Added value of a low milleage 210...??
#27
MBWorld Fanatic!
If good condition, its a great buy. The mileag is good for year 2000.
Try to get $12K if you can because every used car need spend some money.
You might have to spend $1k, change spark plug, flush all the fluid. I always do all the services when I purchase any used car (IMO)
Try to get $12K if you can because every used car need spend some money.
You might have to spend $1k, change spark plug, flush all the fluid. I always do all the services when I purchase any used car (IMO)
#29
Super Member
One year ago, I paid $17k for a 1999 with 15k miles on it. It was owned by a old man in West Palm Beach and I was happy to fork over a few extra grand for a pristine example with a perfect interior. I do not plan on hot rodding it up. If I did, i would probably have bought one with higher miles. I love the car and it old school MB looks and I will probably keep it forever. Reminds me of my '98 S Class. Also, with no warranty, I prefer the simple design of the W210. No air suspension. etc to malfunction and cost an arm and a leg.
I do not drool over the W211. I had an '07 E class and the interior felt nothing like the W210. You could tell the car was made during the Chrysler days. More like a Honda IMO.
I do not drool over the W211. I had an '07 E class and the interior felt nothing like the W210. You could tell the car was made during the Chrysler days. More like a Honda IMO.
I completely disagree with your assessment of the 210 vs. 211 interior materials quality. I have seen arguements that a Honda Accord interior is better quality materials than the 210 - though I also disagree with that. I did prefer the window switches in the console, however - I like all the unique Mercedes touches.
I do agree that a 211 E55 is only suitable for folks that can write a $5K check at any moment in time (unless the car has a warranty - then perhaps $1K will do )
#30
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2003 E46 M3 1982 308GTSi 1972 P1800 1970 Charger 500
results
well.....drove the car to the MB mechanic shop. Hit 80+mph on highway and felt a pretty significant vibration in the steering column, specially between 70 and 90. Brakes pull hard to the left along with a pull on the steering wheel to the rigth...
Tranny and engine feel strong and smooth.
A/.C works, as does all electronics. then I handed car over to Mike. inspection didn't go very well. he recommended to walk away from it.....
how do you guys feel about it? Will a full break R&R + front-end suspension job, plus alignment/balancing cure its problems, if so how much?...or should I listen to Mike and keep looking?
Thanks...
Tranny and engine feel strong and smooth.
A/.C works, as does all electronics. then I handed car over to Mike. inspection didn't go very well. he recommended to walk away from it.....
how do you guys feel about it? Will a full break R&R + front-end suspension job, plus alignment/balancing cure its problems, if so how much?...or should I listen to Mike and keep looking?
Thanks...
#31
Super Member
Well, why don't you tell us specifically what Mike said about the car. The challenge with vibration problems and brake pulls is that they could be simple and cheap, or complicated and expensive.
What always concerns me with a car like that is that you've got a high end MB that received Toyota sedan level care - i.e. it still moves under its own power, so it must be OK. If the owner isn't bothered by highway speed vibrations, did the car receive routine maintenance such as transmission service, brake flush, and coolant changes?
What always concerns me with a car like that is that you've got a high end MB that received Toyota sedan level care - i.e. it still moves under its own power, so it must be OK. If the owner isn't bothered by highway speed vibrations, did the car receive routine maintenance such as transmission service, brake flush, and coolant changes?
#32
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2003 E46 M3 1982 308GTSi 1972 P1800 1970 Charger 500
E55
The car comes with zero maintenance history. Its being sold by a car dealer, bought at an auction. I discovered from public records that there is a lien on the car. That's besides the mechanical points we are discussing but adds up to lots of questions.
Mike told me car has been in front and/or rear accidents due to headligths, and paint jobs. Dealer admitted having painted the front of the car, but to remove swirl marks. Dealer also admitted replacement of headligths but just b/c he likes the aftermarket better, but failed to show me both original headligths...only one.
Mike said engine and tranny are fine, with a little leakage on front-end of block..but nothing to be concerned. No leaks at rear seal. that's all I know. Car felt powerfull and straigth at 60 mph or below. significant shimming between 70 and 90. Breaking scared me as car pulls hard to left. Tranny shifts smoothly. Dealer tried to convince me to let him do a full break job, and alignment to fix these symptoms.
Mike told me car has been in front and/or rear accidents due to headligths, and paint jobs. Dealer admitted having painted the front of the car, but to remove swirl marks. Dealer also admitted replacement of headligths but just b/c he likes the aftermarket better, but failed to show me both original headligths...only one.
Mike said engine and tranny are fine, with a little leakage on front-end of block..but nothing to be concerned. No leaks at rear seal. that's all I know. Car felt powerfull and straigth at 60 mph or below. significant shimming between 70 and 90. Breaking scared me as car pulls hard to left. Tranny shifts smoothly. Dealer tried to convince me to let him do a full break job, and alignment to fix these symptoms.
#33
Super Member
The car comes with zero maintenance history. Its being sold by a car dealer, bought at an auction. I discovered from public records that there is a lien on the car. That's besides the mechanical points we are discussing but adds up to lots of questions.
Mike told me car has been in front and/or rear accidents due to headligths, and paint jobs. Dealer admitted having painted the front of the car, but to remove swirl marks. Dealer also admitted replacement of headligths but just b/c he likes the aftermarket better, but failed to show me both original headligths...only one.
Mike said engine and tranny are fine, with a little leakage on front-end of block..but nothing to be concerned. No leaks at rear seal. that's all I know. Car felt powerfull and straigth at 60 mph or below. significant shimming between 70 and 90. Breaking scared me as car pulls hard to left. Tranny shifts smoothly. Dealer tried to convince me to let him do a full break job, and alignment to fix these symptoms.
Mike told me car has been in front and/or rear accidents due to headligths, and paint jobs. Dealer admitted having painted the front of the car, but to remove swirl marks. Dealer also admitted replacement of headligths but just b/c he likes the aftermarket better, but failed to show me both original headligths...only one.
Mike said engine and tranny are fine, with a little leakage on front-end of block..but nothing to be concerned. No leaks at rear seal. that's all I know. Car felt powerfull and straigth at 60 mph or below. significant shimming between 70 and 90. Breaking scared me as car pulls hard to left. Tranny shifts smoothly. Dealer tried to convince me to let him do a full break job, and alignment to fix these symptoms.
#34
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2003 E46 M3 1982 308GTSi 1972 P1800 1970 Charger 500
E55
Dealer called me back saying they took car to an independent mechanic and he said the issues are being caused by worned out lower arm buchings. He said they will replace them, balance and align front-end, and invited me to test drive it again. I don't believe the shimming, and the hard pull during breaking above 60mph were being caused by worned out bushings....can it?
#36
Super Member
LCA bushings are a wear item on the 210 chassis and the symptom is shaking at highway speeds. So yeah, that does seem to be a likely contributor. I don't expect that will fix the brake pull, however.
I dunno about a car that was hit front and back. Frankly, it sounds like a real sled. It's actually making the $18K car look pretty good by comparison...
I dunno about a car that was hit front and back. Frankly, it sounds like a real sled. It's actually making the $18K car look pretty good by comparison...
#39
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2003 E46 M3 1982 308GTSi 1972 P1800 1970 Charger 500
car
it's been hard to find good E55s. many of us are looking and there are lots of cars that have been driven hard and now owners are trying to get rid of them. I am still looking for the rigth car. money is no problem if the car truly deserve a premium. Let me know if you guys know of any.
#40
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well.....drove the car to the MB mechanic shop. Hit 80+mph on highway and felt a pretty significant vibration in the steering column, specially between 70 and 90. Brakes pull hard to the left along with a pull on the steering wheel to the rigth...
Tranny and engine feel strong and smooth.
A/.C works, as does all electronics. then I handed car over to Mike. inspection didn't go very well. he recommended to walk away from it.....
how do you guys feel about it? Will a full break R&R + front-end suspension job, plus alignment/balancing cure its problems, if so how much?...or should I listen to Mike and keep looking?
Thanks...
Tranny and engine feel strong and smooth.
A/.C works, as does all electronics. then I handed car over to Mike. inspection didn't go very well. he recommended to walk away from it.....
how do you guys feel about it? Will a full break R&R + front-end suspension job, plus alignment/balancing cure its problems, if so how much?...or should I listen to Mike and keep looking?
Thanks...
#41
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1999 E55
Daimler purchased Chrysler in 1998, so the 1999 MB model year was during the DaimlerChrysler years. Daimler disposed of Chrysler (not sold - they paid to be rid of it!) on May 14, 2007, so the 2007 model year was mostly, but not completely, during the DaimlerChrysler years.
I completely disagree with your assessment of the 210 vs. 211 interior materials quality. I have seen arguements that a Honda Accord interior is better quality materials than the 210 - though I also disagree with that.
I completely disagree with your assessment of the 210 vs. 211 interior materials quality. I have seen arguements that a Honda Accord interior is better quality materials than the 210 - though I also disagree with that.
The only point I was trying to make is that some of us buy and drive these because we prefer them over the W211 - not because of cost....which was the point I was trying to add to the thread. I am not ******* the W211. It was a nice car and I drove a loaded one for 3 years. The seats weren't as comfortable as my '99. The arm rest and driving position wasn't either. And the soul was just not there. At least for me.
Last edited by mfletch69; 01-28-2011 at 12:47 AM.
#42
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1999 E55
it's been hard to find good E55s. many of us are looking and there are lots of cars that have been driven hard and now owners are trying to get rid of them. I am still looking for the rigth car. money is no problem if the car truly deserve a premium. Let me know if you guys know of any.
This guy is out of his mind on price but 26k miles
Last edited by mfletch69; 01-27-2011 at 11:18 PM.
#43
Super Member
That is exactly right- the W210 designs and forward enhancements were already done and in the pipleline. Chrysler had nothing to do with it. The W210 is a true old school Mercedes. The W211 is not. And I don't mean that in a bad way. The W211 is an awesome car.
#44
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2001 E55 AMG - 2001 E320 - 1990 300CE
Run don't walk away!
Dealer called me back saying they took car to an independent mechanic and he said the issues are being caused by worned out lower arm buchings. He said they will replace them, balance and align front-end, and invited me to test drive it again. I don't believe the shimming, and the hard pull during breaking above 60mph were being caused by worned out bushings....can it?
#46
Super Member
Yes, Chrysler did join, buy, sell to (whatever) with MB in May 1998....and there is no way that the 1999 E55 was changed because of it. That car was already put to bed and most likely the '00-'02. It just takes longer than 6 month for product to come off the assembly line. The Chrysler 300 shared parts with the W211, and that was 1st released in 2005.
The only point I was trying to make is that some of us buy and drive these because we prefer them over the W211 - not because of cost....which was the point I was trying to add to the thread. I am not ******* the W211. It was a nice car and I drove a loaded one for 3 years. The seats weren't as comfortable as my '99. The arm rest and driving position wasn't either. And the soul was just not there. At least for me.
The only point I was trying to make is that some of us buy and drive these because we prefer them over the W211 - not because of cost....which was the point I was trying to add to the thread. I am not ******* the W211. It was a nice car and I drove a loaded one for 3 years. The seats weren't as comfortable as my '99. The arm rest and driving position wasn't either. And the soul was just not there. At least for me.
I'd always heard Chrysler had a lot of 210 DNA in the LX cars, not 211? I do notice whenever the rental agencies put me in an LX car that it feels somewhat like an MB.
I can fully appreciate prefering the 210 E55 over the 211. The 210 is more of a pure sporting sedan. The 211 offers unmatched performance, but it is filtered through too much electronics.
Regards.
#47
Super Member
I see too many cars with mismatched colors on different body panels around town. It makes me wary of buying anything that has had paint work. Of course, that is easier said than done when talking 10+ year old cars.
#49
Super Member
OP doesn't say where he's located... Here's one from DFW craigslist: http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/2183770350.html I dunno if it's worth a look or not...
#50
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2002 E55 040 2000 E320 Wagon 199 2004 Ford F550
Aquasition can correct me if I am wrong, but I have deduced that the OP is about 2 hours south of the Dallas area. Probably around Houston, TX. I have seen that silver/black on autotrader.com. Looks pretty clean from the pics.