200K mile newish car - good buy?

[Grim_Reaper]

Hey guys,

I've always been a fan of buying a higher mileage car because you get a much better deal. I usually go for cars inbetween 100-180k miles as long as its been really well looked after.

I've seen a 2017 Mercedes online for sale that has done 220K miles. I assume its an ex-taxi because of the miles, although its really well specced. It's up for more than I think its worth, they want nearly £10k for the car.

Forgetting about the price for the minute, is buying a newish car with really high mileage car a stupid buy?

CAR -> https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304286...

A.

Edited by Grim_Reaper on Wednesday 3rd May 22:56

[Wilmslowboy]

I’d suggest a Taxi will have lived a much harder life than a sales rep car that was driven up and down the motorway all day long.

[Lester H]

It could be a good buy or not ,because as with Category N write offs, it could be hard to re-sell. It does need to be seriously cheaper than an average mileage example. As fellow poster says, motorway mileage ( and don’t dealers simply love the cliche?) is relatively harmless so you need to research the history if possible . Harder now with records being binned “ to respect privacy”.

Edited by Lester H on Wednesday 3rd May 22:50

Edited by Lester H on Wednesday 3rd May 22:53

[Grim_Reaper]

Wilmslowboy said:

I’d suggest a Taxi will have lived a much harder life than a sales rep car that was driven up and down the motorway all day long.

I did ask him about the history and he said that he can't say what the previous owner used it for... reading between the lines... taxi driver haha. It is weird because it is really good specced (premium plus), and from what I know taxi drivers usually go for lower specced models.

MOT and HPI check look great. I'm considering getting a pre purchase inspection done by Nick Giles.

[Grim_Reaper]

Lester H said:

It could be, but as with Category N write offs, it could be hard to re-sell. It does need to be seriously cheaper than an average mileage example. As fellow poster says, motorway mileage ( and don’t dealers simply love the cliche?) is relatively harmless so you need to research the history if possible . Harder now with records being binned “ to respect privacy”.

Edited by Lester H on Wednesday 3rd May 22:50

It's annoying that this information is really tough to find out. It's got a private plate on it, with 2 previous owners. I'll add the link to the first post so you can see it. As I said to Wilmslowboy, the HPI check and MOT history came out great. I will get a pre purchase inspection done on it before I even view the car. I can see it being really tough to sell afterwards, although I will try to keep it as long as possible.

[quinny100]

There are a few afflictions with the OM654 2.0 diesels in these - the exhaust rockers fail at higher mileage and if not caught early enough will ruin the cams. This car might well be on the second round as they tend to go around 100K. They can also have timing chain issues which are often an engine out job because the chain is at the back.

The Adblue system and NOX sensors can fail any time - all expensive repairs if you’re paying.

Motor hub are probably the worst regarded car dealer in the UK as well.

I’m out.

[andy43]

Motorhub was/is Keighley Trade Centre. They’re based out of a multi-storey carpark and their reviews don’t make for good reading.

[legless]

Definitely an ex-taxi. Had its first MOT at less than 2 years old.

[lord trumpton]

Motorhub?

I would buy a glass of water from them let alone a moon mile merc

Run for the hills

[Grim_Reaper]

quinny100 said:

There are a few afflictions with the OM654 2.0 diesels in these - the exhaust rockers fail at higher mileage and if not caught early enough will ruin the cams. This car might well be on the second round as they tend to go around 100K. They can also have timing chain issues which are often an engine out job because the chain is at the back.

The Adblue system and NOX sensors can fail any time - all expensive repairs if you’re paying.

Motor hub are probably the worst regarded car dealer in the UK as well.

I’m out.

I've done some research on the 654, theres a really good youtube channel called Enka Motors and they have loads of videos on the engine and doing work on them. I wasn't aware of the AdBlue and NOX sensors though.

I have seen some of the reviews on Motorhub but I thought, not every car the sell can be that bad, but maybe so

[Grim_Reaper]

quinny100 said:

There are a few afflictions with the OM654 2.0 diesels in these - the exhaust rockers fail at higher mileage and if not caught early enough will ruin the cams. This car might well be on the second round as they tend to go around 100K. They can also have timing chain issues which are often an engine out job because the chain is at the back.

The Adblue system and NOX sensors can fail any time - all expensive repairs if you’re paying.

Motor hub are probably the worst regarded car dealer in the UK as well.

I’m out.

I've done some research on the 654, theres a really good youtube channel called Enka Motors and they have loads of videos on the engine and doing work on them. I wasn't aware of the AdBlue and NOX sensors though.

I have seen some of the reviews on Motorhub but I thought, not every car the sell can be that bad, but maybe so

[Grim_Reaper]

legless said:

Definitely an ex-taxi. Had its first MOT at less than 2 years old.

Ah I didn't even know that. Great spot, something I'll keep an eye out for

[Grim_Reaper]

lord trumpton said:

Motorhub?

I would buy a glass of water from them let alone a moon mile merc

Run for the hills

I thought that surely because they have so many cars, including some high performance Lamborghinis etc. they can't be too bad of a garage. But from everyones posts, maybe they are worth avoiding totally then.

[E63eeeeee...]

Grim_Reaper said:

legless said:

Definitely an ex-taxi. Had its first MOT at less than 2 years old.

Ah I didn't even know that. Great spot, something I'll keep an eye out for

Looks like it was a taxi for three years until it changed owner in June 2020 and then it's done about 10k a year since then. The other usual indicator of a taxi is MOTs every six months. Almost 150k in less than 2 years, and 200k in the first 3 is pretty good going even for a taxi so there's a chance they were largely motorway miles, and that's basically what the E-Class is built to be, and the MOT history does suggest it's coped pretty well so far. I'd still want an absolute mountain of service paperwork and half an hour to look for the gaps, and I'd probably want it to be a fair bit cheaper.

[Grim_Reaper]

E63eeeeee... said:

Looks like it was a taxi for three years until it changed owner in June 2020 and then it's done about 10k a year since then. The other usual indicator of a taxi is MOTs every six months. Almost 150k in less than 2 years, and 200k in the first 3 is pretty good going even for a taxi so there's a chance they were largely motorway miles, and that's basically what the E-Class is built to be, and the MOT history does suggest it's coped pretty well so far. I'd still want an absolute mountain of service paperwork and half an hour to look for the gaps, and I'd probably want it to be a fair bit cheaper.

For sure. I did talk to them briefly about the cost and they said no offers at all. I done some more research on them, because of the other posts and looks like its gonna be a chance. Suppose it could be ok or more likely bad.

There's some called Nick Giles who does car inspections, seems really good from the reviews I've read - so I'll get him to have a look first. But still not too sure. Can't find any other E class estate in that spec for cheaper than £20k.

[ChocolateFrog]

Needs to be cheap due to the aversion to mileage British punters have.

I've bought 3 cars with over 200k on the clock.

Took a V70 from 220 to 300. Only out of course maintenance was an engine mount.

VW Transporter, circa 225 to 255. Alternator went, £25 for a good second hand one.

Focus Estate (ex Taxi) 221 to 290 odd. That did snap it's timing belt but it hadn't had an easy life, stuck a new belt on it and 2 new valves and it soldiered on.

Most of the rest of my cars have been over 100k on purchase.

Just remember almost no one will want them when you sell it.

[ADJimbo]

My money would be that this motor has been used for Cruise Line work - for example - Saga Cruises use a company who will pick you up at your front door from anywhere within the UK and then drop you back off after your holibobs. Yes, technically its been a taxi but with high motorway miles combined.

Would I even buy an air-freshener from Motor Hub at Keighley. The answer to that one is a resounding no.

[Chubbyross]

ADJimbo said:

My money would be that this motor has been used for Cruise Line work - for example - Saga Cruises use a company who will pick you up at your front door from anywhere within the UK and then drop you back off after your holibobs. Yes, technically its been a taxi but with high motorway miles combined.

Would I even buy an air-freshener from Motor Hub at Keighley. The answer to that one is a resounding no.

I reckon you’re right. It doesn’t look like a regular cab. I’d have a good look at the wear in the boot for scuff marks from luggage. Most of the miles will be motorway so this looks like a good car. But I’d go nowhere near a car being sold by them. No way.

[Philvrs]

Does the E class have an hour counter hidden in the ecu that can be read by a carly type device? Would be interesting to calcualte the miles per hour average.

Never bought from motor hub, and the reviews certainly paint a picture, you would have to treat any purchase as a worst case scenario private sale and be prepared to be on your own afterwards to avoid any stress (can’t be dealing with fighting legalities etc lifes too short) . Would the ‘discount’ make up for that?

Only way i could buy a car from them would be inspection and 48hr test drive. Which I’m sure they wouldn’t agree to.

[ZX10R NIN]

Grim_Reaper said:

It's annoying that this information is really tough to find out. It's got a private plate on it, with 2 previous owners. I'll add the link to the first post so you can see it. As I said to Wilmslowboy, the HPI check and MOT history came out great. I will get a pre purchase inspection done on it before I even view the car. I can see it being really tough to sell afterwards, although I will try to keep it as long as possible.

Do a Vcheck you get better info.