My £1100 Merc W220 S430
My £1100 Merc W220 S430
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Pickled

Original Poster:

2,059 posts

172 months

Monday 12th August 2013
quotequote all
Picked this up last week, for the grand sum of £1100, its a 2000 S430, 3 owners, full Tony Purslow (Mercedes) history, 4 matching Bridgestones (rare on cars this price!) everything works, MOT'd till March 2014 and even had a bit of tax on it.

So there must be a downside? Well apart from the (usual) slight bubbling on the front wings, there really doesn't seem to be a downside, well if your going to be picky the front wheels could probably do with a refurb.

Its had all the likely failure components replaced, at considerable expense if the invoices are anything to go by, including the complete airmatic suspension system!

Thoughts so far on the car, an absolute bargain, drives superbly, even averaged 29 mpg on a run to Kent over the weekend, not quite as engaging to drive as my E39, but that was to be expected.

Still in 2 minds whether to sell it, really could do with an estate for the dog, and keep the the BMW 540, or sell the beemer and keep the Merc, either way one needs to go to make way for an estate - decisions decisions!

Any way a couple of pics.















Edited by Pickled on Tuesday 19th April 13:24

jamiebae

6,245 posts

240 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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Top shedding! Really fancy one of these, but no space or need means even my man-maths is struggling to justify it

Codswallop

5,258 posts

223 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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That is an insane amount of car for the money. What was the mileage on that?

This one must surely be a keeper OP thumbup

tobinen

10,382 posts

174 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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Excellent! Great barge for the cash

Killer2005

20,581 posts

257 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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That's a cracking buy for £1k, lovely motor

ClaphamGT3

12,223 posts

272 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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It's a no-brainier; ditch the BMW and keep the S-Class, they really are the best cars in the world.

I had one for three years. As good on the day I sold it as it was on the day I bought it and I can honestly say that I have NEVER owned a better all-round car

Pickled

Original Poster:

2,059 posts

172 months

Monday 12th August 2013
quotequote all
Codswallop said:
That is an insane amount of car for the money. What was the mileage on that?

This one must surely be a keeper OP thumbup
143k - Just nicely run in biggrin

Pickled

Original Poster:

2,059 posts

172 months

Monday 12th August 2013
quotequote all
ClaphamGT3 said:
It's a no-brainier; ditch the BMW and keep the S-Class, they really are the best cars in the world.

I had one for three years. As good on the day I sold it as it was on the day I bought it and I can honestly say that I have NEVER owned a better all-round car
This is where I'm torn, I love the way my E39 drives, don't get me wrong the Merc is a lovely drive, but, in a completely different way. I guess replacing the E39 with a touring version would solve the estate problem.

ClaphamGT3

12,223 posts

272 months

Monday 12th August 2013
quotequote all
Pickled said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
It's a no-brainier; ditch the BMW and keep the S-Class, they really are the best cars in the world.

I had one for three years. As good on the day I sold it as it was on the day I bought it and I can honestly say that I have NEVER owned a better all-round car
This is where I'm torn, I love the way my E39 drives, don't get me wrong the Merc is a lovely drive, but, in a completely different way. I guess replacing the E39 with a touring version would solve the estate problem.
Click the damper setting to intermediate ( it defaults to 'soft') and put the gearbox in sport and you'll be amazed at the fun you can have with it. If its an SWB, even more so

Shaw Tarse

31,886 posts

232 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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Top shed!

r129sl

9,518 posts

232 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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Astonishing. It looks great. Does it really look and feel that good in reality?

0a

24,133 posts

223 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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Incredible, and as a petrol more luxurious than any new £60k diesel "luxury car" in the class outright.

I'd run it for a while - mercs are fun to drive in a different way, and an e39 isn't a sports car!

Pickled

Original Poster:

2,059 posts

172 months

Monday 12th August 2013
quotequote all
r129sl said:
Astonishing. It looks great. Does it really look and feel that good in reality?
Apart from the bubbling on the front arches, it certainly does biggrin

Pickled

Original Poster:

2,059 posts

172 months

Monday 12th August 2013
quotequote all
0a said:
an e39 isn't a sports car!
Never said it was tongue outbiggrin I just prefer the way the E39 feels (to me) when pressing on.

wolfy1988

1,426 posts

192 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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Will be watching this with great interest!

I have a e39 at the moment and have decided to replace it with a S500 in the up coming months.

I would personally love to hear the pros and cons of 'S-Classe' compared to your 540i?

BMWNICK

80 posts

160 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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If you want to correctly use man maths BMW did make a 540 touring wink

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

242 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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Lovely car, but I wouldn't replace an E39 with one.

wolfy1988

1,426 posts

192 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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sparks_E39 said:
Lovely car, but I wouldn't replace an E39 with one.
Why not?

Stedman

7,456 posts

221 months

Monday 12th August 2013
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It looks fantastic! Top sheding

bmthnick1981

5,320 posts

245 months

Tuesday 13th August 2013
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Lovely. Genuine mats as well!

I'd be comforted by the air matic suspension replacement, I often browse W220's which are for sale and lots seem to have suspension problems.