S211 E220 - advice on MOT items please

[Gollom]

I am looking at one of these with 116K miles (58 plate) tomorrow and can see the following recent MOT advisories - should I be seriously concerned? My feeling is they are useful items for negotiating a deal.

Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

• Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded)

• Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement

• Front Front wheel bearing has slight play Both sides

Going to see the car tomorrow morning, so any pointers would be helpful. I have had 2 x W211 before so am familiar with much of the weak points. This will be my first estate and the self-levelling suspension sounds good (may be towing) so what to look for?

Many thanks

 

[Will]

So a pair of rear discs (+pads), a set of ARB bushes and a brake pipe to replace? Not a lot of ££ really but probably £400/500 +/- all in with labour and brake fluid etc depending on where you take it?

Not certain on the 211 but you used to be able to adjust the wheel bearings on all the other MBs I’ve had.

In reality they’re advisories. You may be better off waiting until it needs some more work or a service and getting them done all together. And as always, discretion applies with MOTs or any vehicle inspection. No doubt you could take it to another garage and they may not pick up on or agree with those items but could notice some other stuff.

If the car is priced cheap to reflect those advisories and is otherwise in good condition then I’d really not worry about them but if it’s priced a bit rich then obviously knock a few hundred off as appropriate if you like the car.

All IMHO of course

 

[merc85]

Front wheel bearings you can adjust, Rear brake disc and pads cheap enough and dead easy to replace. Rear antiroll bar link again easy diy.

Depending on how bad that Front brake pipe is, may just need a rub down and paint.

 

[190]

Slight corrosion to the brake pipes is a common advisory. I always inspect them before the MOT and clean them up followed by a coat of Waxoyl. The wheel bearing I would adjust before it leads to failure.

 

[Gollom]

Thanks. Do cars of this era have SBC?

 

[merc85]

Thanks. Do cars of this era have SBC?

No bud, Sbc finished in 2005/6 (55)

 

[Gollom]

No bud, Sbc finished in 2005/6 (55)

Thanks. I had it on a previous car and actually liked it - but am aware it gave problems after a certain amount of time/pedal presses

 

[merc85]

I love it too, wouldn't put me off buying a car in the slightest.

 

[Gollom]

No bud, Sbc finished in 2005/6 (55)

Just discovered that the car has "hold" - is that the same as SBC, or am I getting confused?

 

[merc85]

Yes it is one of the features on both models

 

[toteimerced]

Do it yourself and save a fortune, nice easy diy jobs, good bargaining tool too, if it’s the right price, go for it.

 

[Gollom]

I did! And so happy to be back in a 211

 

[toteimerced]

Good luck with the new ride bud.