Car Choice Help - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

243 posts

152 months

Monday 19th August 2019

Hi all,

Time for a change and I need help because I am stuck looking at Mercedes E Class Cabrio's and cant seem to look at anything else.

Due to a change in circumstances I am no longer doing a load of miles, now about 8k Pa if I push it and so will be getting shot of the Insignia diesel.

I have a budget of £8k and fancy something with a bit more of an "occasion" to drive hence Mercedes & Cabrio but at my level (2010/11 E220/250/350) they are all diesel and whilst I don't dislike diesels I do feel that with my low mileage I could afford something big engine and petrol but at my budget I am really struggling to think of anything.

All help and suggestions greatly appreciated.

1) prefer 4 seats as although wife has a 5 seater we will still use it with the 2 kids
2) don't really want to pay a high tax band
3) don't mind mileage as long as condition and history is good

Cheers

RL

30,525 posts

154 months

Monday 19th August 2019

Original Poster

243 posts

152 months

Monday 19th August 2019

Hi ZX,

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to send these over, a couple of them I hadn't thought of. I will take a look and do some research

RL

30,525 posts

154 months

Monday 19th August 2019

No problem, I have to be honest in that I wouldn't be looking past that 500, but I am bias smile

Original Poster

243 posts

152 months

Monday 19th August 2019

I do agree but I just worry about the "Bork" factor on a car like that of that age!!

30,525 posts

154 months

Monday 19th August 2019

Red Leader said:

I do agree but I just worry about the "Bork" factor on a car like that of that age!!

There's no actual borkage on these (apart from the roof which applies to all convertibles) apart from the 16 Spark Plug change (if this hasn't been done negotiate the price down accordingly) also the gearbox fluid & filter has been changed around the 40k marker (this applies to all Mercedes & costs between £200-240) there really isn't a bork factor on these as they're a big N/A engine.

Original Poster

243 posts

152 months

Saturday 21st September 2019

Quick update, I am off to look at a Mercedes E350 Sport Convertible tomorrow.

It has FSH and has done 102k...any tips or ideas on what I should be looking out for?

Thanks

RL

30,525 posts

154 months

Saturday 21st September 2019

Check the engine number against the register so you can make sure it's not an engine that could be affected by balancer shaft issues.

Original Poster

243 posts

152 months

Friday 27th September 2019

So....the one I went to look at was awful...despite telling me it had been owned by his wife with FSH it was an auction buy and he could not show any history. So the search goes on.

Do you have a link to the register you mentioned?

Edit to add:

The model I am looking at is the 350 CDI Blue Efficiency....does this engine suffer from balancer issues or is it just the petrol. Also, anything else to look out for?

Cheers

RL

Edited by Red Leader on Friday 27th September 13:19

30,525 posts

154 months