I might buy this C32, advice please...

[Deleted member 37751]

I have been in contact with the owner of this car;
2002 MERCEDES C32 AMG AUTO SILVER,V6 SUPERCHARGED,350HP on eBay (end time 18-Mar-11 21:18:09 GMT)

and he is willing to do a deal with my MarkV Golf...

I know this car has already been posted in the 'Spotted on eBay' section but as I may be doing a deal for it, I want some advice/tips/ what to look for etc. I know it's not a minter but I have always fancied one as a weekend toy...

To be honest I was in the market to buy a C32 estate but I can't find one that is sensibly priced.... So if anyone was thinking of selling theirs...

 

[d w124]

I think it looks nice,but the seats look well used.First job is to clean those tail pipes

 

[Charles Morgan]

I don't like the way the AMG badge has been re-spaced at the back. That sort of thing makes me suspicious that someone has been hooning around in it.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

First job is to clean those tail pipes

I'd spotted that myself... I do like to keep my chrome nice and shiny

 

[A210AMG]

The badges are a little off but overall outsdie from the pictures it looks nice.

Inside they have been careful not to show much of the drivers seat / wheel and that looks quite worn.

Depends what it goes for I guess? as you could get the seat sorted / wheel sorted.

Please tell me your going to view it in person before bidding? and drive it etc?

I don't know what your budget is or if you need 4 seats?, I would prefer an estate and seat colour aside I quite like this.

WLN Automotive : Mercedes C32 AMG Estate

or even this looks very well kept.

Mercedes : Stunning C32 AMG Estate

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Thanks A210 for those..
The thing is my Golf is my runabout car and it's worth about £5k which is what I would want to spend on a C32. I know this puts me towards the bottom of the Market for them, but I think they are fantastic value for money at £4-5k.
It's just that I've always preferred the estate

 

[brucemillar]

Sweetpea

If you prefer the estate the you should have a hunt for an estate. You just know what will happen. You will buy this and then spot an estate on your ride home that you could have bought.

Like you I love the the look of the estates. I waited a long time to find my C55 Estate. A member on here spotted it on this forum and passed me the details. Then guess what 2 more appeared in the same week! This after a year of searching.

All that said.. The seats do look very tired. That may be absolutely fine but worth a drive and asking the questions.

Good luck.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Sweetpea

If you prefer the estate the you should have a hunt for an estate. You just know what will happen. You will buy this and then spot an estate on your ride home that you could have bought.

Like you I love the the look of the estates. I waited a long time to find my C55 Estate. A member on here spotted it on this forum and passed me the details. Then guess what 2 more appeared in the same week! This after a year of searching.

All that said.. The seats do look very tired. That may be absolutely fine but worth a drive and asking the questions.

Good luck.

Thanks
I've just spotted one hidden on Pistonheads;
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2547671.htm
I'm sure it was advertised on eBay, but it was located in North Yorkshire at the time.
I do recall there being a couple of things need doing; some of the electrics were playing up- the seats if I remember correctly..

The other problem, to an extent, would be that I would want to do a swap either way. Which I know not many people are keen to do...

 

[andy clark]

very nice cars id like one myself

 

[Swozza]

If you decide against the estate. Have a look at mine.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2605257.htm

 

[Justin1600]

Looks ok mate, just look for the usual W203 problems.

1) Gear pilot bush leaking
2) Front suspension thrust arm bushes split
3) Knocking front A/R bar links
4) Alarm siren water damage
5) Rear coil springs broken
6) Noisey heater flap motors knocking

 

[bpsorrel]

If you decide against the estate. Have a look at mine.

Mercedes : C32 AMG Massive Spec

I love this phrase on your ad!!

"Mercedes Benz cars from this era stuffed from rust"

Were they really THAT bad?

Only kidding! Your car sounds amazing! I'm not in the market for one, bit if I was, it'd be the first I'd look at!

 

[Swozza]

I love this phrase on your ad!!

"Mercedes Benz cars from this era stuffed from rust"

Were they really THAT bad?

Only kidding! Your car sounds amazing! I'm not in the market for one, bit if I was, it'd be the first I'd look at!

Do you know I never noticed that. HAHAH

 

[TaffH]

Justin1600 and A210AMG are absolutely right. there are any number of potential problems with 203s in general and C32s in particular and it really needs to be seen. I know there's less than 24 hours left on this auction but if you can I strongly advise that you go and take a good long look at it. When I bought my estate I looked at it, drove it and still missed a handful of problems that cost me big handfuls of money. By the seller's own admission, this is a fairly scruffy car but everything he has described is just niff naff and trivia compared to what might be lurking around the corner. And it's not even the body style you really want!
Just a thought.
Good luck.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

If you decide against the estate. Have a look at mine.

Mercedes : C32 AMG Massive Spec

I'd seen your car when looking earlier and it's more than I would like to spend to be honest..

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Justin1600 and A210AMG are absolutely right. there are any number of potential problems with 203s in general and C32s in particular and it really needs to be seen. I know there's less than 24 hours left on this auction but if you can I strongly advise that you go and take a good long look at it. When I bought my estate I looked at it, drove it and still missed a handful of problems that cost me big handfuls of money. By the seller's own admission, this is a fairly scruffy car but everything he has described is just niff naff and trivia compared to what might be lurking around the corner. And it's not even the body style you really want!
Just a thought.
Good luck.

As it happens, the deal looks to have fell through...
He values his car at more than I think it would be worth.
I told him about a couple of things that need doing on the Golf and he said that it'll cost too much to put right!
A bit of paintwork and an airbag lead on the Golf, about £200 to sort so it is without fault. And take a look at his list that needs doing! I'd be lucky to get change out of a grand!

 

[Charles Morgan]

Best outcome.

 

[TaffH]

Sorry to hear that matey.
Keep looking though. There are more out there than you might think.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Sorry to hear that matey.
Keep looking though. There are more out there than you might think.

You could always sell me yours....

I think I'm going to stick it out for an estate now to be honest, sort the little niggles on the Golf and see what's about then.

But I just know that I can't stop looking until I get one..

 

[Charles Morgan]

I had one years ago and they are great muscle cars (although I got rid of mine when it fried the ECU after three breakdowns when I really needed it) and I much prefer the estates. Keep looking, be flexible on budget and something good will turn up.