PDF Versions of User Manuals and Ex Rental Vehicles

[MichaeW]

I have been off this forum for a while, for no other reason than just life catching up with me. I am now re-kindling my interest in becoming the owner of a E Class W213 estate.

Do anyone have a link where I can download PDF user manuals, i.e. the books that are in the Glove Box when you buy a car. I have found the interactive ones but they do not seem to be very good, plus I like to be able to just dip in and read, without having a specific topic.

Also I have seen a few vehicles that have been declared as Ex Rental. I have seen conflicting comments about buying ex rental on the internet.

Do any of the clever and experienced people on here have any thoughts positive or negative as to purchasing an ex rental?

Also views on the W213 would be of interest, I am looking at an Estate probably a 220D unless I can find an Inline 6 cylinder, ideally with a widescreen and memory package.

As always thanks in anticipation of any assistance.

Regards

Michael

 

[daveenty]

I have been off this forum for a while, for no other reason than just life catching up with me. I am now re-kindling my interest in becoming the owner of a E Class W213 estate.

Do anyone have a link where I can download PDF user manuals, i.e. the books that are in the Glove Box when you buy a car. I have found the interactive ones but they do not seem to be very good, plus I like to be able to just dip in and read, without having a specific topic.

An American site unfortunately, hence an American version of the manual with their spelling and terminology in parts, but it does give you the general idea and takes an awful amount of reading to get through.

Click HERE and all shall be revealed.

Also I have seen a few vehicles that have been declared as Ex Rental. I have seen conflicting comments about buying ex rental on the internet.

Do any of the clever and experienced people on here have any thoughts positive or negative as to purchasing an ex rental?

I suppose that the positives are that it will have been serviced/maintained on time whereas the negatives could potentially be a multitude of drivers all treating it like they stole it. As the saying goes, a hire car is the fastest car known to man.

 

[MichaeW]

Daveenty,
Thank you for your reply. I will have a look at the site, I wonder how much difference there is between the spec of models here and those sold in the USA apart of course from the position of the steering wheel?

That was my concern about rentals, although I suppose the fact that the 220D is automatic could mean there is less ability to ride the clutch, scream to the max in each gear etc etc. I also assume that the MB warranty still applies, I have had a look at it online and can see no exclusion for ex rental.

Thanks for your assistance.

Michael

 

[jimbg]

What age car are you looking to buy? Main dealers seem to have access to a large number of nearly cars at low prices.

 

[V6Matty]

Daveenty,
Thank you for your reply. I will have a look at the site, I wonder how much difference there is between the spec of models here and those sold in the USA apart of course from the position of the steering wheel?

That was my concern about rentals, although I suppose the fact that the 220D is automatic could mean there is less ability to ride the clutch, scream to the max in each gear etc etc. I also assume that the MB warranty still applies, I have had a look at it online and can see no exclusion for ex rental.

Thanks for your assistance.

Michael

Don’t kid yourself about screeming through the gears, they do, especially the pillocks that work for the rental company and are paid to move cars around the sites. Many a time I’ve be past by two or three in a convoy on the duel carriageway like I’m standing still (they’ll be doing in excess of 100mph), they really do treat them like they stole them, I’ve also seen many of them run out of talent and cause some pretty big messes

 

[MichaeW]

JimBg I am looking at 2018 onwards, and yes I have noticed that there does seem to be a few around at fairly low mileage.

V6 Matty yes I have observed that as well, also seen how they drive them around in the Hire Company's site. Hence my hesitation.

 

[V6Matty]

JimBg I am looking at 2018 onwards, and yes I have noticed that there does seem to be a few around at fairly low mileage.

V6 Matty yes I have observed that as well, also seen how they drive them around in the Hire Company's site. Hence my hesitation.

Best one I saw was where an employee came out of their site, pulling out in front of me in thick snow, racing off down the road and then at the corner going strait on into a lamppost, must have it hit it at about 40,

 

[jimbg]

I bought a October 2019 220d estate before Christmas and it was 40% below the original list price. I am sure there are even better deals now.

 

[bob 6600]

My experience of rental vehicles defleet is as follows. They are serviced correctly (if not then the defleet centre will service them). Everything has to be road legal so there shouldn't be any issues with bald tyres etc.
Each manufacturer will have a return standard which depends on how perfect they want their vehicles to be on return. Usually, it will allow an odd small ding/dent, small scuffs on the wheels. Mechanically though the car should be sound and interior shouldn't have any tears (if it does they would have charged the end user and so should have been repaired). Just be aware as daveenty said, it has probably been driven hard.

 

[Monday]

My experience of rental vehicles defleet is as follows. They are serviced correctly (if not then the defleet centre will service them). Everything has to be road legal so there shouldn't be any issues with bald tyres etc.
Each manufacturer will have a return standard which depends on how perfect they want their vehicles to be on return. Usually, it will allow an odd small ding/dent, small scuffs on the wheels. Mechanically though the car should be sound and interior shouldn't have any tears (if it does they would have charged the end user and so should have been repaired). Just be aware as daveenty said, it has probably been driven hard.

There are some curly bits in the small print though, at least for ex-PCP vehicles. Although defleet charges for repairs/tyres/replacement trim etc, they reserve the right not to carry them out snd accept a lower sale price. Not sure if what they haven’t fixed is clearly pointed out to the buyer? Most go into the trade at auction, I would imagine?

 

[bob 6600]

There are some curly bits in the small print though, at least for ex-PCP vehicles. Although defleet charges for repairs/tyres/replacement trim etc, they reserve the right not to carry them out snd accept a lower sale price. Not sure if what they haven’t fixed is clearly pointed out to the buyer? Most go into the trade at auction, I would imagine?

The one I used to visit had a fixed price. They charged the manufacturer a set fee to defleet their cars. They won on some, lost on others but on the whole they obviously made a profit. The manufacturer sold them off usually at a closed auction (trade). If the buyer (usually a dealer or known trader with an account with manufacturer) made a claim for something that was not mentioned, then the manufacturer would take it up with the defleet centre. Basically, the trade buyers knew to expect small imperfections on these cars but anything over and above that, they could make a claim.