Cars we love: buying a used Mercedes-Benz E-class saloon

13/09/10

With the E-class executive saloon so keenly priced second-hand it would be almost rude of us not to suggest one for your shortlist of cars to buy. At least, that is, if you’re after a solid, spacious, upper-crust saloon that’ll eat up the miles like few others can. And, writes Ray Castle of motors.co.uk, once you’ve driven one, we’re convinced that you’ll be even more eager to buy.

There’s a broad choice of cars at all ages. Here, we’ll stick with the model introduced in 2002 because even the first of these promise to be in good enough shape to give a good few years service yet. Older E’s can still make fine buys, but they’re riskier.

How much should I pay for one?
Think to spend at least £8000, although you could possibly pick up an early mega-miles example for less. As it is, that much typically gets a 2003, 53-reg E270 diesel Elegance that has covered 100,000 miles, is with its third owner, and comes with a fully stamped Mercedes service record.

Bring your budget up to £10,000 and you’ve enough to buy using Mercedes-Benz’s Approved Used scheme. This is the gold standard for second-hand Mercs, meaning that they’re fully checked over pre-sale and any faults are fixed. They then get a valet and a history check before going on sale and come covered by at least a year’s warranty. Your cash here is enough to get an eight-year-old E220 Classic that has covered a warranted 40,000 miles.

Increase your total spend to £12,000 and you’ll get a top-notch five year old example, perhaps an E270 Avantgarde diesel, that’s driven just 35,000 miles. Go to an independent dealer specialising in the make to pay that much: main dealers will charge a little more for such a car.

Finally, gather together £13,000 and you’ll buy a 56-reg E280 Elegance from a Mercedes dealer that’ll have covered 60,000 miles.

Which model is best?
There are seven power units to choose between, petrol and diesel, and four trim levels. We’d advise going for the smallest motors, found in the E200 (petrol) and E220 (diesel) and the cheapest Classic trim. Such a car gives 9-10ths of the best of the car – comfort, low noise, an absorbent, road-hugging ride – but cheaper. And modest engine power works well with the car’s relaxed driving manners. They’re a better match, in fact, than the bigger, multi-cylinder power units. Low-end models will also be far cheaper to insure, tax and service. Meanwhile, even the entry model Classic has wood trim, alloy wheels, six airbags and air conditioning.

Whichever you go for, we’d always pick one with an automatic gearbox – if only because the foot-operated parking brake turns hill starts using a manual gearbox into a struggle.

Avantgarde and sport models have bigger alloy wheel sand stiffer suspension, making them more responsive to steer but also firmer over the bumps. If you prefer a cushy ride, stick with the Classic or Elegance.

Remember too that Mercedes offered a huge choice of extras from new. For this reason you’ll find that few second-hand ones are alike – so look around until you find one that has your preferred specification. Don’t pay over the odds for a car loaded with extras, though. While they’ll have cost plenty when new, ‘loaded’ cars command little extra when second-hand.

If you go for one that has built-in sat-nav, be aware that a set of updated map discs could cost more than you’d spend on a good portable unit.

Where should I buy from?
Independent dealers specialising in these cars will be the first place we’d send you to. Most regions will have a few but sound out your local ones by asking for feedback from owners’ web forums. Mercedes-Benz main dealers prepare cars beautifully and offer the best warranties but prices can be high. You can also buy used cars direct from Mercedes-Benz Retail, online or at eight sales centres across the UK.

Finally, you could find a few choice one-owner, low-mileage cars among the private-seller ads. It’s always worth a look.

What should I watch for?
Colour choice will have a big effect on the car’s value come the time to sell it. Silver, grey and pale metallics look good and sell easily. Black is OK, too. But dark blue makes the car look dull and heavy while white also looks unhappy.

Otherwise, the E-class is strong mechanically. If serviced, it needs little more than new tyres and brakes as needed to keep going. The electrics, however, can play up, especially on older cars. Try every button and switch to ensure that all is working and also watch the dash warning lamps to ensure that they all come on at start-up and then go off.
The electronics on older cars draw on the battery when the car’s parked, meaning that you can return after a week to discover that the battery’s flat. Fitting an extra-capacity battery usually solves the problem.

For more great car buying advice and to view and buy new and second-hand cars, click on to motors.co.uk. Surf the web using your mobile phone? Go to http://mobile.motors.co.uk/ or text ‘motors’ to 65056 and we’ll send you a link. If you’ve an iPhone, you can download the motors.co.uk app for free. Go to the ‘utilities’ section of the iTunes store.