Would you folks mind looking this over?

[Bobby Dazzler]

It was part of the maintenance at around 110k.

Unless it was his car - or a close family member - then that’s 100% a blag. Nothing to be concerned about it’s commonplace for sales people to make up stuff like this.

Overall it looks like a nice car, and a lot of car for the money. The MOT history looks relatively good, as does his eBay feedback. Would be worth looking at Google reviews and Trust Pilot, etc.

I would ask more about the service history, and check for irregularities and peculiarities, eg big gaps, only ever been serviced at one or two garages with stamps and no receipts, handwriting and ink colour identical in service book, etc.

 

[EndlessMoneyPit]

Will do! His eBay profile only has 24 sales, but still on 100% - Sometimes it’s those guys trying to build a good rep early on

And Google him. I don't like not being able to read the mot history - was the E-class on private plates before?

 

[JamRocky]

The S204 is a comfortable car, nothing exciting but it does the job without fuss. The economy will probably be very good with that diesel engine and in estate form they are a decent load lugger for tip runs. Seems a reasonable price too.
Good luck with what ever you decide on.
If the sport version in Post#19 is a petrol model, beware of rattly timing gear. It has the infamous M271 engine.

Thank you. I’m more comfort these days I think. I do think the sport looks more modern/smarter, but as I said I can’t see a decently maintained one. Not yet anyway.

 

[AMGeed]

Thank you. I’m more comfort these days I think. I do think the sport looks more modern/smarter, but as I said I can’t see a decently maintained one. Not yet anyway.

Keep looking. There are plenty of them for sale as I found last Sept.

 

[JamRocky]

Unless it was his car - or a close family member - then that’s 100% a blag. Nothing to be concerned about it’s commonplace for sales people to make up stuff like this.

Overall it looks like a nice car, and a lot of car for the money. The MOT history looks relatively good, as does his eBay feedback. Would be worth looking at Google reviews and Trust Pilot, etc.

I would ask more about the service history, and check for irregularities and peculiarities, eg big gaps, only ever been serviced at one or two garages with stamps and no receipts, handwriting and ink colour identical in service book, etc.

Sound advice. I do ask a lot of questions. Usually I get the … it’s a cheap car response … but this chap had all the time for me to ask questions. I guess at the end of the day these are cheap compared to new ones, so I can’t expect the earth. It’s still money though and I don’t want a rot box. I try to think if I was making a go of selling cars would I want a terrible reputation? No, but plenty out there that don’t care a toss.

 

[JamRocky]

Keep looking. There are plenty of them for sale as I found last Sept.

Decent ones? Might just be what’s floating about right now. I don’t want a “the service book has been lost” or it’s had 5 stamps in the last 130k or even a sketchy 172k car … that’s all I’m seeing of the S204 CDI sport at the moment.

 

[AMGeed]

Decent ones? Might just be what’s floating about right now. I don’t want a “the service book has been lost” or it’s had 5 stamps in the last 130k or even a sketchy 172k car … that’s all I’m seeing of the S204 CDI sport at the moment.

OK. Does it have to be diesel?
I found quite a few petrol models when I was looking. The C250 would be a nice buy.

 

[JamRocky]

And Google him. I don't like not being able to read the mot history - was the E-class on private plates before?

I’m not sure. I didn’t look at the history of it, but it concerns me that they say they bought it for a couple of months and now it’s time to go. I don’t like buying cars someone has had a couple of months really

 

[JamRocky]

OK. Does it have to be diesel?
I found quite a few petrol models when I was looking. The C250 would be a nice buy.

I guess it doesn’t have to be, but it is my preference. The diesel engines of that time I’m told are pretty robust. I’ve had petrol V6 Mercs (which I loved but too thirsty) and I’ve had Supercharged 4’s - but preferably a 220cdi is right for what I want.

 

[AMGeed]

Worth a look?
It has a long MOT, service history, subframe been done, just serviced with discs pads and engine mounts.

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[JamRocky]

Worth a look?
It has a long MOT, service history, subframe been done, just serviced with discs pads and engine mounts.

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Ah now! I have never used Facebook and I bet there’s tons of cars on there.

 

[JamRocky]

Worth a look?
It has a long MOT, service history, subframe been done, just serviced with discs pads and engine mounts.

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Oh yes! I like that! It’s obviously more expensive, but I really like it!

 

[AMGeed]

Oh yes! I like that! It’s obviously more expensive, but I really like it!

If its still for sale its one I'd look at if I were looking for an S204 diesel.

 

[JamRocky]

If its still for sale its one I'd look at if I were looking for an S204 diesel.

Very smart! You’ve got me questioning my whole life now

 

[Smiley]

Unless it was his car - or a close family member - then that’s 100% a blag. Nothing to be concerned about it’s commonplace for sales people to make up stuff like this.

Overall it looks like a nice car, and a lot of car for the money. The MOT history looks relatively good, as does his eBay feedback. Would be worth looking at Google reviews and Trust Pilot, etc.

I would ask more about the service history, and check for irregularities and peculiarities, eg big gaps, only ever been serviced at one or two garages with stamps and no receipts, handwriting and ink colour identical in service book, etc.

That was the first thing I thought too. Copy paste "timing kit (normally a belt of course) and water pump done" into all the ads....if a 120k mile 646 engine needed a new timing chain then it has probably never had the oil changed.
It tells you all you need to know about the dealer and the no quibble warranty
Don't be put off by traders trying to tell you that you can't expect a service history on a "cheap" car - in many respects it is more important on a cheaper car than a newer lower mileage one.
The older om646 engine in the 204 is generally more bullet proof than the newer om651 but at the cost of higher fuel consumption and VED band.

 

[JamRocky]

That was the first thing I thought too. Copy paste "timing kit (normally a belt of course) and water pump done" into all the ads....if a 120k mile 646 engine needed a new timing chain then it has probably never had the oil changed.
It tells you all you need to know about the dealer and the no quibble warranty
Don't be put off by traders trying to tell you that you can't expect a service history on a "cheap" car - in many respects it is more important on a cheaper car than a newer lower mileage one.
The older om646 engine in the 204 is generally more bullet proof than the newer om651 but at the cost of higher fuel consumption and VED band.

The car apparently has full service history with the most recent in December. He said it was the timing chain and water pump that was changed. I looked at it again today. In that price bracket it is by far the lowest mileage of that type. The next nearest I can find at £3450 is an 09 c220 CDI estate “sport” … 157k miles and only 6 months MOT. No mention of service history and I have asked with no reply.
It’s difficult. The car looks decent and a full service history with a service just last month plus 12 months MOT and any kind of warranty instead of none. Even the MOT history looks decent.
The only thing putting me off is why it needed a timing kit and water pump, albeit 10k miles ago, and was there a failure that caused damage?

 

[Smiley]

It would put me off the car if it had to have a new timing chain - and especially as the ad says it's for "piece (sic) of mind" as though it's a belt change. But if that turns out to be car sales bs I would agree if the service history is all good then it looks like a decent buy. If it's close enough go and see it, if not ask the seller to send you photos of the service history to see if it's really full and who did the chain.

 

[JamRocky]

It would put me off the car if it had to have a new timing chain - and especially as the ad says it's for "piece (sic) of mind" as though it's a belt change. But if that turns out to be car sales bs I would agree if the service history is all good then it looks like a decent buy. If it's close enough go and see it, if not ask the seller to send you photos of the service history to see if it's really full and who did the chain.

Good advice. Thank you

 

[EndlessMoneyPit]

I don't get why so many of his cars have had a new water pumps and timing belt/chain. Btw, his feedback is for purchases, not sales. It's a new ebay account so it's not that unusual. I saw at least half a dozen phone numbers in his ads and most of them return no hits in Google, which is unusual for a business. One of the mobile numbers has been looked up on Who Called Me a few times.

Not saying he's dodgy, but I'd be a bit wary.

 

[JamRocky]

I don't get why so many of his cars have had a new water pumps and timing belt/chain. Btw, his feedback is for purchases, not sales. It's a new ebay account so it's not that unusual. I saw at least half a dozen phone numbers in his ads and most of them return no hits in Google, which is unusual for a business. One of the mobile numbers has been looked up on Who Called Me a few times.

Not saying he's dodgy, but I'd be a bit wary.

I found that myself last night looking a bit deeper. It is all unusual and possibly why that vehicle is not selling. Time to move on from that one I think