Thoughts on the E320 CDI?

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I gave up looking at cars for sale in small dealers years ago - too much bullsh!t. I'd rather buy from a main dealer with some sort of reputation to keep or buy privately and meet the previous owner.
Warning signs are 1. admin fee 2. deposit to view 3. only 3 month warranty.
Re the car today - my bet is that a rear brake pipe has corroded and burst and no fluid in part of the system.
See if Mercland in Nuneaton has anything of interest - Jay has been on here for years and I have only seen (many) good reports about the way he preps the cars and looks after the customer - somewhat unusually even after they have bought the car.
 
Smiley said:
I gave up looking at cars for sale in small dealers years ago - too much bullsh!t. I'd rather buy from a main dealer with some sort of reputation to keep or buy privately and meet the previous owner.
Warning signs are 1. admin fee 2. deposit to view 3. only 3 month warranty.
Re the car today - my bet is that a rear brake pipe has corroded and burst and no fluid in part of the system.
See if Mercland in Nuneaton has anything of interest - Jay has been on here for years and I have only seen (many) good reports about the way he preps the cars and looks after the customer - somewhat unusually even after they have bought the car.
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Very true mate…the last five years Iv bought my BMWs and Mercedes from Main Dealers….always have the 12 months warranty and the reputation of the dealer. But I’m purely after a cheapisj workhorse and a C63 for weekend. I sold my M235i to part fund both and took out a small loan I allow me to get another C63.

Mercland do seem great but my budget to be honest for my commuting workhorse is around £6k….still plenty of money but I may even lower my sights and look at something from
ford.
 
At this price point I would buy privately, ideally from a seller who has had the car for a while and is well enough off that he can afford to repair the car rather than offload it. Have a look on carandclassic - some 211s appear on there. The earlier inline 6 3.2 litre engine is a gem - probably more reliable and easier to work on than the v6.
 
Smiley said:
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Cherished and loved , yet they slap grease on the brake pipes .
 
Smiley said:
Re the car today - my bet is that a rear brake pipe has corroded and burst and no fluid in part of the system.
Click to expand...

If a brake pipe was leaking it would lose all the fluid. I bought a 211 with much the same problem; replacing one of the rear calipers sorted it.
 
Smiley said:
I gave up looking at cars for sale in small dealers years ago - too much bullsh!t. I'd rather buy from a main dealer with some sort of reputation to keep or buy privately and meet the previous owner.
Warning signs are 1. admin fee 2. deposit to view 3. only 3 month warranty.
Re the car today - my bet is that a rear brake pipe has corroded and burst and no fluid in part of the system.
Click to expand...
I would have thought a burst brake line unlikely

A leak and or poorly bled brakes more likely.

It says a lot about a garage that will let a car go out for a test drive in such poor condition. Especially when they use such a patently stupid excuse to try to explain the fault.
 
RSTurbo50 said:

The garage in question. Still waiting for my £250 deposit to be refunded. Ignoring my emails. Will give them til 3pm today otherwise they will be getting a phone call.
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I lost £200 on a Passat ,after I turned it down due to not being ready on time , I rang trading standards who told me nothing in writing from the garage regarding a returnable deposit and then it's my fault the deal fell through. The garage done their bit apparently. I'd never ever leave another deposit unless I was 100% sure.
 
OneForTheRoad said:
Cherished and loved , yet they slap grease on the brake pipes
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The root cause of the problem is the cheap crappy brake lines that MB use. I use waxoyl on them to stop them going rusty before they do. So it may have been a caring owner - or of course it may be someone covering up a rusty pipe.
 
RSTurbo50 said:
Finally just got the refund back guys…
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Good. I would not pay a deposit before seeing a car, it is a sales tactic to make you feel committed to buy rather than to view. Next time you are asked tell them that you've been stung before so you're not doing it - up to them do they want you to come and view the car or not? If not then you have flushed out the next crap dealer to be avoided.
 
davymead said:
And greasing them will be part of a proper Independent garages full service regime.
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I can understand people who do care and spend alot of time and money on preventative maintenance, but seeing a cars history of MOT's and seeing brakes pipes corroded on one mot then subsequent MOT's saying brake pipes covered in grease is a clear statement of hiding rot or being to greedy to have them replaced and PaSS it off to the next owner . If applying grease to already rotten brake pipes stops further corrosion then everyone's a winner. Myself personally I'd look elsewhere for different.
 
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