Kerr

hey guys, i have been gone for a year or so...

Anyway i ran across a Silver on Black 2003 E500 with 23K miles, sport packake, hids, sun roof, heated seats and wheel.... any known reasons not to buy this car...

Ill be trading in a 2002 G500 on it.

Thanks
Shawn

Barry45RPM

'03s did have more than their fair share of problems...

cte430

I agree with Barry. I would be careful and check out the service record if you can. Is it an early '03?

Double Eagle

Check the build date of the car. If it's at the end of the model run, after April 2003, it probably is a good vehicle. Many of us got new '03 E-500's that were built at the end of the model run equpped with the NAV system to replace our early build cars that were supposed to have been retrofit with the NAV systems. These replacement cars had most of the '03 start up problems corrected and have been good vehicles. I"ve only had one minor problem with mine (a slight leak in the oil pressure sensor) and car has been great. In addition, it has a NAV system that plays DVD's and has not been decontented as some of the later models. You also get the four year warranty with free maintenance (other than wear items such as tires and brakes).

If it's an early build date, I would want to see the maintenance record on the vehicle. If they won't show you this, I'd be leery of it. Some of the early models had many small problems and MB corrected these over time but if the vehicle has had recurring problems with a particular item. I'd not buy the vehicle.

A friend of mine had a 2003 G-500 in Ohio. He tired of it after less than two years and recently got rid of it. Said it was not comfortable on long trips and flat windows caused distracting reflections. His wife hated it and seldom drove it. Why are you trading in your G-500?

DWP

The conventional wisdom is that '03 models, or early '03 models, are trouble-prone. My unconventional experience is that my early '03, 9/02 build, has been almost entirely trouble-free. We had an audio problem fixed with a software patch, and that's about it.
+++++++++++
Posted from my Treo 650 - can your Crackberry do that?

Dlau

Hi DWP,

Sorry for off topic. Are you on the Treocentral forum too? If yes, what's you user name there? If not, that is a great forum, check it out! I am currently waiting for my GSM 650 thru viennachannels.

Dlau

Dlau

My 7/2003 built E500 has been mostly trouble fee, there has once been a problem w/ the transmission that it jump out of gear while accelerating. My dealer replaced the whole valve boby and now it is fine. Other than that it has been a great car!

Dlau

Kerr

Hey guys thanks for the info so much ill go looking for a 04 model then.

Long story here....

got married bought the wife a 99 CLK 430... 2004 had a baby, traded the CLK on a 2002 G500.... 38K miles way to many trips to dealer for warranty work.. Placed a phone call to MB and they said so. kid is now close 30 lbs. the rear seat on the G is about 38-40" off the ground. So to place the kido in the car seat you just about pull your back out... I love the G but the price of the vehicle VS what i want to do with it dont ad up, not to mention it gets 10.1 mph in town with gas being $2.05 a gallon.... So i looked at my dealer trade in and siad my car is $44,250. A 03-04 E500 is in the same price rane. Figure i would just swap with some one.

moa4r

sounds like a decent trade in value, go for it especially since its no money out of your pocket. fwiw, I had an early build e320 and only had a few very minor problems. great car

Le Burpor

I would recommend you do a search on the forums on past problems. I can only remember some of them but you should look out for the following before buying the car:

1. Does the car drift to either the left or right?
2. Is there a rattling/ticking sound from the bonet? (ie. engine mount issue)
3. Does the Command turn on/off and stay on regularly?
4. Ensure to ask the dealer if there have been any brake or SBC problems with the car.
5. Ensure all electronic window controls work flawlesly.
6. Ensure there are no whistling sounds from front a/c vents when fan speed is @ 4 @ full frontal blow, with all vents open.

Good luck

I should mention that i'm 98% happy with my car. -1% for not having MP3 capability, -1% for a/c whistling issue. Everything else is PUUURRRRRFEECTTT!

Kerr

thanks guys, i decided to pass on the one car. i got a friend at the dealer to run the history report. nav was replaced, trans was replaced, SRS system replaced, Some hydrolic valve replaced, and the list went on.

I would like to find a 04 i guess.

I really want a E55 but i dont have the cash for one right now.

Double Eagle

You were smart to check the records on the car and VERY WISE to pass on what is obviously a LEMON. You have to be careful in buying a used E-55 as many have been driven hard. (Why have that beauty if you baby it?) Good, used E-500's will often be available, BUT, even with the Star Mark Warranty, I would check the maintainence record before I'd buy one. Good luck in getting a "GOOD E".