High Mileage Merc Diesel- Would You ?

[Pantherman]

As. I am now in my 60th year , I am have been offered a pipe and slippers car and just wondered what the collective thought of the idea of a high mileage Merc.

I have been offered a 53 plate E 270 Cdi Avantgarde , one owner from new full service history and has had everything done that it has ever needed ,car is exceptionally clean condition however it has done 165 K miles.

I think the car is reasonably priced at £1800 and I have driven it and it feels tight and drives well , but I just have a doubt with it having such a lot of miles on it , I know it's not a lot of money but would you buy something with so much mileage on ?

[Boombang]

Guessing it's an auto - has it had the gearbox replaced at all?  If main dealer serviced, I do not believe they ever change box fluids as view as sealed for life (please check I am right though!).

 

That would be my one major reservation about such a car.  I'm basing that too on it not being a motorway car only rather than slushing through the cogs regularly.

[Pantherman]

Sorry yes it's a 5 speed tiptronic auto , fluid I know was changed at the last service and the sbc brake control unit was replaced approx two years ago.

[Lyonspride]

Personally I wouldn't, my mate had a C320 of that era, when it went wrong (needed a coil pack and a new rear suspension arm) Mercedes wanted £3500 for the work and each interim service was £800+ parts.

My m8 insisted on only using dealerships, but ive heard the home mechanic can't even check the oil levels on a Mercedes, computerised, no dipstick and only merc have the diagnostics equipment.

True or not, I wouldn't go near one.

Plus a company that markets cars towards people who buy a new one when the ashtray is full, do they care if it lasts more than a few years?

[blue ass fly]

On the flip side there are some very good independent specialists with merc software and ive just changed my 220cdi van at 320k that was still running perfectly and passing its mots

[Pantherman]

Yes, it's not so much the maintenance that bothers me , my best mate is a MB technician and runs an independent specialist so has all the software and access to cheap parts it's the fact that the car has done 165 k !

My mate has looked after the car for the last three years and says it's a good one, just the thought of 165 k on same engine probably because I started driving in the 70's when 60 k was seen as a lot !

[iain m]

It's probably going to be ok for a year or two but when it has a major problem the cost will undoubtedly exceed the value of the car,  to quote Clint Eastwood " are you feeling lucky ?". Often high mileage cars have better longevity than low mileage examples.

[John Fisher]

There were issues with the transmission oil cooler (Valeo). They leaked coolant into the transmission fluid.

Injector issues can be expensive.

Just have a look on the MB forums for more info. However, these can be a scary read!

On the other hand, it may be perfectly OK.

You pays your money............

Fish

[ALLADDIN]

Eastern europeans laugh at the British fear of mileage.

I wouldn't be concerned from reliability point of view, if you can write the 2 grand off from day one then every day it runs is a bonus? It will always be worth 500 so it's a 1500 gamble ? Get 3yrs and its free In Reality. Don't pay for exensive servicing now tho as the mounting mileage will keep value down.

[Lyonspride]

We don't fear mileage, we fear having an inferior car to the neighbours.

[XTR2Turbo]

The 270CDI is a very noisey diesel and not that desirable when new compared to the larger 6 cylinder.

 

If running high mileage motors I would stick to petrol barges like Lexus or BMW.

 

David

[Dibby]

With a German diesel I wouldn't worry about the mileage. My BMW 320d is still passing MOTs with 220k on the clock. 

 

Keep expecting something expensive to pop up on the MOT but it keeps on trucking and I'd have another one when this one eventually dies.

 

 

Edit ... I know it's a totally different car and engine, but everyone's an armchair expert now we have the internet 

[BudSlater]

I would take a slightly different view and compare it to a lower mileage example of the same model. If it's £100 different, you're not going to do it. If it's £2k different, is it worth the risk bearing in mind that repairs are not always to do with mielage. I had an autobox on a BMW go at 45K miles......

[Pantherman]

Not that bothered about the neighbours , they don't like my Norton Commando when I start up !

Hear what everyone says, I think the car seems to be about £1500 cheaper that what they seem to sell for on the Bay.

I just want to try a big old barge and for the money if it lasts for 10 k miles , it's cost nowt and probably get shipped to Africa and get £500 for it.

Think I am going to do it !

[SootySport]

It's only £1800, I would risk it.  I guess it is a Euro4 type engine so  no DPF to worry about but will have a EGR thingy that needs cleaning now and again.   Have a close listen for a noisy turbo and too much black smoke when accelerating hard.