I dont make much money and I have allways driven old Mercedes ever since. When I can afford them easily, everybody can! Currently I drive a 320 SLK with the same engine but manual transmission. I bought it for just 4500€ and at least in germany it is super cheap in insurance because mainly elderly people drive these! The only issue with this particular car I had so far was the "Engine Management Relay Module" (it didn't crank at all). It was an easy fix though, just bad contacts.
I have a c class with the same engine and its been absolutely flawless. id venture to say it migjt be one of the most engine/transmission combos ever made
My dad currently owns a 1998 CLK320 with the same drive train. Change oil every 5000 miles with full synthetic. Bought it during 2016 with 150,000 miles. Now it has 230,000 and is still used daily. The 5 speeds on these transmission don't really break. Usually it's a connector that gets covered in oil and it damages the computer, that's usually from dirty oil or bad maintenance. We just do drain and fill for the transmission and it's had no issues. I myself own a 2000 SLK230. Same 5 speed transmission. I just drain and fill and it's been solid. Bought it with 155,000 miles 3 years ago and now it has 195,000.
I own a 1998 E-320 with 154,000 miles. I've found that key issues are a problem. If you don't have the original keys and a key that's has been programed there are possible key problems. So far I have done the oil change, transmission fluid, A/C compressor, condenser, air dryer, Brakes, rotors, tires, CVC boot on passenger front. Air filter, inside air filter and now the rear brake light The car is 27 years old. things are expected to brake. I've spent about 4200.00 to do all these issues to date. It rides well, great gas mileage, No dent, rust, inside the car appearance is 90 % some cracks in the dash, speaker cracks. But I've paid 3400.00 for the car. Registration 40.00 overall once all these issues are done I can get a mileage badge for going over 155,000 miles and the car will serve me well. Now consider owning a new car. Higher car payments , insurance, registration and of course gas. In today's world food, rent, clothing, you're working a part-time job. So yes compare the two and I find that I'd come out better with and older fixer. You learn to fix some things yourself and save. Plus the pride in knowing you have a car paid for as a hobby to past on one day. It looks great on the road because there are few 1998's E-320 4 Matic out there looking like they just came off the show room floor. 1/2/24
Yes…. have 2001 CLK430 got it in 2016 with 190K miles now over 220K miles… do my own work (mechanical inclined) -always maintenance by me. ZF transmission is bullet proof- rather messy fluid change (be careful with conductor plate). all my parts from eBay (Benz dealers) - never had issues ✅
Great stuff! I'm in a similar 'shopping' situation rn, so I'd love to land something like this, it's just that cars like this are pretty much all gone due to rust here across the pond in the mainland Europe..
Of course it is. Do periodic maintenance and be happy. I am a happy owner of a W123 and a W126 and I often go on long trips with them (more than 1000 miles). Keep the faith and put them to work. BTW, nice E320.
if you are smart and maintain them they can be great but if you neglect them they will murder your wallet. get a can of PB surface shield and spray the underside
@@drivenperspective I would leave the paint swirls and speakers and tint alone - that doesnt' bother me at all - but that headliner - that keeps me up at night - i can't stop thinking about that drooping, sagging stapled old thing
I dont make much money and I have allways driven old Mercedes ever since. When I can afford them easily, everybody can! Currently I drive a 320 SLK with the same engine but manual transmission. I bought it for just 4500€ and at least in germany it is super cheap in insurance because mainly elderly people drive these! The only issue with this particular car I had so far was the "Engine Management Relay Module" (it didn't crank at all). It was an easy fix though, just bad contacts.
The 320cdi is one of the most robust and reliable Mercedes engines
I have a c class with the same engine and its been absolutely flawless. id venture to say it migjt be one of the most engine/transmission combos ever made
My dad currently owns a 1998 CLK320 with the same drive train. Change oil every 5000 miles with full synthetic. Bought it during 2016 with 150,000 miles. Now it has 230,000 and is still used daily. The 5 speeds on these transmission don't really break. Usually it's a connector that gets covered in oil and it damages the computer, that's usually from dirty oil or bad maintenance. We just do drain and fill for the transmission and it's had no issues.
I myself own a 2000 SLK230. Same 5 speed transmission. I just drain and fill and it's been solid. Bought it with 155,000 miles 3 years ago and now it has 195,000.
I have a 98 e320 with 313k miles. I've had it for 15 years and counting. It is amazingly reliable
I own a 1998 E-320 with 154,000 miles. I've found that key issues are a problem. If you don't have the original keys and a key that's has been programed there are possible key problems.
So far I have done the oil change, transmission fluid, A/C compressor, condenser, air dryer, Brakes, rotors, tires, CVC boot on passenger front. Air filter, inside air filter and now the rear brake light
The car is 27 years old. things are expected to brake. I've spent about 4200.00 to do all these issues to date. It rides well, great gas mileage, No dent, rust, inside the car appearance is 90 %
some cracks in the dash, speaker cracks. But I've paid 3400.00 for the car. Registration 40.00 overall once all these issues are done I can get a mileage badge for going over 155,000 miles and the
car will serve me well. Now consider owning a new car. Higher car payments , insurance, registration and of course gas. In today's world food, rent, clothing, you're working a part-time job. So yes
compare the two and I find that I'd come out better with and older fixer. You learn to fix some things yourself and save. Plus the pride in knowing you have a car paid for as a hobby to past on one
day. It looks great on the road because there are few 1998's E-320 4 Matic out there looking like they just came off the show room floor. 1/2/24
$350 sounds much more reasonable! good you called around
Yes…. have 2001 CLK430 got it in 2016 with 190K miles now over 220K miles… do my own work (mechanical inclined) -always maintenance by me. ZF transmission is bullet proof- rather messy fluid change (be careful with conductor plate). all my parts from eBay (Benz dealers) - never had issues ✅
If it has a Bose stereo the speakers won’t work right unless you rip the who stereo out and put in a new one
Doesn't have Bose.
I had a w210 27 years old. Solid needs general maintenance certain thing needing with age. They are built to last.
Great stuff! I'm in a similar 'shopping' situation rn, so I'd love to land something like this, it's just that cars like this are pretty much all gone due to rust here across the pond in the mainland Europe..
Of course it is. Do periodic maintenance and be happy. I am a happy owner of a W123 and a W126 and I often go on long trips with them (more than 1000 miles). Keep the faith and put them to work. BTW, nice E320.
if you are smart and maintain them they can be great but if you neglect them they will murder your wallet. get a can of PB surface shield and spray the underside
@0:46 all those staples in the headliner - are you ever going to replace that?
Not anytime soon. They don't bother me as much…
@@drivenperspective I would leave the paint swirls and speakers and tint alone - that doesnt' bother me at all - but that headliner - that keeps me up at night - i can't stop thinking about that drooping, sagging stapled old thing