Purchase question
04-17-2005, 01:38 AM
#1
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Purchase question
Hi, I'm new to the boards here and interested in purchasing a W210 (either the 320 or 420/430 depending on the price/mileage).
I won't ask about reliability since I'm sure there are a lot of threads dealing with those kinds of questions. I've budgeted $15k which means the car I'm looking at falls between the 96-99 model year, from what I can see.
When given the choice between purchasing a '99 E320 with higher miles (let's say between 80-100k miles) and a '97 with say between 50-80k miles with both cars costing roughly the same, which is the better buy?
Will the purchase of a car with more mileage be offset by purchasing a later model car which may have had some of the kinks of the earlier model worked out? Or is mileage the better determiner? I put about 20k miles a year on the cars I own.
I won't ask about reliability since I'm sure there are a lot of threads dealing with those kinds of questions. I've budgeted $15k which means the car I'm looking at falls between the 96-99 model year, from what I can see.
When given the choice between purchasing a '99 E320 with higher miles (let's say between 80-100k miles) and a '97 with say between 50-80k miles with both cars costing roughly the same, which is the better buy?
Will the purchase of a car with more mileage be offset by purchasing a later model car which may have had some of the kinks of the earlier model worked out? Or is mileage the better determiner? I put about 20k miles a year on the cars I own.
04-17-2005, 02:02 PM
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Thanks. I found a '97 opal/tan with 75k for $11995. I also have a silver '97 with 60k for $14900. I'll have to check out each to see which is in better shape although I have a feeling their both nice.
04-17-2005, 03:29 PM
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I say get the 99 simply because it has a 5spd, V6, and the LED brake light in the back. If you maintain it properly this car should last a lifetime with the way its built.
04-17-2005, 07:09 PM
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S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
Get the 99. It has some of the very nice upgrade: V6 engine (same engine as in 04 E320 !!, better torque curve & mpg), 5sp trans, FSS, and optical loop. The only known problem with this M112 engine is the harmonic balancer, but now Mercedes already has a recall, and will replace it for free (regardless of mileage or warranty status). You will get better resale value too, due to younger age of the car.
The 97 use the I6 engine, maintainance on the wiring harness and head (know to bent and comsume oil) could do some serious damage to your pocket.
Both are reliable cars, and look very much the same, however.
The 97 use the I6 engine, maintainance on the wiring harness and head (know to bent and comsume oil) could do some serious damage to your pocket.
Both are reliable cars, and look very much the same, however.
Originally Posted by mister-hand
Hi, I'm new to the boards here and interested in purchasing a W210 (either the 320 or 420/430 depending on the price/mileage).
I won't ask about reliability since I'm sure there are a lot of threads dealing with those kinds of questions. I've budgeted $15k which means the car I'm looking at falls between the 96-99 model year, from what I can see.
When given the choice between purchasing a '99 E320 with higher miles (let's say between 80-100k miles) and a '97 with say between 50-80k miles with both cars costing roughly the same, which is the better buy?
Will the purchase of a car with more mileage be offset by purchasing a later model car which may have had some of the kinks of the earlier model worked out? Or is mileage the better determiner? I put about 20k miles a year on the cars I own.
I won't ask about reliability since I'm sure there are a lot of threads dealing with those kinds of questions. I've budgeted $15k which means the car I'm looking at falls between the 96-99 model year, from what I can see.
When given the choice between purchasing a '99 E320 with higher miles (let's say between 80-100k miles) and a '97 with say between 50-80k miles with both cars costing roughly the same, which is the better buy?
Will the purchase of a car with more mileage be offset by purchasing a later model car which may have had some of the kinks of the earlier model worked out? Or is mileage the better determiner? I put about 20k miles a year on the cars I own.
04-17-2005, 08:47 PM
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The 97 has the same 5 speed transmission as the 99. And the 99 doesn't have the LED 3rd brake light unless it is a face lift 2000 model manufactured in 99. The I6 wiring harness issue was on the 95 W124 model E-Class. The I6 is cheaper and easier to maintain than the V6.
Now I am not a V6 3.2L basher becuase I own one as well as my I6 3.2L, but my I6 gets better fuel economy.
Now I am not a V6 3.2L basher becuase I own one as well as my I6 3.2L, but my I6 gets better fuel economy.
04-20-2005, 02:54 AM
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Hear hear, I agree about the I-6 engine, it's easy maintence since it uses one spark per a cylinder. The V-6 uses twin spark per a cylinder thus higher cost of maintence. Imagine the cost of that.
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04-20-2005, 11:23 AM
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But you only have to change spartplug every 100K mile ? Beside, the dual spark design allow fuel to be burned much more efficiently.
Not to mention that the V6 M112 engine design finally fixed the wiring harness & engine head cylinder problem that often seen in I6 engine. Mercedes uses the M112 engine from 98 to 2004 w/o any mod, the engine must be quite good for that to happen.
Granted, I believe both the I6 and the V6 engine are reliable, but to state that the M112 shouldn't be picked because it's more advanced is a bit to stress.
Not to mention that the V6 M112 engine design finally fixed the wiring harness & engine head cylinder problem that often seen in I6 engine. Mercedes uses the M112 engine from 98 to 2004 w/o any mod, the engine must be quite good for that to happen.
Granted, I believe both the I6 and the V6 engine are reliable, but to state that the M112 shouldn't be picked because it's more advanced is a bit to stress.
Originally Posted by BenzVince
Hear hear, I agree about the I-6 engine, it's easy maintence since it uses one spark per a cylinder. The V-6 uses twin spark per a cylinder thus higher cost of maintence. Imagine the cost of that.
04-21-2005, 01:55 PM
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"The dual spark design allow fuel to be burned much more efficiently."
This is an attempt to cut emmissions not add any power. And to say that the engine has had no mods is wrong. They had to modify to balance damper in 2001 for all V6s. Now they have a recall on them for that same issue.
The V6 has only 3 valves per cyl, while the I6 has 4. And now the new 3.5L V6 went back to using 4 valves. The I6 was used all the way up until 99 in the S-Class.
The V6 was designed to fit in a wider line of Mercedes cars. It was designed to be cheaper to produce and share internal parts with the 4.3L V8. This overal would save Mercedes money with no benifit to the consumer.
This is an attempt to cut emmissions not add any power. And to say that the engine has had no mods is wrong. They had to modify to balance damper in 2001 for all V6s. Now they have a recall on them for that same issue.
The V6 has only 3 valves per cyl, while the I6 has 4. And now the new 3.5L V6 went back to using 4 valves. The I6 was used all the way up until 99 in the S-Class.
The V6 was designed to fit in a wider line of Mercedes cars. It was designed to be cheaper to produce and share internal parts with the 4.3L V8. This overal would save Mercedes money with no benifit to the consumer.
04-21-2005, 02:09 PM
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http://www.whnet.com/4x4/new_V6.html
Originally Posted by E-Klasse
"The dual spark design allow fuel to be burned much more efficiently."
This is an attempt to cut emmissions not add any power. And to say that the engine has had no mods is wrong. They had to modify to balance damper in 2001 for all V6s. Now they have a recall on them for that same issue.
The V6 has only 3 valves per cyl, while the I6 has 4. And now the new 3.5L V6 went back to using 4 valves. The I6 was used all the way up until 99 in the S-Class.
The V6 was designed to fit in a wider line of Mercedes cars. It was designed to be cheaper to produce and share internal parts with the 4.3L V8. This overal would save Mercedes money with no benifit to the consumer.
This is an attempt to cut emmissions not add any power. And to say that the engine has had no mods is wrong. They had to modify to balance damper in 2001 for all V6s. Now they have a recall on them for that same issue.
The V6 has only 3 valves per cyl, while the I6 has 4. And now the new 3.5L V6 went back to using 4 valves. The I6 was used all the way up until 99 in the S-Class.
The V6 was designed to fit in a wider line of Mercedes cars. It was designed to be cheaper to produce and share internal parts with the 4.3L V8. This overal would save Mercedes money with no benifit to the consumer.
