Advice wanted from MB owners!

[greggster]

Hi all, my first post. I have always wanted a MB, and now the perfect one for me is coming in reach - a new shape E220 cdi avantgarde estate. My budget is £12k so i will be looking at one with about 100k miles. I would insist on FMBSH, as many extras as possible and hopefully one owner - grey leather also on my wishlist.

The advice I want is am i being short sighted. Just because these are now coming in financial reach of me, am i going to be shocked at the running cost? I guess the mpg will be fine reading other threads about this engine, but is it likely that i will be faced with expensive repair bills and servicing (i would only use a specialist MB garage, not a main dealer). I'm not skint (yet!!!), but at the same time i don't want to be shelling out on motoring costs every month and i am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to cars!

Any other car I wouldn't touch with 100k miles on it (apart from maybe a few BMW's and the odd Volvo) but MB's seem to last forever. I guess what I am asking is do they only last this long with alot of cash being thrown at them?

many thanks in advance!

 

[st4]

100k miles should be okay. The engines are tough.

With any car thats done 100k miles no parts last for ever, but it should not have any surprises for you (gearbox or engine failure). Have the car inspected and get an idea of its condition. Some 100k milers are mint as they've been well maitained, others are not so good.

Particular 211 bits:

Check the gearbox oil was changed (37.5k mikes(, and if prior to 2005 check the radiator, if its a valeo one you'll need to change it for a behr one as valeo rads like to leak coolant into the gearbox which isnt so good.

Warning lights, make sure they all go off and all the electrics work.

Newer cars are better, ideally a 2005 car is optimal. Earlier ones can rust (pre 04 as not galvanised) and the electics can be more playful.

Otherwise the E220cdi is a great car with good economy and not so short on go as everyone makes out as I have seen big speed come all too easy in mine

 

[wemorgan]

Looks like £12k is more than enough: 2004 E220 CDI 69k £8390

or for nearer your budget

2006 E280 CDI 128k £11800

 

[greggster]

thanks for that - yes hopefully £12k will be fine, i am going to be picky though, must be an estate and avantgarde and in a light colour.

in terms of getting an inspection who would you suggest - RAC or someone? and the radiator, is this expensive to change?

cheers

 

[Seamster15]

RAC broke my Porsche during an inspection, dropped an engine cover bold down in the engine, I was not very happy.

 

[greggster]

yes thats why i asked!

all advice welcome if you're reading, thanks

 

[Marque]

a new shape E220 cdi avantgarde estate. My budget is £12k so i will be looking at one with about 100k miles.

I have an early 2006 version, now with 71K miles, and I'm very happy with it so far! In addition to the usual Avantgarde stuff, mine has COMAND, 6-CD changer, integrated Nokia phone cradle, full leather, heated front seats and extra child seats in the back. Heated seats are a must with leather, IMHO.

A 2005 model with what you want should be possible with your budget. By 2005, most of the problems with the earlier cars (rust, electronics, Valeo radiator) have been sorted. Make sure it has a full service history, including parts replaced and receipts if possible.

For a Merc, 100K miles means it has now been run in. Main dealers won't touch them, so you'll have to go trade or private. However, make sure the mileage is verified because very high milers are often clocked to a little under 100K miles.

Good luck and enjoy!

This is the sort of thing: http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2005&vehicleRegLetter=55

 

[greggster]

thanks, do you know if its easy to tell if its an 05 or is it just down to the registration plate?

 

[Marque]

Estates all look the same from 2003-2006. Check the V5 for the first registration date, or look up the VIN (visible through the windscreen).

(I may be wrong but I think the VIN starts WDB2112yy... where 'yy' is the model year.)

 

[greggster]

thanks for the great advice. I just noticed your thread in your previous message, yes thats the exact sort of thing - i was looking at this on auto trader today, it looks perfect but its a long way away. thanks again

 

[greggster]

has anyone else got a high mileage e220cdi w211?

 

[hawk20]

E CLASS -211 series- saloon and estates: -
All steel panels were galvanised from Quarter 1, 2003, production onwards.
During the previous quarter (Q4, 2002) the process was gradually introduced on the production line and therefore some vehicles were galvanised during this lead-up period, but not all.
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=34227
Check build date (not date of first registration).

MB say the valeo radiator issue was only on cars built prior to 2003.

Great cars and the roomiest estate around. Worth checking MB dealers via the search engine on the MB website as they are surprisingly competitive at the moment.

Servicing is around £200 for an A service and about £320 for a B service on the 220cdi at my local MB dealer. Older diesel E's do up to 15k miles or more between services -the newer ones (2006 and later) are 15,500 miles or once a year whichever comes first.

Most dealers will give you a substantial discount for servicing cars over 3 years old. And you get free breakdown cover via MobiloLife.

 

[hawk20]

If you can stretch your budget a bit the Birmingham MB dealer has one under 60k miles asking £14,999 and it is 2005! Try a grand off?

Better still, amazing value at the Edinburgh dealer. Also £14,999, but only 47k miles and first registered in 2006! Has parktronic, phone pre wiring and Bi-Xenon lights amongst other things. Worth a look.

When hunting for mine I found the prices got better as you go North. I found mine in Wakefield (250 miles away but worth it and they delivered).

 

[greggster]

great, thanks to both of you, i'll have a look on MB website, cheers

 

[hawk20]

great, thanks to both of you, i'll have a look on MB website, cheers

Come back and let us know how you get on. Good luck.

 

[PXW]

I bought mine from MB Direct, unseen. They promised to sort out any scuffs and chips (and did, though it took a second collect/return of the vehicle) and delivered it to me - I live about 125 miles away. If you've driven the model before I wouldn't be worried about testing the exact one you are purchasing, as long as it's from MB Direct or a main dealer, so long-distance buys do become possible. Good idea not to have a trade in though - you don't get a good deal on them and your negotiating power is much higher on a straight purchase. In a better financial climate than this I got MB Direct to come down 10% on mine, so long as I had it paid for by the end of the month (which happened to be a quarter end). I suspect if you called in 7/10 days time you might be surprised at how flexible they will be when you start talking cash before the end of March....

 

[loadlugger]

My E320CDI 04 Reg had its B service yesterday and at my request was given a glycol test. Guess what - they found coolant in the torque converter. I had previously established that I had a Valeo rad. The cost to replace the rad and the torque converter is £2700 but Mercedes have agreed to fund £1850. I seem to have been more fortunate than many others. My advice therefore is to get a glycol test done before you buy the car. It is not just 2003 models that are affected.

 

[jaymanek]

Ive recently had one in, a little above budget but a lovely car with 42K on the clock

 

[greggster]

thanks Jaymanek, just had a look at your website. If you hear of a good one let me know, my now honed-in spec. is as follows; 04/05 E220cdi auto estate avantgarde, silver or light blue, grey leather, 100k miles or similar, FMBSH etc, thanks (expect to pay £10k tops!)

 

[hawk20]

My E320CDI 04 Reg had its B service yesterday and at my request was given a glycol test. Guess what - they found coolant in the torque converter. I had previously established that I had a Valeo rad. The cost to replace the rad and the torque converter is £2700 but Mercedes have agreed to fund £1850. I seem to have been more fortunate than many others. My advice therefore is to get a glycol test done before you buy the car. It is not just 2003 models that are affected.

You have to check build date not first registration date.