Purchase of 190 E 2.5 16V 1989

[Kurt Munthe]

I am from Denmark and have a few questions regarding safe purchase. I am buying a Mercedes Benz 190 E 2.5 16V 09/1989 license plate G150 ATL - VIN WDB 2010351 F 585229 for export to Denmark. How do I make sure that the car is debt free and not wanted (stolen)
What does a genuine English Registration Certificate look like for re-registration without causing problems. What documents do I need to get the car with me out of Englang honestly.

Hope to answer Kurt Munthe Denmark [email protected]

 

[grober]

There are many sites on the internet describing the vehicle registration process. Vehicle registration - GOV.UK Things will be different if the car is being sold by a private individual or a dealer. Usually a dealer will not register a car in their name unlike a private owner for example. This means if you look at the vehicle registration document or log book V5C Get a vehicle log book (V5C) - GOV.UK and the car is being sold privately by John Smith you would expect to see his name on the V5 but if sold by a dealer CLASSIK -BENZ "purveyors of Mercedes cars to the gentry" you would expect to see the the previous owners name on the document not the dealer. But be careful because the registered keeper [ the name on the vehicle registration document V5] may not be the owner- proof of ownership is by a bill of sale/receipt/evidence of transaction.
Q743: Is there a difference between the registered keeper and the owner of a vehicle?

There are various companies that offer ownership checks but even they are not entirely fullproof.
Common V5C scams - The HPI Blog

Registration document V5C (logbook)

In the end your best bet is to look at the person selling the vehicle------ have they a bona fide UK address- if a dealer where are their premises- are they an MB specialist trader- are all vehicle documents present- does the car come with a comprehensive history- can you contact any previous owners how long have they had the car etc etc. If you feel uneasy about the seller in any way--- walk away.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Good morning Kurt and welcome!

To check it is finance clear and not stolen go to HPI where you will have to pay a small fee, but it will tell you whether the car is listed or indeed has been written off.

The one official document you will need from the UK is the V5C. It is a simple form printed on a single piece of A3 paper and folded. The seller fills in the first section listing the seller's details, the date and both of you sign. Take a copy of this as the seller will send it off to the DVLA in the UK. Fill in the two little slips on the third page - one is the new keeper document - fill in your details and keep this. The second is the notification of permanent export, this should be sent in to the DVLA by the person listed on the form.

Keep copies.

The important point to note is the V5C is not a proof of ownership, so ask the vendor for proof of his purchase of the car, with invoice if possible. If the seller hasn't got an invoice, it doesn't mean he/she doesn't own it, check all the paperwork though - it is highly unlikely that a car of this age will be leased or someone elses, but look at all the supporting documentation of ownership like service and repair invoices. Also get the vendor in his invoice to you to confirm he owns the car and is free to sell it.

To drive lawfully in the UK the car must be roadworthy - get the seller to provide a recent MOT test certificate - even on a car over 30 years old. Second, it must be insured, so get the necessary documentation and cover from your own insurer.

My strong advice, having owned one, is buy the one with all the work done like cylinder head, bodywork, suspension etc. In good shape these cars rev freely to 7000 and have real pulling power, if it feels under-powered it probably needs the valves being lapped and the cylinder head skimmed.

Good luck.

 

[Kurt Munthe]

To grober and Charles Morgan!

First of all thanks for quick useful answers. I will now investigate the possibilities mentioned.

A little more information. The car is incredibly well maintained, virtually as new with only 62000km - never winter driven - LHD - speedometer with km view, so the car must have been imported from Europe. I do not know if this model just like the BMW M3 E30 could not be obtained RHD.
I will return when I have been examined closer around the car.

Many thanks again Kurt Munthe Denmark [email protected]

 

[grober]

To be driven on UK roads the vehicle will have had to get several mods done to lights and speedo. If it still only indicates kmph might indicate its a recent import??
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...cars-commission-notice-mutual-recognition.pdf

 

[poormansporsche]

Only one MOT on the history so it is a recent import from elsewhere. The current vogue in the UK is to import mercedes cars from Japan, this has its plus and minus's !!!

 

[Dippo]

According to the DVLA, it was first registered in the UK in September 2017.

Check if a vehicle is taxed and has an MOT

 

[Kurt Munthe]

Hello again and thanks to all who wrote on this thread.
The last news I have found out is that the car is either imported from Japan or Spain according to this Russian website Модель I have gotten at the Danish MB Club home page.
According to the seller, he has owned the car for 4 years. The seller works in Hong Kong and periodically in London. What's surprising is that he does not provide full name and phone number in England. Seller called me from a Qatar phone +974 55707487. Seller speaks very fine English without audible (for me) foreign dialect. I really want to buy this car but have begun to doubt if it's too dangerous for an amateur to finish this trade. May I ask if there is an experienced person here on the site who, for a fee, could advice whit me that the deal did not go wrong and all the money was lost to a fraudster.

 

[Charles Morgan]

If in doubt, avoid. Do you have a link to the advert?

 

[MercedesDriver]

My only advise would be NOT to send any money via Monegram, Western Union or anything similar until you stand next to the car and see it.
Maybe I'm paranoid but Hong Kong - London, Qatar looks suspicious.
If you know where the car is maybe it will be local to some member so he/she can go and check the car for you.

 

[Kurt Munthe]

Thanks for reply. The ad from Mobile has been removed as I suppose the seller has accepted me as a buyer. I can not get in touch with the seller by phone, maybe he is in Hong Kong. I will write to him to indicate the address where the car can be physically inspected by an expert. I will be back later

 

[dragonxpress]

I would be very suspicious of this sale. Hong Kong and Japan both drive on the same side of the road as the UK so all native cars to these counties are RHD as standard but measure in kph. Only Spain in the countries mentioned are LHD. I would be very wary of a car nearly 30 years old and having covered low mileage except if it came from a collectors private collection and would expect the price to reflect this. Like everybody else has said - if it sounds too good to be true... the other thing to consider is that it may have come from a private collection and stolen and exported to the middle East where a lot of exotic and valuable cars have been stolen to order and exported to the middle East for parts or to sell on to unsuspecting buyers world wide.

 

[a111r]

Sounds like a scam to me.
If it's in central London I can check that it exists and check over the condition vs. that described.
I'd do that cost free.

 

[jaymanek]

The seller fills in the first section listing the seller's details, the date and both of you sign. Take a copy of this as the seller will send it off to the DVLA in the UK. Fill in the two little slips on the third page - one is the new keeper document - fill in your details and keep this. The second is the notification of permanent export, this should be sent in to the DVLA by the person listed on the form.

Slightly different if exporting. Buyer must keep ALL sections apart from the "export" section. The seller sends off the export section. The buyer needs ALL other parts otherwise he wont be able to register in his country.

 

[Dippo]

I would be very suspicious of this sale. Hong Kong and Japan both drive on the same side of the road as the UK so all native cars to these counties are RHD as standard but measure in kph.

I believe it used to be a status thing in Japan to have a left hand drive executive car. Not only did it show that was clearly an import, but it also made it easier for the chauffeur to step straight from the driver's seat onto the kerb to open the door for the passenger in the rear. I was told this some time ago - but the car is probably old enough to belong to the era being referred to.

 

[aybracers]

The original order was placed by a dealer in Offenbach, Germany in 1989. Nice spec with heated electric seats, sunroof and air conditioning. I'd want to see the paperwork for when it was sent to Japan, and, yes, it was a status thing back in the late 80/early 90's to have a left hand drive car even though they drive on the left in Japan.

 

[Kurt Munthe]

Thank you so much to all enthusiasts for friendly participation and indspark.
As more of you follow my thread, I will attach images from the seller's advertisement on Mobile.de as I have downloaded from his ad. The car is in original paint and with only 62,000km on the speedometer
Is there anything to say that I'm not much to say no thanks for this trade. I'm willing to go far to own it.

 

[grober]

It was JAPAN ordered car according to EPC chassis number lookup . I think these are EVO wheels??

 

[Red C220]

Look like Lorinser wheels to me.

That looks like a nice car. Do you know where it is in the UK?

If a member is local you might find someone willing to take a look at it to make sure it's a genuine sale.

 

[MercedesDriver]

Good luck.