2005 Mercedes Benz ML-500 for sale by owner - Springdale, AR - craigslist (2024)

I'm not in a hurry to sell and am happy to sit on this luxury vehicle and slowly invest in fixing it, it's a beautiful and worthwhile vehicle. I'm willing to put the offer out, because Mercedes, expensive parts, and just how silly and overly complicated German design, isn't necessarily who I am. I'm hopeful for a Toyota or Honda. Although I'm patient and willing to put the money into it if I don't get the proper offer. I will not budge on the pricing at all, please don't ask for me to lower it. I will block anyone who comes at me sideways with disrespect.
This car could be repaired and last another decade or another 160,000 miles, with upkeep, it's truly is luxury and I really adore this car. I may have regret over selling it. It has a V8, strong, glides smooth, great suspension, and for the two weeks I drove it after spending $700 in repairs, insurance and registration fees, it was a joy to drive, and I climbed up and down a steep mountain driveway with no issue. Brakes are still great. Interior is lovely. With a new beige steering wheel cover for comfort.

I paid 6,000 at the car lot in cash, and they reduced the price on paper so I could avoid the AR taxes for registration, which I've found to be common practice at small private owned lots. I spent $700 replacing the battery and coolant reservoir.

This vehicle is driving but I do not recommend trying to drive it from it's parking space, because it could overheat. It needs to be driven straight to Tim's auto in Bentonville AR. And Best Brake and More (muffler) in Rogers AR. Or of course, if you are a mechanic or have a connection to your own trusted mechanic. It could be a great vehicle for the right person. Who had time to work on it themselves or who enjoys the unnecessarily complex German engine.

What's wrong with this vehicle?
Since it sat in Laguna Beach for several months, unknown amount of time, before being bought and transported to the car lot in Rogers AR. It was last registered in LGB in 2022. The head gaskets are dry rotted, it has a small oil leak because of the gaskets, it needs a new radiator, it needs new oxygen sensors. The Benz has 4 oxygen sensors, quoted at $1400 at Tim's auto. The left front tire has a slow leak and I didn't have time to plug it, before parking it due to needed repairs. I've been airing it up regularly to prevent it from going flat. The tires are still good, not dry rotted, good tread.
I haven't taken it to get tested at AutoZone because I'm not comfortable driving it. I've had too many experiences with older cars that overheated, the engine rod fell through the block, the head gaskets blew, the engine cracked. I considered ordering a tester from Amazon just to see what codes it's throwing, the check engine light is on, the radiator light is on.
Tim's suggested I take to Best Brake in Rogers because they work on catalytic converters and with a car that's been sitting this long, there's no telling what else needs repaired. It also needs a new plastic reservoir for the windshield wiper fluid, it's broken at the top and the sides have duct tape. The sunroof window doesn't open, and the left side passenger window has issues with rolling up, so I don't recommend trying to roll it down. The speakers and control screen inside dont work, but I'm sure could be upgraded with new screen, connection to the interior built in Bose sound system, and rear camera.

I started the car up on Sunday June 23, 2024, and it started up strong and smooth, but then with a strained sound from the oxygen sensors needing to be replaced.