Buyer's Guide? People's Opinions!

[Jenny Tills]

Hi all, I am thinking about buying a 2016 S350d with the 9 speed gearbox.
Is there a buyers guide somewhere, and of course, anyone who has experience of these cars, I would welcome your opinions and ownership experiences.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[robin.large]

Hi! Nice choice. As it's relatively new, then previous owner(s) should have been keeping up the proper MB service to preserve warranty.
If the service history is there then really there shouldn't be any concerns.
If it's a dealer or a private sale ask to see the service print out. Check usual HPI and MOT history.

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[Jenny Tills]

Thanks. It's from a used car dealership. It shows 50,000 miles on the odometer, and is a one owner car with full service history.
It looks nice in the pics, as they always do. Should be nice then??

 

[robin.large]

50k is an ok mileage and provided services are on time then all good. So that would be 5 MB services then?
Only thing I'd check would be tyres. They should have plenty of tread, ideally 5mm and decent make. All four the same manufacture. Continental or Michelin would be ideal.


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[Jenny Tills]

Yes, tyres...
The amount of these cars I've been looking at over the past few weeks with ninkynonky nang kang no name mix and match tyres fitted to them is worrying.
I always expected to see top branded tyres on them.
The S class I'm looking at has Dunlops on it.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Dunlops are OK

 

[robin.large]

At least not a bad tyre. But yes folk don't seem to understand that although decent tyres may seem expensive on a per mile basis they aren't. Michelin PS4s at £200 per corner v. Ditch Finders at £90 per corner. Actually only works out at something like 2p a mile extra for decent handling, better fuel economy and confidence in wet and dry!

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[Jenny Tills]

Absolutely! At least Dunlops are a famous brand, but I have to confess I know very little about them.

 

[00slk]

Sometimes when a car is ex lease of traded in the dealer will fit any tyre to sell the cars on., they may not have all had a bad life. The dealers are only interested in a quick turnaround and a good profit

 

[Jenny Tills]

Sometimes when a car is ex lease of traded in the dealer will fit any tyre to sell the cars on., they may not have all had a bad life. The dealers are only interested in a quick turnaround and a good profit

Yeah, that is very true. I think that is probably the case with 90% of the cars I've been looking at.

 

[00slk]

Yeah, that is very true. I think that is probably the case with 90% of the cars I've been looking at.

Are the cars at a main Mercedes dealership?
You can call into the Mercedes dealer and give them a model, spec and budget and they will endeavour to help you find a suitable car, that's if you haven't already done so.

 

[robin.large]

Sometimes when a car is ex lease of traded in the dealer will fit any tyre to sell the cars on., they may not have all had a bad life. The dealers are only interested in a quick turnaround and a good profit

Agreed, but that sort of proves the point, mismatched brands, cheap tyre brands on premium cars all point to a dealer that isn't that invested in his new customers just the $.
Don't expect great customer service.
I usually judge a dealers suitability to sell me a car by how close his stock is to the price of what I'm looking for. Buying a second hand Bentley from a dealer who's next most expensive motor is £1500 just doesn't seem right?


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[00slk]

Agreed, but that sort of proves the point, mismatched brands, cheap tyre brands on premium cars all point to a dealer that isn't that invested in his new customers just the $.
Don't expect great customer service.
I usually judge a dealers suitability to sell me a car by how close his stock is to the price of what I'm looking for. Buying a second hand Bentley from a dealer who's next most expensive motor is £1500 just doesn't seem right?


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Totally agree with you there

 

[sonic]

I have a 2011 E350CDI with the a 7G box, its been great car. My wife has the SLC250d with the 9G box which is a very nice box, much nicer than the 7G.
The 350 with the 9G must be the best option.

 

[s5tuart]

I have a 2016 CLS SHooting Brake 350d and 9 speed box.
built in the same factory as the S class.
very refined indeed. I've just had my gearbox serviced at just over 30K miles and the changes are imperceptible.
Cruising I get just under 40mpg and town driving Short trips I get about 18.
Airmatic is sublime
I've just put a full set of Dunlop Sport Maxx 2 on the car. Very quiet and seem to be wearing well and giving good performance wet and dry.
I hope you find a good one Jenny.

 

[davidsl500]

I'll lay odds that isn't the OP's real name.... unless they are friends with Mike Hunt, Ben Dover and Phil McCavity....

 

[keefysher]

I'll lay odds that isn't the OP's real name.... unless they are friends with Mike Hunt, Ben Dover and Phil McCavity....

Perhaps their real name is Justin Cider, or a typo and is really Jenny Talia.

 

[JBell]

Absolutely! At least Dunlops are a famous brand, but I have to confess I know very little about them.

Dunlop SportMAXX are one of the best tyres around

 

[Jenny Tills]

Ha ha! Thanks for all your replies. Finally people who understand my sick, warped sense of humor!
Well after 4 days of intensive surfing, my efforts have proved fruitless. The number one choice won't pay me what I need for my CLS to make the deal, and as for the others... I've sent out 3 emails to various dealerships across the land, and none of them have bothered to get back in touch. What am I doing wrong?
I guess they are on holiday, or their having a bumper sales months, and can't be arsed with me.
The search continues....
Thanks for all your input.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Try looking at 6 series BMWs I couldn’t believe the trade in value given on AT it went up by £1K I wonder why