89,000 mile W211 - looking for advice

[Londonscottish]

I'm thinking of buying a 2005 W211 on 89,000 miles

I'm quite relaxed about the miles as long as the condition is good, the history stacks up and so on. I'll only do 15,000-18,000 miles in the next three years so when it's 8 years old it'll be on less than 110k miles. And it's from a trader so I get a 12 month warranty chucked in.

My wife thinks I'm nuts. So what do the W211 owners think? What should I look out for apart from the obvious wear and tear?

Thanks

 

[BQF]

I'm thinking of buying a 2005 W211 on 89,000 miles

I'm quite relaxed about the miles as long as the condition is good, the history stacks up and so on. I'll only do 15,000-18,000 miles in the next three years so when it's 8 years old it'll be on less than 110k miles. And it's from a trader so I get a 12 month warranty chucked in.

My wife thinks I'm nuts. So what do the W211 owners think? What should I look out for apart from the obvious wear and tear?

Thanks

I bought a 2005 W211 with 77,000 miles 3 weeks ago. I will put on c30,000 miles a year, so to be honest the mileage for me is irrelevant. The engine and drivetrain of the W211 are fairly bombproof and they are capable of enormous mileages.

Go for it - as long as it has a good service history (mine had full M-B history - and is absolutely immaculate - I bought it from a M-B franchise). How much are you paying? Parkers says c£12,875 from a franchised dealer, but haggle hard - I paid £10,700.

 

[davidjpowell]

Is it V6 or straight 6?

Mirrors - wiring goes on the fold eventually. Not huge problem though.
Valeo radiator, but I think it should be sorted
Springs
Ball joints

Mine's done 120k and still seems good. I think it needs ball joints though...

89k would not bother me.

 

[st4]

It will be fine. Probably an I6 with a 5sp box. It will soldier on and on and on..

That car will never have seen a valeo radiator, but springs and ball joints may go, but so what, replace and do another 100k on it

 

[BQF]

It will be fine. Probably an I6 with a 5sp box. It will soldier on and on and on..

That car will never have seen a valeo radiator, but springs and ball joints may go, but so what, replace and do another 100k on it

How do the springs and ball joints 'going' manifest themselves? Poor handling? Creaking?

 

[christopherwk]

How do the springs and ball joints 'going' manifest themselves? Poor handling? Creaking?

When they go, they make a funny "metallic" grinding noise.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

I've got an '04 W211 220CDi with 30k miles on it.

Springs on the rear have been done but I'm now worried about the front springs and the Valeo radiator issue but if I understand it correct it does not affect my car.

I'd struggle to get £12k for the car probably and with the extras I've got on it think it would be better to keep.

So would I buy an '05 with more miles & 12 month warranty, probably not.

You could probably bide your time and wait for a lower mileage car but as others have said mileage is not really an issue.

If I could get it with a 2-3 year warranty for "peace of mind" at least that would let me know the cost of ownership over the 2-3 years so that would be my preference if I was buying an '05 W211.

Perhaps you can get the seller to throw in a longer warranty.

 

[davidjpowell]

How do the springs and ball joints 'going' manifest themselves? Poor handling? Creaking?

Bit of vibration on the fron wheels on mine, and if I am right a hollow tinny rattle when going over uneven surfaces from front wheels.

 

[corned]

I bought mine (March 2005 model) on 88,000 miles. Everything about it looked brand new, and I mean brand new. I couldn't believe it when I sent to see it. Bought it on the spot.

Now on 118,000 miles and I am going to add to that total quite a lot. This does not bother me in the slightest. On the contrary - I am positively looking forward to it!

The good Mr Ringway wants to buy it off me when I'm done with it, but I have already told him that this won't happen until 300,000 at the earliest!

My advice is that as long as it is all straight, serviced, updated, maintained as it should be, and everything works properly, then you can't go wrong.

 

[corned]

Bit of vibration on the fron wheels on mine, and if I am right a hollow tinny rattle when going over uneven surfaces from front wheels.

I've got that going on as well. Having had a prod and poke around, I believe it is the bottom ball joint on the n/s.

 

[davidjpowell]

I've got that going on as well. Having had a prod and poke around, I believe it is the bottom ball joint on the n/s.

Curious how our cars are at the same stage of life with very similar wear going on. Is this planned wear? - it would be interesting to know what lifespan MB built the W211 to!

 

[st4]

I've got an '04 W211 220CDi with 30k miles on it.

Springs on the rear have been done but I'm now worried about the front springs and the Valeo radiator issue but if I understand it correct it does not affect my car.

I'd struggle to get £12k for the car probably and with the extras I've got on it think it would be better to keep.

So would I buy an '05 with more miles & 12 month warranty, probably not.

You could probably bide your time and wait for a lower mileage car but as others have said mileage is not really an issue.

If I could get it with a 2-3 year warranty for "peace of mind" at least that would let me know the cost of ownership over the 2-3 years so that would be my preference if I was buying an '05 W211.

Perhaps you can get the seller to throw in a longer warranty.

A new radiator is about £120. Check the car, it should have a Behr one, there will be a sticker on it to that effect. if a valeo change it ASAP.

Springs go, they are consumbables on 211's. Suprised your rears went so soon, perhaps its milliage is so low its had lots of trips around town and too the supermarket with these harsh speed bumps which are hard on springs.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

A new radiator is about £120. Check the car, it should have a Behr one, there will be a sticker on it to that effect. if a valeo change it ASAP.

No sticker on the Rad., does have a BEHR cooler in front of the rad. though.

 

[jeremytaylor]

My 280 has only done 45k, but my brother has an E270 on 130k now. He thinks his suspension could do with some new bushes, but otherwise it has been fine.

An '05 could be an I6 or a V6.

 

[st4]

No sticker on the Rad., does have a BEHR cooler in front of the rad. though.

should be ok

 

[kwakdonut]

2003 320 with 154k on the clock! Easy way to get round the spring problem - make sure it has a Panorama Glass Roof! Extra heavy duty springs fitted as standard!

 

[st4]

2003 320 with 154k on the clock! Easy way to get round the spring problem - make sure it has a Panorama Glass Roof! Extra heavy duty springs fitted as standard!

But will it ride or handle as well. Different springs and less rigidity. I'd have a normal one myself and less to go wrong with such a complex roof mechanism, nice as it is.

 

[kwakdonut]

But will it ride or handle as well. Different springs and less rigidity. I'd have a normal one myself and less to go wrong with such a complex roof mechanism, nice as it is.

Rare that they go wrong and it handles and rides beautifully! Lovely to have such a bright, airy interior and the weather over the last few days has made it very enjoyable!

 

[st4]

Rare that they go wrong and it handles and rides beautifully! Lovely to have such a bright, airy interior and the weather over the last few days has made it very enjoyable!

I know its not a direct comparison but owned two BMW X5's

One had a pano roof and the other did not, the one with handled like a bag of shII compared to the other but as you say, the roof lifted a dark interior, it was at its best on a clear night with the stars out. Magical.

Depends on what you want.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Easy way to get round the spring problem - make sure it has a Panorama Glass Roof! Extra heavy duty springs fitted as standard!

Both our '04 220 CDI have Panoramic roofs.

Both failed with broken rear springs @ <30k & <40k miles.