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Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - Phil F.

Good Morning,having had a rather challenging experience with a Jaguar XF in the past,I was wondering if the C or E class are sound used buys at 7 or 8 years old or just expensive trouble waiting to happen?I know the E class are commonly used up to very high mileages as taxis but are the maintenance costs still high?

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - barney100

I have had 3 Classes, a CLK, SLK, and now an E class 220. Maintenance at main dealers requires a deep wallet but in all fairness if a good indie is found Mercs (in my experience) are no worse for costs than many other makes. Have a good test drive to ensure all works and check the discs and pads etc are good.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - Phil F.

Thanks barney100,I am more leaning toward the E class actually as i like plenty of room lol!How old is yours?...Having never driven one,is the 220 engine reasonably quiet?....Thanks.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - Steveieb

If you can stretch to it have a look at the E 320 .The silky smooth V6 engine is a hard act to follow.

My MB indie recommends those which uses Ad blue and avoid the earlier ones except the pre DPF 2007 onwards models ( with the slatted headlights) which I have and I’d thoroughly recommend..

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - barney100

The 220 is a 2016 convertible. I thought for a while wether to get a 320 but was offered a 220 in excellent condition, the performance is fine but the 320 does give more oomph. It's reasonably quiet too.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - SLO76
What sort of budget are we talking about here? Mercs of this vintage aren’t the tough well made cars they were in the 80’s but the basics are ok, engines and gearboxes cars are generally robust but parts can be cripplingly expensive.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - elekie&a/c doctor

Couldn't agree more. Friend with an E220 diesel with ad blue came to a grinding halt after info display showed engine "no start" in 50 miles. Needed a new ad blue tank (£800) ,fitting and software update ,rolled out the garage with a bill for around £1500.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - Xileno

Was that £1500 main dealer or indie?

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - elekie&a/c doctor
Work done at main dealer, not much difference to indie , but hoping to get some goodwill contribution from MB . Star diagnostic system is for older cars , won’t touch this late vehicle , needs to be the on-line X- entry system .
Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - barney100

Main dealers? I needed a door handle fixing, dealers would only supply and fit a new door, similar price to the add blue tank. local indie took the door panel off and fixed it for £100. Mercs are very expensive at Merc garages but as I keep banging on you need a good indie and your costs are no worse than many other brands.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - Steveieb

Most important to find a MB specialist indie with the Star software.

I use my normal indie for general stuff but some faults need the specialist knowledge and software.

My indie was totally baffled by an engine fault and also the air suspension is tricky to fault find without Star.

My specialist Indie services all the Taxis locally and is stacked out with work, but has seen all the faults and has a stock of old cars to swap parts. He can recommend when to use pattern parts etc.

Next door is the Prius taxi specialist who also dismantles scrap cars for parts, These cars are in use 24 hrs and sometimes you see the main dealers bringing cars in which they can’t fix as they only see newish cars.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Good used buy or moneypit? - John F

Mercs are very expensive at Merc garages but as I keep banging on you need a good indie and your costs are no worse than many other brands.

Indeed. I have just supervised my son's front brake pad change on his 2012 100,000 mile S550. Easiest I have ever seen. Nothing to unscrew (apart from the road wheel lugs) and no fiddly spring clips. Just drive out a couple of retaining pins with a hammer and tommy bar, prise back pistons and remove old pads, insert new pads - both identical so doesn't matter which one goes where - drive pins back in - job done. Cost of pads $34.