gi_jon31b

Some of you may have read that I had the unfortunate luck or totaling my 2002 S500. I found a 2003 S500 4matic for 6,500 with 140k miles. The seller is the second owner and he has had it for the last 3 years. It looks like it's been in the shop a few times and we were supposed to meet tomorrow but it's in the shop again because the conductor plate needs replaced.

I don't mind if it needs a little maintenance (airmatic is an easy repair), but I don't want to buy a complete money pit either. I've attached the pictures of the service records he sent me. The shop seems to reputable from what I've read online, but I'm a little gun shy since my 2002 only had 98k miles and I was the second owner and the dealership had complete records back to 10k miles. I appreciate any advice.

wallyp

Buying any used vehicle is a gamble. Parts wear out, and parts sometimes randomly fail, regardless of mileage or maintenance. If the car's condition and appearance are good, and you can/will do all or most of your own maintenance, the price seems very fair. I would not be really concerned about the mileage, as it is right on the average annual mileage for a daily driver. The cars seem to give less trouble when they are driven regularly.

tusabes

The last service record indicates catalytic converter and suspension problems that were not fixed and other issues

I'd stay away. This car has had way too many problems from 118-140k miles and not all the problems were repaired

gi_jon31b

You bring up a good point, and I have some concerns about the amount of entries too. To me, some of it seems to be scheduled maint like oil change and the A service. It also looks like he took it and an issue was discovered and then he went in later to have the issue resolved. Does it look like that to you too?

With the mileage it has, and not knowing what the first owner had done, does any of the issues that came up seem out of the ordinary or unusual?

The catalytic converter in the rear doesn't worry me too much as we don't have emissions where I live and it doesn't look like a sensor is in the rear so that opens up replacement possibilities. I will have the money to replace the air struts if I need to (bargaining point to lower cost too) and I can do that job without too many issues. I'm already looking to replace the sway bar links anyhow. My experience with other cars suggests that they're the factory originals and it's time. If that's the wrong assumption, please correct me.

tusabes

The combination of declined repairs and obvious cases of the owner taking the cheapest approach (i.e. Taking the plastic piece out of shifter to remove the locking mechanism rather than replacing with improved metal piece ) suggests this seller skimped on service


Sure you can use it as a bargaining chip but he put a lot of $$$ into repairs and likely wants to recoup a lot of it

mercy-me

I agree completely with the above statement.

Kelly Bluebook suggests $3K trade in and $4.4K private party value in good condition. For $6.5K, I would look for something newer ie '04 and above to get the updated MOST system with DVD based Comand.

I respectfully think you can do better.

Good luck,

Bob

gi_jon31b

Thanks for the insight. I have a difficult time finding any S class for under 8k, especially with 4matic and with out a ton of miles. I have had a few with salvage and rebuilt titles, but I prefer to have full coverage just in case.

Maybe I'm not looking in the right place. I've been using Craigslist and Autotrader. Should I be looking somewhere else?

tusabes

Harder to find 4 Matic cars

Southern California is better area to find them as there were so many s class there but not so many 4 Matic

mercedesbenzs55

You can't get full coverage on a salvaged title? Which state do you live in?

gi_jon31b

Oregon but I use USAA, I honestly haven't asked them because I have a few friends that are agents with other companies. They've said it's very difficult to put a replacement value on a car that has been considered a total loss already. From what I understand they will only provide liability so they don't have to pay out if you total the car, again.

Please let me know if you are aware of something different. I'd have no problem buying one if I can get full coverage.

tusabes

Call your insurer, some insurers will put comprehensive and collision on a salvage title car . Every insurer is different so you need the answer from your own insurer , not your friends who are agents for other companies