Buying advice - 2002 E320CDI Estate

[martin_j]

Hi,

I'm off to see a 2002 (51 reg) E320CDI Estate, high mileage - 105,000 - tomorrow.

Any advice on what things to look out for would be really really appreciated...

Loads of thanks,

Martin J

________________________________________________
2002 C220 CDI Sports Coupe

 

[nasher]

If it's an ex-lease car, see if they've got the report from the lease company. My old C class had a relatively high mileage, but with only one owner (bank of Ireland) and a full report of every item of work which was carried out on the car at least showed it was well cared for.

The only other thing is accident damage. It's so common for high mileage cars and can affect the re-sell value. With excess charges so high on company policies, they usually don't fix through an insurance company and therefore wouldn't show up on HPI.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Hi, well from a 2000 88k E320CDI you can gauge quite a lot. Main thing will be rust. Anything else you are hopefully inside your warranty, at least make sure you are though it may be mileage restricted.

Check the glow heater plug warning light goes out quickly and stays off, otherwise is an indicator heater plugs need to be replaced. The plugs would be near end of life for its second set of heater plugs. I would get them done if there is no service history.

Check air con that it works properly, condenser unit prone to failure, expensive. High risk of problem here.

Brake failure, watch out for ABS unit and fluid leaks.

Rear shocks, watch, very very prone to failure and fluid leaks. replacement is only real option, expensive.

Oil level sensor can be problematic, check oil manually before you drive it, also chack after with computer. Costly little job and hard to get at.

Get the car up on a lift yourself and check exhaust, another expensive part. Check shocks too while you have it up there, and also underbody for rust!! From my experience I would not buy one of those without getting a good look underneath.

Check your transmission is in no way jerky. There are reporta of problems but I have not had any.

Odd electrical problems, blowing bulbs, the rear light cluster bulbholders are problematic. Very very cheap to replace these.

Windscreen wiper unit, make sure it works without jerky movements, its expensive to replace.

Long wave radio, the braking system screws up the reception.

Look under the door rubbers all the way around for rust, including under the rubbers at the tops of the doors.

Great motor to drive, just mind it and watch those wheelbolts if you have to use the steel spare!!

Make sure you get two remote keys and the non remote key. Keys are expensive. If they cannot give you two remotes then someone somewhere has a key to your car!! If they were to use the key to steal your car you are in trouble as many insurers offer theft cover only where there is forcible entry to the car or theft of the keys. If you don't get the two keys get them to reprogramme the system and give you two keys with the car. Another one too, make sure the ignition key works properly, there was trouble with the ignition systems in 2001/2 cars with keys getting jammed.

You don't say about interior, watch for the contour seats that they still work, if the option was fitted. They work with a compressed air system under the seats. The controls are beside the seat belt anchorages.

Check if it has the optional detachable tow bar and wiring. They use a 13 pin socket that folds up under the rear bumper, make sure it is undamaged. There is a standard MB adaptor to take 7 pin plugs, costs about ?40. Nice touch, you blow a bulb on your trailer the car warning system reads the failure and warns you.

I believe dash lights are very hard to replace, so if any dash bulbs are blown get them replaced.

Mileage would not worry me, condition more important. Long journeys are fine but I would check the reason for high mileage.

See if you can get invoices or access to them. if it was a lease car it would be very much the case the invoices are available at the previous owners business. I would keep all future ones too.

Crash damage is more difficult, all you can do is check the fit around the body panels and make sure they are all even, with equal gaps and all fitting flush. Look for stone chips, a sign of motorway driving or a really smooth pristine bonnet [either all short journeys or resprayed. Bnnet though is prone to chipping and rusting at the chips so its not a no no if the bonnet has been done]. Front cross member where bonnet closes is a good check, also look at where it meets the front wings. If in doubt just have a look at another E class and compare.