Best move...to walk away?
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Best move...to walk away?
Greetings, need some affirmation here... :-) ...just completed a 200 mile roundtrip to visit a '02 C32AMG at a dealer who shall remain nameless. Got there with financing in hand and ready to see what a C32 with 72K looks like. The CARFAX reported an odo issue in '03 (went from 32K to 28K) and crash damage to drivers side in '03 however the pix the dealer sent me looked fine...neway as I got there I noticed the car was being detailed and the SR said would be done in a few. I was positioned about 60' away dead on in the back the guy finished up wiping, hopped in cranked it up. That's when I saw a puff of blue smoke come out the tailpipe...and I immediately was turned off... he reversed it, parked and left it running...I stuck my finger in the left tail pipe and it came out sooty black and oily. I drove off and the car ran strong, shifted smoothly...well a bit of a jerk at 1-2 ( I've read all the posts re: tranny). Another thing I noticed under the car was the rear springs have 4 wedges inserted between the coils (tires are staggered 245's in the back and something else in the front). I've never seen that coil stuff b4??...Anyway i walked...did I make the right call? Peace
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From: PMW
2021 GLE450, 2005 C55, 1990 500SL, 1991 300E, 2006 BMW M5
Blue smoke and wedges between the springs? $14,900.00? 
I personally think you made the right choice by walking away.
Blue smoke = excessive piston ring wear and/or valve train wear
Wedges = Tired rear springs? Never heard or seen wedges stuck in springs before.
I personally think you made the right choice by walking away.
Blue smoke = excessive piston ring wear and/or valve train wear
Wedges = Tired rear springs? Never heard or seen wedges stuck in springs before.
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From: Marlborough, CT
2002 C32 AMG
you made the right choice. blue smoke at 72K miles means the previous owner/s didn't use synthetic oils or they did not change the oil on schedule. The spring wedges are just wrong, nuff said there.
I am on my 3rd american made generic minivan (GM) and have donated the first 2 with over 200K miles on them and they were still running strong. Always used mobil1 even though they were generic POS people-movers. Same story for a Chrysler turbocharged 4 cylinder and a Issuzu turbo 4. All over 200K miles when I donated, all still running strong,none but the 1st van used oil. If the AMG is blowing smoke @ 72K, then it was seriously neglected. Do you know the VIN?
Question: Would it be wrong to post it as a warning to potential buyers on this forum?
Again, good decision.
I am on my 3rd american made generic minivan (GM) and have donated the first 2 with over 200K miles on them and they were still running strong. Always used mobil1 even though they were generic POS people-movers. Same story for a Chrysler turbocharged 4 cylinder and a Issuzu turbo 4. All over 200K miles when I donated, all still running strong,none but the 1st van used oil. If the AMG is blowing smoke @ 72K, then it was seriously neglected. Do you know the VIN?
Question: Would it be wrong to post it as a warning to potential buyers on this forum?
Again, good decision.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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you made the right choice. blue smoke at 72K miles means the previous owner/s didn't use synthetic oils or they did not change the oil on schedule. The spring wedges are just wrong, nuff said there.
I am on my 3rd american made generic minivan (GM) and have donated the first 2 with over 200K miles on them and they were still running strong. Always used mobil1 even though they were generic POS people-movers. Same story for a Chrysler turbocharged 4 cylinder and a Issuzu turbo 4. All over 200K miles when I donated, all still running strong,none but the 1st van used oil. If the AMG is blowing smoke @ 72K, then it was seriously neglected. Do you know the VIN?
Question: Would it be wrong to post it as a warning to potential buyers on this forum?
Again, good decision.
I am on my 3rd american made generic minivan (GM) and have donated the first 2 with over 200K miles on them and they were still running strong. Always used mobil1 even though they were generic POS people-movers. Same story for a Chrysler turbocharged 4 cylinder and a Issuzu turbo 4. All over 200K miles when I donated, all still running strong,none but the 1st van used oil. If the AMG is blowing smoke @ 72K, then it was seriously neglected. Do you know the VIN?
Question: Would it be wrong to post it as a warning to potential buyers on this forum?
Again, good decision.
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2025 AMG E 53; 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
I would have ran away. Too many cars, deals and steals on the market not to. Patience is your friend - nothing worse than compromising, and when the excitement settles on the sinking feeling takes over!!
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From: Philadelphia, PA
2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5
Perhaps there was an issue with this car, or perhaps not... hard to definitively say one way or another.
All of the W203's have an OEM rubber "wedge" spring pad in the rear - they come in 4 sizes, for adjusting the front/rear height bias. Staggered rear 245's (assuming 40 series 17s) are OEM fitment, with 225/45/17s in the front. Sooty tailpipe is common, even if the motor doesn't consume oil. A quick puff of smoke that then went away wouldn't be a big deal IMHO, but if there was lingering smoke from the exhaust I'd be worried.
But, if you're ever looking at a car and feel uncomfortable, naturally the best move is to walk away; I think you did the right thing.
All of the W203's have an OEM rubber "wedge" spring pad in the rear - they come in 4 sizes, for adjusting the front/rear height bias. Staggered rear 245's (assuming 40 series 17s) are OEM fitment, with 225/45/17s in the front. Sooty tailpipe is common, even if the motor doesn't consume oil. A quick puff of smoke that then went away wouldn't be a big deal IMHO, but if there was lingering smoke from the exhaust I'd be worried.
But, if you're ever looking at a car and feel uncomfortable, naturally the best move is to walk away; I think you did the right thing.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: ATL
2017 GLS 550
in Tarpon? was it at Exotic Motor Cars?
How did you like the E500 with all E55 chrome?
When I asked about it, they said it was a E500 that the previous owner upgraded to E55 specs all except the Supercharger. but it is a plain E500 Sport package car!
How did you like the E500 with all E55 chrome?
When I asked about it, they said it was a E500 that the previous owner upgraded to E55 specs all except the Supercharger. but it is a plain E500 Sport package car!
Last edited by thtguy; Nov 13, 2010 at 11:17 PM.
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Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
If the thought of this question even came up, then yes it was going to be a bad decision. The best decisions are when you don't second guess yourself.
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