Avantgarde Nick
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2010
- Messages
- 26
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- Location
- Salisbury
- Your Mercedes
- E280CDi Dec 05 7seat Estate Avantgarde
Good afternoon everyone
1st post on this forum - and grateful for some advice. I am about to buy a Dec 05 Silver 280CDi Estate Tip Auto Avantgarde with 7 seats and black leather. I went for it after some research - couldn't quite afford the facelift 06 model, wanted a late old one, a V6, 7 seats (have kids with friends) and one with full MB SH. Fancied more grunt than the 220CDi could provide but didn't really need the extra power of the 320CDi. Have owned a BMW 530d Estate in the past, but more recently a 7 seat VW Touran which seeemed ok while the kids were younger. But now I seek more refinement and am looking for something which will last me 10 years until the kids have flown the nest, especially for long journeys to Europe and across the country to see relatives.
It's done 65,000 miles with 1 owner, and a call to the MB dealer which had done all the previous servicing revealed services in Sep 06 (13k), May 07 (25k), May 08 (38k), Dec 08 (48k) and Feb 10 (59k). The lady also said that in addition to the servicing the car had had a new M55 motor (aircon I think), a light unit and in Sep this year a new turbo. The first 2 were done under warranty and MB contributed to the turbo. She said the car had benefitted from any recalls which may have applied.
To get a feel for costs I rang a local independent MB dealer who quoted £187 inc VAT for an A service and £254 inc VAT for a B Service - obviously the base costs before anything else needing doing. Their labour rate is £59.50 / hr +VAT.
Some questions:
(a) Does this car seem like a good prospect to you? (I'm paying £13999 from an independent dealer)
(b) Should I be worried about the turbo or any other aspects of its history?
(c) Are the servicing costs accurate, and is anyone living near Salisbury, Wiltshire able to give advice on good independent MB dealers in the vicinity?
(d) What should I be looking out for in particular, other than the usual stuff, when I see and test drive the car?
Many thanks - and I look forward to contributing back to the forum when I'm the owner!
Nick
1st post on this forum - and grateful for some advice. I am about to buy a Dec 05 Silver 280CDi Estate Tip Auto Avantgarde with 7 seats and black leather. I went for it after some research - couldn't quite afford the facelift 06 model, wanted a late old one, a V6, 7 seats (have kids with friends) and one with full MB SH. Fancied more grunt than the 220CDi could provide but didn't really need the extra power of the 320CDi. Have owned a BMW 530d Estate in the past, but more recently a 7 seat VW Touran which seeemed ok while the kids were younger. But now I seek more refinement and am looking for something which will last me 10 years until the kids have flown the nest, especially for long journeys to Europe and across the country to see relatives.
It's done 65,000 miles with 1 owner, and a call to the MB dealer which had done all the previous servicing revealed services in Sep 06 (13k), May 07 (25k), May 08 (38k), Dec 08 (48k) and Feb 10 (59k). The lady also said that in addition to the servicing the car had had a new M55 motor (aircon I think), a light unit and in Sep this year a new turbo. The first 2 were done under warranty and MB contributed to the turbo. She said the car had benefitted from any recalls which may have applied.
To get a feel for costs I rang a local independent MB dealer who quoted £187 inc VAT for an A service and £254 inc VAT for a B Service - obviously the base costs before anything else needing doing. Their labour rate is £59.50 / hr +VAT.
Some questions:
(a) Does this car seem like a good prospect to you? (I'm paying £13999 from an independent dealer)
(b) Should I be worried about the turbo or any other aspects of its history?
(c) Are the servicing costs accurate, and is anyone living near Salisbury, Wiltshire able to give advice on good independent MB dealers in the vicinity?
(d) What should I be looking out for in particular, other than the usual stuff, when I see and test drive the car?
Many thanks - and I look forward to contributing back to the forum when I'm the owner!
Nick