I have just been offered a 1995 Mercedes E220 auto estate with a genuine 59k miles on the clock. It has had 4 owners and the bodywork is in very good condition. Main problem is the cloth upholstery which is pretty torn/shabby. Can anyone give me an idea as to the cost of re-upholstering? Also, I think I can get the car for around £1,500. Is this a decent car for the money and what should I check out before buying it?
Many thanks, Charles
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Hmm... 59k, four owners and shabby seats? I would be checking that mileage very carefully. Even with hard use I would expect the seat covering to be in good shape at that mileage.
If you do buy the car then I would first consider a set of s/hand seats from a Merc specialist breaker - possibly even go for leather. It will be a quick swap and shouldn't cost more than a few hunderd pounds, depending on covering and condition. If the miles are genuine and the car is in otherwise good nick then £1500 is a good price
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>>what should I check out before buying it?
Among the usual things to check are;
is the engine wiring loom OK - the insulation can go rotten from within
does the self levelling suspension at the rear work properly
is the rear suspension tight - there are quite a few links, and it's all too easy to spend lots of time and money to get this right
is the car watertight - particularly the rear loadspace side windows, check for rusty seams just below them
if fitted with aircon, does it work?
if its an auto, does drive and reverse engage quickly after selection, and are gearchanges smooth and flare free
I'm sure there's far more, but those are the first things which sprang to mind. I suspect Aprilia will be able to give chapter and verse!
Number_Cruncher
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e-Bay is another source for seats, but I share Aprilia's suspicions about the mileage, given the condition of the upholstery. If it turns out to be 159k, it could still have plenty of life if it has been looked after mechanically.
You'll find some useful information here (not a hotlink because it's basically an ad.):
www.w124.co.uk/
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Thanks for the advice all. Apparently the mileage is genuine (though I will clearly check) and the upholstery is badly stained on the rear seats and children's seats in the rear due to heavy child use but not sagging or torn.
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Ah, not torn? Then you might find that a professional valeting service can produce a remarkable result from a deep-cleaning process.
Here are some of the main MB sites for discussion groups and technical info.:
www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk/
www.mbclub.co.uk/
forums.mbworld.org/forums/
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P.S. Get a good independent specialist (who knows the model intimately) to do a pre-purchase inspection. It will cost you £150 or so, but might save you £1500 or at least enable you to get £000s knocked off the asking price. If you need help finding one, let us know roughly where the car is. Do this even if you know and trust the vendor.
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A good question to ask on a car such as this is .
How long has the previous owner had the car? If long time, good answer. If short time, why?
And the owner previous too.
Just a few years ago this car would have meant someone spending serious money on it to buy it. If it has moved quickly since there is usually a reason for someone to lose much money.
if you find 1 or 2 owners have bought and sold quickly then buy with caution!
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Just had conversation with owner. He has owned car in London since 2002 as a family vehicle and has put only 10k miles on it doing shopping trips and other short journeys within London. Before that it was owned by a friend , also in London, who was an expat from the US who also hardly used it. Sounds as if it could be suffering from extreme under-use. Wife is selling to buy an A class.
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Under use but poor interior?
Doesn't quite add up in my book if honest!
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So it's sat around doing nothing for longish periods, or it's been on short journeys around London at 10 mph top speed. What's the SH like? - |I doubt it's been over-maintained.
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I would be far more willing to own one which had double the miles of that one
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