Uncle's Offer - Is it ok please?

[jellikins]

Hi,

My Uncle has an R reg C180 Esprit with 186,000 miles on the clock. The car has been serviced every year, FSH and he has had it from new.

The bodywork is immaculate and he wants 2500 pounds for it.

Mileage bit high due to business miles, but he never thrashes it and drives very steady.

Car is due a service.

I really like it and would love to buy, wife scared of mileage and cost of any repairs.

Would appreciate views please.

 

[Bolide]

High miles C Class

At £2500 I don't really see what you have to lose

I'd get it regularly serviced by a local independent and run it till it drops. If the bodywork and interior are in good condition I think the mileage is immaterial

All cars have the capacity to spring big bills on you. But one that you know, and that's been serviced on the button, is less likely to do so

I can't comment on price as I don't know the C Class

I have a feeling you're going to be posting on this forum in about 3 years time as the chap who bought a pristine car off his Uncle and loves it...


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Parrot of Doom]

The mileage is nothing, its likely been up and down the motorway all its life doing constant speed and rpm, hardly touching the brakes or changing gear.

I'd be much more worried about a similarly aged car, but with low mileage, thats been pootling around town all its life, stopping and starting, changing gear, bumping over potholes etc.

For £2500 its a steal.

 

[jellikins]

Sounds promising, might print that off and show the Mrs!!

Any more thoughts anyone?

 

[RichardMerc]

Sounds great to me ! Too good to be true - any merc from a trusted owner, and a full service history, at the right price is good news. Book price would be more - why not buy a price guide and run the maths.... or try parkers.co.uk. and they'll value the car at that age and mileage - it'll be leverage for any negotiation !!

I had an n-reg C180 and an R-reg C180 - i did the first 100k in both and never had an issue. My current S-eg E-class is at 160k and running fine.

Don't worry - do it !

 

[DAD190E1990]

If it was my uncle, i would be making him service it for me and include it in the price, oh and get a full tank of fuel out of him too.

 

[jellikins]

ok, I biught it on Monday and have driven it to work this week.

It is absolutely immaculate, white, esprit with very classsy low profile suspecnsion etc.

The only thing missing is a nice set of alloys. Any advice in buying these?

Price is a consideration!

 

[maddog]

ok, I biught it on Monday and have driven it to work this week.

It is absolutely immaculate, white, esprit with very classsy low profile suspecnsion etc.

The only thing missing is a nice set of alloys. Any advice in buying these?

Price is a consideration!

ebay is your friend

 

[jellikins]

mmmmmmmmm, thought that when saw lots of alloys on there. Some replica ones too seem cheap, they any good?

What wheel size and width etc do I need for my c180 Esprit 1998 please?

 

[cubicincubi]

hope it does you proud - mileage shouldnt be a concern for the engine but the box may not see past 200K.

whats wrong with the wheels? roughly £30 per corner will see them refurbished.

best of luck with it

 

[jellikins]

Box?
Sorry for my ignorance, what do you mean by the box not lasting beyond 200K?

 

[davidC200K]

jillikins

Sounds like a good buy to me. If you want to fit alloys do some research first before you bid on anything. Do a Google search on alloy wheel sizing. Here is an example site http://www.tyresave.co.uk/choose.html but there are loads of similar sites. Check the results against your handbook.

You need to know the relevant sizes that the car is designed to accept, particularly what is called the Offset indicated by a figure prefixed by the letters ET, eg ET36 (it indicates the distance in between the centre of the wheel and the inside face of the tyre) so that you don't get scuffing against struts or bodywork. All looks confusing at first but its actually pretty straight forward.

You can pick up some bargains on ebay and if you are going to run the car for your own benefit you could go for replica wheels rather than OEM Merc wheels which will cost more. Whatever you fit you should also invest in a set of locking wheel nuts so that they stay on the vehicle. :wink:

Good luck

david

 

[cubicincubi]

Box?
Sorry for my ignorance, what do you mean by the box not lasting beyond 200K?

apologies - I meant gear box, It may need an overhaul. My box is the same as yours I believe (if yours is an auto which I suspect) granted tho mine has had to pull harder.

By the service history and use hopefully it'll hold out for a few years yet

 

[jellikins]

mine is manual!

Is that better or worse?

Certainly feels very smooth and not notchy at all.

 

[cubicincubi]

better I guess as theres less to go wrong.

have you posted any pics of the car yet?

 

[jellikins]

no not yet, will take one this weekend and post it up.