Opinions/Advice on this W211 E240

[KillerHERTZ]

I have just discovered that my Parents have made a impulse buy and put a deposit down to replace their Ageing E230 W210 with a MY04 E240 W211 (We always agreed I would come along with them to check out any future purchases!)

At 1st glance it appears to be a nice High Spec Avantgarde model with:

-44k Miles
-1 Owner
-Panoramic Glass Roof
-Parktronic
-Keyless Go
-Serria Grey Leather interior
-Rear climate control
-Electric rear blind

The car was listed as £14,990 and they managed to get it down to £14,700 + £1000 off for the ultra-rusty W210


Few questions:

1) Would you say that is a decent price for the age/spec
2) What faults should I look for? As far as I know I need to look for
-Creaking/leaking Panoramic roof
-Electrical faults, as its 2 years into the W211s life it should be ok no? (I can see it has a bulb out warning on the dash)
3)What MPG should we be expecting for the 2.6Litre engine?
4)The existing car has a private plate, they say its going to cost £80 for the transfer fee & the car is being bought from a MB dealership - Do you think we should try and blag this fee being paid for my them?
5)I see it only has 1 proper 'key' and one emergency key, should be demand 2?

Thanks in advance, pictures below:

VIN comes up with this:

VIN WDB211***********
Model E 240
Chassis 211***********
Engine 112913 31 441838
Transmission 722696 03 949514
Order 0 3 247 71077
Heating 0324770431
Winch 0-24784542
Delivery date 27.11.02
Dealer Reutlingen branch (247)
Interior leather sierra gray (838)
Paint
744 brilliant silver metallic (с 1991)
Options
202B Unknown code
213 parameter steering (с 01.07.1989)
220 parking aid (с 01.10.1993)
230B Unknown code
241 left front seat electrically adjustable with memory feature. only applicable to w 210 when installed in conjunction with code 275. (с 01.03.1983)
241L Unknown code
249 automatically dipping inside rear view mirror (с 01.06.1990)
275 front seat positioned lower
memory package (driver's seat, steering column, mirror) (с 01.10.1993)
287 ski inboard loading facility
through-loading feature (с 01.10.1990)
289 wooden/leather steering wheel (dia. 390 mm)
wood-/leather steering wheel (ш 390mm) and leather gearshift (с 01.02.1993)
multiple contour backrest for right rear single seat
293 trunk set, 3-piece
sidebag in rear left and right (с 01.01.1995)
297 Unknown code
2XXL Unknown code
354 antenna on roof centre rear for mobile D-net telephone
antenna on roof centre rear for standard D-net telephone (с 01.10.1994)
380 Unknown code
413 Unknown code
423 5 speed automatic transmission / nag (с 01.03.1994)
461 instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)
540 roller blind, electric, for rear window (с 01.05.1985)
543 sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)
581 automatic climate control (с 01.01.1977)
600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
618 halogen lamp unit with high beam/low beam/fog light (r.h. traffic) (с 01.04.1970)
668
744U Unknown code
803 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year
819 CD changer - alpine - in trunk (с 31.07.1992)
830A Unknown code
838A Unknown code
889 Keyless-GO (с 01.01.1996)
910 14V/65A alternator
alternator with increased capacity (с 01.11.1990)
915 fuel tank, 70 liter (с 01.05.1988)
926 emission control eu4-measure 30.11.1991 (с 09.09.1997)
954 equipment package for avantgarde vehicles (с 01.06.1993)
rotating emergeny flasher, front (red light)
984 elimination of ownership certificate but with coc papers (с 01.06.1993)
989 identification label under windshield (с 01.10.1997)
M26 displacement 2.6 liter (с 30.03.1998)

Can anyone provide further information/data sheet via PM?

 

[N7OGP]

Nice car, 7.8 mpgs is that correct

 

[Howard]

PM me the VIN Karl and get you the data sheet..

 

[christopherwk]

Nice, same leather as mine, I think it's nappa as it's perforated, and you can see the stitching on the rear door panel.

Do all the keyless go buttons on the door handles work? Driver's usually go first (like mine) as it's the most often used. Also check the boot button works next to the handle too.

Last summer, with the thermotronic climate control, the rear air vents started pumping out hot air, due to a dodgy duo valve. The part was only £30 or so, but the labour was in the £hundreds.

However, I bought mine with 140,000 miles on the clock, not 44,000 like yours!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

PM me the VIN Karl and get you the data sheet..

PM Sent

Nice, same leather as mine, I think it's nappa as it's perforated, and you can see the stitching on the rear door panel.

Do all the keyless go buttons on the door handles work? Driver's usually go first (like mine) as it's the most often used. Also check the boot button works next to the handle too.

Last summer, with the thermotronic climate control, the rear air vents started pumping out hot air, due to a dodgy duo valve. The part was only £30 or so, but the labour was in the £hundreds.

However, I bought mine with 140,000 miles on the clock, not 44,000 like yours!

Thanks, I will check both of them. Re: the handle is it just a button you press to access the car then?

 

[christopherwk]

To get in side, there is a button on the inside of the door handle to get in, which you would almost certainly touch or press when you pull the door handle towards you. It's more like a sensor. (Just open the door as you normally would)

To lock the car, press the square button on the outside of the door handle.

The boot should open automatically when you open it using the handle, and to lock the car, there is a rectangular button next to the handle.

I also notice that the oval thing (like mine) on the rear door panel are airbags? I think they were also an option.

 

[Smiley]

It seems to be very very expensive for a 6 yr old e240 saloon. Put the reg into webuyanycar.com for a shock - I would guess £7-8k.

Check the radiator in not a Valeo!

 

[kwakdonut]

I too feel that is a very high price considering I paid £7.5k for my 2003 E320!!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Thanks for the replies. It is pretty high spec (apart from COMAND & Xenons) and has a 3 full MB year warrenty, is it really only worth under £10k?

What to you guys think with regards to getting the plates transfered for free + demanding a 2nd key etc?

And about the radiator, is it easy to spot if its a Valeo - can we ask for it to be changed?

 

[hi_flyer437]

Mercedes-Benz E-Class E240 Avantgarde
2.6 Petrol 4-door Saloon
5 Speed Automatic Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 2004 04
Mileage: 44,000

Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition:
£8960
Average condition:
£8040
Below average condition:
£7110

Ouch....but then a car is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

 

[kwakdonut]

Xenons are standard on Avantgarde E Class. Even with a 3 yr warranty, I personally feel it to be somewhat over-priced even if it does come from a stealer. It's petrol too, which don't command a price premium. I would understand that your parents don't require a diesel so the V6 petrol makes a nice choice.

The Valeo radiator can be recognised, I believe, by the way it looks. I think there is a thread on here with a pic of a Valeo and non-Valeo radiator. The sides of the radiators have very obvious 'tabs' that make it more recognisable. Also, it may actually have a Valeo sticker on it still! If I was home, I could take a pic of my replacement non-Valeo rad and you could then ID it!!

 

[kwakdonut]

Apparently, having the Panorama Roof means the car is fitted with beefier springs and appears to be far less susceptible to the reasonably common broken spring problems.

My E has the Panorama roof and MB lowered suspension and handles wonderfully!

 

[kwakdonut]

Oh, it should definitely have TWO keys!!

 

[hi_flyer437]

And from What Car's Valuation pages:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon E240 Avantgarde 4dr 2004 (04) 44,000 miles Dealer £9,840 Private £9,660 Part exchange £9,485 Trade £9,035 Cost new £31,285

Please note, I am only posting these to assist, not to mailgn your parents' decision! It looks a lovely car and, if they can afford it and feel it's worth it, then it is surely the car for them. A representative search on AutoTrader should reveal how it's priced against comparables - and for a main dealer vehicle it's not too far adrift - imho.

Used MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS Saloon Car for Sale - Auto Trader UK

 

[A210AMG]

Hello


Have a look on Piston heads, have to say it sounds high for a 240 petrol? its sounds top of the price range and its the older shape before the last facelift. looks nice though if they decide to go for it and as long as they are happy.

 

[Alps]

Karl, all depends what others of that spec are out there, has a good spec, a little overpriced, but if not many of that spec are around then its worth paying the premium!

 

[A210AMG]

Just to add 'us' forum types always thinks theres a better deal to be had !!!

I think if they are happy with it thats the main thing.

As mentioned, the spec / millage is good, so hard to compare.

 

[corned]

I would say it is a high price for that age of car, whatever the spec and mileage.

The only obvious missing toys are COMAND/linguatronic, xenons, and memory heated seats.

The interior is standard leather, not nappa, and the stitched door card is because of the SRS door curtain inside.

The reg transfer fee is not your problem! In no way would I pay for that. I haven't heard before of punters being expected to pay for that - not from a dealer or garage anyway.

Pano roofs seem to be a real pain as well - look on there very forums - they seem fairly problematic. The Valeo rad issue needs checking out too.

Oh - and there looks to be a bulb failure warning on the dash!!!

But at the end of the day if they are happy with it, and it checks out OK, then why not?

 

[christopherwk]

The only obvious missing toys are COMAND/linguatronic, xenons, and memory heated seats.

The interior is standard leather, not nappa, and the stitched door card is because of the SRS door curtain inside.

I thought Avantgardes had xenons as standard. Looking near the headlight switch, there'd be a headlight height adjustment/levelling switch if it had standard headlamps. If xenons, the headlight adjustment is automatic.

I see, I thought it was a design feature, now I see why the front door cards aren't stitched as well. So how does one tell if the leather is nappa, because mine is perforated.

 

[Adam230K]

Karl I think the car looks great and it certainly has a fair amount of toys! But I too think its a bit overpriced.... but on saying that lets hope they enjoy it!