Just bought a 2005 450 on ebay

[cfreidma]

I've been car independant for several years now, riding the bus, bike or scooter. However, since hitting a patch of black ice on my scooter and breaking my ankle in 2 places last November, I began researching purchasing a vehicle. I was really wanting something fun like my scooter that would also get good mpg.

Last week I purchased a first generation smart car ($10,600) and the maintenance manual ($89) on ebay. The car is in the process of being shipped from Buffalo, NY to Denver, CO.

In the meantime, I'm trying to educate myself as much as possible about the car as I have yet to even find instructions on how to start the darn car.

I have a few questions for you all if I may.
Can the car be serviced at a Mercedes dealership?
Is anyone aware of any issues getting the car registered in CO?
Is anyone aware of any key issues such as getting one made at the Smart car dealer?
Lastly, I realize that the MB (1st generation) smart cars have been 'modified' (G&K) for safety and emmissions to meet US standards. I would think the car's emmissions should be less than most cars. Does anyone know what this is about or what the emmisions of this car actually are (high/low)?

PS
I have very excited to get my car - should be in the next 2 weeks.

[Big Panda]

If only you had checked with us BEFORE your purchase.

Your best bet would have been to purchase a 451, as all smart centers are 'forbidden' to work on 450's and supposedly do not have access to parts, parts info, etc. I suppose its up to each MB dealer as to 'if' they want to tackle a 450. Your best bet would be to possibly try a shop that works on 'gray market' MBs and maybe they could help you. Just be prepared for some HIGH repair bills.

From what I've read, there are a couple places here in the States that can get parts for 450's, but I can only imagine they'll cost you an arm and a leg as well.

I wish you the best of luck with your '05 smart 450. They seem to be great little cars.....just difficult to find someone, anyone, to work on them and to get parts. Sorry I don't have better news for you.

Best wishes and welcome to the forum!

[briansmart]

cfreidma Welcome to the list of 450 owners! You got it at a steal! How many miles are on it? Incidentally, I bought both of my 450s while I was living in Boulder, CO.

If the car is already titled in another state, it will not be a problem to get it titled for Colorado. Be certain that if the car is titled in another state that you get the title transferred to you immediately. Once that arrives, take it, your driver's license and vehicle info to the tax collector's office to get your title and plates. Usually they have to manually force your VIN into the system but all states have to do this with grey market vehicles.

Big Panda's post is his opinion. Of course once you weed out the opinion, you do get some fact. Most importantly is Penske has forbidden their Smart dealerships to work on the 450 and from ordering parts for the 450. Lots of political and historical reasons here that I can bore you with some other time.

As for service in your area you're in luck. Paul Myers is the services manager at Smart Center Denver (actually in Englewood on S Broadway) is an amazing individual. He will work on your 450. He is a great guy and very honest. He can even get you a nice set of winter tires when the time comes. If there is something he can NOT fix, you will find the site Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia very helpful. Just be sure to uncheck the boxes for the ForFour and Roadster before browsing Evilution.

Parts are a little tricky however they seem to be getting easier to source. I - and many other 450 owners on this forum - have had success with getting parts from G&K, shop.flyingtiger.ca , Parts4Smarts North America - Smart Car Parts Distributor: Home in Canada. For US based shops, SmartCar Parts LLC Based in U.S., ship WorldWide: interior & exterior parts, accessories & add-ons for the Smart Car and Smart Madness - smart car parts and accessories carry 450 parts (I recommend you get the California Pop Top from SmartMadness). Those should help get you started.

In the forums, you will find a LOT of info about operating and sourcing parts for the 450s. I've started a 451 parts that fit the 450 thread here as well. That thread is a list of parts that you CAN order from the Smart Center that will work in your car. These parts are "technically" for the 451 but I have them fitted to both of my 450s and they work great. You can find that thread at 451 Parts that fit the 450

Glad you found a car that you like.

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by briansmart

Big Panda's post is his opinion. Of course once you weed out the opinion, you do get some fact. Most importantly is Penske has forbidden their Smart dealerships to work on the 450 and from ordering parts for the 450. Lots of political and historical reasons here that I can bore you with some other time.

Thanks Brian......you're right, just my opinion on the 450 vs the 451. They each have their pros and cons. I prefer the 451 only because if something breaks, the smart center is only 15 minutes away from my house and have FACTORY TRAINED TECHS to work on them. For the most part, not so with the 450's.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the 450's and came close to searching for one myself during my wait for my 451, but after reading about the difficulty finding qualified service personnel and parts availability (very important for ME), I chose to get the 09 smart.

You obviously have more info on the 450's and have dealt with them personally, so I'm glad that you responded with your knowledge. But as a person that admittedly hasn't owned an automobile for several years, 'it is my opinion' that they would be better off with a 451 just from a service standpoint.

Since there is someone in that area that can assist them with the 450, I feel much better about their choice than if there wasn't anyone near by.

[briansmart]

Originally Posted by Big Panda

I prefer the 451 only because if something breaks, the smart center is only 15 minutes away from my house and have FACTORY TRAINED TECHS

That is a big selling point. However, any decent shop will be willing to stand behind their work. For cfreidma, I know for a fact that Paul at the Smart Center Denver will. For others, they would be best served by searching for an independent MB repair shop at Mercedes-Benz Repair Shops - Find a Mercedes Mechanic | BenzShops.com

[Big Panda]

briansmart: "Most importantly is Penske has forbidden their Smart dealerships to work on the 450"

"As for service in your area you're in luck. Paul Myers is the services manager at Smart Center Denver (actually in Englewood on S Broadway) is an amazing individual. He will work on your 450."


I'm ....which is it? Do they work on 450s or are they forbidden to work on them?

If they DO work on 450s Brian, I hope by 'outing' Paul, you didn't get him in trouble with smart USA or smart center Denver.

[CMPVEGAS]

Driving scooters and taking buses, sound like you do not put a a lot of miles on the car. I am sure you can do the minor maintenance items yourself and thing like brakes, if you have the parts most any place will do the work for you.

I would only be afraid of the 450 if I put a lot of miles on my car, you should be fine. I think the 450 has more personality the the 451 and almost purchased one myself. Best of luck and enjoy your new car!

[Mike T]

US Mercedes and smart dealers will not even look at the car.....they will treat you like your car has swine flu.....

You will need to find some place to service the 450 - for example, to do the three electronic clutch adjustments and clear airbag lights etc - but a fair bit of the other stuff is DIY-able. The gasoline engines in these cars are somewhat fragile and if you ever experience any surging when driving it, stop immediately and have the exhaust manifold examined for cracks. Driving with it in this condition would lead to a blown engine.

As for pollution, well if your scooter was a two stroke, it was a pollution factory much worse than the largest car for non carbon dioxide emissions.....if it was a 4 stroke it still polluted much more than any modern car would. Motorcycles are not subject to the same degree of emission controls as passenger automobiles.

I too would think that the better bet would have been to get a 451, which you could have for another grand over what you spent, for reasons mentioned above.

If you are not mechanically inclined, try to get a local 450 smart owners group together for support, or find a really good mechanic with a DAS Star Diagnostic machine. Also line up a couple of parts sources.

[RIderInTX]

Originally Posted by Mike T

The gasoline engines in these cars are somewhat fragile...

Really? First I've heard of this. Was just wondering if that is based on fact or opinion.

Bill
05 Passion
06 Pulse

[silverbrabus]

Originally Posted by RIderInTX

just wondering if that is based on fact or opinion.

Spend a little time on the UK forum. The high-strung 700cc turbo motors aren't known for high mileage.

fortwo - (450) sept 1998- oct 2007 - smartmaniacs