Looking at a 1997 Mercedes Benz E420. Looked at Carfax report and it says that the electrical system has been serviced 9x, engine serviced 6x, emissions system serviced x2, suspension system serviced, and fuel system serviced. It has 78,000+ miles on it and it is a 1 owner car. It is being sold by a dealer. Anyone who may know if this is a headache in the making? Never owned one.
Was it a bad fabric softener?
This Site Might Help You. RE: To buy or not to buy 97 Benz E420? Looking at a 1997 Mercedes Benz E420. Looked at Carfax report and it says that the electrical system has been serviced 9x, engine serviced 6x, emissions system serviced x2, suspension system serviced, and fuel system serviced. It has 78,000+ miles on it and it is a 1 owner car. It is being sold.
The newer Mercedes, 2001-2006, are very bad used cars. The W210 chassis, which is the older E class you have, is a reliable car. Buying any used car is always risky, but this is one of the safer bets. That being said, it is still a 10 year old car. Any 10 year old car risks a lot of shop time, regardless of model. What will likely sour you isn't the reliability but the repair costs/down time when it does go down. I don't think the srevice history here is too worrisome, but you need to do more, particulalry since its a dealer sale. Many of their cars come from an auction house, and that can be a bad sign. Take the car to the dealer and have them run a pre-purchase inspection, including pulling the dealer service records from their database. That will let you know if there are any issues right now and also let you know a more complete history - Carfax only goes so far. Next, seriously consider a high deducitble aftermarket warranty if you are set on this car. It is a must have for any older Benz. If you are willing to look around, find a newer one that is later in the product cycle of the W210. 2002 is the newest. Also, see if you can find one with a Starmark warranty, an MB sponsored aftermarket warranty. Worth its weight in gold.
I would highly recommend avoiding all used Mercedes models. Extrapolating data from the consumer affairs database one can see Mercedes ranks near the bottom in long term reliability just above Hyundai, Kia and Land Rover. Mercedes have many electrical problems and are very expensive to maintain and repair. Additionally, the 1997 E420 has a track record of transmission failure, various seal failure and loose suspension components- all very costly. Save yourself a headache and avoid a used Mercedes.
