Take a look at this service record
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Loudoun County, VA
W211 CDI, W203, 03 Dodge CTD
Take a look at this service record
Looking to buy a C240 for my wife. I had a service history run on it posted below. Is there anything conspicuous that I should be concerned about? Carfax (one step above worthless IMO) states it spent its life in Princeton, NJ and is otherwise clean. Build date is 9/11/01 and went into service 10/11/01. Service history stops at 59k and currently has 82k on the clock. I'd rather not purchase a potential problem.
Out Of Control!!
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
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From: Pasadena CA
2007 C230WZ
Actually that VMI look pretty good for an 01 vehicle, I've seen alot of vehicles with more number of service records.
I'm just curious, where did you get the printout of the VMI? Do you work for MB?
IMO, you want to stay away from any Mercedes vehicle without warranty.
Hope this helps
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 130
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From: Loudoun County, VA
W211 CDI, W203, 03 Dodge CTD
I got the VMI by simply going to a service advisor at a local dealer. There were three SAs standing around doing nothing, so I walked up to one and told them I need a service history, since she was "not busy."
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a W123 or W126. Those are definitely out of warrenty.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
MB in general builds some of the most unreliable cars in the world. Then combine that with it being a first model year, that's MB's test year or two, never buy an MB in the first year or two of production. But, on the upside, most of MB's build quality flaws have already been worked out on a 6 year old car, the only thing left is design flaws but for that MB has good engineering, good designs, excellent marketing, poor manufacturing. So I don't think you will have continuing problems. The key is find and stick with a good mechanic, dealers will rob you blind with an older benz. Heck, they wanted $3,455 last week for an oil leak and squeak, took it back to a different SA and the estimate dropped to $865, same dealer, and that's still too insanly high but that's dealers for ya. I think it's because they have carte blanche to do what they want while under warranty and that spills over to the poor slobs that are out of warranty. Independant mechanics, while they don't charge any less for the same work, are more open to alternative repairs so instead of replacing everything with new parts they may use OEM parts or repair the part. Good luck with whatever you do, they are fun cars.
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From: FLORIDA
2007 C230!!
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
That listing doesn't mean much. You don't know what the problems were nor if they were reapeat problems not fixed the first time around. Notice that the work was done under warranty then nothing after that. Could be that the owner nit picked problems during warranty and didn't care after it expired or they started taking it to an independent. I read it as several minor problems but nothing major. First year any car is going to have problems but MB fixes them. By '05 - the last time it was serviced by MB - the early bugs were worked out. That listing is WAY BETTER than mine and my car has been stone reliable for the last two years. Buying any car is a crap shoot. The odds just aren't as good with MB.
