Hello - Potential Owner

[Paul Beer]

Your eyes are keener than mine I think, I hadn't spotted that! Still not sure if I have tbh :Oops:

Car is apparently from London, so makes sense I guess.

I'd been put off by the fact it's all registered to the London address but being sold from Coventry - makes no sense.

When I saw it had Nappa leather I thought it was perfect... didn't take long for the excitement to fade!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I know how frustrating finding the right car can be it took 6 months in my case but I didn't have the pressure of an imminent arrival.

It will all be worthwhile in the end Paul, silver is very good for spotting new paint and that's one of the reasons I like the colour. Iridium silver on the 211/212 is a stunning colour and exceptionally bright when compared to the brilliant silver on my 210.

Luckily there are quite a few 211s worth viewing at the moment and some of them look very good on the web but I think you are going to have travel to find the right car. I travelled down to Maidenhead (150 miles) to buy mine which I had secured with a refundable deposit if it didn't live up to expectations.

You are doing all the right things, taking your time, studying spec and history and learning in the process.

The right car will come along

 

[Paul Beer]

This one just appeared on Auto Trader today, and with all the options I want and Nappa Leather, I was starting to get excited - being local was just a bonus.

I have no issues travelling further afield, I just can't this weekend - will make a hit list of ones to visit next weekend.

I'm certainly learning, which does come in handy.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Might be pushing the budget Paul but this looks a bit special

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...searchad=new,nearlynew,used&logcode=p&adPos=7

 

[Paul Beer]

I'm not normally a fan of the 212s but that colour and interior really work. I'm not too sure on the white leather, but it seems to work there.

Someone should probably post that white leather and kids don't mix before I get too tempted!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Your new addition will grow with it Paul, leather looked after is very resilient just don't buy those children's shoes with metal buckles

 

[Craiglxviii]

Leather repair is easily affected nowadays with 600 grit emery paper and some repair spray paint. I have some for the black interior of my 215, it's fixed the worn grey patch on the driver's seat right side bolster quite neatly. Now I just need to repair the stitching...

 

[JBell]

Someone should probably post that white leather and kids don't mix before I get too tempted!

A terrible combination

I wouldn't buy anything other than a Sport spec one either

 

[John Laidlaw]

This one just appeared on Auto Trader today, and with all the options I want and Nappa Leather, I was starting to get excited - being local was just a bonus.

I have no issues travelling further afield, I just can't this weekend - will make a hit list of ones to visit next weekend.

I'm certainly learning, which does come in handy.

I travelled from the Wirral to Dorset to buy mine Paul (albeit I had insider knowledge!!)

 

[jp williams]

I travelled from the Wirral to Dorset to buy mine Paul (albeit I had insider knowledge!!)

#7
M11GUL
Member
Threadstarter

M11GUL's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Rugby
Car: W211 E320 Sport
Posts: 91
Looks like I have gotten lucky with a build slot. Cancelled order means I should have my car on 21st October, 2 months earlier that first thought.

So if anyone is after a tidy W211 E320 Sport, please give me a shout - would rather see her go to a forum member and continue to be well cared for.

Just appeared on the other Forum Paul.He can`t be too far from you ?

Regards
John

 

[John Laidlaw]

#7
M11GUL
Member
Threadstarter

M11GUL's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Rugby
Car: W211 E320 Sport
Posts: 91
Looks like I have gotten lucky with a build slot. Cancelled order means I should have my car on 21st October, 2 months earlier that first thought.

So if anyone is after a tidy W211 E320 Sport, please give me a shout - would rather see her go to a forum member and continue to be well cared for.

Just appeared on the other Forum Paul.He can`t be too far from you ?

Regards
John

Good spot John, makes all the difference if it's known...!!

 

[Paul Beer]

Thanks for the heads up - I'll take a look later when I'm feeling a little fresher :Oops:

 

[Paul Beer]

Still not sure I'm comfortable buying a 100k+ car, especially when there seem to be decent ~50k examples popping up - maybe that's unfounded though.

I did see this high mileage car last week which looks like great value though:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201608046486921

I'm also hoping that brown leather looks better than it sounds when this car gets photographed:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609117655707

 

[Paul Beer]

The service history of the car with brown leather, consists of 2 invoices from 2009, and nothing else. Tried calling the dealer to see if it had more on file but they couldn't tell me without ID - is this a general rule, or just an unhelpful dealer?

Bizarrely the MOT history site (https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/) has no record of the vehicle, but the status check (https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/) says it has one until June 17.

I might call the vendor back once they have the photos sorted, in case the paperwork also hadn't been sorted yet, but another one bites the dust I guess!

 

[Paul Beer]

Good spot John, makes all the difference if it's known...!!

Would you say this makes more of a difference than mileage?

I thought that car was a bit overpriced compared to some others.

I think this one is very nice, but also a bit overpriced:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201607266184364

But then I always seem to find an issue with the others... so I'm just wondering whether my pricing radar is off.

edit: having said that I look a the MOT history for the second car and find the following advisories:
Stonechip in windscreen 3 years running.
oil leak
coil spring corroded Both rear (2.4.C.1b)
Ball joint has slight play Both front upper (2.2.B.1f)
Steering rack inner joint's slight play.
Both front suspension bushes lightly cracking.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Would you say this makes more of a difference than mileage?

I thought that car was a bit overpriced compared to some others.

I think this one is very nice, but also a bit overpriced:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201607266184364

But then I always seem to find an issue with the others... so I'm just wondering whether my pricing radar is off.

edit: having said that I look a the MOT history for the second car and find the following advisories:
Stonechip in windscreen 3 years running.
oil leak
coil spring corroded Both rear (2.4.C.1b)
Ball joint has slight play Both front upper (2.2.B.1f)
Steering rack inner joint's slight play.
Both front suspension bushes lightly cracking.

Paul I would say so, certainly been my experience . Rather have a high miler that's been maintained than a low miler you've no history on.
You probably need to jump in sometime or this thread will reach record proportions

 

[Paul Beer]

Cheers!

I have some free time at weekends and my iCarsoft has arrived so time to get in the car and go see some of the ones I've found.

 

[A.J.]

agreed. its actually surprising how small a c class is. its no bigger than a Ford Focus!!!!

You really do have a thing against the 'C' Pete. For my needs the 'C' has more than enough room for the occasional four people. The car drive well and has a more than ample boot. I am shortly to replace my 'C' with another 'C' of the face lifted variety.

 

[jp williams]

You really do have a thing against the 'C' Pete. For my needs the 'C' has more than enough room for the occasional four people. The car drive well and has a more than ample boot. I am shortly to replace my 'C' with another 'C' of the face lifted variety.

I`ve had 3 C class and they were all fine up to a point.
The E offers me so much more in terms of internal passenger space, luggage space and ride comfort.
Paul has been all over the place with his requirements and he needs to define what suits his needs for now and the forseeable future.

In my view that means a late (09?)facelifted w211 E class estate Automatic,with a 220 cdi engine and a full service history with not more than 3 previous owners. He should use a trusted Indy to advise him on the particular vehicle.
Just my view and I will now retire from participating in the discussion,but I do look forward to learning what he has bought.

Regards
John

 

[Yugguy]

Paul, you're in Brum. Mercland Nuneaton is not far from you, it might be worth giving them a call and see if they've had anything in on tradein, or can help you find one.



As for the C vs E, we have found there is more than enough space for the 3 of us and luggage, and it will happily transport 4 adults and one kid in comfort. Another consideration is the external size. I find the C quite big enough and I'm not a fan of anything bigger really.