Missing my CLS 250d AMG Shooting Brake. Considering a HIGH mileage 11 S350d L. Would appreciate your thoughts.

[DrNocky]

Hi All,
Due to a prolonged bout of bad health I was not in a position financially to hold on to the best car I’ve ever owned, my beautiful, powerful and frugal 13 reg CLS 250d AMG Sooting Brake. It broke my heart to sell it, but needs must. It’s been gone six months and thankfully finances are a bit more stable now, so I want to get back into another Merc, and preferably a big one. I’ve spotted a long wheel base 11 reg S350d with one previous owner for €10k here in Ireland. It has 324,000kmnor about 204,000 miles on the clock. I have a Merc Specialist lined up to give it the once over, but would appreciate the forums’ wisdom and insights. Here’s the link if you want to take a look. Thanks, Ian

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/29463618
2011 MERCEDES BENZ S350 CDI BLUETEC LWB

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

Looks like it’s been an executive limo with those miles

 

[DrNocky]

Hello and welcome

Looks like it’s been an executive limo with those miles

Thanks Blobcat. I would think so, which hopefully bodes well for its service record. I want to see loads of invoices to help my peace of mind.

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome, good luck with the search

 

[mioba]

The car looks good, but let me put another
slant on this based on your comments (finances).
S classes are great cars, but keeping them on the road needs money. You do need deep pockets to keep them pristine and your example is high mileage and 10 years old, so wear and age related items will need being kept on top of.

That said, who am I, if it ticks your boxes, rocks your boat, then go for it.

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome.

 

[dry run]

Welcome

 

[DrNocky]

The car looks good, but let me put another
slant on this based on your comments (finances).
S classes are great cars, but keeping them on the road needs money. You do need deep pockets to keep them pristine and your example is high mileage and 10 years old, so wear and age related items will need being kept on top of.

That said, who am I, if it ticks your boxes, rocks your boat, then go for it.

Thanks for the input, Mioba. I’m budgeting in €2k a year to keep it looking and going as it should. I only do about 10k miles per year. Am I deluding myself with that budget? I know you can’t say for certain as the unexpected can happen, but averaging out over say 5 years of ownership, am I in or around right in my budgeting, do you think?

 

[SL63 Mark]

Hello and welcome

Looks like it’s been an executive limo with those miles

I would agree, I suspect it may have been an airport taxi. We have a firm locally who use an S class to take Mrs. 55 to Heathrow occasionally. It's cheaper than parking at the airport, and less stressful.

Unfortunately that is no guarantee it has been well looked after. Kept on the road more like, until it expired.

 

[DrNocky]

I would agree, I suspect it may have been an airport taxi. We have a firm locally who use an S class to take Mrs. 55 to Heathrow occasionally. It's cheaper than parking at the airport, and less stressful.

Unfortunately that is no guarantee it has been well looked after. Kept on the road more like, until it expired.

Mmmm. Now there’s food for thought.....

 

[gildeaa]

Beautiful car, make sure it has had the gearbox oil changes, if it is air suspension be wary as this can cost a small fortune to fix when it goes wrong.
My 250CDI CLS has the standard shocks although I had to replace 2 rear springs, as you probably already know, it is a common issue with any Mercedes.
But if it has been well serviced, then I would could consider it a fairly safe purchase, I just hope that you are getting some sort of warranty.
Good luck with it.

 

[mioba]

Thanks for the input, Mioba. I’m budgeting in €2k a year to keep it looking and going as it should. I only do about 10k miles per year. Am I deluding myself with that budget? I know you can’t say for certain as the unexpected can happen, but averaging out over say 5 years of ownership, am I in or around right in my budgeting, do you think?

I would say thats more than enough provided you have a competent merc indy at hand.
My W220 has had no expense spared in maintenance cost (had from new) biggest outlay for me was ABS control unit 3 years ago at nearly a grand. That said the electrics in the W221 are a step up and thats whats expensive.

 

[DrNocky]

I would say thats more than enough provided you have a competent merc indy at hand.
My W220 has had no expense spared in maintenance cost (had from new) biggest outlay for me was ABS control unit 3 years ago at nearly a grand. That said the electrics in the W221 are a step up and thats whats expensive.

I fortunately have the most excellent Indy two miles from me. He’s a Polish guy who, when I first brought my CLS to him for a service said ‘Do you know why I drive Mercedes? Because I cannot afford to drive anything else.’ His dad has a 90 e200 that he uses to drive from Poland to Spain each summer. It has close to a million Km on it. My Indy is such good value too, so on having the right man for the jobs, I’m confident I do. He can’t do much on the price of parts, mind you. So if I do get the car and the suspension decides to give up, I’ll save on labour but not on parts.?‍

 

[DrNocky]

Beautiful car, make sure it has had the gearbox oil changes, if it is air suspension be wary as this can cost a small fortune to fix when it goes wrong.
My 250CDI CLS has the standard shocks although I had to replace 2 rear springs, as you probably already know, it is a common issue with any Mercedes.
But if it has been well serviced, then I would could consider it a fairly safe purchase, I just hope that you are getting some sort of warranty.
Good luck with it.

I wonder if the Merc Specialist I’m bringing it to will be able to see the gearbox services when he plugs it into the diagnostics? I presume so?? I’m hoping given the high annual miles that it was being used as a chauffeur car. I believe those tend to be well looked after as time off the road costs the owners money in lost business. All will be revealed I guess, once it’s plugged into the system and has been inspected on the ramp.

 

[Uncle Benz]

You let go of a CLS shooting brake??
What a mistake to make!
For fecks sake…

Beautiful car. One of my favourites

 

[DrNocky]

You let go of a CLS shooting brake??
What a mistake to make!
For fecks sake…

Beautiful car. One of my favourites

Oh look, Uncle Benz. Times were tough and I needed to tighten my belt. I let it go for a song too, given the way things have gone. Supply is tight and I’d need to spend a lot more than I sold it for to get a similar one. But dems is the brakes (pun intended). Fortunately things are looking up. Am S 350 cdi wouldn’t be a bad replacement. Just need to move this 525i first.

 

[DrNocky]

Oh look, Uncle Benz. Times were tough and I needed to tighten my belt. I let it go for a song too, given the way things have gone. Supply is tight and I’d need to spend a lot more than I sold it for to get a similar one. But dems is the brakes (pun intended). Fortunately things are looking up. Am S 350 cdi wouldn’t be a bad replacement. Just need to move this 525i first.

 

[DrNocky]

You let go of a CLS shooting brake??
What a mistake to make!
For fecks sake…

Beautiful car. One of my favourites

I meant to say when I responded to you, that I am extremely impressed with your accurate use of the term ‘feck’. It’s classic Hiberno-English and rarely used properly off the island of Ireland. Are you Irish or have you been extensively exposed to our use of the language?

 

[DrNocky]

The owner/back yard dealer has not come back to me on my request to have the car given the once over by an Indy Merc garage, so I think I’ll give it a miss. His loss I guess. I’m now looking at a more ‘sensible, 2010 e250 diesel, with c140,000 miles. It needs tidying up (wheels are painted black, which I hate,) a service, a good clean and polish, and a few sensors replaced. My auto electrician says he’ll do it at cost for me. Good guy! I should be able to get it for €5k. If I do and put say €500 into it, I could keep it or move it along for €8k here. The car was pointed out to me by my auto electrician who has had it for about four months while it’s owner decides what he wants to do with it. I think it worth the gamble. I took it for a spin yesterday and no squeaks, bumps or rattles, the engine feels nice and fresh, and the 5 speed auto box changes up and down smoothly.