Test drove a Merc S320L CDi yesterday

[Audi 525i]

September greetings. I took a 53 plate S320L CDi with 119k on the clock for a test drive, but with no errors displaying on the dash, there was twice a complete loss of power. Dealer said he will run some diagnoses. Any idea what this fault may be? Should I run a mile or make a low offer?

[RichardD]

Wait until you can have a test drive that doesn't result in this problem before making any proper decision?

[Tyson1980]

Audi 525i said:

September greetings. I took a 53 plate S320L CDi with 119k on the clock for a test drive, but with no errors displaying on the dash, there was twice a complete loss of power. Dealer said he will run some diagnoses. Any idea what this fault may be? Should I run a mile or make a low offer?

Run a mile.

Having bought an 2003 E-class which also had problems at a main dealer. I suffered no-end of problems afterwards....

Terrible year for Mercedes IMHO.

[mnkiboy]

If I was the proud owner of a barge pole, it wouldn't be pointing in the direction of this car, through fear of touching it.

Don't let the dealer off load a faulty car on to you. They'll be no help what so ever once they've got your cash.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

I'm no Mercedes expert but can tell you this much. When you get intermittent electrical faults they are a) a nightmare, and b) potentially ruinous to sort out.

You'll be needing some of these:

[irf]

years back i used to run the previous model S-class as a chauffeur, think it was the W140. it ran beautifully for a few months and i absolutely loved it.

out of the blue it developed a stuttering while on a run so i stopped the car, turned the engine off, turned it on again and all was fine.

then it developed from a one off into running on 5 cylinders every time i drove it. that then developed into running on 5 cylinders continously on every journey. laughably it was still so smooth that i carried on working.

i took it to all kinds of specialists, mercedes benz themselves who tried changing the ecu and all sorts. nothing solved it!

ended up having to get rid.

i'd stay away.

[Audi 525i]

Thanks for the advice. Looks like a potential mine-field then.

[POORCARDEALER]

Owned the same car myself, which would go into limp mode....I gave up and put it into auction...you can spend £££££s sorting it.