Hey Folks,

Just sold my 2014 B250 Sport Tourer and I am missing having a MB and that turning radius!
A local small used dealer (who are quite reputable) has a 2004 E320 with 210K kms on it and overall it is in awesome shape for $4900.
I might be buying it tomorrow, depending on your input.
I scanned it with my OBD and found no faults but the dash has the battery indicator, SOS, and brake notifications but the brakes were just done so I suspect the sensors are not connected due to being generic pads vs the sensor enabled MB ones.
The battery issue he advised me was due to the rear right air strut leaking causing the battery to drain via the compressor running but don't those suspensions sag while parked if left and then level once the car is started or will that compressor run sporadically to level the car while parked like my X5 I used to have?
My biggest question (and concern) is 2004's have air and not hydraulic rear suspension, correct?
Reason I ask is when I took it for a spin the steering was quite stiff vs being responsive & fluid and immediately thought the power steering fluid might be low OR it is a hydraulic system, which I hope it is not.
I think the hydraulic systems phased out in 2002, no?
Any other concerns I should have or look for in this model?
Thanks in advance, everyone...appreciate it.

 

A 15 year old vehicle with 210k km and issues? No.

 

210k km on a Benz is nothing.
Great input and help, thanks lol

 

Get it! Nothing like driving a wagon.
R
2MERKS

 

LOL oh I agree but I need to be sure I wont have to sink an extra 2 grand into it right after buying it.

 

FWIW I purchased my car with 143k mikes on the clock, and to my surprise my indy stated I was getting a strong car. Then I started reading the horror stories about the dreaded SBC units, and gas tank smells, high maintenance bills, so on and so forth, However when you associate yourself with knowledge, and good people whom are willing to assist it makes the process of dealing with issues small. This forum has so many people with insight I cannot even name them all, but THEY know who they are, and for me I'm very appreciative!
So in short buy with confidence that your amogst a "family" whom share the same problem, thoughts, and dedication for our cars!
R
2MERKS

 

Do you DIY or not? If you're taking it to a mechanic for all the work then I guarantee you'll sink another $2k (sounds like you're Canadian?) and then some. Don't buy it if that's going to be a problem for you. Most of us that still drive these 15 year old cars all DIY. That's the only way owning one of these makes sense. When I bought my 04 wagon a year ago in excellent condition it still needed:
Shocks
Front control arms
Brake pads and hoses
Spark plugs
Valve cover gaskets
Engine mounts
Transmission conductor plate and 2 solenoids
Headlight lenses

These cars are way too practical to get rid of for most owners. They end up for sale at this age when the repair estimates outweigh a new car payment.

Take it to an independent MB mechanic for an inspection and estmate for the repairs. It'll cost you a couple hundred bucks but you'll have a much better idea of what you're getting yourself into.

 

Agree, Greta a PPI and move forward based on the items requiring repair.I have a 2005 E320 Wagon purchased in 2015 with 139k and it has been reliable and now it’s at over 183k. I would offer a lower price but make the deal you feel comfortable with and best of luck.

 

Yeah I DIY for sure.
Other than major engine repairs, which I have no shop to do so, I can pretty much do it all myself.
I was thinking on getting an inspection but the great MB shop here cannot get me in for 1.5 weeks so that kind of sucks but he did confirm with me that it should be rear airmatic in that wagon vs hydraulic.
Total cost is $6100 CDN after taxes and those scamming doc fees dealers charge.
Appreciate the input and replies.
Waiting on the VIN so I can background check the options on that car.

 

I think I will hold off to get an inspection for sure.
When I drove it the steering was overly stiff and while it seems, after lots of research, that these E320's have stiffer steering it has me concerned.
It could just be fluid OR it could be the pump, the rack, etc and the bumper does have a crack in it near the license plate holder and some scuffs near the right fog light (light is dropped a bit) which now makes me equate the two and think the previous owner hit a curb etc and that has caused the issue.
Hmmm...could be nothing but I do not want to buy it and have to replace the rack and/or other steering components in the front end.

 

The steering on these cars is supposed to be heavy. A w203 is even heavier. Most have variable assist which does sometimes fail. It's a solenoid valve bolted to the rack, pretty easy to replace. Unless there's frame damage I wouldn't be scared away. The 112 engine is bullet proof. Since it's a 4matic front suspension steering and brake parts are more expensive than rear wheel drives because they're only available from the dealer. The aftermarket pretty much ignores 4matics. The other thing to look out for is the fuel sender at the top of the fuel tank leaks. It will smell of gasoline after you fill up the tank to the top. There is a 15-year warranty on the whole fuel tank in the US. I had my fuel tank replaced for free. Don't know about Canada. And then there's the SBC brakes which has a 25-year warranty here.

Personally I wouldn't let any of that stuff scare me away if the price is right and you can DIY. This car is really easy to work on and there's a ton of information on this and other forums. There are also very cheap Mercedes specific scan tools that can talk to every computer and help you diagnose any problem.

Good luck

 

Ah groovy, good to know and thanks for that informative post, man.
Great to hear about the fuel tank and SBC!
Regarding the crack and frame damage you think I should get an inspection for peace of mind anyway?

 

Pop the hood and look at the two aluminum frame rails immediately to the left and right of the radiator. Do they look identical or buckled? If there's any frame damage those aluminum rails go first. Also look at the bumper in front of the grill the way to headlight fits, the radiator to condenser Etc check those things for damage. If that stuff looks fine I doubt there's any further damage underneath. From the picture the damage to Bumper doesn't look that bad. You'll need a new bumper cover obviously that's about it. Use it to negotiate on the price.

 

The small dealership has almost 500 reviews on Google and 4.8 stars but he is quite stubborn on his movement on pricing.
He has had that E320 for a year on the lot and would not move on his 7990 price.
Then reduced it to 5990 and he told me he would not budge off that price, then just last week he reduced it to 4990 and told me that is his cost lol.
Well sometimes you come out on top and other times you lose a little but it all balances out in the end.
So saying that I know he won't move on the price but then that is also why it has been on his lot for that long!

 

Checking the VIN on vincheck.info it states the front and rear suspension is coil.
Not sure how accurate this check is but it gives loads of info.

Equipment Details

Chassis

Anti-Brake System 4-Wheel ABS

Steering Type R&P

Front Brake Type Disc

Rear Brake Type Disc

Front Suspension Ind

Rear Suspension Ind

Front Spring Type Coil

Rear Spring Type Coil

Tires 225/55r16

 

Offer $4k and walk away. Stop by for a visit in a month.

 

I doubt it. All wagons had rear self leveling. Try this one
https://www.mbdecoder.com

 

I cannot see suspension, you?
But if they all came with it then it matters not.
Here's the info, good link...thanks mate.

https://www.mbdecoder.com/decode/WDBUH82J04X163807

 

As far as I know all the 211 wagons had rear air self leveling suspension. Even the poverty spec 4bangers they saw in Europe. So it wouldn't pop up on the option list. It's easy enough to look underneath the back of the car tho. I'll be very surprised you find coil springs back there.

 

Well well...I asked Gary if he would mind me taking it in for an inspection just to be sure I am not going to need to sink a lot of money into the vehicle in the near future and this is what he said:


GARY: Are you still going to buy the car Chris?


ME: Hi Gary, sorry for the delay.. Cannot check my phone often here at work. Are you OK with me having an inspection done at my cost? Just so I know in advance what work I might need to have done prior to purchase?


GARY: Sure the price will not change though


We need to write a deal first and take a non refundable deposit as we have shown you the inspection and the car fax


ME: Before I take it in for inspection you mean?


*****He then calls me to freak out and tell me he wants a non refundable deposit BEFORE I take it in and states it is a 4900 car and I cannot expect there to be no issues with it and the inspection is a waste of time. He then tells me he did a 100 point safety inspection on it and I had to tell him that means nothing regarding actual mechanical issues, if any, with the vehicle. He then threaten me by saying he should get the repairs done ont he car that are needed and sell it for $8000 or more...I said sure, go ahead and see if you get that price for a car with 213K kms on it. He then says he will call Mercedes to find out about the suspension and let me know. Then he texts me back with this lol:


GARY: I appreciate your time and effort to look into this vehicle
The 2004 Mercedes E320s Wagon was purchased buy myself May 11 2019
We will look at the cars deficiencies and reevaluate it's price position Thank You for your time


ME: Well then your CARFAX is obviously not up to date because the latest ownership shows November of 2018.
You getting so overly defensive over me wanting to make sure that I'm not going to have to spend another three or four thousand dollars on a car a couple of months from now and just wanting to be safe and sure for myself is incredibly off putting.
I am not quite sure how your Google reviews can be so good when you treat customers this way, it's quite perplexing.
Anyways it's too bad because I had every plan and hopes of buying this car I really like it but I just wanted to be sure that I'm not going to pay $6,000 and then have to pay another $3,000 3 or 4 months from now to get it absolutely perfect to where I'm not having to worry taking it on a road trip and breaking down.
Good luck on your sale
No wonder you cannot sell this, you cannot keep your emotions in check and be courteous, Gary. Perhaps you need to let someone else handle your sales? I have NEVER been treated this harshly and pressured so much over a used car nor questioned and accused of trying to undercut a dealership by wanting a 3rd party inspection done before I purchase for some personal peace of mind. It is quite disheartening.




What a bummer...

 

Oh yeah, use this for a vin decoder:

https://www.lastvin.com/

Also looks like it just has Audio 2.0, not even navigation. But I guess in Canada they might have had more stripped down models. Usually navigation was a standard option package that most cars had, at least in the US. As for those 15 years coverage on the fuel tank, that would be about expired by now on a 2004 and I believe those are US only warranties. Not sure if they also did them in Canada but lots of people from all over the world end up saying that the warranties in the US don't apply to them. Same with the SBC. No PPI is going to tell you if those will go in 3-4 months, only if they're gone now.

 

Yeah it appears the SBC is good everywhere except Europe from what I read.
One chap even had it covered on his salvaged title MB.

My plan was to toss in an Android 9 4gb 64GB deck and delete that radio anyway.

 

This is why I refuse to do business with car dealerships. Keep looking, you'll find another one. I paid $3000 US for my 04 rwd wagon with 166k miles a year ago and put another $1000 in it in parts not counting my labor. If you can DIY these cars are a screaming bargain.

 

... Hmmm, armed with that information I'll have to pass!

 

That conversation is actually very helpful.

It lets you know that you should RUN from this seller.