ApproachingZero

My girlfriend is looking to buy a 1997 E320 with 135k.

Car is in great shape, and owner has all service records since 40k.

I am not going to get into reliablity, because i know these cars are not perfect.... I have driven many VW's, and BMW's to know german cars can have issues, but you have to pay to play, and we have some concers...

Areas of concern,

Her dad said it had a small transsmission whine when entering the highway. I thought it may need a tranny flush because it may have that garbage "lifetime tranny fluid" in it. Any suggestions? Anyone know where the stick to check it is at?

Also, there was a thin coat of motor oil under the engine sheild. It coats the whole bottom, but it shows no signs of leaking on it's garage stall or in the driveway. Do these I6 have a tendency to leak from the oil pan?

Is there any other things that should be checked that are problem areas with this 97 E320?

Thanks for your time!

He is offering $8900... We feel that is reasonable... maybe?

ohlord

Recently bought a 99 e320 wagon with less then 100k miles in mint condition for $9500 .A whining trans on an older model for 8900 seems real steep esp with 135000 on it.shop around there are several on craigslist low miles newer in great cond.
I'd pass on this one....
ohlord


just an example i found quickly
private party always private party

Reply to: sale-366604776@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-07-04, 2:45PM PDT

------$9800.00------
------------------------
1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E320 Sedan 4D

K.B.B Values

Excellent
$14,560

Good
$13,640

Fair
$12,460


Vehicle Highlights

Mileage:
79,000
Engine:
V6 3.2 Liter
Transmission:
Automatic
Drivetrain:
RWD
Selected Equipment


Standard
Slip Control
Telescoping Wheel
ABS (4-Wheel)
Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Leather
Power Steering
AM/FM Stereo
Dual Power Seats
Power Windows
Cassette
Moon Roof
Power Door Locks
Dual Front Air Bags
Alloy Wheels

Optional
Multi Compact Disc
Bose Premium Sound

call me at 925-209-1242 or 510-682-5175 to setup a time for test drive. Thanks and good luck with your car search.





* This item has been posted by-owner

rander

It's impossible to quantify "a little whine" without hearing it but it shouldn't be a problem if the transmission isn't slipping or shifting abruptly. As for a "tranny flush"---there is no transmission dip stick supplied on 1997 E 320 or any since then. You have to buy a model specific transmision fluid level measuring tool to do that. I think MB is recommending transmission and filter change at 100 K miles although I've put over 176 K on mine and it still operates like the day it was new. The oil on the bottom is some concern. Is there oil on the inside of the bottom cover? That would be of more concern than on the outside. The 97 E320 is not specifically known to leak around the oil pan. The I6 is known to develop an small oil leak from the head gasket especially on the rear of the engine on the passenger side. Best bet would be to take the belly pan off and look at the bottom to see where the oil is coming from.

Prices vary a bit from locale to locale but $8900 seems like a good price if the car is in good shape. Godd luck and I hope she enjoys it.

ApproachingZero

Trust me i have looked around... We have seen about 5 today. The only other one to think about was a 98 320 for 13,000 at the stealership.

The oil is a on the ground side of the shield, but i will have to check on the engine side....

The whine to me was not noticable even with the radio off and on the highway... I am just making sure that it is not a common problem with these cars.

ohlord

9800 for a 99 low miles by 50tho less than your 97,great shape two years newer v6 not l6,can see you have your heart set on this one though so I won't try to dissuade you on your quest. good luck----Caveat emptor !
ohlord

ApproachingZero

I looked at that add. I checked the area code and found that it was in California... I live in Virginia Beach Virginia.... A wee bit far, and a total diffrent market for cars.

This is my area:

Craigslist Norfolk

AutoTrader

There is not much to choose from, "cheap" wise. We found this one right out of the newspaper, and it is a private party sale.

And we have tried to negotiate prices..... just moved from Michigan, and it is so simple to knock a couple grand off a car. I bought a cheap integra a while back listed at 3000, kbb 2500. I got it for $1200. Bargining down here is like pulling teeth.

ohlord

I flew from seattle to san diego $225,picked up the car drove home in 17 hours and 3 tanks of gas.They are out there!!
heres just one close enough to you for a look at.

$10,750
Reply to: sale-362901109@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-06-29, 10:06AM EDT


Gorgeous car with 89,000 original miles. All services done by strict schedule. This incredibly smooth and powerful V6 car gets a surprising 28-29 mpg on road (hwy) use, in the most advanced handling and safest chassis made. Has excellent leather, Bose factory stereo with 6-CD, cruise, power everything, traction control, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, and the list goes on. Tires as new, brand new brakes,rotors, belts. Many good years to go of quality and dependability.

Call Peter at 850-687-0177 for a showing, or email with a telephone number. Thanks.

sorry no pictures. For image, google image >advanced search>exact phrase>1999 Mercedes Benz E 320.


another one even closer
----------------------

richmond va $10,500
99,000 miles midnight blue/w leather

Reply to: sale-355363753@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-06-19, 9:31AM EDT


1999 Mercedes Benz E320. Excellent mid sized family sedan in excellent condition. Don't miss out on this one! The only thing it needs is a new driver!





* This item has been posted by-owner


ohlord

ApproachingZero

As much as i would love to find time to fly out and take a look at a car i have never seen before.... i think i will pass. . I have to see the car about 2-3 times.... Think about it, and then make a choice.

Plus i am not fully comfortable with a car’s reliability until a month or so after a sale. I put $1500 into a BMW that i drove 90 miles one way for 1 week after the sale. 17 hours in a brand new car would be one thing, but for a 6-8 year old car that i have never seem... not happening.

I guess i am not very adventurous... Maybe that is why i'm an accountant

ohlord

Is richmond,va to far?Like I said keep looking.To little car for to much money.



it's only ,what about 100 miles to Richmond?
ohlord

boylston

Interesting, I thought you asked for advice.

$8900 for a ten year old car with 135,000 miles is a lot. There are others out there with a lot lower mileage.

I'd worry about the air conditioning also. I'm sure it gets hot in Va. Beach.That will be $3 grand when you have to fix that.

OceanView

I would advise you spend a few hundred and take it to a MB Service center and have them do pre inspection on the car. It will be worth it to give you a peace of mind in case there are some serious issues that you are not aware of.
Just cause the car is 10 years old with 135K miles does not mean you will have problems. My 96 has 206K miles on it by the way.
Regardless of which car you buy, you should budget $1,000 per year on maintenance. It's just part of the MB ownership experience.

ApproachingZero

Like I said in the first post, I know you have to pay to play. I know german cars can create a lot of out of pocket expense.

I apprecite the advice. I was just concerned with the oil issue.

Richmond is not far, but since her car failed inpection (damn michigan salt and bad roads) she needs a new car asap. We are in a tough spot because we have to move fast.

Plus I never trust anyone selling a car.... Both private, and dealer. I have drove to many cars in past years to be disapointed by a owners lies.

OceanView

I forgot to mention, you should check the front and back of the engine for leaks as those are the most common areas that this engine will leak. If it's hard to tell, look on the side of the engine for signs of past leaks.
As far as the transmission noise, are you sure its coming from the transmission? Do you think it may be from the tires?

ohlord

If you don't trust to by a used car,then why ask about an overpriced 97?Take the 90 min drive to richmond and take a look,you could buy five at that price and drive em till they all blow up.If you don't want the problems go to the dealer and pay the piper.
I just don't get what you are after....
ohlord

BTW is your car the clk430?
it's used ---would you buy it from yourself?

ApproachingZero

I should by new, but that will bust the budget.....

Just because I do not trust private owners does not mean that I will not buy from... Case in point,

So we checked on that oil leak from the car. The owner said we could contact his indy mech. for any questions about the car, so we did.

The mech. said the headgasket was blown and causing the leaking. He tld the owner this in may. It was actualy on one of the records that was given to the owner after a non related repair. The owner then tld the mech. Not to fix it because he would sell it.

When I called the owner on wed. He said nothing was wrong, but the alternator was orginial and may need to be replaced. I asked about oil usage and he confimed that it had a 1/4 quart every 5000 miles.

Luckly this forum saved my *** and he was only 30 miles away, so whe had a chance to see it twice, do reasearch and make a decision.

I am after a reason for the oil leak.
The advice was not on the price. Diffrent markets have diffrent prices. If you can find me a E320 in a 50 mile radius of Virginia beach, the more power to you. I was just concerned on what could be causing the leak.

I would buy a car from myself with a enough evidence that it is a solid car. I was able to do it with my CLK and I can do it again.

ohlord

1999 Mercedes E320 - $12500 great shape It features: Automatic, 6-cylinder, power windows, power locks, sunroof, leather heated seats, dual climate control, etc. 94K miles (and runs EXTREMELY WELL). silver on grey.

craigslist.org hampton rd

ohlord

keep tryin

blown head gasket/look for water in the oil it will look like scummy sludge!

ApproachingZero

I called 3 times and left a message twice. This is the first one i called on last week, and tried again on Sunday and Wednesday. My link to craigslist in the previous thread will take you right to it.

The problem with this headgasket is that you can't tell in the oil untill it is too late. Same with my 535i. The colant shot right out from the back of the head, and the oil was clean. We will just look for leaks and have it inspected.

ohlord

Sounds like a good plan,wish you luck.Also if you have not committed yet keep searching on craizedlist.org while you deliberate.It lets you search all of craigslist at one time
ohlord

Richmond

a nice 98 wagon real low miles white
You are looking at 1998 Mercedes Benz E320 Station Wagon in Excellent Condition. Has 72 k Miles on it. Neatly kept and maintained
craigslist richmond

loubapache

ApproachingZero:

Most of the oil leaks from the 1997 E320 is from the front timing cover where the head gasket, head, block, upper timing cover, lower timing cover, gasket between the timing covers all converge. So many dissimilar materials in one spot and it is hard to keep them together after heating and cooling cycles. When oil leaks from there, it is easy to say it is the head gasket.

If you search around, there are several of us (1997 E320 owners) ho are living with this leak. Many, myself included, do not even have to add oil between oil changes (3k - 5k miles).

Two other potential areas of problem for that particular car is the transmission and front spring perches. I have 83k miles on mine now and just changed the tranny fluid and filter last month. My spring perches showed a little rust AFTER I peeled the sealants away so I had them taken care of. MBUSA only paid 50% for this design/manufacturing defect.

Other than that, the I6 seems to be a great engine. No common CPS and CAT failures as in the V6. Fuel mileage is actually about the same. I just took a 700 mile trip to Canada and I averaged 27 MPG.

Ipswich77

My previous car was an '84 190e, which I gave away to a highschool vocational shop: 230k......

then I bought my 1997 E320: note: I have been a customer of both indy shops mentioned below for many years....

E320 65k--bought at Eurotech in Falmouth (Fredericksburg) VA....this indy shop sells used cars as a sideline--the car came from auction...the instant I saw it on the website I knew I wanted it: I have always preferred the inline-6. This car is Black Opal Pearl. Paid $13,900.

Had the car inspected for free by another Indy dealer in Kensington MD (Mitch Carr's) and he listed the problems: small oil leak from head gasket area, small leak from transmission cooler, bad front lower control arm bushing, front rotors under-spec (need replacing). No rust issues.
--Intermittent rear tail light problems--new light unit had been installed, but still requires 'tweaking.

Had the 60k service done and the trans cooler leak fixed, and a new drive belt replaced = $1012.00 Did not have the bushing repaired (too expensive). The tranny fluid was replaced per the schedule--only about 66% replaced.

New tires from Costco in summer-06 (Michelin Energy v93)

So far, this car has performed beautifully - drives well, is quiet, tranny is adaptive and seems to be working properly. I am a very conservative driver, but this car seems to have all the pep I require.

I do have the oil changed frequently--use regular oil, not synthetic. Costco re-balances and rotates tires 2xyear, and fills with nitrogen.

I rest well knowing that between Eurotech and Mitch Carr's my car will always be well cared for.....

ps: wanted to add: In March '07 I bought the W140 Behr blower motor regulator ($217) and had the vocational shop manager (a ex-MB mechanic) replace the bad regulator according to the instructions found on this forum..labor cost = $50: total cost $267.....the blower runs beautifully.

urHoneyinmy420

Approaching Zero,

9K for a 97 e320 with 130k+ miles is definatly not worth it. I dont even think i can get 9K for my 420 with 90k miles. All over Ebay '430s are selling for under 10k. IMO GET THE V8 VERSION. My mother drives a E350 and when i punch it, i say to myself, "Wheres the damn torque"?

jenkins6

I have owned a 1997 E320 for 4 years. Oil under the engine may be due to a leak from the gearbox sump. The pressure increases from 7 psi at idle to 43 psi when motoring which may account for no signs of leaking on the garage stall. Mercedes might charge $500 but if you can replace the gasket yourself and replace the oil you'll be in good shape. Make sure the a/c is in good shape. Can be an expensive job if the condenser is gone. Same with the sliding roof. Make sure it works. Check for rust on the front wings around the perimeter of the lights. And the inner and outer rear wheel arches. This model might cost around $3000 in the UK in good condition. A brilliant car and well worth spending a few pennies on a good one.