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USED European Luxury Cars (pre 1990)

1109 messages,  Last post on May 02, 2007 at 6:18 AM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi

Messages Page 110 of 111

#1090 of 1109 Re: 1988 190E 2.3 [mbchik] by mbchik

Apr 19, 2006 (7:20 pm)

Replying to: mbchik (Apr 11, 2006 5:19 pm)
This solution came from a building contractor and dedicated Mercedes owner:
turn the key in the trunk lock to the left, push in, and tap the top of the trunk edge with a free hand.
Glory be this really worked! For the 1988 190E series there does not appear to be any interior access - amazing for German technology.
Many, many thanks for all who responded to my plea.

#1091 of 1109 Possible Revision by hpmctorque

Dec 13, 2006 (7:14 pm)

I suggest that the title of this topic be changed to "...(pre 2000)" to jump start interest in it.

#1092 of 1109 Re: Possible Revision [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 13, 2006 (8:14 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Dec 13, 2006 7:14 pm)
great idea on one level, and thanks for the suggestion, but we are the "Classics" board, so we sorta kinda have to keep it about "old" cars....what would you think about a topic in the Maintenance & Repair board...something like "Dealing with Out of Warranty German Luxury Cars?"

#1093 of 1109 Re: Possible Revision [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright by hpmctorque

Dec 14, 2006 (2:11 am)

You could try that, Shifty, but I'd guess that such a narrow subject wouldn't gain much traction.
 
In terms of reducing the age threshold of the current topic, I suppose it depends on how much you're willing to stretch the term "classic", since it will take a few years before the 1989s meet the definition. Currently, 1989s are merely old, as would be 1999s. Another possibility, if "old" is the defacto criterion, would be to raise the threshold to "pre 1997" on January 1, and then bump the date up one year on January 1, 2008, and each year thereafter...or not. Well, okay, let's make that January 2 if the new years eve party you happen to attend is a trifle to libatious.
 
You're the arbiter, of course, of how much latitude is appropriate for the term classic. I'm just trying to think of how an interesting topic might be revived.
 
Another possibility would be to leave the date as is, but substitute European for German, so as to include some Italian, Swedish and British marques.

#1094 of 1109 Re: Possible Revision [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 14, 2006 (9:06 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Dec 14, 2006 2:11 am)
Yeah let's do that!

#1095 of 1109 Used Mercedes by merckx

Dec 26, 2006 (1:44 pm)

Shifty, you'll typically say that a Benz with,say,150,000 on it is used up and not worth much. That certainally makes sense,but I notice that the few times I've investigated bottom-feeder MBs as just a fun,week-end car, I'm surprised how little $5,000 will get you here on the east coast. Are they jusy much more common in Califirnia, and therefore worth a little less?
Last week I looked at an '86 420SEL at a Toyota dealer's. It had 150,000 miles on it...Nice paint,no rust, but brake and coolant lights were on...interior had many large cracks in leather. I was dumbfounded that the "sale" price was $5,000...Certainally they'd go lower, but the car really drove like a dog. And $5,000 Benzes always seem to be like that here...Am I expecting too much?

#1096 of 1109 Re: Used Mercedes [merckx] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Dec 26, 2006 (2:31 pm)

Replying to: merckx (Dec 26, 2006 1:44 pm)
Well you know what Shifty always says:
 
"The asking price of a car is merely the seller exercising his First Amendment rights".
 
They are obviously trolling for some fool to pay that much for a doggy car....for $5K, such a car should be darn near immaculate.
 
Yeah, I'm sure cleaner Benzes are more common out here, but really a market is based on supply and demand, and I can't see ANYWHERE in the world there would be a demand for shabby Benzes....it's not like a shabby bad-running Benz is going to bring anyone happiness or prestige, or have any allure to drive up market prices.
 
So what i'm saying is sure, you could argue quite rightly that there may be a shortage of clean, well-kept, great running Benzes on the East Coast, and that such a shortage would demand perhaps a slightly higher price than out West....but there is no shortage of beat up old used cars in America, that's for sure.
 
Besides, a dealer can offer high interest financing and can sell a shabby car on the monthly payment price. Anyone with a pulse can buy $5,000 worth of credit.

#1097 of 1109 Re: Used Mercedes [merckx] by fintail

Dec 26, 2006 (3:49 pm)

Replying to: merckx (Dec 26, 2006 1:44 pm)
420SEL sounds like a $1500 car in that condition, and I'm being generous.
 
Brake light could be pricey.
 
If you want a nice W126, do as Shifty mentions and peek at California...or really the whole west coast.

#1098 of 1109 . by fintail

Dec 27, 2006 (3:09 pm)

A better W126 deal
 
Price is certainly negotiable
 
Funny with MB...with older cars it seems the 6 is th best bet, and the V8s are problematic. But in modern ones, I seem to hear about more problems in 6 cyl cars (C320, E320) than in V8 cars (save for the W220).

#1099 of 1109 Re: . [fintail] by british_rover

Dec 27, 2006 (3:46 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Dec 27, 2006 3:09 pm)
Yeah the Inline 6 was always a better motor then the V6 that replaced it.
 
The newest MB V6s might be equal to the old Inline 6 but I doubt it.

Messages Page 110 of 111

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