W211 V6 280 Sport Diesel buying advice please

[Big Rig]

I've always wanted one (sad but I loved them when I worked in Germany and went in lots as taxis) and this has come up locally which I might take a look at this weekend.

Is there anything financially ruinous I need to worry about/check apart from the other standard car inspection items? Also how much is the road tax for these?

This is the car for reference...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403188914817?hash=item5...

[crispian22]

Make sure that the gearbox has had a service.

[Dicky Knee]

I have a 2009 Estate. The Road Tax is £340.

Mine has been pretty reliable but just had a few big bills at about 130 000 miles.

Mass Airflow Sensor shorted out which was a few hundred through an independent. Front spring snapped which I replaced as a pair. About £300. New discs and pads all round was £600. I've also had several new alloys as well as a few welds as the lower profile tyres and heavy car make them vulnerable to potholes. Winter tyres make a massive difference in the cold and snow.

But, it is a great car and I have owned it since near new so those one off costs are cheap overall. It is pretty quick in real world driving, lovely torquey engine and quiet cruiser on the motorway.

Personally I would like to see the service records and what additional work has been carried out. Cars this old are a bit of a lottery but that one looks well cared for. Go for it.

Edited by Dicky Knee on Friday 1st October 10:52

[trevalvole]

You could ask in the Barge thread - quite a few people with experience of them there https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Big Rig]

trevalvole said:

You could ask in the Barge thread - quite a few people with experience of them there https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks will copy my post over onto there!

[Big Rig]

Dicky Knee said:

I have a 2009 Estate. The Road Tax is £340.

Mine has been pretty reliable but just had a few big bills at about 130 000 miles.

Mass Airflow Sensor shorted out which was a few hundred through an independent. Front spring snapped which I replaced as a pair. About £300. New discs and pads all round was £600. I've also had several new alloys as well as a few welds as the lower profile tyres and heavy car make them vulnerable to potholes. Winter tyres make a massive difference in the cold and snow.

But, it is a great car and I have owned it since near new so those one off costs are cheap overall. It is pretty quick in real world driving, lovely torquey engine and quiet cruiser on the motorway.

Personally I would like to see the service records and what additional work has been carried out. Cars this old are a bit of a lottery but that one looks well cared for. Go for it.

Edited by Dicky Knee on Friday 1st October 10:52

Thank you!

[donkmeister]

Big Rig said:

Is there anything financially ruinous I need to worry about/check apart from the other standard car inspection items?

As it's a 2006 you might have the fancy SBC braking system there. As you are stood looking at the engine, on your left (i.e. driver's side) at the front, look for something like an big ABS valve block. If it has SBC on the casting and a small pressure tank, then it's an SBC car.

These are fine, but it's worth knowing the SBC pump has an engineered-in lifespan. It counts the number of times you use the brakes and when it hits a particular threshold it decides the pump is end of life even though it might have much more life in it physically. Safety! In my experience a good indie can supply, fit and code a new one for around £1500 Inc VAT, a main dealer quoted £3k. That was a year or so pre-covid.

The good news is, if it is an SBC car you get hold and traffic modes.

[W201_190e]

Mercedes Benz are now replacing SBC failures free of charge in the UK.

[guitarcarfanatic]

W201_190e said:

Mercedes Benz are now replacing SBC failures free of charge in the UK.

Are you sure? Recent posts on MBWorld suggest people have been declined as recently as August. Less chance of legal action, than in the US (where they extended to 25 year warranty!).

Cheers,

Rob

[W201_190e]

guitarcarfanatic said:

W201_190e said:

Mercedes Benz are now replacing SBC failures free of charge in the UK.

Are you sure? Recent posts on MBWorld suggest people have been declined as recently as August. Less chance of legal action, than in the US (where they extended to 25 year warranty!).

Cheers,

Rob

Sorry for the late reply, yes.. I'm sure. Answer was straight from the horses mouth so to speak. The mate at a dealer said they have covered all the recent ones.