remove the engine to fix it, about a 4-6k repair.

yangchi

Thanks all - I think I'll pull the trigger and get it. I'll be back here looking for help very very soon as soon as I pick up the car.

Alignment will be first, balance right after.
I already know I need one extra key from the dealer, and I am pretty sure the IR receiver is already intermittent, and will need addressed - not sure if I'm brave enough to cut things open, or hopefully dealer or someone can sell the receiver part... I read it can get expensive.

I'll give it a all filter and fluid change very soon - as soon as I can find instructions here to do them... never had a 4matic before, so I'm sure diff will require more maintenance. Any pointers on the standard maintenances, pls shoot them my way.

I know he has not done the plugs, at 95k... so that'll be the first to go.

I'm sure there will be more stuff in the near future, but as long as there are resources to upkeep it, looking forward to the next few years with this wagon!

Anything else I need to do at 95k on a 2007 E350 Wagon, please feel free to suggest.

Thanks,

kajtek1

Obviously on 4M check the front axles boots.
You can DIY aftermarket pretty cheap, but MB axles sell for about $1300
EACH

2MERKS

Chech the glovebox for the pamphlet which will have the maintenance record. This should be your gauge from what's been documented. If not, you'll know what to do.
GL

konigstiger

Here's your data card.

yangchi

Any way to pull anything else on this VIN? Service, etc?

I pick up the car on Friday =)

Might as well start looking into all the DIY stuff now!!!