High Mileage

[kiforrest]

I am based in the UK and have recently seen a Mercedes E320CDi Avantgarde (new shape 2003 model) advertised at a good price (in a dealer - not Main dealer). However, the vehicle has covered 125k miles. The vehicle appears in excellent condition and has a full Mercedes dealer history. Would those of a superior knowledge than mine comment on whether this mileage would put them off, and advise of what probelms I should be looking for at this mileage?

Thanks for any help, quick response would be most appreciated.

Thank you

 

[television]

Provided the price is right and in line with Glasses guide for the higher than average milage, why not if it is the car you like. to do 125k in 2-3 years, they must have been motorway miles so fine. Don't let your heart rule your head.

Malcolm

 

[kiforrest]

High Mileage - further help

Thanks for last response. I will check Glass's guide to see if price is reasonable. Does anyone know of the engine has chain or belt driven camshaft.

Thanks:!:

 

[television]

All MB's are chain driven cams, when its time to replace they get noisy at start up. I have never known a duplex chain to break.

Malcolm

 

[Blobcat]

£12,200 - £15,400 with 125K miles. The car should be nicely run in and as long as all the servicing has been done it should be a good car. Mine has 103K and it is running better than ever.
With any luck it should just have had a new set of pads and discs. Mine tend to run 30-35K for pads and 65K for front discs.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Nice car!
I would check the following:

1) Autobox will need a fluid change, don't be fobbed off with, 'they are sealed for life sir'

2) EU4 engines on the early 211s were a problem due to high fuel consumption. As far as I know there is a software fix for this which hopefully will have been done by the dealer if the car has a full MB history

3) The noise and vibration from the air assisted braking system pump can be intrusive in the cabin, again I think there is a dealer fix for this.

4) I have seen cars advertised at 150K having just had diesel injectors replaced, which is a very expensive job. It might be a good idea to ask around as too whether this is a problem 'just around the corner'.

5) Mercs like other cars suffer water pump, radiator and alternator failures like any other make, so at this mileage it might be worth taking out an extended guarantee.

Other than that I can't see any reason not to buy at the right price.

Best estate by far!

 

[kiforrest]

Great advice... thanks

What a forum! Tremendous advice. The car has full MB history and a few nice options... full leather, heated seats, sat nav etc. The dealer wants 17k, and the Glass's guide pushes this towards 19k. However, due to excellent advice and questions to raise, I will proceed with negotiations, but with caution! Just seen another one for 15K (!) - both Avantgarde models - which fits in with the figures here. I will take them both for a drive and if I have any further questions will come back for more valuable advice.

Thanks again...

 

[cubicincubi]

hell, thats not even run in yet.

merc parts and servicing should make it bulletproof.

my 16v 4 pot is still pushing strong with just over 211K miles on the lump.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

My experience of Mercs has been that they give a lot of expensive trouble in the early part of their lives. My service bills between 25 and 65k were more than 3 times those from 65k to 110k. Sure, transmissions go, alternators go too, but its nothing 5k wont fix. However the transmissions that failed seemd to go at very low mileages but outside warranty. Get the 125k car fully examined and it will probably be the better car. Leather, heated seats, memory seats etc are a great comfort.

 

[citroennut]

hi
once bought an '87 230te with 199k on the clock, ran it till 245k still good for the same again. three years later got a call from someone who had just purchased it and was wondering about service history as it didn't come with any. told him it had fsh till 245k and he told me it only had 135k on the clock but it was a better car than a '93 with 87k on it he had looked at. he couldn't believe it had lost at least 110k miles! - best £400 he ever spent, it had new tyres and exhaust.
cheers
simon