hotwiredbenz

hello,

I am in the process of buying a used 2003 E500. Some of the dealers Ive been to arnt too knowledgeable about the cars since they dont deal with mercedes. Is there a quick way to check what additional options a car has..maybe by the vin? More specifically, is there a quick way to cehck for xenons and the harmon kardon audio? If the headlights have a blue tint , does that mean theyre xenon? if the dash unit has the opiton for logic-7 in audio, does it mean teh car has harmon kardon audio?

DarkStar

easy way is to look for the headlamp washer triangles

yes

hotwiredbenz

few cars ive seen dont have the washers but the main lights still look blue (whereas the smaller ones look yellow). So none of these are xenon?

Hitzero

hey there
I bought used 2003 E500, well you can't really tell from the VIN no. or other no. because these option are optional when you bought a brand new car.
only way you find out is ask or looking at it.

DarkStar : my E500 with Xenon light, however it doesn't has the headlamp washer, so sad not all xenon light has washer.

hotwiredbenz

do the cars that dont have xenon still have a blue tint to the main lights?

Barry45RPM

Its not really a "blue" look like those aftermarket replacement headlamp "bulbs" the color is a very pure white light with no yellow. Also to my judgement. regular headlamps turn on the same way you are used to seeing them go on all your life. Xenons appear to come to life like a flourescent bulb "blinks" its way to life...

Stand outside the car & have someone turn on the headlamps. Go to a dealer & look at the lights go on on a known, non xenon car on the floor. (Those cars "typically" will have only a sunroof as an option & are usually 320's.

(Why are you looking for a used Benz that was traded, but not wholesaled to an MB dealer for Starmarking (Besides possibly price?) There's probably some reason the car is not on an MB dealer's lot.)

BTW, An MB dealer can tell run the vin & find out what the build specifications were.

DarkStar

To my knowledge, US model W211's with lighting package come from the factory with headlamp washers for all years. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. It IS possible to retrofit the lights without the washer assembly however.

hotwiredbenz

anyone know the answer to this?

sosh

You can retrofit the lights but they will not have the auto leveling feature which is really required by most states to pass inspection. Also be certain if they are retros that they are MB lights as most of the others are junk

CE750

It is indeed... as I have. I didn't want the washers since all they do is spray solution all over my hood and windshield after it rolls off the lens.

CE750

The standard lights are more "whitish" in appearance, but not as bright or intense as Xenon... so it's easy to be fooled into thinking they're Xenons. The washers on the front are the easiest give away since most cars (except mine) that came with Xenon came with washers.

E500 also came STANDARD with full leather, and airmatic suspension, and I believe Sun Roof (though that may have been an option).

sosh

You can also rummage thru the manual and paperwork to see if the original Maroni (MSRP) window sticker is still there. If so that will list all that came from the factory. I would also suggest that you purchase from a dealer and be certain its Starmarked. Only a dealer can do that and its well worth the few bucks more it will cost you.

CE750

bottom line, if the car isn't at an MB dealer, or at another reputable dealer (like an Audi, BMW, Lexus)... but maybe is just at a "used car lot" someplace... you may want to steer away from it. Make sure if you buy it, that you get a full mx record, and make sure all the recalls (especially the SBC brake) has been met.

Also, look at the interior condition... that's the surest way to know how the car was maintained... clean and lightly worn interior usually means well maintain car... worn out interior/seats/steering wheel/etc.. is telling of an abused car.

Best way to buy is 3rd party in the News Paper, and have a mechanic inspect... second best way is to pay the few $$ extra for a StarMark.

ATS

Star the car when it is facing a wall.. If it has Xenons you will see the light go up the wall and then level out. If it just comes on, then you don't have it.

Also, H Karon, the speakers on your door will have Harmon Kardon written on them.

JimPurdy

If you have an MB service advisor, he/she can pull up all of the options that the car was built with from the VIN. Actually, that information is available to body repair shops too.