So I went and bought a Merc.....

[Sir Tigger KC]

Well.... I was actually looking for something like a cheap Veccy, Mondeo, or 406 diesel estate to use as a mobile skip for a few weeks while renovating a house....    but everything I saw the owners wanted good money for piles of crap!! 

So I've ended up with a 1998 C250 Elegence Turbo Diesel Estate, with 6 months tax and 7 months MOT.  Its pretty scruffy and has lots of scabby bits, but the interior is not bad and will come up nice with a good clean!! The best bit though is that it has had only had 2 owners and has loads of history!! Which shows in the drive and handling and it's probably one of the smoothest diesels I've ever had! 

It's abit strange though that someone would maintain a car mechanically, keep the service history up to date etc, yet neglect the bodywork.... 

[0795omega]

shame is for them there known for rusting badly,great cars mechanically though!

[omega3000]

Nice big estate that , are you going to tidy the bodywork up 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Well the plan was just to get something cheap and cheerful, use, abuse and get rid!    but already I'm kinda liking it! and it's fairly economical if driven like an elderly Merc driver!!    So...... Maybe! 

[cam2502]

Pics?

[omega3000]

Pics?

Needs some body filler and paint before the gallery   

[Guinney1971]

shame is for them there known for rusting badly,great cars mechanically though!

agreed, I used to work for MB and the old C classes and E classes are famed for their rust - my SIL has an E300 Avantgarde TD, mechanically it pulls like a train and drives lovely, but the bodywork is rotting around it.  Its a 97R with less then 70k on the clock.

Claire

[markrnorton]

mercs go on forever, had a few myself. the only issue appears between about 1997-2004 when they changed the paint spec, hence the rust issues.
My 1990 SL had great paint whereas my 1998 E55 had small rusting to the front arches.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I have to be honest, I'm tempted to have a go!    I havn't done any body work since I was a teenager.... and my mates still take the piss about my Renault 5 that I dug all the rust out and had to use a piece of ice cream box as a backing plate as one of the holes was that big!!! 

Still, at least I had a go, more than they did, the useless twuts!! 

Maybe I'll put some before and after pics up! 

[omega3000]

I have to be honest, I'm tempted to have a go!    I havn't done any body work since I was a teenager.... and my mates still take the piss about my Renault 5 that I dug all the rust out and had to use a piece of ice cream box as a backing plate as one of the holes was that big!!! 

Still, at least I had a go, more than they did, the useless twuts!! 

Maybe I'll put some before and after pics up! 

Have a go tigger , will be good to see some before and after pics  Ive used all sorts for backing a rust hole up ... chicken wire once 

[jonnyboyws6]

Nice comfortable cars, I have a C200 saloon of similar age. The rust issue is a bit disappointing on what was supposed to be an upmarket brand, but mechanically they are pretty bullet proof.

[henryd]

I recently sold a W124 estate which was in excellent condition for a 95 car,I think it was the most comfortable car I've ever owned

[Guinney1971]

mercs go on forever, had a few myself. the only issue appears between about 1997-2004 when they changed the paint spec, hence the rust issues.
My 1990 SL had great paint whereas my 1998 E55 had small rusting to the front arches.

yep, the moved to some sort of eco-friendly water based paint around that time - it's cost MB-UK thousands in warranty claims, often with cars having to be done more then once.

Shocking really for a premium brand.

Claire

[markrnorton]

mercs go on forever, had a few myself. the only issue appears between about 1997-2004 when they changed the paint spec, hence the rust issues.
My 1990 SL had great paint whereas my 1998 E55 had small rusting to the front arches.

yep, the moved to some sort of eco-friendly water based paint around that time - it's cost MB-UK thousands in warranty claims, often with cars having to be done more then once.

Shocking really for a premium brand.

Claire

It is , especially when earlier cars were so well built and almost bullet proof
I preffered my old merc to the later one(s) i had. the only saving grace were the AMG engines in them 

[Guinney1971]

the only saving grace were the AMG engines in them 

ah yes, there's nowt like the sound of an AMG lump on full song - have to say, I nearly gave myself whiplash in an AMG SLK - it lauched off the forecourt a bit faster then I thought it would lol

Claire