Shopper -> transmorgrify -> owner!
We just bought ourselves a w210 wagon! The sellers are going to have the transmission & steering serviced (just flushing & replacing the fluids, recommended by our inspecting mechanic) and we'll pick it up tonight.

It's "obsidian black metallic" with "leather java" interior (according to the Russian VIN decoder, that is) aka "black & tan" (makes me thirsty).

Chassis 2102651X085771
Engine 112941 31 305659
Transmission 722618 03 742224
Order 0 3 704 56624
Delivery date 20.06.02
Dealer United States (USA) (704)
Interior leather java (214)
Paint 197 obsidian black metallic (с 1978)
I'm not going to go into too many details about the purchase/price. Too many opinions out there about what a good deal is and what isn't, and I don't really care now that it's done. I got a deal that I think is fair. It was a little bit above the budget I posted yesterday, but we asked for and got a little help from family. I feel good about the price, as the seller came down quite a bit and did NOT feel good about the price.
FYI, be forewarned - 2003 wagons are WAY overpriced on KBB and even edmunds. And I mean way, way, way, WAY overpriced, beyond the normal that you expect from the likes of KBB (which is always way high). The reason is simple: these sites think that a 2003 wagon is a w211 chassis. You can tell this because the audio upgrade option is listed as "Harmon Kardon" not "Bose". I had to print out edmunds price sheets for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 e320 wagons with all the same miles & options. Every year-to-year interval showed a roughly $900 to $1200 increase in price, except for the interval from 2002 to 2003, when the price jumps about $6000!!!!!! I showed this to the seller and I think it went a long way toward bringing him down to the price we finally agreed upon. I explained to him that the 2003 is virtually identical to the 2002 model, that basically it is just the 2002 model with manufacturing extended through mid-2003 (heck this one was built in mid-02 & sold in late 02 anyway). He realized he was never going to get what he was asking.

Thanks for all the help. I now shall transform into a w210 owner, right before your eyes!
Last edited by Kieran28; Sep 18, 2009 at 06:18 PM.
It is time for plugs
and did you make sure to have it inspected by a ppi?
jus checkin

I thought plugs were done at 100,000 miles... Ugh. I seriously thought it was 100k... I'd have made a point of it if I'd known otherwise.

Also, the seats are not heated.
I thought this was standard, so didn't even really notice it was missing. But it's not that they just don't work, there's no button for it on the center console. It's so hot here, I didn't even think to try it out... all the other cars we've seen had this feature, and the owner's manual even makes it sound like it's not optional. But there it is... a center console with no heater button. Living in L.A. it's not the biggest loss, but I do enjoy a little heat therapy on LONG drives. Those are rare enough though.
Plugs are 100k or 5 years whichever comes first. 6 1/2 years you are due. Not doing at 5 years big reason for early cat failure and in Ca they are pricey since you need to install CARB approved Ca cats.
I have the special 17mm boot tool pm me
ngk7090 plugs 12 @3bucks each at your local autozone like place

I also have console wood, it just lifts off at the cup holder.
Last edited by ohlord; Sep 19, 2009 at 05:14 AM.
Speaking of which, I'm assuming that when ordering most parts and such over the years, I should always just call this a 2002... just a quick glance at a site like autohausaz.com showed no differentiation for wagon vs. sedan, so I assume that all the '03 parts are for w211.
Does anyone know if there is any difference at all between a 2002 w210 wagon and a 2003 w210 wagon?

Thanks for the info re. plugs!
Trending Topics
The Best of Mercedes & AMG

We've been searching for a low miles excellent condition wagon for how long??? Since around the first week of July.
THE DAY after we finally suck it up and buy one, look what turns up on Autotrader:
Silver on gray private party, 2001 e320 wagon with 16,000 miles (not a typo), classic grandma's car, all service records from the same dealership for the past 8 years, in perfect condition, just 10 miles from where we live. Asking? $13,000.
For crying out loud.






On the bright side, we really like the black on tan color combo better, but had this car come up just one day earlier, we absolutely would have considered it, and probably bought it.
Incidentally, if anyone is looking for that once-in-a-century gem of a deal, here's your chance!
Meh, that silver car has a dead pixel showing in one of the photos! What a piece of junk!!!!

Oh, and I didn't go looking on Autotrader, I got an email alert. Now I'm going to turn that OFF!
Don't race this guy if you cross paths

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCG-s...eature=related
Don't race this guy if you cross paths

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCG-s...eature=related

WoW!!!



