j3cubcapt

OK, we drove home a 2003 E320 Desert Silver/Tan. 46500 miles. Certified Pre-owned. Wood sterring wheel. They were asking $35,900, I agreed to take it home and think on it until monday. The finall number will be $33,600.

Do you think $33,600 is good for this?

Any thoughts I should be aware of on the E320 prior to purchase? What do I need to make sure i get done prior to leaving the dealership?

Thanks in advance!
Will
Dallas

Kar don

wow, that seems so cheap.

cdiken

Are you talking USD?

BTW...you must be a pilot...with a Piper.

KB

jimbo1mcm

Same color as my 05 CDI. They had a lot of problems with the engine because people were going over 10,000 between oil changes with regular oil. There was a class action suit, which MB settled. You need to see the maintenance records of when the oil was changed, and the type of oil. If it was all synthetic from the beginning, it should be okay, even at 10,000. I don't go over 5000, even with synthetic. Next, change the transmission fluid immediately. It says it is supposed to go 100,000, but it will be black when it comes out. Make sure you use MB car specified transmission oil. Good luck.

j3cubcapt

Wow guys, thanks for the replys!

Yes, the $33,600 is in USD.

I do plan to have the dealer give me all of the Maint. Records. I will check on the engine oil and trans fluid. The car is Certified, so I will have warrenty protection until 2008 or 100k miles.

Yes I am a Pilot for Southwest Airlines, and I did own a 1946n J3 Piper Cub.

Keep the advice coming!

Should I have the Dealer update any software in the car. I have heard that the radio software can be updated to play mps CD's?

Thanks
Will
Dallas

mbuskuhl

I bought a 2003 E320 Sport Tectite/Stone in Jan '06 for $33k with only 14k miles on it. Not a scratch on the car -mint condition... no one can believe it is a 2003. Not CPO though, but I just took it by ParkPlace in Dallas and they did all the service and recalls and said the car is in perfect condition. I found mine online private party out of Beverly Hills, CA. Warranty...still good until 4'07.

It took me 2 months to find mine, yours is not a bad deal but the miles are too high for me at that price.

j3cubcapt

Thanks for the compare. Wow, you did make a hell of a find. I plan to use ParkPlace Dallas near Love Field for service. Are you happy with the dealerships service?

Will

BudC

I don't want to throw cold water on your purchase but make sure you get a CarFax on the car. Most used cars on dealer lots are ex-lease cars bought at auction (mostly auctioned in Texas). They come from all over the country.

If it is an ex-lease car, it's probably had two owners. You also have to consider if you want any lease car because people that lease them couldn't care less about taking care of them. They know they are going to dump them at the end of the lease.

It could also be a car owned by a business and could have been driven by everybody and their brother.

Just don't buy it without looking at a CarFax so you know it's history. You will also find out if it's been in an accident. Hopefully, your car was from a private owner.

j3cubcapt

BudC, Thanks for raining down the good advice!

I did just pull a CarFax and it was clean with only one owner. There is mention on a Loan/Lein on the first owner, so I'm guessing that it was a private owner. I will ask the dealer on Monday for the cars histroy.

Thanks
Will

BudC

Sounds good to me. Hopefully, you will get a great car. Enjoy!

BTW, I've looked at CarFax on vehicles listed on the MBUSA National Inventory and there is some amazing things to be found there. That's why I suggested having a look a the CarFax. Also, the Used Car Manager at a local Mercedes dealership told me that the really good trade-ins never make it to their lot. They're saved for buyers they know.

mbuskuhl

Will:

So far I would have to give Park Place a perfect 10. I have worked with Steve the Asst. Service Manager and Billy who is a SA but used to be a former MB tech so he is knowledgeable. Everyone on here as said that most dealers would not lower via DAS, not only is Park Place doing this for me they are going to do it free! They were supposed to do this last week but the mechanic who got assigned my car wouldn't do it, Steve told me to bring it back Mon. or Tues and he promised he did have a mechanic who would do it and for my inconvenience would do so at no charge. So far I have not had to pay them a penny, they have been very accomodating.

I originally was going to go to Ewing in Plano but my they were rude and not very knowlegeable so I cancelled and flipped to Park Place.

You might want to consider the "sport" package or an E500 so you get Airmatic (among other things...check out package options, you are not going to be happy with the 16" rims on a regular E320). Keep looking if this is not the exact car you want, most dealers I looked at were priced about 20% higher than I thought the price should be. You'll eventually fine the right deal, it took me 2 months to find mine and then another month to get it to TX! Patience...


Another thing to know..., Park Place has a deal where you can get wholesale prices on parts the first 10 days of each month (or employee cost +10%, I've heard two different stories) and discounted parts the rest of the month and used during service. All you have to do is pay $45 to join the MB car club. I priced out a wood steering wheel that normally I'd have to pay $700 + for and can get now for $550.

Good luck with your car, ask for Billy or Steve if you go to Park Place.

j3cubcapt

What is the service they are doing for you? I'm not sure I understand "Lower via DAS"

One more question, The interior of this car is "Stone" The dealer has BLACK mats in it. Are black mats proper for the Stone interior?

Will

mbuskuhl

It was service G, but don't ask me what that is, all I know is that it took them a full day. Lower via Das - do a search and you'll find lots of information on this. It is basically reprogramming the computer for cars with the Airmatic suspension to lower the ride height. Black mats are not the correct color for the stone interior, stone mats are the correct color. They put black mats in there because the stone interior is nearly impossible to keep clean. I have to spot clean my stone mats weekly or they get dirty, I am thinking of ordering Exactmats to go over them or switching to charcoal mats to match the exterior and cut down on the constant maintenance.