RE: Shed of the Week: Mercedes S320
Discussion
I wouldn't own any Mercedes without a "proper" STAR system and the ability to use it. I bought one for my CLK, which has one of the chinese cloned multiplexers and a dell laptop, and it enables you to get into every nook and cranny of the car, compared to a £20 ebay reader. You really need one for an sclass, you simply can't interrogate the modules properly without one.
Horrendously expensive to buy genuine, if at all for the lay DIYer - even the indies use the chinese clones.
Horrendously expensive to buy genuine, if at all for the lay DIYer - even the indies use the chinese clones.
magic torch said:
It did go to a specialist. It's my car.
The car went to a garage to look at the electrical discharge, and it now has a new battery.
It's always had the issue with the sensors.
i'm in the country a 2-3 days a week. I'm happy to sell the car as is, I just don't have the time for it.
It sailed through it's MOT with no advisories, I have had some recent mechanical work done. It's comfy, quiet, smooth, economical and under £1,500. What more could you want?
I love it when the owner appears on a shed of the week post. The car went to a garage to look at the electrical discharge, and it now has a new battery.
It's always had the issue with the sensors.
i'm in the country a 2-3 days a week. I'm happy to sell the car as is, I just don't have the time for it.
It sailed through it's MOT with no advisories, I have had some recent mechanical work done. It's comfy, quiet, smooth, economical and under £1,500. What more could you want?
magic torch said:
Flumpo said:
I think if the owner had been taking it to a merc specialist it would be mentioned as that would seriously increase the value. So, for me a car like this with electrical problems the owner has had a go on himself and not been able to fix sets alarm bells.
A decent shed should at least have a working radio in my book. For £1500 I’ve seen better s class examples. It’s a great car, but I wouldn’t pick this particular one.
It did go to a specialist. It's my car.A decent shed should at least have a working radio in my book. For £1500 I’ve seen better s class examples. It’s a great car, but I wouldn’t pick this particular one.
The car went to a garage to look at the electrical discharge, and it now has a new battery.
It's always had the issue with the sensors.
i'm in the country a 2-3 days a week. I'm happy to sell the car as is, I just don't have the time for it.
It sailed through it's MOT with no advisories, I have had some recent mechanical work done. It's comfy, quiet, smooth, economical and under £1,500. What more could you want?
[/quote
Apologies, I didn’t realise that was the situation! I’ve only come across this website last night, I thought people find a car advert then discuss is, not the owner!
In that case a whole different scenario. Seems a good deal. I would consider it based on the specialist servicing you have had done. plus If it isn’t as advertised I know you are away from your house each week and could ‘recoup’ my 1500. Only kidding!
Blackpuddin said:
Bigger public noise created when Mercs go wrong is maybe a reflection of very much higher owner expectations.
I'm not sure that is true - people on PH seem to forgive and explain Mercedes foibles and unreliability that would trigger a celebration of condemnation on say an Alfa Romeo.My brother had one of these - an S500, which he bought new. It was comically unreliable. So bad in fact, that he hasn't bought a Mercedes since. Everything that could go wrong went wrong - the full house. And the rust. Holes through the bodywork are unbelievable on a car of its age. It wasn't just inconvenient unreliability either - such as electric seats or A/C failure, both of which the car suffered - or even the suspension, which also failed.The damn thing stranded him more than once when the engine would not run. I suspected at the time that a lot of the electrical problems may have been down to the way the car leaked so badly. Or it may just have been rubbish.
It is no exaggeration to say his w220 was as bad as the worst British Leyland lemons the unlucky suffered in the 'seventies. That's not a good feeling when you have paid so much (and traded in a nice reliable W140).
That said it drove well and was very comfortable. It felt cheaply made and fragile though - which it was. And I guess the really bad ones are all long dead.
Edited to add:
II should remember it is a Shed of the week - this talk of "Best car in the World" by PH journalists has me judging it as a car, not as a car at £1,500! Realistically, I guess SOTWs are judged by different criteria. Provided it runs fine and can pass MOTs, then you can live with the other problems and the car will be lovely - provided it doesn't break your heart. That's the risk..
Edited by dbdb on Friday 16th March 12:03
Flumpo said:
I wouldn’t take a £1500 car to a main dealer no, my point was that to wax lyrical about the engineering quality and provinence then maintain it on the cheap are in conflict. That and my main point being a service history doesn’t tell you if a cars knackered. You could need numerous parts replaced that would t be picked up by a service print out, let alone a stamp in a book.
I think if the owner had been taking it to a merc specialist it would be mentioned as that would seriously increase the value. So, for me a car like this with electrical problems the owner has had a go on himself and not been able to fix sets alarm bells.
A decent shed should at least have a working radio in my book. For £1500 I’ve seen better s class examples. It’s a great car, but I wouldn’t pick this particular one.
Totally agree - for this money you can get much better examples.I think if the owner had been taking it to a merc specialist it would be mentioned as that would seriously increase the value. So, for me a car like this with electrical problems the owner has had a go on himself and not been able to fix sets alarm bells.
A decent shed should at least have a working radio in my book. For £1500 I’ve seen better s class examples. It’s a great car, but I wouldn’t pick this particular one.
Yes, a service stamp doesn't tell you much, and they can always be faked. Invoices to back that up will show what additional work has been carried out.
Get a good one, and it is a rewarding ownership proposition - get one that's been run on a budget, and you'll spend the asking price putting it right.
pSyCoSiS said:
Invoices to back that up will show what additional work has been carried out.
Get a good one, and it is a rewarding ownership proposition - get one that's been run on a budget, and you'll spend the asking price putting it right.
I have all the invoices. It has not been run on a budget.Get a good one, and it is a rewarding ownership proposition - get one that's been run on a budget, and you'll spend the asking price putting it right.
Show me a better one, let alone a facelift, at this price.
Dog Star said:
It's not put me off Mercs - but it has put me off owning one out of warranty completely - I simply wouldn't do it.
My SL500 cost me ~18K over 3 years in repairs. I was traumatised by this and since then I've leased brand new ones. That SL totally broke my confidence........
My point in the above waffle is that this shed is not a good idea on any level - it's too electronically complex. OK that can be said of a lot of cars these days, but they aren't so loaded with the stuff and not so delicate in this regard either.
God you had a horrendous experience and you're not alone. SL's seem to generate bills in multiples of £10k. I remember seeing a 55k in the local indy. The owner hadn't had it long and took it in with the request to "bring it up to scratch". The bill in the end was astronomical. I can't remember where it had all gone but it wasn't far off £10k(!). But no doubt it would have had something to do with brakes, ABC, roof mechanism, boot seals, control modules, electrical gremlins, plus all the other normal service items wrapped up in 5 days' solid labour..... To put that into context I'd done the same thing with the C43 I'd just bought and that I shelled out around £2k. And that was by far the largest bill I've ever had.My SL500 cost me ~18K over 3 years in repairs. I was traumatised by this and since then I've leased brand new ones. That SL totally broke my confidence........
My point in the above waffle is that this shed is not a good idea on any level - it's too electronically complex. OK that can be said of a lot of cars these days, but they aren't so loaded with the stuff and not so delicate in this regard either.
The garage owner has owned all sorts of exotics and the workshop manager could have had his pick of any MB sub £20k. But they were both utterly terrified of R230's and would never buy one.
So SL's are a special case.
I'm not sure if 220 S Classes are the same in some regards to the 230 SL's in terms of the platform and are therefore inherently risky? And maybe E's being more mass market are simpler and more robust.
I certainly have no qualms buying a very complex E Class. I've always loved the idea of an SL 55K but it seems a bit like a game of pass the parcel hoping the music doesn't stop whilst you owen it...
Jual Mass Flywheel said:
It's 1500 quid.
So surely the most you can lose is...................1500 quid?
Except it's not as even with a terminal or uneconomical repair needed it's still worth a lot to break.
Back to the original thread. So surely the most you can lose is...................1500 quid?
Except it's not as even with a terminal or uneconomical repair needed it's still worth a lot to break.
To my eyes it's a great shed and you are right; the most it can possibly lose is an amount that most new cars lose in depreciation over a very short period of time.
Break even is three months.
No brainer.
Flumpo said:
magic torch said:
Flumpo said:
I think if the owner had been taking it to a merc specialist it would be mentioned as that would seriously increase the value. So, for me a car like this with electrical problems the owner has had a go on himself and not been able to fix sets alarm bells.
A decent shed should at least have a working radio in my book. For £1500 I’ve seen better s class examples. It’s a great car, but I wouldn’t pick this particular one.
It did go to a specialist. It's my car.A decent shed should at least have a working radio in my book. For £1500 I’ve seen better s class examples. It’s a great car, but I wouldn’t pick this particular one.
The car went to a garage to look at the electrical discharge, and it now has a new battery.
It's always had the issue with the sensors.
i'm in the country a 2-3 days a week. I'm happy to sell the car as is, I just don't have the time for it.
It sailed through it's MOT with no advisories, I have had some recent mechanical work done. It's comfy, quiet, smooth, economical and under £1,500. What more could you want?
In that case a whole different scenario. Seems a good deal. I would consider it based on the specialist servicing you have had done. plus If it isn’t as advertised I know you are away from your house each week and could ‘recoup’ my 1500. Only kidding!
PH'ers using PH classifieds to sell their cars! Who would have thought it so?! If you had stuck to discussing the car rather than casting aspersions on the integrity of its owner, perhaps the owner might not have felt the need to post.
Elsewhere, you did well to create a profile on the site two weeks before you found it.
AC43 said:
Jual Mass Flywheel said:
It's 1500 quid.
So surely the most you can lose is...................1500 quid?
Except it's not as even with a terminal or uneconomical repair needed it's still worth a lot to break.
Back to the original thread. So surely the most you can lose is...................1500 quid?
Except it's not as even with a terminal or uneconomical repair needed it's still worth a lot to break.
To my eyes it's a great shed and you are right; the most it can possibly lose is an amount that most new cars lose in depreciation over a very short period of time.
Break even is three months.
No brainer.
tz and gigglez and see how long it lasts with no money spent on it, blog on youtube and get middle aged divorces throwing their knickers at you.
Gandahar said:
Should you buy a car just to break even though, unless you are an accountant who like boring people at parties. However, it could be bought as a track day car for stz and gigglez and see how long it lasts with no money spent on it, blog on youtube and get middle aged divorces throwing their knickers at you.
A diesel s class as a track day car. not sure how fun that would be . . .tz and gigglez and see how long it lasts with no money spent on it, blog on youtube and get middle aged divorces throwing their knickers at you.I change my daily commuting tool every 6 months so I can try a manner of different cars. I was running a R53 Cooper S as my daily and thought 'whats the polar opposite...' an S320 CDI!!
I bought a goodun and absolutely loved it. Yes the autobox is a bit old fashioned and slow but its in perfect keeping with the seats and suspension. These things are great for wafting up the motor way and shielding you from the elements. There's no wind noise, barely a tyre rumble and actually, for an old, large engine, 36mpg was pretty respectable. My 2009 530d is now only doing 35mpg and its a much better engine/gearbox combo.
Buy one from 2004 onwards with loads of receipts and don't keep it long. Lovely old barge.
I bought a goodun and absolutely loved it. Yes the autobox is a bit old fashioned and slow but its in perfect keeping with the seats and suspension. These things are great for wafting up the motor way and shielding you from the elements. There's no wind noise, barely a tyre rumble and actually, for an old, large engine, 36mpg was pretty respectable. My 2009 530d is now only doing 35mpg and its a much better engine/gearbox combo.
Buy one from 2004 onwards with loads of receipts and don't keep it long. Lovely old barge.
Why, oh why, oh why, oh why?
I've read SOTW for so long now I can't remember when I started. I've always had it on the back of my mind that I'd buy a SOTW car and run it and see; this one would be right up my alley so to speak, at least to go and have a look at at any rate. Every time, every time something interesting comes along why, oh why, oh why, oh why is it the day after having to spend available funds on something else? In this case £1k of new turbo, service and cambelt to the Eurobox daily commuter. Bugger!
I've read SOTW for so long now I can't remember when I started. I've always had it on the back of my mind that I'd buy a SOTW car and run it and see; this one would be right up my alley so to speak, at least to go and have a look at at any rate. Every time, every time something interesting comes along why, oh why, oh why, oh why is it the day after having to spend available funds on something else? In this case £1k of new turbo, service and cambelt to the Eurobox daily commuter. Bugger!
You can't win can you! Even when you pull out something like this, people still want 100% reliability, zero defects AND low running costs!!! I think it's a top shed and epitomizes the concept of shedding. Yes it might go wrong and will probably cost you a few quid if/when it does, but where else can you enjoy this level of luxury and refinement at such an affordable price? It's not like it's only done 70k miles at which point you might think it's spent half it's life in a garage with a vast array of electrical and mechanical gremlins. It's 15 years old with 170k on the clock and has probably spent a big chunk of this wafting up and down motorways - GREAT SHED!!!
Reeves_and_Mortimer said:
You can't win can you! Even when you pull out something like this, people still want 100% reliability, zero defects AND low running costs!!! I think it's a top shed and epitomizes the concept of shedding. Yes it might go wrong and will probably cost you a few quid if/when it does, but where else can you enjoy this level of luxury and refinement at such an affordable price? It's not like it's only done 70k miles at which point you might think it's spent half it's life in a garage with a vast array of electrical and mechanical gremlins. It's 15 years old with 170k on the clock and has probably spent a big chunk of this wafting up and down motorways - GREAT SHED!!!
I do see what you're saying.However, a Lexus GS/LS would be my pick if i wanted a cheap barge with relatively cheap running costs in comparison to the S-Class.
Indeed,
£1500, that is the price to run an S Class for a little while, it may break expensively inside a week or it may drag itself round perfectly for years for only minimal cost.
But, you can say you used to have an S class Merc, ok its an old one but its still an S class Merc and will still have most of what was good about them when it was new, you could lease a diesel A4 for 3 months for the same cost, assuming if it breaks you offload it for a few hundred for bits and scrap.
You get to feel like an early 2000s company exec, or as its a diesel, as is your preference, an early 2000s executive taxi driver.
This in lots of countries round the world would be an unbelievable bargain, a working S Class for £1500 (Maybe even less if the owner is ready for a haggle), there would be a queue round the block in Estonia, Latvia, Belarus etc.
It has a fairly unexotic 3.2 diesel V6, which was man enough to do the job, and it should even be fairly decent on fuel, 30 mpg or so I guess average ? tax isnt too haigh and insurance shouldnt be too bad for anyone over 30 ?
The trouble is we see cars as big, expensive items that are permanent in our lives, but that doesnt work when its £1500, its a chunk of cash but most working people, on a living wage dont see it as a huge investment, hence perhaps why we expect reliability and it to feel new, realistically its probably end of life, there may be a few drops to squeeze out, or run it indefinitely if you are mechanically minded and can weld.
Good point about having a Star system handy, they are complex, even int heir most basic form, airmatic shouldnt be a huge concern, but turn up a bit early to check its not been started so it isnt sat like a bagged "Dub", compressor issues are easy and cheap to sort, the rest isnt too bad but can get very spendy if you dont know what to do in the context of a £1500 example, there is always eBay Coilies
£1500, that is the price to run an S Class for a little while, it may break expensively inside a week or it may drag itself round perfectly for years for only minimal cost.
But, you can say you used to have an S class Merc, ok its an old one but its still an S class Merc and will still have most of what was good about them when it was new, you could lease a diesel A4 for 3 months for the same cost, assuming if it breaks you offload it for a few hundred for bits and scrap.
You get to feel like an early 2000s company exec, or as its a diesel, as is your preference, an early 2000s executive taxi driver.
This in lots of countries round the world would be an unbelievable bargain, a working S Class for £1500 (Maybe even less if the owner is ready for a haggle), there would be a queue round the block in Estonia, Latvia, Belarus etc.
It has a fairly unexotic 3.2 diesel V6, which was man enough to do the job, and it should even be fairly decent on fuel, 30 mpg or so I guess average ? tax isnt too haigh and insurance shouldnt be too bad for anyone over 30 ?
The trouble is we see cars as big, expensive items that are permanent in our lives, but that doesnt work when its £1500, its a chunk of cash but most working people, on a living wage dont see it as a huge investment, hence perhaps why we expect reliability and it to feel new, realistically its probably end of life, there may be a few drops to squeeze out, or run it indefinitely if you are mechanically minded and can weld.
Good point about having a Star system handy, they are complex, even int heir most basic form, airmatic shouldnt be a huge concern, but turn up a bit early to check its not been started so it isnt sat like a bagged "Dub", compressor issues are easy and cheap to sort, the rest isnt too bad but can get very spendy if you dont know what to do in the context of a £1500 example, there is always eBay Coilies
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