Pre-purchase SC400....
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Hi everybody,
I am 19 years old and I currently own a 1988 Mercedes 300E. It is a great car but I am looking for something more of a daily driver so I keep the miles down on the Benz and it needs some work in engine as I have a small idle misfire.
I know of a guy who is selling his 1992 SC400 and I was wondering if there is anything I should know....
....It has a damaged rear bumper, wing and tail-lights after a small accident.
Car is 140,000 on it too.
What type of issues do these SC400's have engine-wise? I know with my Mercedes, rough idles is a common issue along with wiring harness' etc.... so what am I looking at in the current age of the car/in the future as to repairs?
How many miles do these car's generally last for? As far as I know, there are no mechanical problems in the engine...
He is asking $1,500 for it
Thanks,
Robert
I am 19 years old and I currently own a 1988 Mercedes 300E. It is a great car but I am looking for something more of a daily driver so I keep the miles down on the Benz and it needs some work in engine as I have a small idle misfire.
I know of a guy who is selling his 1992 SC400 and I was wondering if there is anything I should know....
....It has a damaged rear bumper, wing and tail-lights after a small accident.
Car is 140,000 on it too.
What type of issues do these SC400's have engine-wise? I know with my Mercedes, rough idles is a common issue along with wiring harness' etc.... so what am I looking at in the current age of the car/in the future as to repairs?
How many miles do these car's generally last for? As far as I know, there are no mechanical problems in the engine...
He is asking $1,500 for it
Thanks,
Robert
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How well do these do MPG-wise?
I have read the official is 18 city 23 freeway....Is that reasonable accurate?
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Incase you dont know Toyota/Lexus = Lasts for ever. I went 200,000 without a timing belt...oops...didnt know it hadnt been changed and my car is still running like a champ at 209,000. everyone on here says something negative bout gas but whatever its there and we have to pay it. Its not the greatest mileage but it works. Let us know whats up!
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for 1500 that is a deal... I would get it checked out by a mechanic and see what will be needed. If the total work recommended or required is under 2k I would do it. That means for max of 3.5k you get a very reliable ride with out a car payment I don't see a problem at all.
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These are a well made car but there is a reasonable list of things that go wrong with these, but they don't all have to be fixed. If you pick up a well maintained car then a lot of this might have been done.
At that sort of mileage and age the interior will be well worn, both window trims will be broken and possibly have torn material, the door panels will have numerous cracks and broken clips.
Window regulators and door hinges on at least the drivers side will be due.
The climate control LCD will likely have dark spots and the dash gauges might flicker. Some button backlights will be out.
The front suspension bushes and shocks all around will be due. The ride will be a bit floaty and the front end will be clonky.
If it hasn't been serviced then things like brakes, ignition overhaul, and all fluids could well be due. The AC might not work or cool properly and the radiator will nearly need replacement. Hopefully when the cambelt was done the waterpump was replaced.
The good thing is that the engine and trans are pretty solid on these and go for a long time, well over 200k miles easily and for $1500 you will have a bit of a buffer to sort out the things that need to be done. A lot of these probs can be lived with, just don't expect to not have to spend anything on it.
Matt.
At that sort of mileage and age the interior will be well worn, both window trims will be broken and possibly have torn material, the door panels will have numerous cracks and broken clips.
Window regulators and door hinges on at least the drivers side will be due.
The climate control LCD will likely have dark spots and the dash gauges might flicker. Some button backlights will be out.
The front suspension bushes and shocks all around will be due. The ride will be a bit floaty and the front end will be clonky.
If it hasn't been serviced then things like brakes, ignition overhaul, and all fluids could well be due. The AC might not work or cool properly and the radiator will nearly need replacement. Hopefully when the cambelt was done the waterpump was replaced.
The good thing is that the engine and trans are pretty solid on these and go for a long time, well over 200k miles easily and for $1500 you will have a bit of a buffer to sort out the things that need to be done. A lot of these probs can be lived with, just don't expect to not have to spend anything on it.
Matt.
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These are a well made car but there is a reasonable list of things that go wrong with these, but they don't all have to be fixed. If you pick up a well maintained car then a lot of this might have been done.
At that sort of mileage and age the interior will be well worn, both window trims will be broken and possibly have torn material, the door panels will have numerous cracks and broken clips.
Window regulators and door hinges on at least the drivers side will be due.
The climate control LCD will likely have dark spots and the dash gauges might flicker. Some button backlights will be out.
The front suspension bushes and shocks all around will be due. The ride will be a bit floaty and the front end will be clonky.
If it hasn't been serviced then things like brakes, ignition overhaul, and all fluids could well be due. The AC might not work or cool properly and the radiator will nearly need replacement. Hopefully when the cambelt was done the waterpump was replaced.
The good thing is that the engine and trans are pretty solid on these and go for a long time, well over 200k miles easily and for $1500 you will have a bit of a buffer to sort out the things that need to be done. A lot of these probs can be lived with, just don't expect to not have to spend anything on it.
Matt.
At that sort of mileage and age the interior will be well worn, both window trims will be broken and possibly have torn material, the door panels will have numerous cracks and broken clips.
Window regulators and door hinges on at least the drivers side will be due.
The climate control LCD will likely have dark spots and the dash gauges might flicker. Some button backlights will be out.
The front suspension bushes and shocks all around will be due. The ride will be a bit floaty and the front end will be clonky.
If it hasn't been serviced then things like brakes, ignition overhaul, and all fluids could well be due. The AC might not work or cool properly and the radiator will nearly need replacement. Hopefully when the cambelt was done the waterpump was replaced.
The good thing is that the engine and trans are pretty solid on these and go for a long time, well over 200k miles easily and for $1500 you will have a bit of a buffer to sort out the things that need to be done. A lot of these probs can be lived with, just don't expect to not have to spend anything on it.
Matt.
Incase you dont know Toyota/Lexus = Lasts for ever. I went 200,000 without a timing belt...oops...didnt know it hadnt been changed and my car is still running like a champ at 209,000. everyone on here says something negative bout gas but whatever its there and we have to pay it. Its not the greatest mileage but it works. Let us know whats up!
Gas isn't a huge deal to me because I only drive ~100 miles a week so its not a huge deal. People always say "Your car gets horrible MPG", but the price goes up for everybody the same -- Its proportional so effectively they are paying the same % increase as me either way. Like I said above, I don't drive too much so not a huge deal.
for 1500 that is a deal... I would get it checked out by a mechanic and see what will be needed. If the total work recommended or required is under 2k I would do it. That means for max of 3.5k you get a very reliable ride with out a car payment I don't see a problem at all.
----
Thanks to everybody for your responses!
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![](http://www.ps2cho.net/fastpics/SC400_1.jpg)
![](http://www.ps2cho.net/fastpics/SC400_2.jpg)
![](http://www.ps2cho.net/fastpics/SC400_3.jpg)
![](http://www.ps2cho.net/fastpics/SC400_4.jpg)
^ Looks like the lights need replacing too -- getting yellow.
Needs cleaning up but that's the extent of the damage.
You can see the rear wing was torn off but he has the wing.