And my quest for a c32 continues...what do you guys think?
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Central, NJ/Atlanta, GA
Carless
And my quest for a c32 continues...what do you guys think?
Hello,
As some of you may know, I have been searching for a c32 for the past few months. I am trying not to spend more than 15k, preferably even after taxes, fees, etc. I recently located a white c32 with the two tone interior with 113k miles listed for 10k. I have two major questions. Firstly, would it be better to purchase a car like this for around 9000-9500 and keep a "slush" fund for repairs and maintenance or purchase a newer, cleaner one with lower miles for 14-15k and be pushing my budget a little bit. Should I worry about purchasing a car with such high miles? Below is a link for your reference. Check out the pic of the front end. Is it me or is the hood aligned a little high? Thanks in advance for all the help guys.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
As some of you may know, I have been searching for a c32 for the past few months. I am trying not to spend more than 15k, preferably even after taxes, fees, etc. I recently located a white c32 with the two tone interior with 113k miles listed for 10k. I have two major questions. Firstly, would it be better to purchase a car like this for around 9000-9500 and keep a "slush" fund for repairs and maintenance or purchase a newer, cleaner one with lower miles for 14-15k and be pushing my budget a little bit. Should I worry about purchasing a car with such high miles? Below is a link for your reference. Check out the pic of the front end. Is it me or is the hood aligned a little high? Thanks in advance for all the help guys.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...5&aff=national
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From: Los Angeles, CA
03 C32 AMG
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From: Central, NJ/Atlanta, GA
Carless
I have been looking through both autotrader and cars.com. I would prefer to buy something relatively local and there arent that many out there for sale. I know the 2002s had some problems, but I figure with the money I save I can upgrade the radiator and put in a johnson pump. Plus I would have some extra money left over for any issue that may come up and maybe even a few mods!
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Im in maryland if you want to check out mine its a 2002 48000mi I have owned it since new. Has new front rotors and pads, new rear tires silver with everything except no nav or cd. Nice car but have have a GTR and a supra and need a suv for the wife. I have not posted it for sale but I would like 14,500 good price from kbb. Hit me up if you need to
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
well if your a diy'er i say go with option 1. If your not a diy'er then i say go with option 2. A lot of shops like to charge a mercedes tax...unless you can find a honest mercedes mechanic.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Central, NJ/Atlanta, GA
Carless
Yea I like to do a lot of stuff myself, but also know a quality mechnic around here who works on MBZs with very reasonable rates, so I am thinking getting a cheaper, high mileage one may also make more sense for me.
In terms of the car I posted a link to before, do any of you find the hood gap to be a little big, or is it the angle of the picture?
In terms of the car I posted a link to before, do any of you find the hood gap to be a little big, or is it the angle of the picture?
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From: Northern Suburb of Indianapolis
CLS55
I say go for a lower mileage option for a little more. I paid 13.5 or so a few months ago for my 56k 2002. When I was looking at these (as I knew i was going to get one) I decided that spending $1,000 more to get 10,000 miles less was a good deal.
using that formula that car should only cost 7.5k...I think you should not spend more than 8500 tops for it. Otherwise look for a deal like mine. if you do find one like that you're only paying $666.67 for each 10,000 miles difference between the two (and a less used car that will hold its value longer)
using that formula that car should only cost 7.5k...I think you should not spend more than 8500 tops for it. Otherwise look for a deal like mine. if you do find one like that you're only paying $666.67 for each 10,000 miles difference between the two (and a less used car that will hold its value longer)
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pics were sent let me know if you guys need more.My car had the lowest miles on the net for a 2002.I only have one key and the bottom seat heater went out on drivers side but other then that its in great shape
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PLAID
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From: Central, NJ/Atlanta, GA
Carless
How much does it cost to fix the seat heater issue? If left alone, would it cause the same problem as the malfunctioning power seat unit (battery drain, etc.)?
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From: Corona, CA
03 g35 coupe...........02 c32 Sold
Anyways its expensive because its very labor intensive because the heater is intergrated into the leather of the seat cushion. If your diy, the price isn't bad. Getting installed is expensive because of all the labor required.
No it will not cause a malfunction light if it is not fix or drain the battery.
The drain battery issue are the seat control modules going bad. If they have the new 211 part number then they won't go bad. If they have the old w203 part number, they will eventually go bad.
If you don't want to replace them, you can just leave them unplugged and it won't drain the battery and just plug them back in when you want to adjust your seat.
My bottom seat heater doesn't work and i dont have any malfunction lights, but i also live in California, so I dont really need it.
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From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
As far as which to buy, I wouldn't consider mileage too much of an issue after 60K when the warranty goes. My car has barely changed from 60 when I bought it to the 102k it has now.
Some of the 2002's had a glycol contamination problem from the first type of radiators used from a company called Valero. Basically antifrezze (glycol) would get into the tranny fluid via the cooler in the radiator. It would cause damage and a noticeable slam/jerk shift into second. You could get the fluid sampled and analyzed at a lab, but why bother?
Get an '03 or '04.
I wish I had gotten the Xenon and an '04 instead of an '03 but I did get a good deal, so...
Anyway, IMHO, the condition and features are more important that 20-30k miles difference on these babies, unless you want to resell, and even then, features and condition will factor more heavily that 20-30k miles, I think.
I really wish I had gotten Xenons...DOH!
Some of the 2002's had a glycol contamination problem from the first type of radiators used from a company called Valero. Basically antifrezze (glycol) would get into the tranny fluid via the cooler in the radiator. It would cause damage and a noticeable slam/jerk shift into second. You could get the fluid sampled and analyzed at a lab, but why bother?
Get an '03 or '04.
I wish I had gotten the Xenon and an '04 instead of an '03 but I did get a good deal, so...
Anyway, IMHO, the condition and features are more important that 20-30k miles difference on these babies, unless you want to resell, and even then, features and condition will factor more heavily that 20-30k miles, I think.
I really wish I had gotten Xenons...DOH!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 510
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From: san jose, ca
2002 C32 1987 190E 2.3 334K miles and going
WOA!! I have a 2002 C32 now at 101k miles.
No glycol contamination.
No heated seat failure.
Even with all the mods, the car runs great.
Everthing else is wear n tear (brakes, filters, etc).
All the nuisances that most C32s have is something
most of us owners just simply live with.
No glycol contamination.
No heated seat failure.
Even with all the mods, the car runs great.
Everthing else is wear n tear (brakes, filters, etc).
All the nuisances that most C32s have is something
most of us owners just simply live with.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 668
Likes: 17
From: NY
'03C32 Obsidian Black, '76Toyota Celica GT TRD, '12R350 4matic Arctic White, '06 ML 350 arctic white
WOA!! I have a 2002 C32 now at 101k miles.
No glycol contamination.
No heated seat failure.
Even with all the mods, the car runs great.
Everthing else is wear n tear (brakes, filters, etc).
All the nuisances that most C32s have is something
most of us owners just simply live with.
No glycol contamination.
No heated seat failure.
Even with all the mods, the car runs great.
Everthing else is wear n tear (brakes, filters, etc).
All the nuisances that most C32s have is something
most of us owners just simply live with.
Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 1
From: The Land of self-moderated Anarchy
Black on Black stock ' 03 C32
Yeah, my sunroof was made in Amityville it seems...some days it opens and closes full stroke...other days it will auto-open just a few inches, or only travel a few inches on auto-close. On really special days, it will do a full stroke close and then bounce back a few inches.
I have reset it and then it works, but some days I've done nothing and it corrects itself.
Spooky!
I have reset it and then it works, but some days I've done nothing and it corrects itself.
Spooky!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 510
Likes: 3
From: san jose, ca
2002 C32 1987 190E 2.3 334K miles and going
Yeah, my sunroof was made in Amityville it seems...some days it opens and closes full stroke...other days it will auto-open just a few inches, or only travel a few inches on auto-close. On really special days, it will do a full stroke close and then bounce back a few inches.
I have reset it and then it works, but some days I've done nothing and it corrects itself.
Spooky!
I have reset it and then it works, but some days I've done nothing and it corrects itself.
Spooky!
Have your door locks been acting up lately? My trunk lid has been making this racheting sound when opening either by remote or manually. I say screw it, as long as it opens and locks.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 53
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From: Central, NJ/Atlanta, GA
Carless
Firstly, I would like to thank all of you for the advice and being so helpful. Although I know the 2002s have their quirks, this doesnt really bother me much as I am relatively handy and the money I save by purchasing an 02 could be used to solve small problems as they come up. I would probably replace the radiator immediately so as not to worry about the glycol problem. Hopefully I will be joining you guys by the end of the year. Trying to find the right car (which has been hardddd...very few for sale, some overpriced, most are on the west coast it seems) and then I will pull the trigger and get one. Cant wait!!!
