GLA - Can I buy this Car ?

[Aaxim]

Hello,

mom new to this forum and way Merc producing their cars, looks like I’ll be here all my life

well I’m thinking of buying GLA, when I looked at MOT History I found this major incident with the car but dealer is saying “The MIL light wasn't on when they got the car but they have checked the car over and everything is fine with it. Like I said on the phone there are 101 reasons as to why it could have come on i.e. a faulty sensor or even a loose fuel cap. Rest assured everything is mechanically and electrically fine with the vehicle.

I really liked this car and it’s under my price range, shall I go ahead with it or wait for something better more turn up ?

Regards

 

[Gazwould]

GLA....the smart money is on THE Nissan

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

Fuel filler cap not on will not light the engine warning light... the seller is saying anything to make a sale and get shot.
Nails in tyres and tyres worn to the limit show a lack of care and maintenance.
An Engine warning light indicate a ££££ bill. I’m presuming it’s a diseasal so ££££ bills are to be expected unfortunately with the modern emissions systems bolted to the cars.

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

I would be looking for another one, one that has been looked after and with some good history.
No nails, no warning lights, etc.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Aaxim]

Hello and welcome

Fuel filler cap not on will not light the engine warning light... the seller is saying anything to make a sale and get shot.
Nails in tyres and tyres worn to the limit show a lack of care and maintenance.
An Engine warning light indicate a ££££ bill. I’m presuming it’s a diseasal so ££££ bills are to be expected unfortunately with the modern emissions systems bolted to the cars.

Thank you so much for your prompt response, I thought the same, if it’s DPF issue then I just burn the cash in front of them lol - also a very good point about the tyres, definitely tells the story of the car.

really appreciate it.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome, plenty more fish in the sea....

 

[mioba]

An EML can be something simple like a split pipe. Ideally you need the codes read.

As for the tyres maybe the PO was just was not aware that there is a nail as no pressure loss (depending on nail location) can easily be repaired. As for low tread again maybe PO just didnt look and waits for these things at MOT/service time, or didnt want to spend money on a tyre as he was selling.

Nothing to put me off buying the car if its right depending on what the actual fault is.

The fuel cap story is horse poo.

Get a merc indy to inspect the car.

 

[Blobcat]

Welcome, plenty more fish in the sea....

Dry your eyes mate...

 

[V6Matty]

Dry your eyes mate...

Ah The Streets

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Probably had a Nox sensor fault, which is common and affecting just about every car on the planet from 2014. If its not on now its probably been sorted, if you like the car, ask the dealer for an extensive warranty.

 

[MBDevotee]

I took great care of my tyres, yet one had 10 nails in when I replaced it..... why?

I have self sealing tyres! So to me that is no concern at all.

Low tread, well if you are about to sell a car, and it’s a private sale I wouldn’t change them. You would be tempted to put on cheap tyres, then someone comes to look and goes “cheap tyres, cars been neglected” - or put dear ones on, set of four Pirelli’s, buyer comes “oh, I hate Pirelli’s, I’ll have to change them to Michelin’s so I want £600 off.....” and so it goes on. Best to mention in ad, and say you will take £300 off the price for the next buyer to allow for some tyres.

 

[Blobcat]

I took great care of my tyres, yet one had 10 nails in when I replaced it..... why?

I have self sealing tyres! So to me that is no concern at all.

Low tread, well if you are about to sell a car, and it’s a private sale I wouldn’t change them. You would be tempted to put on cheap tyres, then someone comes to look and goes “cheap tyres, cars been neglected” - or put dear ones on, set of four Pirelli’s, buyer comes “oh, I hate Pirelli’s, I’ll have to change them to Michelin’s so I want £600 off.....” and so it goes on. Best to mention in ad, and say you will take £300 off the price for the next buyer to allow for some tyres.

I think you’ve missed the point... the tyres and nail with the engine warning light paint a picture. On their own they aren’t the same as the whole picture.
Also sounds like you’re using the salesman’s patter to down play the negative features of the car for sale.
You should switch to the patter as used by the salesman when reviewing the car that’s being traded in... “oh haven’t seen one of these in ages, no call for them, can’t sell them in that colour, we’ll have to completely redo all the paintwork, we’ll have to put 5 new tyres on it, no one wants diesel/petrol/hybrid/electric” (delete as appropriate)...

And 10 nails in one tyre... hmm distinct lack of daily checks, you’re not a pilot are you...

 

[MBDevotee]

I think you’ve missed the point... the tyres and nail with the engine warning light paint a picture. On their own they aren’t the same as the whole picture.
Also sounds like you’re using the salesman’s patter to down play the negative features of the car for sale.
You should switch to the patter as used by the salesman when reviewing the car that’s being traded in... “oh haven’t seen one of these in ages, no call for them, can’t sell them in that colour, we’ll have to completely redo all the paintwork, we’ll have to put 5 new tyres on it, no one wants diesel/petrol/hybrid/electric” (delete as appropriate)...

And 10 nails in one tyre... hmm distinct lack of daily checks, you’re not a pilot are you...

Nope, I knew the nails were there, just that they are irrelevant with fully self sealing tyres. The tyre was never going to deflate or need a repair, so safer to leave them where they were - removing them would leave a hole (4-6mm in general) but with them acting as a plug and the sealant around them “gluing them in” they were fine. One of them I got a week after the tyre was brand new, and it was still fine 4 years and 20k later.....

I agree that you have to look at a whole picture - but low tyres or tyres with a nail in doesn’t show (in itself) neglect. Tyres BELOW the legal min or with chords showing, that’s different.

To me, it looks odd in itself, but not a car to automatically walk away from - is the MIL on now, or has the fault been rectified (in which case fine) and have the tyres been replaced with a decent brand? If so I’d want to get the whole picture - what’s the service history like and so on.

 

[Blobcat]

I doubt nails have the same grip coefficient as rubber... so I won’t be driving on nails and I doubt you’ll find any tyre manufacturer advising otherwise.

 

[NJS5]

I wonder what they do to the balance of the wheel & tyre too?

NJSS

 

[00slk]

I doubt nails have the same grip coefficient as rubber... so I won’t be driving on nails and I doubt you’ll find any tyre manufacturer advising otherwise.

Don't be a Silly Billy Blobcat, nails are added to tyres for extra grip on the ice and snow.............

 

[Blobcat]

Don't be a Silly Billy Blobcat, nails are added to tyres for extra grip on the ice and snow.............

Not with the heads on the outside they're not...

 

[00slk]

Not with the heads on the outside they're not...

Yer, Rally car ice race tyres, these look like bicycle tyres and have the heads on the outside.........I think

 

[sonic]

Had those on my VW Beetle late 60's when I was an army ski instructor in Bavaria. The tyre was about half that width, but it would go anywhere amazing traction. Early 70's the Germans banned them they were ripping up the tarmac on the autobahn.