Hi Guys & Gals...another newbie here!!

[Braveheart]

Hi Folks,
First off hi to everyone, and huge congrats on a knowledgeable informative board. I've spent a few hours reading some great posts...so looking forward to a good time on here.

I am about to take the plunge after 27 cars and buy my first MB.
I'm looking at a C270 CDI Avantegard Estate on a 53 plate registered late 2003, having done 55k miles. FMBSH and sports pack with 17 alloys, cloth trim unfortunately:-( but nice nice condition with new tyres, tax and mot till late 2007. Dealer is asking 13.5k for it, what do the panel think please.
I've looked around the MB dealerships and nothing to compare prices jumps out.
What d'you reckon guys?

Thanks IA

 

[Blobcat]

Hi & Welcome,

Price looks ok compared to whats on the MB used car site

 

[television]

Hello and welcome.

If you are buying from a non MB dealer,do check the warrenty on offer compaired to the one offered by MB.

Malcolm

 

[D3Less]

Price looks OK.
I just bought a 270 Elegence estate on a 51 plate but with less miles and every extra in the book for the same price.
Really pleased with it !

 

[The Hooded Claw]

Just make sure it's got MB service history & not some DIY idiot thats bin "Doin his own servicing to save money"

Oh Welcome to the madhouse ...........put yer feet up .......Sit awhile.......Enjoy !!!

Regards

Keith

 

[rexemper]

Do let us know how you get on. I was looking at an E-Class but \m now considering a C-class estate instead. The price looks quite good for the mileage, age etc. that you've stated.

Cheers

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

yep that price does look pretty good. On the sunbect of not having leather, you're really not missing much. Most of the C-Class's with leather have the "man made" option, which everyone other than MB call "leatherette". IMO it looks horrible. Other mercs have really nice leather interiors, but not c's. Interstingly I had some American vistors over on business and tehy made a big deal of the "fabric" seats in my c-class and how they thought they were a erally good idea. "All we can get in the US is leather", they said " and it's always too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter". Funny the attitude difference. I like leather interiors myself, just not MB's "c-class" take on them

I'd be interested to see how it works out for you. Best of luck.

 

[hawk20]

Other mercs have really nice leather interiors, but not c's. I like leather interiors myself, just not MB's "c-class" take on them

I'd be interested to see how it works out for you. Best of luck.

Real leather is available for the C class, from memory a bit over £1200.
Mercedes have always offered MBTex and other variants of vinyl covered cloth or synthetic leather. Similar stuff is used for mock leather handbags, luggage and so on. Very popular with taxis and people with children as you can wipe off almost anything with a damp cloth. Costs a few hundred more than the standard interior and from a distance looks like leather. But as Omni says it is not quite the 'real thing'. It does wear incredibly well though.

Buying secondhand I'd make sure you get Full MBSH and preferably buy from a dealer as you get a good 12 month guarantee and they tend to get the best ones. Haggle and they are pretty competitive. Direct Mercedes offer choice and value, if not the style of a good Merc dealer. Try these: -
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...e/products/used_cars/all_used_car_search.html

http://www.used-mercedescars.co.uk

http://www.directmercedes.co.uk

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

sorry Hawk, didn't realise you could get "proper" leather in the c-class. All the ones I've seen have the other stuff. If it's real leather then I'd go for it. Like I say, I do like a decent quality leather interior

I agree about the warrantee though. I don't think it needs to be an MB dealer. Any reputable dealer should be fine, but thats the trouble.....finding a reputable one. The benefit with MB is that I believe they do garantee their cars for a year, which is well worth having.

The next comment may be considered contriversial though. I would not recommend you buy a c-class that is pre-facelift (i.e. 2004) as the build quality is at best "iffy" in places and there have been a lot of reliability issues.

 

[hawk20]

Are you wedded to diesel? There's a petrol estate, 2004 with only 27k miles asking under £14k. Might be worth a look. Full MBSH.
Her's the link: -
http://www.used-mercedescars.co.uk/usedcardetails-t-autotrader-u-22710-v-ATF1215.html

It is cloth interior but several on that site with leather.

I like real leather too Omni. Easy to clean, looks good, feels good.

 

[D3Less]

Real leather in mine

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Are you wedded to diesel? There's a petrol estate, 2004 with only 27k miles asking under £14k. Might be worth a look. Full MBSH.
Her's the link: -
http://www.used-mercedescars.co.uk/usedcardetails-t-autotrader-u-22710-v-ATF1215.html

.

I must say that one looks VERY nice and a good price.

 

[rexemper]

The next comment may be considered contriversial though. I would not recommend you buy a c-class that is pre-facelift (i.e. 2004) as the build quality is at best "iffy" in places and there have been a lot of reliability issues.

Re your 'controversial' point - if a car comes with full MBSH would most of the faults have been discovered and fixed? Or am I just being naive and what you're saying is that faults would continue to appear?

Also, excuse my ignorance but what are the dates for C Class estate in terms of when different variants (e.g. facelift) were introduced?

Cheers

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

2004 was teh facelift model. You can tell because it has clear headlights (not half frosted) and round dials on the dash rather than half moon ones.

I thought the same as you when it came to things going wrong. The plan was if I get a 3 year old car with FMBSH all the bugs should have been sorted right? Certainly not the case for me. Search the forum and you'll see all the problems I have had.

I wouldn't want to put anyone off buying a car because I may have been unlucky. However, there do seem to be a lot of threads about problems with the pre-facelift C-Class. If I had known before I bought mine I may not have bought it. I say may, because it looks so damn good I may have taken my chances. The car drives very well (appart from teh horribly lumpy auto-box), its just that I'd like to see it more often than the mechanics at the Merc garage do....

 

[rexemper]

Hi Omni

That's a very honest reply. I have been reading some of the other threads and you definitely have had a lot of issues with your car which you most definitely shouldn't have to cater/allow for.

I don't get the feeling you're trying to put anyone off - just being open and honest about your experiences.

Thanks for that - its very helpful for those that are new to the whole Mercedes thing!!

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Thanks Rex. I certainly wouldn't suggest anyone buys or doesn't buy based on my experience. I know a lot of people who have bought Alfa's and had nothing but trouble with them but still say they are great cars to drive - but they'd never own another one. Same's sort of true with my merc. Like I've said I think it looks great and is great to drive. Maybe I expected too much from it.

My recommendation to anyone is to test drive it for as long as possible to see if it fits your purpose. I must say the thing thats causing me the biggest gripe at the moment is that it has a smallish boot and the seats dont fold down....but that's my fault. I should have shopped around a bit more rather than buying on looks alone. oh well......

I'd like to say that the Merc was my biggest impulse buy, but actually that would be my house. We were just out for a drive in the country, our house wasn't even up for sale. Saw this one and thought, "yep, got to live there" and after a few anoying so called buyers for ours the rest is history. My bank manager hates me by the way.....

 

[rexemper]

I'd like to say that the Merc was my biggest impulse buy, but actually that would be my house. We were just out for a drive in the country, our house wasn't even up for sale. Saw this one and thought, "yep, got to live there" and after a few anoying so called buyers for ours the rest is history. My bank manager hates me by the way.....

that certainly is one way to buy a house! I've driven round and thought 'now that looks nice, we could live round here' but luckily for me my wife speaks up and is the voice of reason.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

probably explains why i have never got any money....

 

[Braveheart]

2004 was teh facelift model. You can tell because it has clear headlights (not half frosted) and round dials on the dash rather than half moon ones.

I thought the same as you when it came to things going wrong. The plan was if I get a 3 year old car with FMBSH all the bugs should have been sorted right? Certainly not the case for me. Search the forum and you'll see all the problems I have had.

I wouldn't want to put anyone off buying a car because I may have been unlucky. However, there do seem to be a lot of threads about problems with the pre-facelift C-Class.

This one has half moon shape dials in the dash, so does that make it pre-facelift then? Register December 03.
If so are there "major" issues with these cars?
Thanks
Roger

 

[hawk20]

The one I posted for you is 2004, a year younger than the one you mention, and half the mileage but about the same price. You could phone them or e-mail to confirm if it is post facelift.