C350CDI - too cheap?
Discussion
Looks right pricewise.
Check for injector issues although these should be resolved by now.
The 7G box has divided opinions, some saying it is very jerky on change down. There are software changes which can help this, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't apparantly.
I have also read reports of a very tardy throttle response from a standing start on the 350 cdi which can be very disconcerting. Again I think there is a software fix for this.
Otherwise good cars, and 42mpg should be achievable on a longish run.
Would be worthwhile signing up to the MBClubUK , very helpful bunch over there.
Check for injector issues although these should be resolved by now.
The 7G box has divided opinions, some saying it is very jerky on change down. There are software changes which can help this, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't apparantly.
I have also read reports of a very tardy throttle response from a standing start on the 350 cdi which can be very disconcerting. Again I think there is a software fix for this.
Otherwise good cars, and 42mpg should be achievable on a longish run.
Would be worthwhile signing up to the MBClubUK , very helpful bunch over there.
Edited by Monkeylegend on Saturday 30th July 09:11
I was given similar (from sale stock) as a courtesy car a couple of months back.
Apparently a few dealers pre-registered 10 or so 350cdis with very high spec, knowing that the V6 diesel would come a few months after the facelift. They were used as staff cars (all <10k miles) for a while and were priced at similar levels to a new facelift 220cdi.
I found the fuel consumption near enough identical to my 2006 320cdi. Anything in the 40s is 'ambitious' on a shorter journey but a sustained 40 - 70ish brings it closer (sometimes a touch over) 50.
Apparently a few dealers pre-registered 10 or so 350cdis with very high spec, knowing that the V6 diesel would come a few months after the facelift. They were used as staff cars (all <10k miles) for a while and were priced at similar levels to a new facelift 220cdi.
I found the fuel consumption near enough identical to my 2006 320cdi. Anything in the 40s is 'ambitious' on a shorter journey but a sustained 40 - 70ish brings it closer (sometimes a touch over) 50.
onedsla said:
Apparently a few dealers pre-registered 10 or so 350cdis with very high spec, knowing that the V6 diesel would come a few months after the facelift.
I'm probably missing something, but that doesn't make sense - it's been a V6 diesel for years.Someone mentioned injector problems earlier, but that's only on the 4cyl cars - they did stop shipping 4cyl cars for a while and people were offered very good deals to take the V6 (as low as £10/mth more on PCPs).
MB diesel autos are good on fuel on long steady runs, but short journeys and stop/start city driving absolutely kills their MPG.
If you are going to get one with Sport suspension and 18" wheels then try and get a decent test drive and make sure you can live with ride!
MB Direct have a bunch of these cars: http://mercedes-benzretailusedcars.co.uk/search.as...
onedsla said:
Deva Link said:
I'm probably missing something, but that doesn't make sense - it's been a V6 diesel for years.
They have been, but in June (I was told) it wasn't possible to order a brand new facelift 350cdi - hence they had some pre-facelift stock to keep up supply.The facelift was pretty well confined to rear parktronic being made standard.
C Class has recently (March 2011) had quite a significant facelift so perhaps MB Direct are keen to get these cars sold before they start to look dated.
I have to say the mileages on some of the MK staff cars look high - I thought it was forbidden to go over 10K miles. Mine was 5mths old and had done 6K.
Deva Link said:
I have to say the mileages on some of the MK staff cars look high - I thought it was forbidden to go over 10K miles. Mine was 5mths old and had done 6K.
Not forbidden but most are less than 10k miles.There are several sources for MBUK cars.
1. Hire cars - MBUK supply the big rental companies directly.
2. Company cars - All staff above a certain level are entitled to a company car (in fact more than one). Usual terms were 9 months or 9k miles whichever came first.
3. Employee lease cars - All staff can lease a car on favourable terms from MBUK. The terms of the lease (unless they have changed since I left) were 9 months with a maximum mileage of 9k. Anything over that had an excess mileage charge.
^ That's in the same ball-park as my deal - I'm going back a few years since I bought my car from MB Direct in Birmingham but it was quite an aggressive sales approach - actually refreshing after having visited the normal MB dealers who couldn't be arsed selling me a car.
My car was up for £26995 and they knocked £2K over the phone and I put a holding deposit on it. I then got another £1.5K off when I got there so I paid £23.5K. It's one of the few cars I've bought where I've been very happy with the deal - the car was only 5mths old and the model (facelift W203) had only been available for about 9mths so it still looked very fresh. It would have listed at £37K new with options.
I've heard different stories about MB Direct (or Retail as they're called now) though - some people say they move the cars through pretty quicky and they have a good idea of what they can get for them so they set fairly aggressive pricing and don't discount much. Mine isn't silver or black though and it did look a bit out of place so perhaps that helped the deal I got.
My car was up for £26995 and they knocked £2K over the phone and I put a holding deposit on it. I then got another £1.5K off when I got there so I paid £23.5K. It's one of the few cars I've bought where I've been very happy with the deal - the car was only 5mths old and the model (facelift W203) had only been available for about 9mths so it still looked very fresh. It would have listed at £37K new with options.
I've heard different stories about MB Direct (or Retail as they're called now) though - some people say they move the cars through pretty quicky and they have a good idea of what they can get for them so they set fairly aggressive pricing and don't discount much. Mine isn't silver or black though and it did look a bit out of place so perhaps that helped the deal I got.
How do you think these will be for resale in 2-3 years time compared to say a 250CDI or 220CDI, assuming oil prices continue their rise over time?
There don't seem to be many 250CDIs on sale which is more of a compromise car.
Has anyone compared these to BMW's 330d as far as ownership/driving goes? I assume BMW lovers will say go for the 330d but I prefer the MB's looks, class etc.
There don't seem to be many 250CDIs on sale which is more of a compromise car.
Has anyone compared these to BMW's 330d as far as ownership/driving goes? I assume BMW lovers will say go for the 330d but I prefer the MB's looks, class etc.
Deva Link said:
^ That's in the same ball-park as my deal - I'm going back a few years since I bought my car from MB Direct in Birmingham but it was quite an aggressive sales approach - actually refreshing after having visited the normal MB dealers who couldn't be arsed selling me a car.
+1 If you make an enquiry they will phone you back, then they'll call again, then if you haven't bought a car they'll call with details of others in stock and try and sell you something similar. This sales approach will scare some buyers off, but it suits me as I want to deal with a salesperson that wants to sell me a car.I bought from them in Manchester in 2008 at similar % discount as you Deva, and have been enquiring about their stock again recently - The phrase "our cars are already priced as low as we can go" has been used a few times in conversation and I get the feeling they're not as keen to discount as they were a few years ago, but that said there's a few cars I've been watching (C250 CGI and C350 CDI estates on 60 plates) and the prices have been steadily falling by £500 every 3-4 weeks in stock before they're snapped up or sent elsewhere.
I've not found the exact spec I want but I know they've been keen to offload stock cars in unpopular colours (solid red and light blue) as I've been offered the chance of a "bargain" if I was prepared to go for one of those.
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