Thoughts on 2004 S430
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2008
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E39
Thoughts on 2004 S430
Hi All,
I'm a newbie here and looking for some advice/opinions.
My father is in the market for a S430. He's a retired guy and doesnt really need the power of the S500.
We will be checking a 2004 s430 AMG sport package with 72K miles this weekend from a private dealership. Any advice on what to look for?
I just looked at the carfax report and its shows that the car was a corporate vehicle.
Here's a list of the (major) service history:
09/2004 - Valve body replaced / Powertrain Computer Reprogrammed / Cooling System Checked
04/2005 - Vehicle serviced/ Alignment Performed
01/2006 - Four wheel alignment performed / Brake Fluid Flushed
09/2006 - Computer Checked/ Generator Replaced
10/2008 - Sold at auction
Thanks in advance...
MakoiE39
I'm a newbie here and looking for some advice/opinions.
My father is in the market for a S430. He's a retired guy and doesnt really need the power of the S500.
We will be checking a 2004 s430 AMG sport package with 72K miles this weekend from a private dealership. Any advice on what to look for?
I just looked at the carfax report and its shows that the car was a corporate vehicle.
Here's a list of the (major) service history:
09/2004 - Valve body replaced / Powertrain Computer Reprogrammed / Cooling System Checked
04/2005 - Vehicle serviced/ Alignment Performed
01/2006 - Four wheel alignment performed / Brake Fluid Flushed
09/2006 - Computer Checked/ Generator Replaced
10/2008 - Sold at auction
Thanks in advance...
MakoiE39
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,746
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BMW F02 (750Li) F10 (550i)
Hi All,
I'm a newbie here and looking for some advice/opinions.
My father is in the market for a S430. He's a retired guy and doesnt really need the power of the S500.
We will be checking a 2004 s430 AMG sport package with 72K miles this weekend from a private dealership. Any advice on what to look for?
I just looked at the carfax report and its shows that the car was a corporate vehicle.
Here's a list of the (major) service history:
09/2004 - Valve body replaced / Powertrain Computer Reprogrammed / Cooling System Checked
04/2005 - Vehicle serviced/ Alignment Performed
01/2006 - Four wheel alignment performed / Brake Fluid Flushed
09/2006 - Computer Checked/ Generator Replaced
10/2008 - Sold at auction
Thanks in advance...
MakoiE39
I'm a newbie here and looking for some advice/opinions.
My father is in the market for a S430. He's a retired guy and doesnt really need the power of the S500.
We will be checking a 2004 s430 AMG sport package with 72K miles this weekend from a private dealership. Any advice on what to look for?
I just looked at the carfax report and its shows that the car was a corporate vehicle.
Here's a list of the (major) service history:
09/2004 - Valve body replaced / Powertrain Computer Reprogrammed / Cooling System Checked
04/2005 - Vehicle serviced/ Alignment Performed
01/2006 - Four wheel alignment performed / Brake Fluid Flushed
09/2006 - Computer Checked/ Generator Replaced
10/2008 - Sold at auction
Thanks in advance...
MakoiE39
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7
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E39
usually those cars are solid man.i can't really tell you nothing because i never had a major issue with mine. now i have a 03 S500. FOR 2 YEARS NOW. ROCK SOLID also the S500 is the way to go. day and night difference . some how the extra power makes the car smoother and way better ride . can't explain how , but to me it's .
That's really good to hear that these cars are rock solid.
I know, the S500 is a better car but like what I've said he's already 65 yrs old and doesnt need that much power.
Hopefully we can test drive it and check how it performs...
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
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From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
See also http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...-look-out.html and post #8, http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...endations.html.
Two of the best quick-study posts on Airmatic are https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ic-failed.html (especially posts 15 and 18, but be careful - the poster's labeling of "old" and "new" on the strut seals is misleading. His car already had "new" style mounts that he called the "old" and he labeled the old-style that the dealer installed during replacement as "new.") Also see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...yes-again.html.
You need not be afraid of Airmatic, but you want to check the seals every once in a while. The sooner you fix problems, the less expensive it is.
The '04 is pretty reliable, and had a DVD-based nav system - a plus. Even if it lacks a cell phone cradle, it is one of the least expensive for installing a phone system. See post #9 at https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...h-vs-mhi.html; - the '04 S-Class also has the CP-211 phone equipment I discussed, regardless of whether anything else was ever installed. That makes adding a Bluetooth phone easy and relatively inexpensive. Follow the links there for more.
Two of the best quick-study posts on Airmatic are https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ic-failed.html (especially posts 15 and 18, but be careful - the poster's labeling of "old" and "new" on the strut seals is misleading. His car already had "new" style mounts that he called the "old" and he labeled the old-style that the dealer installed during replacement as "new.") Also see http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w220...yes-again.html.
You need not be afraid of Airmatic, but you want to check the seals every once in a while. The sooner you fix problems, the less expensive it is.
The '04 is pretty reliable, and had a DVD-based nav system - a plus. Even if it lacks a cell phone cradle, it is one of the least expensive for installing a phone system. See post #9 at https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...h-vs-mhi.html; - the '04 S-Class also has the CP-211 phone equipment I discussed, regardless of whether anything else was ever installed. That makes adding a Bluetooth phone easy and relatively inexpensive. Follow the links there for more.
Last edited by Skylaw; Nov 21, 2008 at 06:53 PM.
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A Mercedes obviously!
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
Amen on the wheel comment!!!
Maybe its just me, or does it look like that car has solid front rotors and not drilled?
Fraser you didn't mention the price.. I hope its in the mid 20's to high otherwise I'd say leave it for someone else.
ITs insane how cheap these cars have gotten. And don;t fall for that CPO line. Especially with those wheels LOL.. and double check those rotors.. All 2004 W220 came standard with bigger front brakes and drilled front rotors.
It may be the pic but the turn signal lamps don't even look LED.
Maybe its just me, or does it look like that car has solid front rotors and not drilled?
Fraser you didn't mention the price.. I hope its in the mid 20's to high otherwise I'd say leave it for someone else.
ITs insane how cheap these cars have gotten. And don;t fall for that CPO line. Especially with those wheels LOL.. and double check those rotors.. All 2004 W220 came standard with bigger front brakes and drilled front rotors.
It may be the pic but the turn signal lamps don't even look LED.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7
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E39
Amen on the wheel comment!!!
Maybe its just me, or does it look like that car has solid front rotors and not drilled?
Fraser you didn't mention the price.. I hope its in the mid 20's to high otherwise I'd say leave it for someone else.
ITs insane how cheap these cars have gotten. And don;t fall for that CPO line. Especially with those wheels LOL.. and double check those rotors.. All 2004 W220 came standard with bigger front brakes and drilled front rotors.
It may be the pic but the turn signal lamps don't even look LED.
Maybe its just me, or does it look like that car has solid front rotors and not drilled?
Fraser you didn't mention the price.. I hope its in the mid 20's to high otherwise I'd say leave it for someone else.
ITs insane how cheap these cars have gotten. And don;t fall for that CPO line. Especially with those wheels LOL.. and double check those rotors.. All 2004 W220 came standard with bigger front brakes and drilled front rotors.
It may be the pic but the turn signal lamps don't even look LED.
I just checked the other pics and the front rotors are drilled (rears are solid) but I will double check tom. I will also check the turn signals if they're LED's.
The dealer is asking less than $22K for it. Should we bite the bullet?
Thanks again...
Last edited by makoie39; Nov 21, 2008 at 10:12 PM.
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V12TT
Thanks for the input my06ckj...
I just checked the other pics and the front rotors are drilled (rears are solid) but I will double check tom. I will also check the turn signals if they're LED's.
The dealer is asking less than $22K for it. Should we bite the bullet?
Thanks again...
I just checked the other pics and the front rotors are drilled (rears are solid) but I will double check tom. I will also check the turn signals if they're LED's.
The dealer is asking less than $22K for it. Should we bite the bullet?
Thanks again...
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 960
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From: Long Island, NY & SE England
A Mercedes obviously!
Looking around on cars.com you can get similar mileage '05 S500s for between $20k and $22k. You need to factor in the cost of getting some more conservative wheels into your calculations as well.
There are plenty of tidy S Classes around that makes me think you don't need to pull the trigger on this particular one.
I quite like this one. OK so it's an S500 but it newer and with less miles, yet is still $22k to start out with, and has wheels you don't need to replace.
http://www.luxurymotorsohare.com/inv...ype=&keywords=
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
Look like it's OC AutoHaus showroom ? If it's OC AH, they often sell top quality used car. The owner tend to be very picky when it comes to auction car, if the car have any sort of problem/damage, he would skip it outright. And this guy never buy damage car to fix up to sell, unlike the other two popular "used luxury" dealer cars in OC, one on Beach, the other on Harbor.
But they tend to be a bit pricey (sometime even more pricey than Fletcher Jones or House of Import !!), and not much room on negotiation. . This was when I deal with them last year, when they first open the shop, thing could have changed now. .
When I was in process of looking for a used W220 last year, they have couple nice car, but not at the price I want. My budy at JF hook me up w/ a broker in Mission Viejo, who took me to a warehouse in MV, full of Ferrari, Porches, Benz, and BMW, most are consignment from New Century/other subprime shop crook-broker (they were folding at that time). I ended up w/ a 03 S430 at better condition, lower milage, and $3K less than the one OC AH tried to sell to me.
Look around on auto-trader, you might find good deal on used luxury car. Chance if you buy a car from OC AH is that it's a good car.
But they tend to be a bit pricey (sometime even more pricey than Fletcher Jones or House of Import !!), and not much room on negotiation. . This was when I deal with them last year, when they first open the shop, thing could have changed now. .
When I was in process of looking for a used W220 last year, they have couple nice car, but not at the price I want. My budy at JF hook me up w/ a broker in Mission Viejo, who took me to a warehouse in MV, full of Ferrari, Porches, Benz, and BMW, most are consignment from New Century/other subprime shop crook-broker (they were folding at that time). I ended up w/ a 03 S430 at better condition, lower milage, and $3K less than the one OC AH tried to sell to me.
Look around on auto-trader, you might find good deal on used luxury car. Chance if you buy a car from OC AH is that it's a good car.
Last edited by zam2000; Nov 22, 2008 at 02:02 AM.
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Posts: 1,578
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04 S430 (sold),05 X5 4.4i, 02 325i, 87 560SL, 85 Alfa Romeo
Thanks for the input my06clk...
I just checked the other pics and the front rotors are drilled (rears are solid) but I will double check tom. I will also check the turn signals if they're LED's.
The dealer is asking less than $22K for it. Should we bite the bullet?
Thanks again...
I just checked the other pics and the front rotors are drilled (rears are solid) but I will double check tom. I will also check the turn signals if they're LED's.
The dealer is asking less than $22K for it. Should we bite the bullet?
Thanks again...
I'd go for it. And either lower it or get those chrome wheels off. they don't match the color that well.clear side markers are always nice also. 35.00 upgrade fro just about any ebay seller.
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BMW F02 (750Li) F10 (550i)
Nice ride just like my S500. not to crazy about the chrome wheels but car is hot. color and all. 22k ,offer a low ball 20k see what happens . but do go for it hot car there . good luck man check my profile for some picture of my car it looks like the one you buying . get some ideas .
