c250d for 50 mile daily commute?
c250d for 50 mile daily commute?
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pickles97

Original Poster:

3 posts

13 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
Found a 2016 c250d estate amg line 7g-tronic+ with a pan roof, 145k miles, full merc history. Is this worth a punt for a daily? I have no experience with mercs but heard those engines are reliable

Crusoe

4,120 posts

260 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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Check for lots of maintenance by the previous owner, expect suspension bushes, springs, dampers all to have been changed or if not probably need changed. Check dpf values on a scanner to make sure it isn't full of soot but otherwise tyres, brakes and usual things, should be good for regular longer journeys if well maintained.

macron

13,239 posts

195 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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I hope it's really cheap!

pickles97

Original Poster:

3 posts

13 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
Sorry forgot to reply its 8995

SteBrown91

3,116 posts

158 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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Is it the 2.1 or the later 2.0?

If its 2016 I'm guessing its the later one. The 2.1 is pretty reliable but only Euro5 and a bit of a tractor engine.

The later ones I have no idea if they are reliable or not but I suspect they won't be.

macron

13,239 posts

195 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
I think a 9k 145k mile diesel is saying hello DPF and EGR issues myself. I know nothing is cheap these days but I suspect if you set out your criteria (does it need to be an estate, what is your usage, is 9k the budget, etc,) you may be pointed to less prestigious brands with lower miles and greater chances of that reliability, of that is a key consideration.

pickles97

Original Poster:

3 posts

13 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
tbh it doesnt need to be an estate (yet) i commute 50 miles a day to work, love something economical with a bit of pull. used car market seems like a minefield

Jag_NE

3,337 posts

129 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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its a leggy 10 year old car....its coin territory regardless of who manufactured it.

jesus....9 grand!

paul_c123

2,339 posts

22 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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Sounds massively overpriced.

ZX10R NIN

30,512 posts

154 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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EGR/DPF should be fine as the car has been used as intended BUT suspension components will be a very different story.

Personally I'd spend 9k on something more mainstream with around a quarter of the mileage on that particular car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506213...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508045...

Shnozz

30,622 posts

300 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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I did a fair bit of research before opting for a E250 CDI (cab in my case) for doing a regular lengthy trip. As has been said, the engines are a bit agricultural and sound it, but supposedly good for big mileages. I might be wrong but seem to recall its the same lump used in the Vito vans which seem to last forever.

Euro 5 is an occasional issue if I am heading to London or another ULEZ city but its a rare occurrence for me to have to drive there.

One thing both myself and a mate with a similar year C220 CDI have found is that the brake pipes have needed replacing and its a £1k bill.

Shnozz

30,622 posts

300 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
pickles97 said:
tbh it doesnt need to be an estate (yet) i commute 50 miles a day to work, love something economical with a bit of pull. used car market seems like a minefield
You could always look at the E250 diesels - coupe and cab are pretty handsome things, albeit I am of course biased.

ZX10R NIN

30,512 posts

154 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
pickles97 said:
tbh it doesnt need to be an estate (yet) i commute 50 miles a day to work, love something economical with a bit of pull. used car market seems like a minefield
If you want a nice euro6 estate that's ULEZ friendly then go for one of these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412147...

If you can live with a hatchback you'll get one with 70k less on the clock rather than 50k less on the estate above.

For your budget these are where I'd be looking.

Venisonpie

4,787 posts

111 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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SteBrown91 said:
Is it the 2.1 or the later 2.0?

If its 2016 I'm guessing its the later one. The 2.1 is pretty reliable but only Euro5 and a bit of a tractor engine.

The later ones I have no idea if they are reliable or not but I suspect they won't be.
Are you sure the 2.1 wasn't euro6?

ZX10R NIN

30,512 posts

154 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
2.1d was euro6

Fastdruid

9,357 posts

181 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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Is that 50 miles round trip or each way?

If its 50 miles each way and not needing it for longer journeys I'd be seriously considering an EV for that kind of regular use, a bit more expensive up front but made up for it by far cheaper "fuel".

Some quick sums suggests about £300/month in fuel for 100miles/day, at a fairly terrible 25p/kWH (ie you could easily get a better rate) an EV would be less than 2/3rds of that (probably 1/4 of the fuel bill with a decent tariff), that would more than make up the difference over a few years.



Venisonpie

4,787 posts

111 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
2.1d was euro6
Phew! I've bought tons of them and wondered if Merc had been doing me over!

Shnozz

30,622 posts

300 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Indie. Both of us albeit different indies. Sounded a pig of a job to be fair and I trust my guy implicitly.

AddyT.

557 posts

122 months

Monday 11th August 2025
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I would up your budget and go for a W213 series E Class diesel. Really nice cars and if you aren't doing really short journeys all the time the DPF etc will be fine. I have a '17 E Coupe 220d...been an excellent car so far. That price with the mileage does seem quite high! smile

OutInTheShed

14,330 posts

55 months

Monday 11th August 2025
quotequote all
pickles97 said:
Found a 2016 c250d estate amg line 7g-tronic+ with a pan roof, 145k miles, full merc history. Is this worth a punt for a daily? I have no experience with mercs but heard those engines are reliable
It might be worth a punt if you really like it, that's what you want to spend nine grand on, and you know where your next nine grand is coming from if your gamble doesn't come up trumps.

145k miles is a long way towards the scrapyard.
Even if it's trouble free, it's going to be worth small change in 40k miles or so.
There are a lot of things that could go wrong, even if they are not particularly expensive to fix, having the car 'unavailable' when you need to commute is a serious problem.
A good local garage that can fix even small problems quickly makes a big difference.

Some people would view £9k as what you lose pretty quickly on a nearly-new car.
Other people would see it as ten years shed budget, there's a spectrum in between, where do you see yourself?

The only reason to buy most cars is 'because it's what I bloody well want!'