More french content...this time a 508sw
Discussion
After running a mk3 Mondeo estate for 2 1/2 years I decided it was time to upgrade. The Mondeo was only purchased while I did the garden, something that is still on going but nearly there. I blame Covid ... anyway estates, they just do everything.
I started by looking at Mondeo mk4’s but I wanted an auto, that meant it really needed to be a 2.2 so as to avoid the power shift box.
Then E61’s made the list, but most were 520d’s and I’d really want a 6 cylinder engine. A nice 535d appeared on eBay, it was a fantastic spec but 8k and 2009 was strong money. So I started looking at E Class estates, I did find a nice S211 Elegance, it was 5 hours away but the dealer dragged his heals and never sent a walk around video. So I upped the budget from 4K to 6k which made S212’s make the list, another one found and again the dealer failed to respond to a request for a walk around video. You would have thought after having it for sale for 8 months they would have been keen to move it on.
Following a few recent Readers rides threads on recent french purchases I started to look at C5’s, then 508’s on Autotrader. Ebay then produced a 508sw GT in white, it was a private sale and advertised at £5250. I made an offer and it was accepted.
So yesterday was collection day, after looking at trains - £275 for 2 one way I hired a car - Enterprise supplied us with an i20 for £100 which was spotlessly clean, the weather was awful but we eventually got there. The car was as the pictures and walk around video described and it was clear the car had been looked after and it would be mad to walk away from. Money transferred, then trying to sort insurance, some 2 hours later I finally arranged cover, I had tried my current insurer but because of Covid - poor excuse they are working with limited staff..... it didn’t help I wanted 2 drivers and was in a poor signal area.
Finally we were on our way home, the car drove really well, I’m not sure there is lots of space around the area where the clutch rest is and the heated seats are not as good as the mini’s but still for the money it’s a great car.
It’s due a service and I want to change the gearbox oil but for £4700 it’s a lot of car for the money
Only 1 picture so far but plenty more to follow.

I started by looking at Mondeo mk4’s but I wanted an auto, that meant it really needed to be a 2.2 so as to avoid the power shift box.
Then E61’s made the list, but most were 520d’s and I’d really want a 6 cylinder engine. A nice 535d appeared on eBay, it was a fantastic spec but 8k and 2009 was strong money. So I started looking at E Class estates, I did find a nice S211 Elegance, it was 5 hours away but the dealer dragged his heals and never sent a walk around video. So I upped the budget from 4K to 6k which made S212’s make the list, another one found and again the dealer failed to respond to a request for a walk around video. You would have thought after having it for sale for 8 months they would have been keen to move it on.
Following a few recent Readers rides threads on recent french purchases I started to look at C5’s, then 508’s on Autotrader. Ebay then produced a 508sw GT in white, it was a private sale and advertised at £5250. I made an offer and it was accepted.
So yesterday was collection day, after looking at trains - £275 for 2 one way I hired a car - Enterprise supplied us with an i20 for £100 which was spotlessly clean, the weather was awful but we eventually got there. The car was as the pictures and walk around video described and it was clear the car had been looked after and it would be mad to walk away from. Money transferred, then trying to sort insurance, some 2 hours later I finally arranged cover, I had tried my current insurer but because of Covid - poor excuse they are working with limited staff..... it didn’t help I wanted 2 drivers and was in a poor signal area.
Finally we were on our way home, the car drove really well, I’m not sure there is lots of space around the area where the clutch rest is and the heated seats are not as good as the mini’s but still for the money it’s a great car.
It’s due a service and I want to change the gearbox oil but for £4700 it’s a lot of car for the money
Only 1 picture so far but plenty more to follow.
Looks like a bargain for less than £5k, I bet that only gets you very ropey very unreliable e60s I love the colour and looks like it’s a good spec one with nice wheels and the pan roof
My parents next door neibuoughs had a saloon one of these and i still don’t think I’ve been driven in something with such a smooth ride except maybe their C5 which had the air suspension.
Love a french car.
Any photos of the rest?
My parents next door neibuoughs had a saloon one of these and i still don’t think I’ve been driven in something with such a smooth ride except maybe their C5 which had the air suspension.
Love a french car.
Any photos of the rest?
It has a mixture of main dealer and local garage that the owner trusted, it’s just over 98500 miles,
Spec wise
Full leather
Heated massage seats (only drivers side has massage)
Head up display
Pan roof
Metallic white
19” wheels (the owner had 3 18’s left so I purchased these)
Memory seats
Options it has
JBL HiFi
Blinds built into rear doors
Heating and ventilation with controls in the rear.
Spec wise
Full leather
Heated massage seats (only drivers side has massage)
Head up display
Pan roof
Metallic white
19” wheels (the owner had 3 18’s left so I purchased these)
Memory seats
Options it has
JBL HiFi
Blinds built into rear doors
Heating and ventilation with controls in the rear.
Just remembered that I had rented the saloon GT back in 2011 from Peugeot when they were running the Peugeot Mu mobility scheme. Lovely two-week period although it did seem much more stiffly-sprung compared to the 406 I had at the time as well.




Tax expired in July '16, MOT in April '17. Written off?
Tax expired in July '16, MOT in April '17. Written off?
Edited by drdino on Sunday 1st November 16:24
So true to french form electrics might be an issue, the lumbar support doesn't seem to work on the driverside, the massage function doesn't and neither does the heated seat .... looks like i might have to go looking at the weekend. It appears that they have a thing for melting the wires to the heated seat control box.
Oh and first purchase - a pair of Bosch wiper blades for the front
Oh and first purchase - a pair of Bosch wiper blades for the front
Time to put the estate into action, a trip to wickes

And a little hole in the boot so you don’t have to drop the seats

And last weekend I decided to stop a few rattles in the boot caused by the factory subwoofer

So with dynamat and some mvl sitting in the garage I did the spare wheel well, cleaned and dressed the tyre too and put it all back together. Next step is to sound deaden the boot and side panels and then strengthen the factory sub box



And a little hole in the boot so you don’t have to drop the seats
And last weekend I decided to stop a few rattles in the boot caused by the factory subwoofer
So with dynamat and some mvl sitting in the garage I did the spare wheel well, cleaned and dressed the tyre too and put it all back together. Next step is to sound deaden the boot and side panels and then strengthen the factory sub box
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff



