124 series E Class , help re:buyer pitfalls

[shoee]

Hi

I'm thinking about buying a 1993-1995 E class Auto estate, probably 200 or 230, basically it is a second car for family transport, probably only do 7-8k per year and keep for 5 yrs min.
Looks like there are lots in the 70k to 100k miles around £4-6k. Have been told they run on for ever, very reliable, last of the really well built cars etc.

What are the things to look out for on these cars, and what are the major expense areas ?

Would they be much more expensive to maintain than say a Volvo 850 ?

Any other help/advice much appreciated

Peter

[james]

The 2 things to look for are a full MB service history, and no crash damage.

Get those 2 things, and you're laughing. My wife still drives my old 300 TE, and it's knocking on 200,000 miles. 70k is just barely run in

[rospa]

I've got a 1995 E220 auto petrol (saloon) - Done 170k without any major problems. Still drives the same way as I did when I bought it (on 21K miles)

Beware of the local MB dealer. I am 99% sure they were doing unnecessary work on mine and claiming from the RAC (warrnty company).

Will be keeping this for life.

[toby tucker]

Mine' a '94 estate with 105k on the clock which I've had since new - theres absolutely nothing ever gone wrong with my car in nearly 10 years of ownership- all i've spent money on is consumables like tyres , pads, discs battery exhaust etc. Its worth less than £4k now and it's still in immaculate condition. It confortable and I cannot think of anything that is as practical or as reliable. I can see me still owning mine for another 10 year/100k miles and it will still be worth £1k +

Toby

>> Edited by toby tucker on Wednesday 24th December 19:45

[TonyF]

Started Mercedes ownership in 1997 with a new E300TD Estate, kept it for 3 years...perfect, then P/ex it for a new E320 cdi Estate...perfect, then 4 months ago P/ex that one for the new shape E320 cdi Estate with all the singing and dancing bits on it, i"m now in heaven, I have never owned such a nice car and can never see me changing to another marque. And they will go on forever, the only expense I have ever had with any of them has been the routine main dealer servicing.

Regs

Tony.