A Class buying advice

[pace]

Hi and happy new year to everyone. I have the chance of buying a 55reg 2006 A 150 Classic SE (manual) from a friend's family. The car was owned by a relative who recently died. It has covered 23000 miles and is in excellent condition. The car has had one service at 13k by MB so will be due a service and its first MOT soon. I have the chance of buying this car for £5.5k and it seems like a good opportunity. I have called my local MB dealer and they have estimated the cost of a service to be £333 + (if needed) £55 (brake fluid) + 46 (dust filter) + 41 (air filter) + £393 YES £393 for a fuel filter. They have said I can extend the MB warranty for £581. I cant see why a fuel filter is so costly. Judging by these costs and the fact that all being well we would probably keep the car for several years, I dont think I will go down the main dealer route as the car will not be worth a lot in a few years. Also I have a good local Independant who looks after my C 240. I have seen similar cars at places like Car Giant for a bit more money but they would come with a warranty and a bit of back up.

So is this car a good buy?
Is there any thing I should look out for with this model?
Is it ok to get it serviced at a good independant?

 

[Cole@MBS]

Hi Pace, Not in a position to say if its a good price or not, driven a few of them and they are a far better drive then the first A,class,

As far as the service goes, i would go back to MB as there are a lot of recalls and service items for that model, If you go down the inde route these wont get done and could cost you a lot more in the coming years!!

 

[rhud]

Hello Pace. I have a 2007 A150 Classic SE and am generally v happy with it. It took me some months to get used to its drive characteristics, not helped by the fact that I had driven a BMW 7 series for 13 years - so it was a big change. Drive errs on the firm side - but apparently nowhere near as much as the predecessor model. Most modern cars of similar-ish size (eg Honda Jazz, Nissan Note) seem to be similar in this respect. However, am now well and truly used to it.

See threads elsewhere for stone chips - the paint finish on modern Mercs is prone to it. And the wing mirrors don't fold in which is an irritation - I wasn't able to specify the electrically folding option. I also needed the after-market MB lumbar support cushion, which works really well.

Otherwise - very solid feeling, well built, spacious and classy little car. Can't really comment on price,but it seems about right. Importantly it is a W 169 (not 168) and therefore an altogether better proposition than the original model.

 

[pace]

Thanks for that advice,
We have tried a couple of other A's. The older shape model seemed very basic, the interior lacked any quality and reminded me of a cheap Japanese car. The new shape seems much better. This car is to replace my other halfs ageing Polo. It will be for transporting our new baby around so needs to be safe. I just wonder if it would be better to find one which had been serviced more recently.

 

[hawk20]

Where do you live. Useful to show location.

I ask because my brother has the 160cdi manual and in 35,000 miles has never had a service over £200. We use MB Southampton. Excellent.

Remember MB servicing gives you free MobiloLife breakdown and rust guarantee for 30 years. Here and in Europe.

And you get all the updates done on the car as well, free.

Great cars. I have had two, my brother has one and my eldest daughter has one. All are the new model.

Most MB dealers give a significant discount on labour and parts for cars over 3 years old.

 

[pace]

I live in South Oxfordshire, Greenoaks Reading is my nearest MB dealer. I have heard stories of poor customer service and over pricing by them so would rather try another branch. A local MB specialist independant looks after my old C 240 very well, but I think as this A 150 is quite new, it would be worth taking it to MB.

 

[truthfindergeneral]

Hang on... I'm still reeling at £41 for an air filter let alone the fuel filter. Turn off the Dealer route, find an Indie and waste the money you save on alcohol and women .

 

[hawk20]

I live in South Oxfordshire, Greenoaks Reading is my nearest MB dealer. I have heard stories of poor customer service and over pricing by them so would rather try another branch. A local MB specialist independant looks after my old C 240 very well, but I think as this A 150 is quite new, it would be worth taking it to MB.

Stick with an MB dealer as you get all the latest updates which the indie won't have. And MobiloLife which I have found excellent.

But check out those prices again. My brother is having his A class from 2005 serviced this week, at 35,000 miles, at our local MB dealer, and the bill will be close to £200. This service includes new pollen filters as well as the usual.

 

[pace]

Hi hawk20, where is your MB dealer?
Does anyone know another good one near me?

 

[jubhi]

I bought an A150 SE Auto for the wife a couple of months ago. I drove it a fair bit over the christmas holidays and it's a great little car. Well worth the money.

 

[hawk20]

Hi hawk20, where is your MB dealer?
Does anyone know another good one near me?

Southampton. Right on the side of the motorway (M27) a few yards off at Junction 5. They will do 'while you wait' if you wish -but you need to say that when booking. Loads of car mags to catch up on and pretty good coffee. Or have a loan car and you are minutes from West Quay -one of the largest indoor shopping malls in Europe.

Pm me and I'll give you relevant e-mail addresses if you decide to go there. You need to ask for a discount for over 3 years old. Sean is the man.
Then there is MB World at Weybridge; nice day out, museum, Brooklands track etc, most MB models on display. They do discount for older cars but I have not used them so can't vouch.

 

[hawk20]

Hi and happy new year to everyone. I have the chance of buying a 55reg 2006 A 150 Classic SE (manual) from a friend's family. It has covered 23000 miles and is in excellent condition. The car has had one service at 13k by MB so will be due a service and its first MOT soon. I have the chance of buying this car for £5.5k and it seems like a good opportunity. I have called my local MB dealer and they have estimated the cost of a service to be £333 + (if needed) £55 (brake fluid) + 46 (dust filter) + 41 (air filter) + £393 YES £393 for a fuel filter. I cant see why a fuel filter is so costly.
.

IMPORTANT: -
Pace I have an excellent source at MB and put your info to him. (I can only use rarely or they get fed up, but thought your case warranted it).

Ist: - My brother has an A class and has just reached 35k miles after nearly 4 yrs and has not yet had a service over £200. So your info looked odd.

2nd. Someone has made a terrible mistake. (did you ask for all service items for years ahead, or just for the service you need now? Reason I ask is that an A service is around £200 or less and a major service like a B service is around £300 or less.

HERE IS THE MISTAKE: -

You do not need a fuel filter at 25,000 miles. In fact, you do not need one until the car has done a quarter of a million kilometres (or 155,000 miles in old money). OR 15 years old whichever is the sooner. For most owners, I guess this means NEVER.

It is expensive on the A class but only on the petrol versions where the fuel filter and fuel pump are combined in one unit and are in the fuel tank. It has to be removed every 15 years to replace that unit and at my dealer would be just over £300. But that is years and years away.

On the diesels the filter is under the bonnet and easy and cheap to replace.

 

[pace]

Thanks for clearing that up. When I spoke to MB Reading, the service manager was quite suprised at the cost of the fuel filter and had to re check. We both agreed that it must be a combined filter/pump. He stated that it should be changed a 40k or on age so you can see why I was a bit worried that it may need to be done!

It looks like we are going to buy this car. It will be 3 years old in Febuary and has covered 23k. It has only had one service since new (at 13k by MB Chichister) so I guess it will need a B service this time?
The service indicator in the car is showing that it needed a service a few hundred miles ago but because of the previous owners circumstances (he was ill and then passed away) it did not get done.
I am wondering if it might be best to give the car an oil and filter change straight away as it may take a while to find the best MB option and get it booked in.

I have never liked the idea of these long service intervals and normally have an oil change in between scheduled services.
I guess I can get the correct oil from the MB parts desk?

The guy I am buying the car from is going to drive it up from the West country at the weekend. It would have been nice to get the oil changed before the journey but I don't suppose another 300 miles will make any difference?

 

[hawk20]

Well do tell the service manager Pace that the fuel filter change is at 250,000kms not at 40k miles!

An oil and filter change won't protect your guarantee. Synthetic oils to MB standards are fine for 13-15k miles and ASSYST will tell you when the service is needed.

The service only takes 1-2 hours. You are still under guarantee and you get a further year when MB will look after you under 'goodwill'. They pay 'up to' 80% of the repair costs if something nasty happens. I would get it serviced asap so you keep the guarantee, the free MOT at three years old, and the 'goodwill' help in year four going. As well as MobiloLife.

Had my brother's done today at 35k miles. Needed B service (the big one). Took two hours. Had two updates done at nearly 4 years old.

Most dealers will collect and deliver if it helps (if reasonably nearby).

 

[rhud]

This thread is an excellent example of how this forum is able to cut through all kinds of nonsense. As ever, time, trouble and wisdom exercised by Hawk has got to the bottom of it.

 

[pace]

Quick update,

I bought the A 150 at the weekend, it seems like a super little car and will suit the missis down to the ground!

I have booked it in with MB for a service at the end of the week.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Where did you book it then, What dealer???

 

[pace]

Greenoaks Reading. The issues I heard about them were a few years ago now and related to a friend of mine's father (who can be a bit awkward).

They have given me a breakdown of the costs so hopefuly there wont be any suprises! I have cleared up the fuel filter issue with them.

It would be a lot of hassle to take the car further afield at the moment as we have a new baby and I am ultra busy with work. They are not offering a free MOT but will do it for £35.

I hope it isn't a bad sign that they were able to fit it in so quickly!

 

[Cole@MBS]

Greenoaks Reading. The issues I heard about them were a few years ago now and related to a friend of mine's father (who can be a bit awkward).

They have given me a breakdown of the costs so hopefuly there wont be any suprises! I have cleared up the fuel filter issue with them.

It would be a lot of hassle to take the car further afield at the moment as we have a new baby and I am ultra busy with work. They are not offering a free MOT but will do it for £35.

I hope it isn't a bad sign that they were able to fit it in so quickly!

Have heard a lot of bad things about them, be good to hear what you have to say first hand!!

 

[pace]

Oh dear, I don't like the sound of that!

Anything I should watch out for?