Mileage advice please

[scsb79]

I am looking at a C Class Coupe... 05 plate.

It has 50,000 miles on the clock. I've heard that Merc's are great engines and will run forever... is this always the case?

Is 50,000 miles something to worry about? I want the car but the wife is flapping over swapping a 55 plate Mini with 20,000 on the clock to this C Class Coupe.

Any advice would be great.

 

[st4]

Welcome.

Whats the engine in the coupe. Its quite high miles for its age, but as you say nothing to worry about as it got a whole heap of life left in it.

Is it an automatic, they are much better-just check the transmission fluid has been changed and if not have it changed ASAP. It should be done @ 37500miles.

It won't rust or anything like that as its fully galvanised. Being RWD it should entertain on the road more and offer more space than the mini

 

[stumpy]

It's not just the engines you need to think about. Suspension components wear out with miles along with brakes etc. On a plus, the Merc will seem like proper car after the Mini. I like the Mini but it has no space inside and the ride is not exactly relaxing.

 

[scsb79]

It's a petrol, 1796cc.

Is there anything else to ask about?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[jberks]

With mileage, what you have to ask is where that mileage was done.
Assuming it's spent it's days on a long distance commute, it may well be that it spent 2 hours a day cruising at 60mph in 5th gear, full warmed up, putting almost no strain on the engine, brakes, transmission or suspension. The engine will have been running @1800rpm, the brakes almost never used, the suspension never having to deal with more than a slightly rough motorway surface and the gearbox rarely having to swap a cog.
Now contrast that with a 15k car, that spent it's days popping back and forth to the shops and schools. Suspension that spent its days bouncing over speed bumps, engine that never warmed up but spent all its time accelerating from lights, junctions and roundabouts, gearbox that has done several thousand changes but rarely, if ever managed to reach 4th before changing back down again for the next junction, brakes in almost constant use etc etc.
Alternatively, it could be a dog that spent it's life in the workshops. At least if its got big miles you know its reliable!

Hence a well maintained high miler may actually be a better bet than a low miler.

One other point,
In my experience, Mercs don't seem to fully run in until 50k or so, at which point they are considerably nicer to drive than when they were new.

Do check general condition and full service history and that all recalls and recommendations have been done, and clearly that there is some discount to compensate for the higher mileage and assuming all is well, why not.

 

[scsb79]

Cheers JBerks. Appreciate your input.