W211 purchased from MB dealer - anyway to verify mileage/taxi?

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S-class

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Hi All

I've just purchased a 2008 W211 Avantgarde from a main dealer, has done a little under 100k miles, going to pickup in a couple of days, buying from a main dealer I should be safe but is there any way to check to ensure the mileage is genuine (apart from looking at service history which i'm sure the dealer will have checked) and also to ensure it wasnt used as private hire or taxi?

Just a bit concerned as I know these cars are popular for that and also heard some stories where just before every service the owner clocks the car so the service history still looks genuine.

Advice appreciated so I can just look forward to getting the car :)

Also does anyone know what the difference was between a 2009 Executive SE and a 2008 Avantgarde? I could of purchased a newer one with higher miles but it was missing Xenon headlights for example, not sure what else was missing, cant seem to find a spec for a exec SE anywhere for the W211.
 
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look at last/any old mot, /I think you can get historic mileage from vosa

on my other car(not MB) milage is stored in ecu and another location so not that easy to clock cleanly.
 
If you are worried about past histories don't buy used. Simples.
 
If you are worried about past histories don't buy used. Simples.

Yeh but fella, not everyone wants/can buy brand new. Not so Simples.
 
Thanks for the mostly useful replies :) it was registered to europcar for first 8 months and since then with the other private owner, I've still gone for it as after reading other people's experiences I should be fine, will also get another healthcheck done and fix via warranty if needed, it's got full Mercedes history and approved used claim to do detailed checks on the car before selling.
 
Just my opinion but the milage doesn't seem nearly high enough for a taxi. Its an average of 17k ish per year. A little busy perhaps but not the sort of milage a vehicle could earn you money from
The last ex taxi E-class I spotted for sale was a 10 plate with over 200k on it. Now 50k+ per year is a bit more like it

On the subject, ish! a relative of my wife has a 62 plate c220 cdi that is now coming up to 70k and he is a business banker! I can't see how he finds the time to bank at all when he spends so much time on the road!
 
It may have been used as a taxi just for a year or two - indeed the first car I bought, I used for private hire and had it for about 15 months.
 
Ok rgds to mot - taxi drivers are *******s. i know a garage which uses mileage correction mobile specialist, he clocks every single taxi before mot is done (there is no way you will check mileage history through that)
I believe merc ecu stores how many hours the car run during its live but again a good hacker probably can alter that
Audi,bmw do have hidden menus where you can check that (plenty clips on youtube)
It is really a tough one by me
 
I'm surprised that a Mercedes main dealer is selling an 8 year-old car with nearly 100k on the clock. I'm assuming that it was taken in p/x and such cars are usually moved on quickly to the trade or sent to auction.

Is the car a "sold as seen" trade sale without the usual safeguards ?
 
Borys said:
Ok rgds to mot - taxi drivers are *******s. i know a garage which uses mileage correction mobile specialist, he clocks every single taxi before mot is done (there is no way you will check mileage history through that) I believe merc ecu stores how many hours the car run during its live but again a good hacker probably can alter that Audi,bmw do have hidden menus where you can check that (plenty clips on youtube) It is really a tough one by me

Mileage on modern MB is stored in at least 3 places one of which you wouldn't think off and I don't think accessible by the kit mileage correction specialists use

We used to do a lot of investigation work for insurance companies they can all be clocked with the right know how except Jaguar
 
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Apologies mileage is 80k, it's approved used with a years warranty, it was only with europcar for 8 months and the current owner had it for 5 years, figured if he wasn't happy with it would have sold it sooner.
 
Ok rgds to mot - taxi drivers are *******s. i know a garage which uses mileage correction mobile specialist, he clocks every single taxi before mot is done (there is no way you will check mileage history through that)
I believe merc ecu stores how many hours the car run during its live but again a good hacker probably can alter that
Audi,bmw do have hidden menus where you can check that (plenty clips on youtube)
It is really a tough one by me


The point I'm making about the MOT is not so much the mileage check.....its the fact that if a car is having a MOT every 6 months, you pretty much know its been a taxi
 
Also, if the car has been used as a taxi since new, the MOT usually needs to be done at 1 year old (rather than the usual 3), then every 6 months thereafter.
 
I'm surprised that a Mercedes main dealer is selling an 8 year-old car with nearly 100k on the clock. I'm assuming that it was taken in p/x and such cars are usually moved on quickly to the trade or sent to auction.

Is the car a "sold as seen" trade sale without the usual safeguards ?

It's illegal for a car trader to sell cars "sold as seen" or as a "trade sale"
 
It's illegal for a car trader to sell cars "sold as seen" or as a "trade sale"

But it's not uncommon for traders to strike a deal where they record them as such if they want the car off their premises and they are letting it go for a knockdown price.
 
Taxi's are MOT'd every 6 months....so check the MOT data history.


Depends on the licensing authority, it's an annual MOT where the council do their own testing.
 
Yeh but fella, not everyone wants/can buy brand new. Not so Simples.

Fair enough. But Auto Trader regularly has cars being sold privately with full service history and supporting paperwork, so it is within your grasp to buy a car whose history you can verify, if that is important to you.

(And it's important to me; I would never buy any used car without a wealth of paperwork, which usually means buying privately).
 
Apologies mileage is 80k, it's approved used with a years warranty, it was only with europcar for 8 months and the current owner had it for 5 years, figured if he wasn't happy with it would have sold it sooner.

If it was my money I'd be much happier buying a taxi than an ex-rental car. Still... how many people must buy ex-rental cars without even knowing?
 
If it was my money I'd be much happier buying a taxi than an ex-rental car. Still... how many people must buy ex-rental cars without even knowing?

Pros and cons to each.

I would imagine, most rental cars are generally well driven and looked after. Those who drive them won't want excessive repair costs for small dents and dings, interior damage etc., and are usually cleaned in and out regularly. On the other hand, if a company is paying the bill then, it's not so good. Though I'm sure the company won't be too happy to be receiving bills for damage to rental cars by careless employees. Having different drivers and driving styles, may help the running in process when new.

Also, a high end premium/rental car would more likely to be driven by someone more "mature" or if paid for by a company, someone with some sort of standing within that firm, rather than some youth/apprentice/hooligan etc.. Besides the rental firm may not rent out a car like that to under-25s.

With taxis, it largely depends on the type of work, and the previous owner. If it was from a large company, and company owned, doing high-end work with corporate clients, it may have been maintained regardless of cost, as the risk of breaking down with a passenger on board is too great, and missing their flight/meeting. Probably cleaned in and out almost every other day, carefully driven, with the engine warmed through the day (if the car is double-shifted, with one driver taking over at night, then the engine won't get cold).

On the other hand, if it was used as city centre taxi, taking drunks home at night, etc (unlikely, given the car), then maybe not. Also depends if it was an owner-driver car, who may or may not have skimped on servicing and repairs.

A good clue, also is to check the tyres, see if they all match (or at least replaced in pairs), and what brand they are.
 

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