1995 Mercedes Benz E320 Cabriolet Convertible 37K miles original and unmolested

1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E320 Description

Hello. I am pruning my personal fleet of cars by two.One Cadillac and one Benz has to go. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, and have given up chasing women because I can’t catch them anymore, so the cars are my remaining vice. I have all the cars very, very well kept up. All are registered, insured, and driven. While my garage has epoxied floors, insulation, heating and cooling, it’s not Jay Leno sized nor do I want it that big. My car life would be easier if I had a fewer choices.

So … selling in two separate auctions … first ...

This listing is for a 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet. Original. Unmolested. Near pristine. I’m hoping someone sees this listing and realizes what a find it is.

I bought it because it was – wait for it - original and unmolested and near pristine.

I could not have asked for a nicer car. Paid a premium and fended off some other buyers, well worth it. Or would have been if I ended up keeping it. Why sell it – read further below.

I don’t buy up old cars to puff up and re-sell. I buy cars I want to keep – but sometimes things happen and one has to go. My garage currently has an S65 with Designo interior, a GL with a rare off-road package, and an Electric Benz on top of this E320. Cadillac wise I have a pristine 1966 convertible, and two 1972 Eldorado convertibles – one of which is going up for sale. All are unique in some way. If you win or otherwise come to visit you will see. The E320 is insured at stated appraised value as a show / low mileage driving car – as are my Cadillacs. The electric is my daily driver.

I was going to tweak the few odds and ends that the E320 needed, and would have ended up with a completely original low mileage car to drive a few thousand miles per year and show at car shows – as I do with my Cadillac. Then in February this year, I tore my ACL and meniscus in the left knee getting out of the car – age – it sucks. And now that the knee has been repaired – it’s obvious that getting in and out of this car has become near impossible – sigh ! I tried it again yesterday – very carefully – while driving it around and taking pictures – and even being careful – the knee hurts. Which is why this car has reluctantly become the sale candidate and not something else.

Durn it – now that I can afford Ferrari’s, Lambo’s, Corvette’s, and other low slung cars – I can’t get in and out of them.

Knee surgery also explains why I did not make progress on the items below. Now best left to the new owner.

The E320 has as of this listing just shy of 37,000 miles – I may put a few more on showing it – I doubt more than a hundred or so.

It’s a very, very, very nice car. As close to a one owner well maintained car you are likely to find. Somewhere between a #1 Concours car and a #2, and can easily be made a 100 point show car. It’s all just there ! I love cars – I’m on many car sites, Hemmings, eBay, etc. looking for something interesting at least twice per week. Every once in a while – something catches my eye. And I’ve learned to read between the lines. I’ve read all the fluffed up listings – and if you, like me, look at those as well – you will realize – this is the real deal.You will see all the things that are right with this car that those other’s lack.

The above said, you need to rely on your own observations, ask questions, and ideally come and inspect it for yourself. Sold as is, where is. To help you along I have posted a few pictures in the listing, and a whole bunch on Google’s photo site – a link will be provided if you contact me via eBay.

I acquired it from the daughter of the original owner. The daughter obtained it after her mother passed. Title records in Alabama were at one address - the duplicate title showing in Montgomery was that transfer from mother to daughter. One elderly lady bought it new, then drove it about 180 miles per month for 18 years. Her daughter inherited it but did not drive it. I bought it from the daughter with just over 36,250 miles.

When I purchased it – it had been sitting for about 4 years. The mother did not drive it for her last 3 years, and the daughter did not drive it except to move it around a bit. The daughter stated that for those idle years it was started weekly and allowed to run for 10 minutes. And that folks explains why I had to replace the muffler (below).

I have driven it – first from Montgomery to Nashville, and then around town – about 1,000 miles.

Before leaving Montgomery, I had the fuel system flushed, brakes checked, wiper blade replaced, and had a new set of Conti’s installed as the originals (!!!) were still on with plenty of tread. Those original tires were holding air, but upon dismount it was clear they would have disintegrated somewhere along the route home. Conti spare still in trunk. The original tools are still in the original cloth bag and the jack is where it belongs.

The original never used emergency kit is in the trunk as well.

Speaking of the trunk – all the interior trim looks like the day it was delivered. And on the outside edge of the trunk – that black plastic bar at the edge – tail light to tail light – it’s the lift lip - which is missing or broken on every car you’ve seen – it’s present and pristine.

I have what appears to be most if not all of the manuals in the Mercedes binder just like it was handed over 22 years ago, and two keys - with one of the keys in the original leather case, the other loose.

Air bags replaced by original owner at local Benz dealer back in March of 2010. The elderly lady certainly kept up her toy.

A/C is cold and the climate controls work as intended. Auto fan speed does its job as does the temp control. Kept me nice and comfy in 85 degree weather on the trip home and since then driving around Nashville with the top up. I turn off the A/C and just use vent when the top is down.

The seat belt presenters work as they should – both sides.

All the gages, dash, console, overhead lights work – and the dimmer functions as it should.

The radio works as does the power antenna. There is no CD changer in the trunk – the car data sheet shows it was not sold with one - though I do have one I purchased on eBay – the wiring is present in the trunk – it would just need to be bolted up and connected – and will come with the car uninstalled.

The top is original. Beautiful. Interior headliner – original. Look at the photos of the mechanism – pristine – I did nothing – they just looked that way the day I saw it. No leaks in the cylinders. Goes up and down as expected. Only manual item is the windshield header latches. Windows roll themselves down first, the top does it’s flap dance, and the windows go back up.

It has the original factory option (rare to still find it) wind blocker that fastens in above the rear seat. Looks like it might never have been mounted. It was in the trunk. I’ve currently got it installed. You can leave it in the car full time – just raise or lower the mesh frame as needed. Or if you need full access to the rear seat, take it out – it takes about 25 seconds.

The rear headrests / roll over bars can be manually extended as you can see in the pictures.All the electronic switches seem to work as intended – at least all that I found and tried. Seats, headrests, seat memory, windows, top, etc.

The wiper works perfectly – I put in a new blade – again the one on the car looked original. The wiper is that articulated single arm – very intriguing when operating. It rained for about ½ the trip from ‘Bama to Nashville. Multiple speeds, intermittent speeds – all functioned.

The alarm works - triggered it by accident – very loud – yikes !

The paint is original. I say that because I tried to find any sign of repaint, and see none. The paint is nice and shiny – clear evidence the car did not spend much time out in the sun.

The wheels have some de-lamination of the clear coat – but they don’t have any curb rash I can see.

The decals in the engine compartment, door sills, and trunk are original.

Once I got to Nashville, the local Mercedes dealer replaced the head gasket (if you know Benzes you know why I did that ASAP), the idler for the serpentine belt, the belt itself, and the engine wiring harness (again you know why – vegetable based insulation - ugh). I had the center muffler replaced (original had a small hole in it) with an OEM unit (remember the weekly starts). Replaced the front shocks – there was a bit of a wheel hop driving it up which is now gone. The rear muffler looks fine and original. The total of the work I had done including tires, gasket, wiring, serpentine, muffler, and front shocks is about $7,500 with $6K of it being the head gasket and wiring. Mercedes 12 month warranty on the work expires January 2018 – I’ll hand you a copy of the receipts. Since the repairs the car has lived in a garage with an epoxied floor – nothing dripping on the floor except condensation from the A/C.

Dealer service department and all the sales folks oohed and aahed over it. They’ll give me $23K in trade on something new – what sweethearts – which explains the auction starting price. Buy it now was $35,000 when I put up the listing.

Original mats – passenger one is very clean, the driver’s side could be.

There’s no rust. Nice southern car all its life.

Veneer is perfect as far as I can see. Dash top looks like new. Steering wheel ditto. Lack of sun will do that for you.

The clock runs fine – keeps great time – dead on.

Cruise control works as it should – holds speed fiercely, and has the tap up / tap down functions.

Engine pulls very strong – especially above 5000 RPM. Trans shifts well. Driving down the road at 75 mph (yup – that’s the speed limit around here) with the top down – fantastic. Can take hands off the wheel and it tracks straight and true on a flat road.

Sun visors nice and firm – hold up against the wind just fine. Interior rear view mirror likewise firm.

What remains that needs doing – besides a thorough cleaning – very little. You might find some odds and ends I have not. So … to the known flaws …

There are some rock chips below the headlamp washers. Every Benz seems to have them – don’t know why.

There is a tiny crack that is closed and thus almost invisible in the driver’s side sun visor mount trim – I took a picture and tried to show it. The part is available new for $30.

There’s ever so slightly a scratch in the paint on the driver’s side above the wheel – visible when dirty, otherwise not. There’s a tiny dent like something in the trunk hit the inside of the driver’s side rear fender just above the trim (the wind blocker ?) – I barely noticed it, but I was waxing it – and there it was – a bump. If I was not selling it, I would take it to one of those paint-less dent repair places.

The windshield has a few (seven by my count) tiny rock chips in it – nothing in the line of sight and nothing obvious – and I add that it’s a speck in each case. Perhaps one of those acrylic repair places can take care of it – or I’d just have the whole thing replaced if it ever bothered me enough – at the moment – not.

The engine hood insulation has disintegrated – I pulled it out because it was raining dust all over the place – have not replaced it. The underside of the hood will need to be steel wool cleaned, re-primed, and new insulation installed. What was there was glued in – it will take some effort if you do it yourself – or just money.

The ASR light comes on from time to time. Start it up cold drive it for miles – nothing. And then after a while it comes on and stays on till you shut it down. It’s a known problem - $800 part from Germany and ½ an hour work.

The passenger seat belt won’t stop alarming – dealer tech said it was a $125 sensor switch and 1 hour labor - but had to be ordered from Germany. I just buckled the passenger belt and it stays quiet.

The console has a bit of leather trim loose on the driver’s side. I ordered the trim piece – and got it in – unfortunately the wrong color – it’s a $125 part. Since it was custom ordered we are arguing about whether I specified the wrong color or the dealer did. You know how that goes. I just ordered a second piece - in the right color - should be here in 10 days or so - will go with the car, possibly installed if it arrives early enough.

New battery. The trunk light won’t turn off – it was running down the battery - so I unplugged it pending a failed switch hunt. Had not yet figure out what and where the switch is that triggers it – or it would have been fixed by now.

What more can I say. Wish I could keep it and drive it, but I can’t.

There is no reserve other than the starting price. I trust the auction to set a fair value. I can’t drive it because of the knee – so I’d rather have my money (or most of it) back and someone enjoying the car than to just have it sit as a garage queen.

Sold as is, where is, buyer beware and all that stuff has to be said.

Get your ducks in a row before you bid. I don’t want to hear about how it turns out your finances won’t allow it, your wife won’t let you buy it, your dog does not like it, or any other such nonsense.If you are bidding on this be serious – it’s an expensive toy.

$1000 deposit required via PayPal within 24 hours, balance only in green cash, cashier’s check, or wire transfer within a week thereafter. Fail to pay, I keep the deposit, and contact the next higher bidder. If it comes to it, that $1000 forfeiture is for wasting my time. Title signed over and FedEx’ed if remote, or at the bank if in person.

I’m not a dealer, I can’t finance it, I don’t take trades, and I don’t arrange for transport. I can suggest a few transport services I’ve used – Reliable (covered), Road Dog (un-covered). Or go look in Hemmings – Horseless Carriage, etc. Be prepared to spend $800-2000 moving it – or come and drive it home – everything works – could be a fun trip.

Once paid for you must have insurance starting by that day. I will remove my insurance from it, and remove the plates. If you are unable to physically take it at title signing, I cannot and will not be responsible for anything that might happen to it. I will store it for up to two weeks in a covered locale affording you the time to physically pick it up. After those two weeks, it’s $300 / month or fraction thereof – yes, that’s high – but I really don’t want to be storing it – I need the space myself.

Listing is set to run 10 days, over a a weekend and end mid-day Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Why – so you have time to come and visit. Or ask questions. Drive it. Inspect it. Bid on it.

If you send me an email query and tell me why you seriously would be a good home to this car, or otherwise convince me that though you are just looking, you're a great car person, I can provide a link to 98 or so pictures available on a Google Photo album.

Don’t know what else to add … so …

Good luck !