Should I buy this S430?

[mlc]

At the great old age of 49 I fancy trading up to an S class.

The background is:

Don't do company miles or get a car allowance.
Averaged 6k per year for the last 5 years.
Need a four door with room in the back as have to fit three in the back sometimes.

We have used my wifes car as the fun car for a number of years, currently an SLK, and I have had a series of sensible Fords, 2 Mondeos on the run for the last two.

I now fancy an older S class and since I do such a low milage fuel is not really relavant, so it should be petrol. I have been to see a couple of cars but today drove a 1999 S420. The car drove as new and appears to be in good physical condition, it has full MB service history but has done 175k miles.

The question is, how much should that mileage put me off? Viewing the interior of the car I really cant see any signs of the wear, the drive was smooth and quiet. MrsC is concerned that however wonderful an MB is its got to wear out eventually and I really dont know the answer to that one.

The price is £9.6k against a Parkers price of around £16k at 60k miles, but the adjustment is really too great to make any sense.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated, esepcially specific things to check on an extended road test.

Mark.

 

[Blobcat]

According to info I've found the S420 stopped in 1998 so it would be worth doing a check on the VIN No. Price wise, they range from £7,300 for below average condition to £9,600 for A1 quality. But price guides don't always reflect the market.
If you think it is a nice car with decent history and a good warranty then give it a go. Make sure all the electrics work.
I have thought about buying an S600 for a year as I have seen some at MB dealers for £23K with a years warranty. Doing around 36K miles pa prevents that 'madness' for the moment but if I get my miles down I will be sorely tempted.

 

[mlc]

Thanks for the comment.

The S420 was the previous model, 91 - 98 I think. This S430 is an early example of the model range that has just ended, S430's seem to have been available unto 2004.

Mark.

 

[television]

You are the same as me with your love for nice cars, why not offer £7k and see what happens,if you walk away at £8k, you can always go back half hour later. Nice car,but I cant have 3

Malcolm

 

[mlc]

thanks for the suggestion TV, the seller is a dealer so unlikely to move quite that much, but I could let him struggle with it for a week then offer the lower price.

The current score is that MrsC is winning, she thinks that the exposure is too high and reminds me of all the things I used to say against high mileage cars when I worked in transport.

The sad news is that £60k cars cost a lot to maintian, even when you only paid 15% of the original price

Mark.

 

[Blobcat]

I now fancy an older S class and since I do such a low milage fuel is not really relavant, so it should be petrol. I have been to see a couple of cars but today drove a 1999 S420. The car drove as new and appears to be in good physical condition, it has full MB service history but has done 175k miles.

Mark.

Appologies read the text (S420) rather than the title (S430), still I can only get a valuation on up to 150K miles and only then for £9,630 top book for a '99 V plate. As per Malcolm (TV) they may laugh at you but it is worth offering them £7K. Depends on how keen they are to move the metal.
Good Luck

 

[television]

Appologies read the text (S420) rather than the title (S430), still I can only get a valuation on up to 150K miles and only then for £9,630 top book for a '99 V plate. As per Malcolm (TV) they may laugh at you but it is worth offering them £7K. Depends on how keen they are to move the metal.
Good Luck

Ok I no longer sell cars, but when people come to buy something from me,its the hard story, just had water main replaced, and I only have X amount to spend and I have to take the cat to the vet, I let things go and reduce the guarantee accordingly.

Malcolm

 

[mlc]

thanks blobcat, and sorry for the typo!

the car is an earlier 1999, so on a T plate. I bought a parkers guide which would only go to 120k miles. I suspect that the reduction in value isnt linear so that the reduction for the 25k miles from 150 - 175k is more than from 125 to 150k, any suggests?

Mark.

 

[Blobcat]

Malcolm (TV) is right on the money (as usual) £9,000 top book and £7,000 bottom book, for a '99 T - again only for 150,000 miles.
If the car is right then as long as the servicing / worn out parts have been replaced then you may have a good one. I have noticed that mine at 103K runs better than it did at 17K when I got it. However I want to check all the suspension and bushes and replace any that are worn which I do not expect to be a short or cheap operation. If it has been regular serviced and averaging nearly 24,000 miles p.a. then in my opinion it is better than one which has very few miles on the clock from short journey's. I have 2 family members who are keen to take on my car when I finish with it when it will have >170,000 miles.

 

[jberks]

Personally I'm not sure I'd buy anything with 175k on it, however good. Ok the V8 is probably ok as those things rarely go over idle anyway, but gearbox? diff? , throttle actualtor, wheel bearings....?
Fair enough if there is a massive discount (doesn't sound like it) but high mileage V8 S classes are quite rare really as if you're going to do the mileage you get a diesel. I'd hang about for something with 100k or less that you can keep for a few years.