Archive for Mercedes Benz
SUV Theme Week Closes
The SUV theme week added a bit of interesting flavor to the blog. I think we’ll continue to keep an eye out for the occasional German born beast to compliment the svelte roadsters we post. As always if there is a theme you would like to see us try shoot us an e-mail, dan@motoringblogs.com.
While we didn’t find any of the following for sale, I thought we just couldn’t leave an ultimate German SUV discussion without posting these.
If you are a Benz fan and want the highest form of expression of the G55 you actually have a pair of options.
You could go with the killer 600 horsepower Hamann Typhoon with 6 sidepipe exhaust:
or the even more crazy 700 horsepower, 800+ lb ft torque Brabus G V12 S Biturbo. Can you imagine a heavy truck with shape and weight of a small house that can hit 60 MPH in 4.3 seconds? The price tag is near $400,000.
Not to leave you BMW folks out, here is one of my favorite clips of Hans Joachim Stuck motoring an X5 LeMans arround a track. The car features the same V12 engine from the BMW LMR racer. Just listen to the engine howl on that thing. 700+ horsepower and it was faster around Nurburgring, 7:49, then a Gallardo a Ferrari 360 and even the M3 CSL. Not exactly what the typical American SUV buyer has in mind.
~Evan
Ultra Low Mile SLK320 For Sale
I am a big fan of the R170 Mercedes SLK cars. What they lack in performance they more than make up for ingenuity and reliability. The stowaway roof design has given birth to a whole new class of convertibles that has since been used in the Volvo C70, M3, and the VW EOS. Having owned a SLK230 I can tell you they are competent if not underpowered, but if I had to do it over again I would opt for the 320 and the silky smooth V6. The 230 with the supercharged four is very much reliant on the forced induction for any real power. This rush is neither immediate or seamless which gives the car a dual personality. The V6 in the 320 provides a smoother driving experience and a more even power band with gas mileage that is comparable to the 230.
With that in mind there is a extremely clean SLK320 on eBay with less that 7k miles.
From the sellers post:
“You are looking at an absolutely PRISTINE 2001 Mercedes Benz SLK320 Roadster with 6k actual miles!! Hardtop convertible with one touch operation. Fully loaded with all options including a 3.2L V6 engine, automatic transmission, 17″ alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot sport tires, factory windscreen, keyless entry, alarm and more. It has been garage kept since new and has never been in an accident. The paint is 100% original and is the best color combination of red with black/tan interior. It looks and drives like brand new! All services are up to date and nothing is needed at this time. The body is simply FLAWLESS with no dings or scratches and the car looks absolutely STUNNING in person. The interior is truly IMMACULATE, it was never smoked in and the leather seats, carpet and dash look like new.”
With bidding inching close to $15k the auction is $5k below the reserve with four days to go. Any bets on the reserve being met? Hard to say, these cars are more touring than performance roadsters so finding an enthusiast to pay top dollar for such a low mileage example will be difficult. If I were the new owner I would get a new set of shoes and tweak the suspension, this would greatly enhance the posture and handling of the car and give you a unique roadster for less than $23k.
~Aaron.
2003 Mercedes-Benz Gelaendewagen G55 AMG
Gelaendewagen, my favorite German word, translates to “cross-country vehicle” and is Mercedes-Benz’s flagship SUV. The “G-wagen” history traces all the way back to 1926 where its 6-wheeled forefather the G1 began conquering less-than-ideal terrain. Mercedes-Benz continued with its off-road success and began making these rock crawlers into light military vehicles for the German Army. It wasn’t long until there was enough civilian demand for a road going model which led to the production of the G-Class.
The G had always been geared towards mountain scaling, rock hopping and mud slinging but before it could make it in the States it needed more leather, more creature comforts and more flash. This brings us to the G500 and G55 which became instantly successful amongst the SUV elites who had gotten tired of Range Rovers and the like.
The G55 is one of my favorite Mercedes, here’s a nice one on eBay.
The owner claims to have replaced any part that was covered under his aftermarket warranty. This includes:
Replace Steering Dampener
Instrument cluster/display replaced
Seat switches/ connector pins replaced
ESP control module replaced
Yaw sensor replaced
Transmission flushed
Differentials flushed
Locker system flushed
Electrical AT sensor replaced
New OE Bosch Mass Air Flow Meter
New spark plugs
BF Goodrich All Terrain KO’s 265/65/18 10 ply E load rating
The “Jeep with the Star” even saw some racing action in 1983 where Jackie Icyx piloted one to win the famous Paris-Dakar Rally.
Did I mention they can drift?
Rain, snow, sand, rocks, drifting – what can’t the G-wagen do?
-Ben
2005 Smart Roadster
After the introduction of the original Smart Car in 1998, Smart diversified their lineup by adding the Roadster and Roadster Coupe in 2003 and the Fourfour in 2004. The first generation Smart Car wasn’t officially imported to the US and neither was the Roadster or Forfour. Powered by a turbocharged, three cylinder engine mounted in the rear, this car was likened to a modern day incarnation of the cheap sports car popularized by UK marques such as MG and Triumph. With a low curb weight of just over 1,700 pounds, this car has a power to weight ratio normally found in many exotics. Sadly, due to warranty claims stemming mainly from leaky tops, the Smart Roadster was a failure for parent company Mercedes-Benz and production halted in 2006.
2005 Smart Roadster for sale in Hemmings
The seller states:
Here’s a rare one. A Smart Roadster with large Michalak wheels, low profile tires and a new tuned exhaust system. This sport roadster gets 50-60 mpg on the highway. Never imported into the U.S. and 1 of only 5,000 produced. Heres your chance to own a sports car that can actually save you money on gas!
This car presents an opportunity to be one of the very few in the US to own one of these. Even so, the $18,000 entry fee seems a bit steep. After sifting through eBay UK, the highest priced Smart Roadster I came across was a 2006 Brabus edition for just shy of £10,000 (about $15,000). Given there are probably zero others on the US market right now, the seller is obviously thinking he can name his price. The only lingering question I have regarding a car like this is how difficult it might be to register it in certain states.
-Paul
1 owner 2007 ML63 on Craigslist
Clean looking Mercedes ML63 with 31,000 miles out in Portland at a dealer. For anyone who thinks you are driving something that looks like a minivan, just let the 503 horsepower do the talking. Lots of options included on this one, like rear camera and head rest TVs. I like the looks of the ML, much more than the larger GL. The grab handles in the center console are an nice design touch. This one looks unmolested so there is room to add your own personal flair.
1 owner 2007 ML63 on Craigslist
~Evan
1976 Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer
I have to admit, I’m not an SUV fan. For my purposes, at least, these vehicles are of little use. That being said, there are a few I admire for their capability and design. The original Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen come to mind. Oh yeah, and this thing, the Pinzgauer. While this vehicle isn’t German, it’s made in Austria by the same folks who had a hand in developing the Geländewagen, Steyr-Puch. Production of the first generation Pinzgauer ran from 1971 through 2000 in both 4×4 and 6×6 models. Powered by an air cooled inline four cylinder engine with dual carburetors, these vehicles are noted for their durability. Other features include a two speed transfer case, hydraulically actuated locking differential hubs and a 24 volt electrical system. While they don’t have a huge following in this country, you do see them around from time to time. Incidentally, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger owns two of them.
If you are familiar with the 712 Pinzgauer, you know it is a “go anywhere” vehicle! With three driving axles and dash lock-in hubs on all axles and high ground clearance, it truly will go anywhere. I purchase it in 2006, have added 100 miles and always stored inside. Includes tool kit, space tire and English manuals. The vehicle is in very good condition, everything works. Vehicle is” for sale” local, Seller reserves right to end sale at any time. Thanks for looking.
During the last blizzard here in Arlington, Virginia, a 4×4 Pinzgauer passed me on the street. I instantly knew what it was but had to do a double take because I had never seen one in person in the US that I can remember. This beast didn’t miss a beat through snow drifts measuring several feet high. This particular Pinzgauer is the 712, or 6×6 model. I can only imagine what it is capable of. Bidding is currently under $10,000, but there is a reserve. I recently saw a 4×4 for sale at $18,000, so I’m guessing the reserve would be in the $20k range somewhere, at the least. Not too bad for a vehicle that could conquer just about anything you throw at it.
-Paul H.
Pinzgauer’s are awesome. They take the S out of SUV, but sure emphasize the U.
~Evan
Theme Week: Winter Olympics of SUVs
Since our first theme week was such a success and fun. We are doing another round. This week we are thinking about the Winter Olympics. Heavy snow, cold temperatures, rugged terrain, all things you would associate with the Winter Olympics. Lastly, of course, you have your highly tuned, trained, athletes at the top of their game, ready to tackle tough conditions.
We think that this can be a pretty easy comparison to the top dogs (St. Bernards perhaps?) of the luxury, performance SUV, category.
So be on the lookout this week for Teutonic trucks.
To start things off here is a silly video of a pair of Mercedes G55s pulling a C63 through some snow. Something is slightly off with this video, be it lack of snow tires, lack of driving skill, lack of something.
~Evan
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe
With the reintroduction of the Mercedes-Benz E Class Coupe for 2010, let’s take a moment and pour over its direct forebear. Here is a clean, relatively low mileage 1995 E320 coupe, which represents the final year of production for the W124 chassis. According to The Standard Catalog of Mercedes-Benz, only 1,798 Coupes were produced for 1995, which was amazingly higher than production was in 1994. While there were less W124 Convertibles produced during the same time frame, open top versions seem easier to find in mint condition and appear to change hands rather frequently, given the short supply. Powered by the ubiquitous M104 3.2 liter inline six, this coupe is capable of providing many more miles of effortless, reliable transport.
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe in Hemmings
The seller states:
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupe, 88K, Black/ grey leather. Never smoked in, southern car, always garaged, no rust, mint condition. Clean CarFax. Cost new $63K.
Upon seeing this ad, I had a suspicion that $14,500 seemed high for an asking price, but I had not looked up the value of W124 coupes lately. Sure enough, after consulting three pricing sources, Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book and NADA, my suspicions were correct. High retail value from these three pricing services was $5,086, $7,150 and $8,912 respectively. Granted, the ad is not very descriptive and there is no telling whether the car is fully documented or if it is an original owner vehicle. If this were the case, I could see the value of this creeping more towards the $10,000 mark, given the mileage and the fact that you don’t see these on the market every day. All of this aside, it is nice to see a well preserved, late model W124 coupe out there, as these cars are simply timeless.
-Paul
$7,500 – 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16V
One can argue that the E30 M3 is the purest driving machine that BMW has ever produced. I don’t think it’d be too much of a stretch to say that the 190E 2.3-16V is the Mercedes-Benz counterpart.
What I’ve found on Craigslist is a nice example of the 16V located in California with some interesting modifications. You know the basic story; Cosworth-tuned engine, Dog Leg gearbox, Recaro seats, sporty body kit, classic MB build quality.
This owner has taken on the difficult task of trying to improve and already stellar looking Mercedes. While his choice to use an S550 grill and some funky painted Brabus wheels are questionable in my book, he’s also invested in rebuilding the 2.3 liter mill and upgrading it with a new ECU, high-flowing exhaust and a spec clutch to hold the power. You can walk through the rebuild and upgrades on his photo album here: 190E Project.
1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16V on Craigslist
Details-
Engine:
159000 Miles
Not even 5000 miles on rebuilt motor with Mercedes Benz OE parts,
Pistons, valves, block, head, water pump, timing chain and rails (everything).
Cars Runs, Brakes and Handles perfectly.
European ECU.
New SPEC Clutch.
8 mm. Racing Wires.
K&S Air Filter.
Synthetic Oil Mobil1.
Cat Back 2” Tubing with High Flow Remus Muffler and RBTech Flat Black Tip.Suspension (original):
Front; Coils & Shocks.
Rear; Coils & Self leveling Hydraulic Shocks.Body:
Flawless Custom Paint Tanzanite Blue cc 359.
No dings.
All Original Badges in Flat Black.
Straight Body.
Custom grill (S550) style.
European style By-Xenon Head Lights (high and low).
Clear Side Markers.
LED 3rd. Brake Light.
Custom Painted Calipers (Lamborghini Yellow).
Brembo Cross Drilled Rotors (new).
Wheels 18×8.5 Original Brabus MB VI Flat Black With Yellow Stripe to Match Calipers.
Tires General Super Steel 595 225/35-18 (new 150 miles on them).Interior:
Power Steering.
Sun Roof.
Power Seats.
Power Windows (rear left does not work.).
Power Locks (with remote alarm).
Custom White Instrument Cluster.
Custom Painted Dashboard & matching Custom Shifter.
Aluminum Brushed Racing Pedal Set.
Leather Seats (driver and rear driver’s side have small ters).
A/C need to be Serviced.
OE Floor Mats.