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Thinking about an old (i.e. H-reg or something similar) Mercedes-Benz estate to replace our Peugeot 505, but worried about running costs and prices for parts. Any advice?
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i would buy a mercedes E - class estate, the servicing costs shouldnt be that bad if you get the work done by a specialist, parts prices will probably be cheaper than your 505's, because the 505's parts are very hard to find, also these cars will last a VERY long time if serviced properly, the estates are spacious. the only problem is that alot of taxi drivers use these cars, so check to see if its been a taxi, also look at the current car that the seller has because if its got taxi equipment inside, its obvious that the merc has been a taxi too.
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Parts are reasonable from such places as Europarts,early nineties and late eighties E class were built like tanks look for heavy disc wear ,check out the clutch if its manual and that the load sensor works on estates (this can be expensive).
mph is heavy on all petrols but diesels can be quite frugel thats if you can find a good diesel.From 95 on quality went down hill very quickly.
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I have just changed (via a saab) from a 505 to Merc E320 estate. You will not believe the difference!! They are fantastic and built to last forever.
I guess we were in the same boat as you i.e. early 90's car. Try to go post 1990 which had the plastic bottom half. Finding one with non intergalactic mileage at a sensible price is hard. Agree with previous post. Check break disks, head gasket (6 cylinder) and ensure s/h with Merc specialist. We ended up with a 94 M with 140k on the clock for what I thought was silly money. Even though it has done that mileage, it was in better nick than several 70k cars we saw and our specialist said it was A1. Worth waiting for a good one as even at a specialist, you can clock up a serious bill. Parts prices (even Merc) not too bad.
If you are not fussy about leather (I don't like it), you will get much better value as it seems to be what other people want. Of course, check out the car-by-car breakdown on this site for more useful info.
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I've had Mercs for several years. Always buy an auto. Buy one with 7 seat option if you can (both of these will help re-sale considerably). A centre arm rest is also very desireable. Drivers seat back rest usually begins to wear by your right elbow at about 120k, as does the steering wheel (if Plastic). Parts prices from German and Swedish will surprise you (cheap). Buy the best you can afford, get it inspected, and you'll have a car for life!
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Merc estates, great to run cheap on parts but avoid MB dealers. Buy the same part at 1/4 price from specialists such as Euro Car Parts.
Petrol engines bigger is best and more economical. 200TE is a thirsty gutless dog.
300TE is economical and pulls like a train, great towing vehicle. 4-Matic is the ultimate and the only auto Merc to drive in snow!
Great fun watching other Mercs as you glide past on snow/ice roads and hills.
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But the Volvo 900 series estates are bigger, better, faster and just as rust proof.
Merc has better image, but I would go for a Volvo 900 anytime, the 2.9 24V 960 pertrol has leather plus all the toys - just got the MPG to watch.
940 more MPG, 940 HPT almost as quick, massive old style bumpers o 90 - 94 {ish} models, later models went for flimsey modern bumpers - that can't take bumps !
Paul
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But the Volvo 900 series estates are bigger, better, faster and just as rust proof.
Merc has better image, but I would go for a Volvo 900 anytime, the 2.9 24V 960 pertrol has leather plus all the toys - just got the MPG to watch.
940 more MPG, 940 HPT almost as quick, massive old style bumpers o 90 - 94 {ish} models, later models went for flimsey modern bumpers - that can't take bumps !
Paul
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