kokes1

The vehicle I'm looking at has been sitting for 2 to 3 years. The battery is dead so I haven't been able to see what all is wrong with it. What should I be looking for? Or should I just run? I own an audi so I know a little about the repair costs. Any advice on this subject would be appreciated.

Thanks

alx

hmmm. how about you check the oil, coolant, brake fluid, charge the battery and start it and see how it goes?

dieseldoc

Run away!!!! I would worry about the air suspension as well as engine seals. This could be quite pricy! I just traded my 2008 in. I was thankful for my extended warranty. It paid for itself.

N_Jay

Full description and price would help.
Outside or inside storage?
Where stored (temp, weather,etc.)
Why was it stored?
Any Service History?

280slbuff

I went to Walmart to have mine changed - it's located below passenger seat - I opened up the carpet and plastic air vents to provide access and they did the job for $132.00. Eight years on a battery is great. I have a 1969 Mercedes 280SL and have not changed the battery for 14 years - just take off the leads when storing in winter and it fires right up in spring!

marc hanna

If it's been sitting that long, you're going to have to do a lot of repairs. Unless you DIY, the car is worth next to nothing.

N_Jay

Maybe, maybe not.
Let's say it was parked because the owner stopped driving, got sick, or died. Parked inside in normal Temps and humidity and had good series records.
I would buy it in an instant.
Other end of the spectrum is parked outside because of one or more serious problems and poor service records. Then only if cheap and checked out for unseen issues.
A couple of years parked, in and of itself is not a problem.

marc hanna

I do agree, but time and ambient conditions are a factor. If it has been bored inside with climate control, there are going to be fewer issues. The drier the climate the better, but even then, there is the risk of dried out seals.

N_Jay

2 years is not that much a worry about seals.
I would worry way more about WHY it was parked.

alx

2 years is sufficient to destroy cylinder linings given the "right" temp swings

dieseldoc

As I said in my previous post. I would not go near this vehicle with a ten foot pole. Do not get me wrong I loved my GL 320 but I bought it new and It was meticulously maintained and I had an extended warranty. These vehicles will clean out your pocket book. An Air Strut replacement is 1500.00. If the seals are bad on the oil cooler throw in 3000.00. Other problem areas include the actual air bladders as well as the air compressor. Other concern areas are leaking hydraulic engine mounts. There are also electrical demons like the vehicle telling you a light is burned out when it is not.

N_Jay

Anyone actually seen this on an MB v6 diesel?

N_Jay

None of those are storage induced.


Again the BIG unanswered questions are;
1) Why was it parked?
and
2) Where was it parked?


Without that we are guessing.

marc hanna

+1. Why and where.

Outside on a Toronto sales lot = walk away under no matter the reason.
In a garage in Arizona because they got tired of fixing nuisance repairs = probably a good buy at the right price.

markir

I have a 2008 GL320 that we bought near new and I wouldn't get another one. How well can you verify the story about it sitting in a garage for 2-3 years. There are so many electronic gremlins in mine that nobody in Mercedes knows how to fix it.