Facelift, so 07 on W211 estate is the one to go for, 4 cyl engine is surprisingly good E220/250, and in private hire use round here get used for 400,000 well maintained miles and sold on still running well.

The bigger engines are obviously faster but you tend to get more complicated gearboxes with them.

Don't know about a Passat being sensible, electric parking brake being the obvious ticking time bomb.

Yes, l had heard that the electronic brake on the Passat was causing a few problems. As you say, there must be something in high mileage use, perhaps more expensive to buy & run; but in the long term.........

Yes the good indy is a must, those private hire Benz' i mentioned earlier are maintained old school from new at my MB specialist indy.

Parts cost is part of the reason why those more restrained models are the ones to go for IMHO, having owned an older one thats top of the range for the past 13 years (you could go higher but special order with bored out engines etc) some of the regular parts are unique to the larger engined models and some parts can be 20X the price...eg a replaceable bottom ball joint on the more usual models being around £13 from MB, where the same part isn't replaceable on the top spec so its a new bottom arm wishbone @ around £250 each, a new heated rear window (its on its third cos they're laminated and are prone to delaminating) are £450 for an aftermarket well bought one.

Having said that MB's are very good for being able to buy individual parts from the main dealer where with other originally cheaper makes you end up buying a complete unit where a simple part costing pennies has failed, best sticking to the more usual models for this though, avoiding air suspension like the plague.

I mentioned facelift W211's, suggest the OP does make sure its a facelift so go 07 on and still check, lots of changes to the later model where some silly and stupidly expensive quirks on the pre facelift were ironed out.

Edited by gordonbennet on 17/02/2016 at 08:06

I have known only a few friends and acquaintances with MBs but without exception they have cost a fortune in both depreciation and service/repair costs. That is why I have been pleased that my decision to stick with carefully chosen used Audis since 1993 has proved to be a wise one.

The Brits, and especially the Asian community, appear to have an irrational fascination with the marque which in my opinion is totally unjustified.

They are also, IMHO, one of the few makes which have tended to look old when they are new. Audi, vice versa. I suggest the OP considers an A6 quattro estate if he doesn't want to be too sensible.

PS I have no connection with the firm, merely an admirer of their usually brilliant design and engineering, and their ethos which results in both their regular success at Le Mans and reliability of their more mundane products - with one or two exceptional blips.

I have known only a few friends and acquaintances with MBs but without exception they have cost a fortune in both depreciation and service/repair costs. That is why I have been pleased that my decision to stick with carefully chosen used Audis since 1993 has proved to be a wise one.

The Brits, and especially the Asian community, appear to have an irrational fascination with the marque which in my opinion is totally unjustified.

They are also, IMHO, one of the few makes which have tended to look old when they are new. Audi, vice versa. I suggest the OP considers an A6 quattro estate if he doesn't want to be too sensible.

PS I have no connection with the firm, merely an admirer of their usually brilliant design and engineering, and their ethos which results in both their regular success at Le Mans and reliability of their more mundane products - with one or two exceptional blips.

Ha....still wouldn't pay main dealer service prices; for any make. Thank you to all for your opinion, views & experience, lots to think about, as usual pros & cons. Will be looking to buy in the autumn, so plenty of time to try before l buy.