S Class, quarter of a million miles, £2k, stay away?

[dave_s13]

As long as it does the following I'd say buy it:-

• Starts on the button from stone cold - after being left overnight at least.
• Starts on the button from hot
• No bangs when moving selectors from P-D-1-2-3 etc
• Smooth changes up/down box - especially when up to max operating temp (issues can be masked by cooler trans oil)
• Goes from 0-70+ using kickdown without chucking it's dummy out

Basically you need to take it for a long test drive, especially to get the gearbox up to temp, if it goes straight, stops straight and all the essentiall leccy bits work like windows and heaters/air con then buy it. Just change the oil (consider transmission flush too - I DIY'd my V70), air/fuel/oil filter and off you go.

If it's mechanically sound the only thing that might kill it is the electrics.

In fact, I just remembered, my mate bought one from new and it was eventually swapped for a new car as the comand module kept randomly draining the battery and they just couldn't fix it.

[confused_buyer]

It's not expensive (similar cars go for about £2500 on ebay auctions) so if the basics work (engine / gearbox) then it might not be a bad buy.

[Hugo a Gogo]

12gauge said:

I saw one of these on the autotrader a couple of months back but with 70k up at £2,500. It was LHD though, so i didnt bite.

a 2002? LHD, take it to Germany and you'd get 9 or 10k euro all day long

[confused_buyer]

Hugo a Gogo said:

a 2002? LHD, take it to Germany and you'd get 9 or 10k euro all day long

My thoughts exactly!

[esvcg]

depends which of the following you fall into:


(1)
Scared to drive it in case it breaks because you cant or dont want to pay to get it fixed. Feel out of your depth.


(2)
Don't care how long it lasts, and can take a financial hit for upto 2k if it goes bang and you have to get rid. Just enjoy it for being a cheapo old barge regardless.


Only, if you really want one of these and you can *easily afford* to not be fussed about 2k then option 2 all day long. Think of it as going to a casino and not being too upset if you spunked a monkey!


Otherwise walk, you wont enjoy the whole thing.

[confused_buyer]

Frankly, if it goes wrong, "spares or repair" on ebay it'll get £1500 and be broken for spares in Nigeria, so you're not going to lose £2k.

[over_the_hill]

dave_s13 said:

What do similar age/spec cars for for that haven't been to the moon and back go for?

250k would only get you there and a little way back, but even so that is the sort of distance it has covered.

But "probably" safe to assume that stuff has been replaced at least once.

[dave_s13]

over_the_hill said:

dave_s13 said:

What do similar age/spec cars for for that haven't been to the moon and back go for?

250k would only get you there and a little way back, but even so that is the sort of distance it has covered.

But "probably" safe to assume that stuff has been replaced at least once.

<mutherfkr>

Anyway....a quick look in the classified and it seems like you're talking 4-5k+ for a not too leggy 320cdi.

Buy it.

He won't buy it though, he won't update the thread either, does this car even exist?

[silverback mike]

Yep, do it.

(says he who had no problems with a (albeit slightly older) merc with 461,000 miles on it which is still going)

[cheeky_chops]

do you know the seller?

[silverback mike]

hora said:

silverback mike said:

Yep, do it.

(says he who had no problems with a (albeit slightly older) merc with 461,000 miles on it which is still going)

You can't say this without volunteering for a PH write up!

The old girl was a legend, ran on chip fat too. Sadly I sold it about six months ago. Still see it snotting around glastonbury

[bigricho]

For 2k I would snap his hand right off. As long as it has been serviced properly there should not be a problem. I was being taken to the airport a couple months back in an S-Class and I noticed it had done just shy of 400k miles. To which I was amazed and couldn't keep myself from speaking to the driver about it. He said the company use S and E Classes and they all do mega miles. He went on to say that with regular servicing they run like a dream.

[fozzymandeus]

Brembo front discs for my car are £90 each from mercedes. £2x90 £180
Rear discs a little less, say £2x60 £120
Front pads: £55, Rear pads £45 £100
Tyres £100 each. £400
Total: £800 provided you fit your own discs and pads.

Hardly a bank breaker. The tyres would be a little more on mine, but S320cdis usually came on petite little rims.

[Ade07]

dave_s13 said:

over_the_hill said:

dave_s13 said:

What do similar age/spec cars for for that haven't been to the moon and back go for?

250k would only get you there and a little way back, but even so that is the sort of distance it has covered.

But "probably" safe to assume that stuff has been replaced at least once.

<mutherfkr>

Anyway....a quick look in the classified and it seems like you're talking 4-5k+ for a not too leggy 320cdi.

Buy it.

He won't buy it though, he won't update the thread either, does this car even exist?

Update: Asked the seller for a long test drive and he was hesitant and not very forthcoming, I was a little wary about this. Eventually he said to call him again this afternoon to organise it, I called and was told he'd been offered 2.5k cash for it and the car was now sold. I doubt his story and immediately smelt a rat.

Many thanks for all who offered advice. I certainly won't be put off by a leggy S class in the future but will insist on a proper test drive!

[IceBoy]

Just thought I would add my 2p worth!

A friend of mine who is a chauffer has the same engine in the E-class, which is a 2003 (newer shape).

I had just done 420,000 miles!

The body work (because it has been looked after) looks very good. You would say it has done only 120k. The interior looks like it has done a few miles but again you would guess 150k.

I guess the S-class was made with slight better matterials and components and should, if looked after, look in great conidition at a mere 250,000 miles.

These have a tendency to go through injectors but I dont think they don't cost £350 each to fix anymore.

At that price, I dont think you could go wrong.

IceBoy

[over_the_hill]

fozzymandeus said:

Brembo front discs for my car are £90 each from mercedes. £2x90 £180
Rear discs a little less, say £2x60 £120
Front pads: £55, Rear pads £45 £100
Tyres £100 each. £400
Total: £800 provided you fit your own discs and pads.

Hardly a bank breaker. The tyres would be a little more on mine, but S320cdis usually came on petite little rims.

But then your 2k car has cost you nearly 3k. None of these items will make it any more robust so still just as likely to go bang next week.

[fozzymandeus]

over_the_hill said:

fozzymandeus said:

Brembo front discs for my car are £90 each from mercedes. £2x90 £180
Rear discs a little less, say £2x60 £120
Front pads: £55, Rear pads £45 £100
Tyres £100 each. £400
Total: £800 provided you fit your own discs and pads.

Hardly a bank breaker. The tyres would be a little more on mine, but S320cdis usually came on petite little rims.

But then your 2k car has cost you nearly 3k. None of these items will make it any more robust so still just as likely to go bang next week.

True, but it still compares favourably to a clio 172 that needs brakes and tyres and a cambelt change... and you get a diesel luxobarge for your pains.