1999 Mercedes-Benz M-Class

ML 430 AWD SUV

8 Cylinder 4.3 Liter

Automatic

4JGAB72E2XA083284

Gasoline

Up for sale is my 1999 MB ML 430. I bought this car from the original owner in Texas when it had 41,000 miles on it. He was a car nut (like me) and had a full time mechanic auto detail person who came to his house every day to maintain and detail his vehicles. The car looked better than new and when I had the MB dealer do a prepurchase inspection they were amazed at the condition. They knew this person and had sold him this car plus many others and they were the ones who told me about the previous owner having a full time mechanic for his car collection. This was in October of 2002 and I bought it for my wife for the sum of $37,000. All routine maintenance had been carried out to the letter with the addition of the previous owner changing the oil every 5000 miles or less which was a smart move since MB had issues with some of their vehicles from this time period when they went to an extended service interval of 10,000 miles between oil changes. Maybe ok for syntheitic oils and gentle use but terrible for conventional oils or extended wear. I am from the old school of 2500 miles means new oil and filter and for syntheic oils don't go over 5000 miles (gas engines; in my '05 diesel excursion I run sythetic and send it out to be tested). The previous owner also had a new sound system/DVD/Navigation system installed which he said cost around $10,000 and is still in the car functioning perfectly, more details later. My wife drove the car until about 2005 when I got her a Mini at which time I started to drive it since I have always liked the car. The only problem was that my wife is not the most careful driver and she worked in the old historic downtown area and seemed to be "bumping" or "scraping" things, many times to her own amazement, as in, "honey, how did this new dent get here?" and she would reply "I don't know I think it's always been there?" This is why I don't let other people drive my car, but it was hers so it's hard to be mad and this is why i got her the Mini as it's smaller. Fast forward to 2008 when I got an ML 63 and my 17 year old daughter started to drive. Wanting her to have a safe and mechanically sound car she started to drive this ML 430, especially since my wife had already "broken it in" as far as small bumps and bruises. Thankfully the car has never been in an accident, but the occurance of mystery dents and scrapes resumed. How happy I was to know it was not my daughter'sfault but instead other drivers at her school hitting her car. In the fall of 2010, as my daughter was preparing to go away to school, i was preparing the ML430 to go with her. Below is a list of all new work done in the last 500 miles or less. For reasons i won't go into here, my daughter is at school, the car is home. It was not the car's fault. NEW, REPAIRED OR REPLACED: New tires, Michellin Cross Terrain 275/55R17, $900 New Brake pads, all 4 wheels, new front rotors, $768 New Radiator, Fan Clutch, New Thermostat, Oil cooler seals, Coolant, etc. (3) $1329 Rebuild Power Steering Pump (new seals, o rings), Power steering hose, New Serpentine Belt $460 New Bosch Sparkplugs (16) MB Dealer quoted $660, did myself for $86 parts and 1 1/2 hours time. Here is a good point to think about: these are great cars but they are expensive to maintain if you take it to the dealer for everything versus doing things yourself or having a good mechanic who takes care of you. I like to work on cars but for bigger jobs, I have a great local mechanic. I'll buy the parts, he does the repair usually costing about 1/2 of what the dealer will charge. Oil and Filter Mobil 1 Synthetic Air Filter K&N Permanent $55 New Alternator $450 Center Console window switch assembly, used from ebay $90 Headlight Bulbs, Sylvania $40 New Front shocks, front ball joints $540 Ignition Coil or coils: My mechanic did not charge me for this. I think he felt bad for braking my oil dipstick. Dipstick still broken as in pics, but useable. Coils came off another wrecked 430 mechanic had bought for parts. Battery 1 1/2 years old, still good Class 2 trailor hitch with 500 pound tongue weight, never used, but I think it was an option, not aftermarket. Very substantial. AC SYSTEM Serviced 8/2010 and still blows ICE Cold $400 Brake Fluid Flushed and changed Dot 4 Auto Transmission Fluid flushed and changed Floor mats in good condition (4) Wheels are exceptional with no road rash. I don't know how they missed scratching these when parking, but it shows what a good desgn they are. Many wheels stick out farther than the rubber but not these. Also, there is a full size spare and one extra tire that I saved when the new tires were put on. It has plenty of tread left as it was on the rear and less worn than front. Probably could have just put on two new tires but other tire had 2 plugs in it from nails. In any decision about this car, safety and mechanical soundness came first. At 60,000 both catalytic converters were replaced under warranty Have all service records and repair receipts So many other smaller parts and items just ask if there is something specific you need to know about There are no known mechanical issues of any kind at this point. Great to see you today. To give you an update on the car, all service and recalls are up to date. Car has a timing chain but it does not need to be replaced like the older models so no issues there. I have just ordered 2 new mirror covers with integrated blinkers (a nice upgrade) and as far as the fuel gauge goes, supposedly the fix is to unplug the fule pump, turn on ignition and plug back in which reset and correct problem. I'll try this but no promises. SOUND SYSTEM INFO Alpine CVA-1000 system Controller Monitor/Receiver. Hides in dash, automaticly slides out and tilts. Functions as a DVD/Navigation monitor, AM/FM receiver/CD controller. Very cool. Alpine NVA-N751AS Advanced Route Guidance Navigation System, mounted under driver's seat (see pic). Have the manuals for both of these. I think you will need another map dvd unless you live in Texas. Alpine 6 Disc CD Changer MB Quart Premium speakers throughout auto Subwoofer Box, Custom made, vinyl covered/padded, with 2 12 inch subs. Incredible deep base and great sound. Better than my '08 ML63's system. 2 Autotek Amplifiers 2 Remote Controls for sound system The Bad... Some dents, cracked plastic trim, oil dipstick end broken off, still works, right side view mirror cracked from mystery impact, glass good, housing is taped up(see pic), wear on driver seat side bolster (pic), interior could use a good detail and clean as you can see from pics, outside of car needs to be washed, dent in hood, dent in plastic front fender, passenger side doors have slight dent at bottom from wife bumping wooden fence when parking (tried to show in pics, hard to see with white car). Local Dent Doctor quoted $600 to fix and touch up all bumps, scratches and blemishes and paint those areas. ALSO GAS GAUGE IS ERRATIC AND APPEARS TO READ EMPTY EVEN WHEN FULL. Great to see you today. To give you an update on the car, all service and recalls are up to date. Car has a timing chain but it does not need to be replaced like the older models so no issues there. I have just ordered 2 new mirror covers with integrated blinkers (a nice upgrade) and as far as the fuel gauge goes, supposedly the fix is to unplug the fule pump, turn on ignition and plug back in which reset and correct problem. I'll try this but no promises. Would prefer buyGreat to see you today. To give you an update on the car, all service and recalls are up to date. Car has a timing chain but it does not need to be replaced like the older models so no issues there. I have just ordered 2 new mirror covers with integrated blinkers (a nice upgrade) and as far as the fuel gauge goes, supposedly the fix is to unplug the fule pump, turn on ignition and plug back in which reset and correct problem. I'll try this but no promises. er to view car in person, but will assist in any way for shipping, etc. Deposit of $500 by Paypal due within 3 days of auction close, balance due in the form of cash or bank wire transfer at time of pickup or within 5 days. I am able to store vehicle for a short time if needed. If vehicle does not meet your needs or is not as you expect at time of pickup I will gladly refund any monies by CHECK or Paypal and allow you to cancel transaction with no negative feeedback but keep in mind you are entering a contract to buy a vehicle as set forth in the terms and conditions herein and as prescribed by ebay. Car is available for sale locally and may be sold as such and removed from auction at any time. If you have any questions, ask first before bidding. Quickest way to reach me, Peter, is by direct phone at 843 513 7667, but all questions will be answered to the best of my ability. Bid with confidence as ebay is a great way to but a vehicle. That is how I purchased this car and I have bought and sold numerous vehicles over the years through ebay without a problem. Next car to be listed is a 1986 190e 2.3 16v...