Mercedes Full Service History and Lower Miles Vs No Service History and High Miles - Is It Worth Paying a Premium?

paraneoplastic on 25/05/2021 - 10:01
Last edited 25/05/2021 - 10:09 by 1 other user

Looking at buying a fun car, two options I have found, both are the exact same German sports car

A). 100,000 kms, full service history at Mercedes and 1 owner

B). 180,000 kms, initially 3yrs servicing at Mercedes then very blotchy service history, multiple owners

A is asking for 35% more than what B is selling for, it won't be a daily car just a weekend fun car

Both cars fall within the expected market value with their respective mileage.

My question is, is it worth paying a premium for a complete servicing history and 1 owner vs option B.

Poll Options

  • 81
    Get option A, 35% premium worth
  • 3
    Get option B
Automotive Car Mercedes-Benz

Comments

  • holdenmg on 25/05/2021 - 10:04
    +18

    Option C: None of the above.

  • oscargamer on 25/05/2021 - 10:04
    +5

    Get A but negotiate price down to B

  • Muzeeb on 25/05/2021 - 10:08

    C63 AMG?

    • paraneoplastic on 25/05/2021 - 10:29
      +1

      Not that high yeild haha

      • Muzeeb on 25/05/2021 - 10:39
        +3

        A250 AMG with all the bells and whistles?

        • JimB on 25/05/2021 - 12:07
          +1

          What's with the secrecy?

          • waterbottled on 25/05/2021 - 12:25
            +4

            @JimB: I have a hunch op doesn't want to disclose what model and year in fear they'll be flamed by ozb as a loser of sorts for not getting a golf gti or Toyota camry

            • JimB on 25/05/2021 - 12:28
              +1

              @waterbottled: Or that we will buy it from underneath him lol

              • waterbottled on 25/05/2021 - 12:48

                @JimB: Yeah that too lol

              • paraneoplastic on 25/05/2021 - 14:51

                @JimB: This ^ is why, hahaha

                • JimB on 26/05/2021 - 11:47

                  @paraneoplastic: haha, I don't know think anyone is going to be interested in the same cars as you, otherwise it would have been sold by now.

                  Oh, to answer your question- option A.

  • SF3 on 25/05/2021 - 10:09
    +1

    My question is, is it worth paying a premium for a complete servicing history and 1 owner vs option B.

    *is it worth payment for 35% extra, for 45% less mileage on the odometer.

    • Tleyx on 25/05/2021 - 10:37

      Agree the extra kms should be a fair bit of the 35 percent

  • Darayus on 25/05/2021 - 10:20
    -1

    yes its worth since MB will cover you for all repairs they had done earlier and also well service car with low KM gives peace of mind as you will save on repairs.

    • mini2 on 27/05/2021 - 11:49
      +1

      No they don't. Once the car is >5 years, who cares if every single service has been done by a Merc dealer, head office will not hand out goodwill repairs. You could argue with them via ACL.

  • knasty on 25/05/2021 - 10:44
    +1

    I faced a similar decision process when looking for my practical family saloon (ie '07 E63 AMG). Most I saw had a good service history for the first few years then chequered after that. I held out for one which was dealer serviced on time from '07 - '19 which I would have paid a premium for but actually managed to still negotiate a good deal. Regular oil changes are a must and any hint of missing services are a deal breaker.

    On the topic get familiar with both local and foreign parts suppliers as that will greatly reduce your inevitable service bill. I use fcpeuro.com or spareto.com. As an example my front rotors were about US$250 from FCPEuro; Sparesbox has exactly the same rotors for $2140..

    • JimB on 25/05/2021 - 12:34

      I'm happy to buy an old european car, but the only way is to source parts yourself.

      I have a couple of 10+ years old euros, no service history after 100k as by then I service them myself.. simple oil change once a year etc.. I figure that when the cars are 20 years old they are close to the scrap heap so the log book servicing isn't worth the paper it's stamped on. I'm up to 196k and 165k. I'm secretly hoping someone will rear end us…. not enough to be injured but enough to write off the cars.. lol

      I've found FCP Euro shipping is sooo expensive.

      Check out Runautoparts.com.au I buy most of my maintenence filters from them and some spare parts.

      • knasty on 25/05/2021 - 13:48

        Yeah you raise a good point picking the right insurer is important when you put some cash into an older car.

        Shipping can be prohibitive for 1 item but when you're buying a few together it can still work out economical if the parts are 1/3 of the cost.

      • turbochris on 27/05/2021 - 08:04

        Also rockauto.com - usually cheapest

        • JimB on 27/05/2021 - 15:06

          I'll try to remember rockauto in future when I need some parts.

          rockauto.com website reminds me of websites designed in the late 90s.. lol..

          I had a quick look.. prices are pretty good, hopefully shipping won't be a killer. from past experience shipping from the USA is much more expensive than from the Europe, particularly the UK.

          • turbochris on 28/05/2021 - 08:33
            +1

            @JimB: Yea the website is a shocker to look at but surprisingly functional. Shipping seems to be better than other sites and you can see which parts are in the same warehouse as others in your cart to minimise shipping. I used to always use FCP euro but Rockauto pricing is better and the FCP return guarantee concept is awesome but not practical to return things from Oz.

            AutohausAZ is another one I have used who have recently sharpened up their pricing so worth a look too.

  • Bid Sniper on 25/05/2021 - 10:48
    -1

    Which year and model?

    Personally wouldn't touch a euro car out of warrenty with over 100,000km. Near 200,000km be surprised it still runs

    • brendanm on 25/05/2021 - 13:34
      +1

      Near 200,000km be surprised it still runs

      Lol

    • thrillhouse on 26/05/2021 - 07:53
      +2

      This stigma against European car reliability is getting a bit ridiculous. Provided there is a comprehensive servicing history, a European (specifically, German) car will live a long and happy life.

      • Bid Sniper on 26/05/2021 - 11:00

        A lot "German" cars are not even built in Germany, usually only their top end are made in Germany. Their volume model are built in South Africa for example and have questionable build quality.

        Also from what seen lot of owners tend to do "deferred maintenance" from used Euro cars I see on the market. Yes if taken care of will last but usually they are not.

  • jace88 on 25/05/2021 - 10:57

    Depends which model and the types of things which may/could've gone wrong with that model/year.

    But generally speaking, unless option B is dirt cheap (i.e. you're willing to write off the investment, or the cost of your time/effort/parts in fixing things), I'd go option A. European cars do have a reputation for big repair bills so I'd be mindful, but if the car is a bit older, you may not need to go to the three pointed star branded workshops.

  • pegaxs on 25/05/2021 - 11:07
    +1

    Yeah… "fun car" right up until the first thing that goes pear shaped with it. See you back here when it does.

    35% is a silly comparison, because if car A is $6,500 and Car B is $5,000, go with option A. If car A is $65,000 and car B is $50,000, they are both dreaming…

    • jace88 on 25/05/2021 - 11:46
      +3

      I feel without knowing what the car itself is or the actual price range in absolute terms, it's really hard to land a view or even a tentative one.

  • uzz30 on 25/05/2021 - 11:46
    +1

    As a daily driver, no question Option A is the one to go for.

    But…. as a weekend toy, there is a case where Option B becomes a prospect, that might not be at a 35% discount though. Perhaps 50%?

    Either way, do your homework. Google for common problems with the model, find out if these cars have them, or have had them fixed. Some absolutely glorious AMG cars have extremely serious mechanical demons awaiting the unsuspecting buyer, see C63 head bolt failure for example

    Find yourself an excellent local mechanic specialising in Euro's and preferably Mercedes Benz. Having a great mechanic on your side (not the $$$ dealership) makes all the difference in ownership experience. To find one, search the Mercedes Benz forums (eg https://www.benzworld.org/forums/australia-new-zealand.123/) or ask around. If you can't find one, then either seriously reconsider your purchase, or be prepared to have deep pockets for your local Mercedes Benz dealer.

    Once you find that local mechanic, have them pre-purchase inspect the vehicle(s) on your shortlist for an honest appraisal of their condition. This should assist greatly with your decision to buy.

    Source: I own a > 10 year old Mercedes Benz V8 with over 100,000km. It's affordable to own because I do a lot of my own work and I have a great local independent mechanic.

  • Hithere on 25/05/2021 - 11:46
    +1

    Option A then a visit to your bank manager for a large loan to pay for the inevitable expenses involved in buying a second hand Euro which is out of warranty unless you are a motor mech with Euro experience.

  • Euphemistic on 25/05/2021 - 12:28
    +3

    If you have to ask this question you shouldn’t be considering a Mercedes.

  • SJDR on 25/05/2021 - 13:58
    +2

    I would only buy a used Euro that had absolutely no expense spared on it.
    You don't want one that the owner skimped on repairs.

    I bought an 8 year old E90 BMW a few years ago - looked at loads and finally settled on one with full dealer service history, all the options and really well looked after.
    So many had skipped services, or serviced at Kmart, or had the run-flat tyres replaced with regular tyres etc.
    It's just too big a gamble.

    I had to pay a couple of thousand more than I wanted on it, but I've done 90,000km in it and only replaced the thermostat.

    • Muzeeb on 25/05/2021 - 17:24
      +1

      and only replaced the thermostat

      Which cost me $2549

      • SJDR on 26/05/2021 - 14:12
        +1

        Which cost me $2549

        Not quite - $120, which isn't bad for a complete housing, including all the electrical bs in it.

        Euro cars aren't always drug money to repair (if you can avoid oe parts)

    • brendanm on 25/05/2021 - 22:14
      +6

      Replacing run flats with normal tyres is an upgrade.

      • User210686 on 26/05/2021 - 07:50

        I was gonna say that, but maybe the normal tyres being referred to here were the cheap ones.

      • SJDR on 26/05/2021 - 14:06

        Correct. The ride is better and they are half the price.
        I've replaced them with regular (decent) tyres. (I also don't get it serviced at BMW)
        However when buying a used potential money pit I went the 'no expense spared' previous owner option.

  • Aido-3927 on 26/05/2021 - 08:38
    +1

    I have owned two Mercedes work vans (Sprinter and Vito) and my Parents own 3 Mercs (20+ year old SLK, 2014 SLK and 2014 ML) and that full official Mercedes history is INVALUABLE. These cars are expensive to service, expensive to fix, stuff definitely does go wrong and having a solid service history is very important, as is having a good relationship with your Merc service department (my parents travel 1.5 hours to the next city over for their services as they do a more thorough job and treat them better).

    In my opinion coming from a former Merc owner and knowing other Merc owners, option A is the only option, otherwise it's neither.

    • mini2 on 27/05/2021 - 11:53

      I don't know anymore actually with dealers consistently charging $220+ an hour and 3+ hours for a Service B, it gets spendy real quick then $50 for an oil filter, $120 for a combi filter, another $200 for oil…nevermind an hour's labour for spark plugs then $35 each spark plugs.

      • Aido-3927 on 28/05/2021 - 08:08

        I feel like with Mercedes it's worth it, especially the newer ones. My parents' cars go through the wringer each time, they do a full diagnostic and find faults that may not have resulted in a breakdown yet, but may in future. The ML had a pending AdBlu problem that was sorted out by the dealer for example.
        The services are expensive, Mercedes ownership is expensive. In my opinion, people who aren't happy with expensive servicing and parts shouldn't really be buying one. But that's just me.

        • mini2 on 28/05/2021 - 13:18

          Not sure if you still think it's worth it when a big-ticket item requires replacement - my W164 recently require its front axle replaced because good old Merc wouldn't just sell the outer CV joint on its own. A1643300801, look it up. Retail just under $3k, trade $2.7k or bring one over from the states for about $1.5k landed. Book time 2.x hours to R&R it. It was awful.

          • Aido-3927 on 24/06/2021 - 10:39

            @mini2: Well, I did say expensive to fix! They're a premium car with a premium price tag in ALL aspects, from servicing to consumables to OEM parts.

            Didn't want to just buy non-genuine? You can find them for less than a couple hundred bucks.

            As I said, they're expensive to fix, and for everything. It's part of ownership.

            • mini2 on 24/06/2021 - 11:55

              @Aido-3927: A family friend sell and repair CV/axle shafts for a living, even he advised don't buy aftermarket joints. Can't argue with someone who makes a living outta the stuff…

  • dirtybigbjelke on 26/05/2021 - 09:16

    Poor quality oil and skipped or delayed oil changes will murder an Mercedes Engine or any modern engine really. Go for the regular service history every time.

  • OzHunterNSW on 26/05/2021 - 10:31
    +1

    Hahahaha are you for real?
    180 thousand, repeat that… 180 thousand kilometres.

    How much longer do you expect it to last?

    Who is going to buy your 250 thousand kilometre car when you decide to sell?

    180 thousand kilometres….

    • snooksy on 26/05/2021 - 14:11

      I agree with you that the buyer pool for a 250km car is very small however he’s looking to buy, not sell. The OP may keep this weekend car for 20 years if he/she only drives it a few thousand km per year. The 35% might be what’s left after he/she has finished with it.

      • Euphemistic on 26/05/2021 - 15:29

        The OP may keep this weekend car for 20 years if he/she only drives it a few thousand km per year.

        Agree. I was able to get a cheaper car with higher kms because I knew I’d be doing less than average kms and when time to sell it’ll be the same as all the others on the market.

    • mini2 on 27/05/2021 - 11:55

      My A45 has hit 195k km and still going strong. It does rattle though.

    • Manny Calavera on 28/05/2021 - 11:26

      Nonsense.

      I've taken my car from 90-150. Only real non consumable items were the timing belt, new spark plugs, and an air con regas.

  • Darayus on 27/05/2021 - 10:36

    for MB the KM is just a number if it managed well.

    I was waiting at tyre shop to get my car puncture fix and came a very old battered MB with a guy in gotee and cigarette in his hand. So i ask him how is MB doing. He said i bought this car 4 year back for $ 500 which is 15 years old and had no rego since Odometer has stop working and so he replace odometer and he said i just drive this babe from Byron Bay to Sydney this morning ie almost 700 KM and she is perfect, no one can beat her and i ask how much KM she has done and he said almost 650K and i said WOW, he says i am hands on mechanic so i replace oil, filter and spark plug myself and no cost to keep this MB running. and finally he mentioned for MB KM is just a number.

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