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Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedans
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Comments
Let's find or start an appropriate discussion for this comparison rather than get this topic too far off-track. Those links may be helpful, and the search tools on the left side of the page will also help locate resources. And of course anyone can drop me an email if I can help find an appropriate venue.
As for which car, that is a hard one. I just sold a really nice Acura CL for my 2002 E320. I don't think the Benz will be as reliable as a Japanese car, I sometimes wish, "Why Couldn't Honda of owned part of Benz?" Overall I love the Benz, I am 33 and felt that it was time I got a nice luxury car. I almost bought a 2003, but have friends that have had some computer issues with the 2003s. I love the ride, looks, and gadget on the E320 - but you might have to visit the dealer a few more times. They are very SAFE cars, my insurance went down $300 a year!
You said: "Honda Accord now with 150K and I can count on one hand the amount of times I had to go to the dealer other than normal service."
My 96 E320 (first year of new model) has also been to the dealer just 4 or 5 times during its 124k miles for non-normal repairs. Unfortunately it has cost me some serious money, about 10 months of payments on a lesser car!
vl39:
Original brake pads at 115K miles? C'mon now, tell the truth!! OK, you must live in the boonies and never have to use the brakes. Residing in a suburban area means that you do pads on the E-class every 30-50K miles minimum.. I admit to using my brakes somewhat aggressively and I installed the fifth set of pads at 116k miles...!!!
Last question: Can anyone tell me what this car's MSRP was in Fall, 1999?
White/Tan 2000 E320 (41000 Miles) Options: Leather, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose, Moonroof, phone jack, and TeleAid. I think this is all the options.
When the seatbelt buckle that is riding on the fabric belt hits that little "stop button" piece of plastic (the part that keeps the buckle off the seat bottom) it causes an intermittent rattle in my 2000 E. The way I found this is to buckle the belt without a passenger riding in the rear and this noise stopped.
It's a long-shot but maybe worth a try.
JR
2. Will the factory installed Motorola V60 integrated phone w/ voice work with MY cellular provider's, (Verizon) network, or do I have to use one that MB specifies, and get an additional cell number for the car?
where are u even seeing a picture on any of the 04 E series? been looking all over, can u post the link plz? thanks
While not small change, especially for a retired fellow, this doesn't strike me as excessive for any vehicle driven this many miles over 7 years. What does the board think?
I am distiguishing between repairs and routine maintenance and wear items (I classify brake pads as maintenance, rotor replacement as repairs).
although it could be just my dealer/region, i'm in NJ.
Until 15 years ago I never spent more than $8000 to BUY a car outright..! Now I'm spending that in repairs for one car.! (And my wife thinks I'm certifiably crazy to spend that much on repairs!) I think this amount would be excessive for a car that sold for under $30K new, but it may be justifiable for a $50K car. But I do enjoy the ride. It is still an impressive car that still looks great inside and out and handles and rides with the best.
It is my understanding that if you sell the car before the end of the extended warrantee period you MAY get a pro-rated return of your money. The way it works, though, is not as you might expect. Lets suppose you buy, say an 8 year warantee (which includes the 4 year new car warantee and an extended warrantee for 4 years. If you sell the car after 5 years you don't get 3/4 = 75% of your money back. You would only get 3/8 = 37% back.
It's my understanding from this board that the price of the warrantee is negotiable.
V-6?
Not to diminish your expenses nor increase the wrath of your wife, but I am surprised that you didn't have to replace or at least repair a leaking radiator and the electricals (e.g., battery, alternator, starter). I think that I would try to network a reputable, local electrical shop and radiator shop. These have got to be the next issues but if you get your components rebuilt yourself (probably even at the same place your MB dealer takes customer radiators and alternators--only the tooth fairy thinks an MB dealer has an radiator shop in his service department) you would be OK.
Just tell your wife that the market is still overvalued and that the Mass Sales Tax alone on a 35K certified used MB is $1750!
M
In the numbers I mentioned in my clarification post, I did not include any appropriation for the Starmark work that the dealer did before I took delivery. I bought the car one day after it came off a 2-year lease. So I've only owned it for 5 of its 7 years. The dealer installed new brake rotors, pads and tires on all four wheels. That would have been worth close to another $800 plus whatever else they did to prep it for Starmark. And then it also did not include the cost of the warranty work they did which came to approx. another $1100. So the true cost of the full 7 years (some of it paid for by MB) is nearly $10K...
blockislandguy: Yep, did the battery over 3 years ago and probably getting near time for another.. Also did all the cooling system hoses last year but so far no radiator problems. (Watch it leak next week now!!) $1750 would go a long way toward a trip to Ireland! Which is what my wife would prefer..!
The price of the warranty definitely IS negotiable. However, my own dealer would not budge from the $2600 or $2650 MSRP price for the extended warranty for my 2000 E320.
But thanks to posts on this forum, I finally purchased the premium 4-year/100,000 extended warranty for a price of $1680 from Courtesy Motors Auto Center in Chico, CA (I live in Northern Virginia). If you'd like a contact name and phone numbers, send me an e-mail.
The price probably has gone up since I bought mine in late March, 2001. But it's a pleasure to deal with them.
Hope this helps. Keep us posted.
Last winter was a brutal one for snow, and I have an 80 mile round trip to work each day. I made it through each storm by adding five 50lb bags of sand in the trunk and back seat last year for ballast, but the going was always an adventure.
I knew I should have gotten some snows, but never had a problem with it like that before.
I am now looking to get either a 2001 or '02 E-320 4-matic for the added weight and all-wheel piece of mind.
First off, is the 4-matic good in the snow? Will it handle good on all season tires, or will snows be needed?.
If snows are needed, which tires are better for that car? Michelin Arctic-Alpins, or Blizzaks.
Thanks in advance for any responses.
Any advice on purchaing an extended warrenty?
I have an E500 4-matic on order, and I was not happy to find out that this model will come with an older 5-speed transmission. I still don't know why 4-matics will come with the older transmission. You figure that MB should be able to figure out a way to place th 7G-transmission with 4-matic.
Please keep this board informed as you negotiate your final price. I was told MSRP, but I am assuming that one should be able to do better.