Can anyone help?

Philip bowers

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S350 bluetec
im in the market for a new car and I’m looking at 11 plate s350 bluetech, can anyone give me any pointers of what to look at for please? And how good or bad they are? Phil
 

John Laidlaw

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Land Rover Discovery 4
Welcome- I can’t remember and major issues with that model, the engine is a peach for sure- I’ll let the S class owners on here comment further.
 
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Philip bowers

Philip bowers

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Thanks for your input, I have already found a car after a lot or searching and I’m going to view it saturday, it’s done 60k with a full main dealer service, anything I should be looking out for?
 

Wighty

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W211/E320cdi/2009 and CLK200k 2009
Thanks for your input, I have already found a car after a lot or searching and I’m going to view it saturday, it’s done 60k with a full main dealer service, anything I should be looking out for?
Check when the gearbox ATF and filter should be done , it was 37500 miles and then it changed to 5 years and/or 75000 miles . I think yours is the first one , if it's not been done the dealer should do that for you .
 
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Philip bowers

Philip bowers

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Thankyou, I will make sure and ask that
 

John Laidlaw

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^ what he said. As normal I like to see regular fluid changes on any car- shows the previous owners cared!
 
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Philip bowers

Philip bowers

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That’s what I want it to have had, a good caring owner because that’s what I’ll be, from other cars I have seen it’s a bit over on price but, it’s a Mercedes garage and they know the car as bought it back from a retiree
 
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Philip bowers

Philip bowers

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And I don’t want to sound daft, but what kind of fluid changes and are they things I can do myself?
 

EmilysDad

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ML350
And I don’t want to sound daft, but what kind of fluid changes and ...
Engine oil, water/coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, diff oil .....

... are they things I can do myself?
Most are very easy ..... auto transmission is a little difficult as you need to get access to the underside.
 

jp williams

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2002 E class 2.2 cdi auto estate, Lexus GS 450h
That’s what I want it to have had, a good caring owner because that’s what I’ll be, from other cars I have seen it’s a bit over on price but, it’s a Mercedes garage and they know the car as bought it back from a retiree

Ask to see the Form V5 and note down the address of the previous owner. Then contact him and ask him all that you need to know about the car.
 

John Laidlaw

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Sounds good- did the retiree have it from new?
That’s what I want it to have had, a good caring owner because that’s what I’ll be, from other cars I have seen it’s a bit over on price but, it’s a Mercedes garage and they know the car as bought it back from a retiree
Chances are a person from that era will have looked after it - I’d get to know a good independant Mercedes specialist and have it looked after by them if you’re not confident or inclined on the fluid changes etc
 
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Philip bowers

Philip bowers

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no He bought it with 42k in April 14, it’s now done 60k but the previous 5 services were all main dealer, one more thing for now, MPG, it’s hard to get a true figure from people I’ve asked, it varies a lot from about 30-40 which I would be happy with
 

Wighty

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no He bought it with 42k in April 14, it’s now done 60k but the previous 5 services were all main dealer, one more thing for now, MPG, it’s hard to get a true figure from people I’ve asked, it varies a lot from about 30-40 which I would be happy with
If he bourght it at 42k , make sure that the ATF was done , because he could have had it serviced the year before at say 31k miles , (ATF due at 37500k ) then it gets traded in and sold at 42k and no one notices the missed ATF service .....knowledge is power buddy :D
 

John Laidlaw

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As above, if there is no proof of ATF change, ask for it to be done as part of the sale price again. Better to be safe, rather it changed ‘unecessarily’ at another’s cost to get peace of mind:cool:
 

keefysher

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W166 GLE350AMG Line 3.0 2017. BMW Z3 2.8 1998.
no He bought it with 42k in April 14, it’s now done 60k but the previous 5 services were all main dealer, one more thing for now, MPG, it’s hard to get a true figure from people I’ve asked, it varies a lot from about 30-40 which I would be happy with

I had a S350 BluTech LWB for over 4 years and did 72k miles. One year it did 40k of the total mileage, the last year it did less than 6k. On a run at M'way speed it returned over 50mpg. In town stop/start it did low 30's, towing it did 33ish. Depending on wheel/tyre fitted, mine had 19" staggered, it was heavy on rears when doing the in town getting 18k on a pair as opposed to 42k when doing a years worth of long distance commuting ie Hampshire to Northumberland return each and every week. Fuel wise was brim the tank leaving home on Monday morning, up and back, drive round at weekend, fill tank Monday morning, so 850-900 miles per tank on that routine. A mate had 18" on his and got phenomenal mileage from them, his went to 350k miles, chauffeur service business. 19" aren't cheap.

It had the 7g+ gearbox that required ATF change at 5 years / 75k miles, so check the one you are considering has had a change at 5 years at least.

The engine is bullet proof, just ensure regular oil changes. It may be worth looking at the 6 year + service deal MD do to get a service plan. I had a Service plan on mine that was £30ish per month, peanuts in the scheme of things.

The W221 has a good record by all accounts. We don't see many issues on here other than a tired mega miles chauffeur car that looked tatty.

I had that one on the basis of survivability given I was commuting long distances at silly times. Only changed it as I need the mass to tow with.

Get one as fully loaded as you can. Mine had pano roof, rear side window blinds, self closing doors, ambient lighting as options. The base model comes with comand, heated seats all round, the rear outer pair in the LWB recline and lift independently. Should be good value now the latest iteration is 2 models on.

If you put a link up on the one you are viewing we could give a view on it. Saves us searching the MB used stock :)
 
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Philip bowers

Philip bowers

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Thanks for your comments I will go tmrw armed with a few more things, one more question for you for now, I am also going to look at a amg model tmrw with low profile tyres, would this make for a harder ride because I’m all about comfort, and also one comment said to get it as fully loaded as possible, surely the history and condition is more important, this one looks like a standard model, not too many extras
 

John Laidlaw

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Do you mean AMG ‘Line’ or ‘Sport’ model, i.e. not actual AMG? Presume you havent gone off the original idea of 350 Diesel to a V8 or V12? ;)
Anyway, as said before apart from million mile abused models, most S class’s would be well cared for so it’s still as Keefysher said important to get as loaded a car as possible- with good condition and history of course. Cars of that type which are basic will be more difficult for you to move on yourself at a later date probably too.
 

keefysher

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The S350 AMG, as JL says is not an AMG, but a set of different cill moulding and added mouldings on the front and rear bumpers. My 19" wheels & tyres gave a harsher ride than my mates on 18" despite the air suspension (he took me to the airport a few times so I was able to compare cars, he got his S after I got mine and preferred it to his previous XJ jags). 20" and above get harsher.

I only once changed the settings to sport, used the flappy paddles and stiffened up the suspension and did 1 northumberland journey. Never again as I preferred the comfort settings. As you say, its all about comfort and wafting along, at pace when required.
 

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