Non-Stealership in South Hampshire?

[derekmwood2]

My 220CE is now at 150k, and I don't see why I should pay over the odds for servicing.

So any reccomendations for servicing locally (yes I understand Andy's good, but he's rather a long way to go for an oil change)

Second, can anyone give me an idea on life expectancy for the car, I'm doing 20-30k/yr, 2/3 motorway, rarely give it more than 3000revs or half throttle, and it gets started every day, even if it's only to go the mile and a half into town.

TIA

 

[Nik_Codling]

south hants garage

Hi Derek,

Did you manage to find anywhere? I live near Chichester, work in Portsmouth, so I'd be intested if you've found anywhere worth going. The nearest Merc specialist to me is an independant in Worthing, but I wasn't impressed with their prices.

cheers,

Nik

 

[NormanB]

Hi

I'm in the same area - have asked before with no replies - really hoping someone comes up trumps - for us!

 

[Neilc]

Phaeton Garage

I can highly recommend David Prior at Phaeton Garage in Emsworth. He looks after my 190E, my Volvo, my MG BGT V8, MG Midget etc. They do a lot of work on older and classics and a myriad of moderns. Actually Morgan specialists. This is a small local garage but their work is outstanding. I've been using them for two years now and never had to go back with a problem. It's no flash Mercedes specialist but you'll get good quality service and people who really know their stuff. For instance one of his Customers owns a Benz, an MR2, an EVO 6 and a Morgan so they can service just about anything. Phaeton: 01243 432 014

 

[Neilc]

>Second, can anyone give me an idea on life expectancy for the car, I'm >doing 20-30k/yr, 2/3 motorway, rarely give it more than 3000revs or >half throttle, and it gets started every day, even if it's only to go the >mile and a half into town.

Life expectancy? I guess it's over when you consider the Car no longer useful or something you wish to keep. Seriously, in a Benz you should be able to do at least 500,000mls or a 1,000,000mls but of course you will be maintaining your car and replacing old worn items.

At 150,000mls I'd be starting to think of a new timing chain before 200,000 although I know many a Benz with 300,000mls on the clock on the same chain. They are not like Cam belts which you should change around every 50,000mls. Change your oil and oil filter every 3,000mls or three months which ever comes first. If your engine starts to eat oil, maybe a rebore is necessary. There isn't anything that can't be fixed.

But this is probably down to my Classic Car interests, but it applies to a Mercedes too. The society we live in has such a throwaway attitude and unfortunately it applies to Mercedes more than the average car as somehow with high mileage they appear to lose their prestige or should I say snob appeal. If a car is over 150,000mls a lot of people wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. Provided the car has been well looked after there are few reasons not to buy an older car with that much mileage or more IMO. The savings are incredible.

Here's my stable as an example - 11yrs old my newest car and it gets 44mpg on the motorway!

91 Volvo 480 Turbo
148,000mls

87 MB 190E
112,000mls

74 MG BGT V8
109,000mls

70 MG B GT
84,000mls

68 MG C GT
93,000mls

61 MG A 1600
108,000mls

61 MG Midget
126,000mls

56 Austin-Healey 100 BN2
142,000mls