ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!)

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 14:09
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - chesterfieldhouse

Hello, l would be grateful of peoples opinion on a Mercedes ML250 (diesel 2.1 auto) 2013 plate.

After over 10 years of service the family car, a Seat Alhambra 1.9 diesel is nearing the end, As l'm now retired, we don't generally do too many miles, though we do have a static van on the coast & 2 dogs to accomadate in the car.

l had pretty well settled on a Honda CRV 2.2 diesel (manual) as a replacement. However, a cousin of my wife has the Merc as a lease car which comes to an end next spring. Having a chat to him at a BBQ last weekend, he said he has the opportunity to buy the car for £13,500 & would be willing to sell it on to me for the same price.

As this is a premium car & more than l've spent on any vehicle before, general advice as to the deal, the car, running costs, repairs, spares etc would be of interest. Thanks.

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 14:19
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - RT

The running costs, including insurance, servicing and repairs will be the same as if you'd bought a brand new one - if you are comfortable running a £50,000 car then go for it.

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 18:13
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - daveyjp
I would reconsider having a diesel if you don't do the mileage.

Unless you have a reliable independent MB specialist as soon as you take an ML to a main dealer the bill will start at close to £500.
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Sat 6 Aug 2016 18:28
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - RobJP

I would agree with the above comments.

A three year old, £40k+ car for £13.5k will undoubtedly have high mileage, and plenty of components reaching the end of life, and repair / replacement of those components will not be cheap.

In addition, low annual mileage and modern diesel engines do not go well together. DPF problems await.

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 19:32
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - madf

People who run seconnd hand Mercs and think they can do so for the costs of a popular car really need to be very lucky , have a great independent or be able to afford the odd bill for £1.5k (or more).

I knew a man who owned a new top of teh range S class . His annual bills were £1000s and it was reliable - as a Mercedes can be.

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 21:00
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - chesterfieldhouse

Thanks all for the response and opinion. Though the kudos of the car appeals, it scares me a little as to the overal running costs. l guess the mileage to the merc will be something in the region of 100k, so yes potential components coming to the end of there life. l take the point as to relatively low miles & consideration as to a petrol vehicle; l'll keep that in mind.

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Sat 6 Aug 2016 22:34
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - gordonbennet

edit, start again.

If its been serviced well and used sensibly and this care continues, especially if you have a handy MB indy, then i see no reason why it shouldn't give good service for many years to come.

Edited by gordonbennet on 06/08/2016 at 22:36

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 01:09
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - Avant

I'm sure it will, GB - but it'll cost a lot in maintenance and replacements to ensure it does.

As you and I have often said on here, this 3-year-old Mercedes is a different proposition to your fine old 1990s model which you maintain yourself. Even supposing the OP has your mechanical expertise, sadly it isn't just mechanicsal engineering that's needed nowadays.

I'd suggest a petrol Honda CRV - we get hardly any complaints about petrol Hondas. And it too will last for years.

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 18:14
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - gordonbennet
I'd suggest a petrol Honda CRV - we get hardly any complaints about petrol Hondas. And it too will last for years.

Funny you should mention that, after more than 5 years of good service from their 05 plate CRV Diesel, my son and his wife have just bought (not yet collected) a 2013 petrol CRV SR spec which has only done 20k, Honda approved used and they've got an extra 2 years Honda warranty at a bargain price to sweeten the deal so 3 years under Honda cover...he gets my share of luck honestly.

That car will do lots of 5 mile journeys to the station in the hands of that fine young woman so Diesel with DPF was ruled out from the start, if it serves them as well as the old one they'll have no complaints.

I've got older less agile and definately lazier, so the MB gets very little maintenance from me any more, and to be honest my indy is so good and reasonably priced its almost not worth me doing the work.

Still maintain the Subaru and Landcruiser, but being Japanese they were designed to be maintained from scratch, well apart from spark plugs on the Scooby that is, just don't go there..:-)

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 20:46
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - DirtyDieselDogg

Not knowing the reasons for stating the Alhambra has "reached the end of its life", but I do know a couple of guys locally that have sniffed out Audi's with the 1.9 130BHP engines, presumably Pump Deuse?, to be lifetime keepers, barring accidents.

From those glory days of german diesel technology.

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Sun 7 Aug 2016 21:46
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - barney100

I'm on my 4th Merc, 2 'c' class, a CLK and now an SLK. I also have an 'S' class on loan while they fix my wifes Volvo....don't ask me why they gave us a new 'S' class but I'm not moaning! Merc servicing comes with 2 levels, a routine one and a thorough one bi annually. Can't say the Mercs have been much more expensive to service than the Volvos or indeed a VW from the past. If you get one of those private warranties, join the owners club, and find a good indie then as with all cars you need a bit of luck. This 'S' class is something else and really is out of my price range but If I win the lottery I'll have one in a flash.

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Tue 16 Aug 2016 21:14
ML250 - Merits of a Merc (or not!) - chesterfieldhouse

Just a response to the interesting point that DirtyDieselDog made about the 1.9 PD engine, in as much as l fully agree. The Alhambra does have the PD & is on 263K mileage, still going strong. Nothing wrong with the engine & has been ultra reliable, though other componants are failing, mainly trim & internals.

If it wasn't for the problems of parking where we live l would keep the Alhambra & buy a convertable for running about.

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