2004 E320 CDI Buying need your advise please.

[edonmez]

Hi Guys after selling my w203 and driving an Astra for 6 months I now want to buy one of my dream cars.

It is a Black 2004 E320 CDI Avantgarde with 95000 miles on the clock owner currently trying to locate service book.

Car it self looks very tidy and clean. Owner of the car is selling due financial difficulties ( he is a friend of one of my friends so i know that) And the car hasnt been on the road for good 5 months now but regularly started and drives up and down in drive way.

1. What do i need to look for on this car?
2. I know some of these had glycol contamination problem but how can i find out if this car effected? Is there a way of finding if there is any leak in to gear box or vice versa?
3. I also know sbc brake issues but dont know what to look for or the signs of it?
4. Any other issues you can think of that I should look for?
5. Lastly is £2500 good deal price wise. Car has no sat nav heated or memory seats but has parking sensors sunroof (not panaromic) etc

Thank you very much for your advise and opinions

 

[bob6600]

1. Should be rust safe but have a look around. Ask if ATF has been changed, should be done roughly every 40k and will set you back circa £200

2. Glycol contamination was due to a valeo radiator, see if it has one. If so, may need changing.

3. If no warning lights on the dash, then it's fine. If it hasn't been changed then it will need to be in the future.

4. If you can take the engine covers off, check injector for chuffing (black death). Give it a good test drive and ensure it doesn't go into limp mode

5. Price seems good for the spec

 

[edonmez]

Hi thank you very much. What is the best way to find out what radiator it has? I can see behr sign when you lift bonnet up but i think that is intercooler. ALso i opened the cap for water and dip my finger in it and when you rub your fingers together it feels very slippery (like oily) is it how antifreeze mixture would make it feel like or is there oil in it that would cause that. I hope that make sense?

 

[t-dawg1]

£2500 sounds too cheap for that car,something is not right with it! By the way the coolant should not be oily when you rub it on your fingers

 

[edonmez]

OK thank you very much guys. I will see if i can get the car checked by a mechanic.

 

[jazzyglobe]

Have it checked over by someone who knows these cars. Not just any mechanic

 

[edonmez]

Thank you Jazzyglobe, I have asked my local indi see if they can do it. If it wasnt to that gearbox I love the car as it is one of the most clean one I have viewed. But not knowing hat to look for to determine if it has it or not puts me off.

 

[mannikon]

Does seem cheap, definitely a good spirited test drive checking everything and before you turn engine off check for dashboard malfunction alerts and then if still ok with it get your local indie to check it over. Rust-wise probably ok but run a finger under each wheel arch to see how smooth they are.

 

[edonmez]

The car seem to be really clean. And I know the reason for it being sold is genuine but the only question is finding out if it has glycol contamination. I will check this Thursday which rad it has but did any of the Behr ones had same issue does anyone know??