glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Make sure the car has always been main dealer
serviced. Make sure it is not due for a service.
Check every single electrical option. Do NOT be conned into "The air conditioning only needs re-gassing!"
As far as I am aware there are no known issues but the SBC braking system has been the subject of a number of recalls and these will have been done when it was serviced, hence my comments regarding servicing. Staying on this theme, the 211 (E-class) is a vehicle that has regular updates\modifications. These are carried out free whenever the car is serviced, so once more read my above comments.
Main dealer servicing
Check EVERY electric gadget works
Check all four wheels for a white type of corrosion, if the car is under three years old then they will be changed new for old. If they haven't been exchanged then the owner has not bothered and I personally don't like buying a car that has not been spoilt.
There are no known rust issues but both the wheels and very rarely, the black trim that extends over the roof line have suffered from an electrolysis type reaction.
Overall a great car, but be extremely careful about buying a cheap bargain. Anything that goes wrong on these vehicles will generally be expensive. Far better to bite the bullet and buy a well maintained, well looked after vehicle,, rather than a cheap neglected one.
Emergency vehicles are usually on a 300,000 mile buyback contract, so the car is quite capable of high mileages.
A 2005 car will have the latest paint technology and should never look like it has the measles with stone chip marks all over the bonnet.
Good luck with the purchase but do not be in a rush to buy the first vehicle you see.
Regards
John
evdok
MB Enthusiast
Well advised glojo,
I have a E320CDI and it's great! although I've had the color coded roof trim replaced due to paint bubble which was swiftly replaced by the dealer. If you decide to test drive it which i recommend expect it to drift very slightly to the left this is normal, merc geometry for you. As glojo said don't rush into the first car you view take your time do your homework ask the forum anything your not sure about, there's plenty of fish in the sea!
Hope all goes ok
I have a E320CDI and it's great! although I've had the color coded roof trim replaced due to paint bubble which was swiftly replaced by the dealer. If you decide to test drive it which i recommend expect it to drift very slightly to the left this is normal, merc geometry for you. As glojo said don't rush into the first car you view take your time do your homework ask the forum anything your not sure about, there's plenty of fish in the sea!
Hope all goes ok
grober
MB Master
Familiarise yourself with all the warning displays on the dash by reading the interactive owners manual here. http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...home/ownership/interactive_owners_manual.html
Then check all the warning lights come on when you switch on the ignition and extinguish at the appropriate time ( usually when the car engine starts) Check carefully any warranty being offered with the car. Look for any signs of turbo problems or if anyone has spliced in a "performance " box into the wiring at some time.
Then check all the warning lights come on when you switch on the ignition and extinguish at the appropriate time ( usually when the car engine starts) Check carefully any warranty being offered with the car. Look for any signs of turbo problems or if anyone has spliced in a "performance " box into the wiring at some time.
Diesel Benz
MB Enthusiast
If you can have the engine cover removed, you could check that injectors have not leaked. This can be detected from a distinct smell too. Then all the fuel lines must be clear and dry. Leaks at the high pressure parts may get expensive while other leaks are a few O-rings and some labour to fix them. Suspension joints are not that expensive but try driving on an uneven road that makes the wheels shudder, there should be no noise from the suspension.
Glow plugs may be difficult to fix even if parts are not that expensive. Be sure there are no warnings (like already mentioned above).
Glow plugs may be difficult to fix even if parts are not that expensive. Be sure there are no warnings (like already mentioned above).
Roger Jones
Active Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2006
- Messages
- 824
Scroll down to What's Bad and What to Watch Out For:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=627&
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=627&
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I think a fair proportion of HonestJohn's
report is repetition from old reviews.The Valeo issue is well documented and does not apply to the vehicles you are looking at.
Electrical issues have also all been sorted for regularly maintained cars and all the bad publicity came from us owners that were used to develop the blooming thing.
If you look at all the gadgets these vehicles have then common sense and the law of averages dictates we will sometimes suffer the odd electrical issue but nip across to this forum's Electronics section and you will see that there is nothing that stands out. The 211 does not stand out, it is certainly not prone to electrical issues and unless neglected they are a reliable beast.
It would appear that you are looking at vehicles from a less than reputable source?? If that is the case then my philosophy is that folks sell their cars for the best possible price! If a car is cheap, it is cheap for a reason.
If a 2005 vehicle has had accident repair damage then it will NOT have been sprayed with the same hard wearing paint as it had originaly.
Why are people clocking a vehicle?? If you buy a high mileage vehicle then it is a high mileage vehicle. If it has been clocked then what else has been altered? My answer would be at least the ASSYST Plus servicing.
You get what you pay for
Regards
John
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,198
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
Apart from the boot lid corroding at the fold over the frame. Check inside the lid down the rear section and at the front corners.
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I'm not 100% certain of what bits are steel and what bits are aluminium, but I thought the boot was made of aluminium?
John
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,198
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
It is, but who said aluminium doesn't corrode.?
st4
Banned
It does, technically speaking far faster than iron.
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Corrode , but not rust
I suppose we can say that aluminium 'rusts' if we say the metal has suffered oxidation.
I must confess to not seeing or hearing about the problem you have mentioned. How common is it?
Is it a reaction between two differing types of metal or exposed aluminium?
Regards
John
Dieselman
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 34,198
- Car
- Peugeot 403 Convertible
Water gets into the unpainted fold and causes corrosion.
It's been covered on here recently.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=55987&highlight=paint
It's been covered on here recently.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=55987&highlight=paint
st4
Banned
Aluminium metal virtually oxides as soon as present in air, it forms a very stable oxide that is more stable. 2Al + 1.5O2 = AL2O3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium
I think its the oxide that is used in manufacture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium
I think its the oxide that is used in manufacture
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How dare you use that as a legitimate example
Stand in a corner and wash your mouth out with a can of rusty mercury.
Regards
John
st4
Banned
It would be Donza's car though...
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Of all the cars in all the World, Dieselman had to choose that one!!
Sorry but that does not signify a major known issue.... It might but not the one being suggested
Mind you there have not been any complaints about the car for a while
John
