2003 E320 Pristine 72K mi.

Any particular items to look for during pre-purchase inspection?

Any valuable options that add to value?

Thanks!

 

ask to drive the car for a few hours or overnight. make sure you drive the car at highway and slow speeds. make sure no warning lights are on the cluster. 2003 had alot of issues. take off the oil cap and see if theres any sludge in the valve cover. pay a good dealership to to a check over before you buy.

 

You want the best possible condition vehicle you can afford.

With these cars the transmission and drive-train is my biggest concern.
On your road test pay special attention to how the transmission up-shifts - down-shifts, especially when cold.
Listen for any unusual noises while driving and turning, (below 45 MPH) be sure to "maneuver" and "brake" in three styles "gently", "harsh", "PANIC".

In my opinion: The M113 engine is better than the later M273 motor which has issues.

I strongly suggest that you have a Pre Purchase Inspection by a disinterested third party Mercedes specialist.
Used-Car Pre-Purchase Inspection | J.D. Power
From my experience:
The average buyer cannot determine the overall condition of the car simply from a road test.

Ask your local Mercedes dealer to run a VMI report to see the repair history and verify that all recalls and campaigns have been performed.
On your VMI you want to see if there are any unresolved recurring complaints in the recent history.
You also want to make sure that the car has received regular maintenance.

Extended or after-market warranty is a must however.

IMO: The OEM navigation system is inferior to the after-market Garmin and TomTom (+ you can move them from car to car).
The front and rear shocks will need to be replaced soon, between now and 100k miles.
IMO: The multi link rear suspension will need replacement before 110k miles.

Unless the radiator has already been replaced, it will eventually leak into the transmission causing glycol contamination, a roughly (dealer list part price) $9000.00 USD bill + LABOR.
I suggest replacing the radiator as a preventive measure.


roy@pelicanparts.com


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