Low mileage car with services ok on miles but not time

Rotty

Rotty

Rotty

Don
Joined
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I am getting a car for the wife

She has found one she likes but I have concerns re the service history

It has 20k miles on and had 2 services at 7k and 20k which is OK mileage wise but it has been significantly missed on time intervals

Would this be a major concern?
 
Rotty said:
I am getting a car for the wife

She has found one she likes but I have concerns re the service history

It has 20k miles on and had 2 services at 7k and 20k which is OK mileage wise but it has been significantly missed on time intervals

Would this be a major concern?
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It wouldn’t necessarily put me off so long as it was evident that the car had been looked after in other ways (no budget tyres or similar). It could have been the error of a variable service indicator, my S3 was adamant that it wanted to wait 2 years for its first service and even the Audi centre dealing with it told me I wasn’t due, even though the handbook stated 1-year or mileage based whichever came soonest.
 
Is it the only one around that price?
- If so then do you think it could be the reason it's the only one at that price?
- If not, find a similar one that has got the service record your desire.

Realistically it probably won't make a difference, but it could do, so it's about calculating the risk you want to take!

Will it have a Merc warranty? If so it could be worth a punt since they're happy to cover it in spite of the weird servicing so far.
 
Depends what it's doing.

If it goes 3 years without a service and does lots of small town trips where the engine hardly gets a chance to warm up that's hellish on the oil and I would steer far away.
 
depends , somebody will know more but mercedes used to be very hot on there service due times , if not adhered to the value come trade in time used to drop.
 
gets more odd, the car hasn't done any miles for 2 years, no reason to disbelieve this as the mileage reports on HPI show as manufacturer submitted and last owner is Mercedes financial services

that explains the service history but not what it's been doing for 2 years, presumably for sale somewhere in the Merc network and not sold
 
I dont drive much but change oil every 5k miles. But those miles take 2 years to 3 to do. Oil doesnt expire sitting in the sump. And when driven engine does get hot enough to get moisture out of oil etc.
The on the other end there are people who change oil once a year but do 25-30k a year. Take your pick which you prefer
 
Cyber-Mav said:
I dont drive much but change oil every 5k miles. But those miles take 2 years to 3 to do. Oil doesnt expire sitting in the sump. And when driven engine does get hot enough to get moisture out of oil etc.
The on the other end there are people who change oil once a year but do 25-30k a year. Take your pick which you prefer
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I always go on the cautious side and at the very least follow manufacturer guideline
 
Rotty said:
gets more odd, the car hasn't done any miles for 2 years, no reason to disbelieve this as the mileage reports on HPI show as manufacturer submitted and last owner is Mercedes financial services

that explains the service history but not what it's been doing for 2 years, presumably for sale somewhere in the Merc network and not sold
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Find another car. Stuff will be seized on it. Or end up falling apart. Cars once they have been broken in need to be driven regularly.
 
Rotty said:
gets more odd, the car hasn't done any miles for 2 years, no reason to disbelieve this as the mileage reports on HPI show as manufacturer submitted and last owner is Mercedes financial services

that explains the service history but not what it's been doing for 2 years, presumably for sale somewhere in the Merc network and not sold
Click to expand...

I’d steer clear.
 
Dr House said:
Maybe it’s been on a CH or PCP and had a Can filter fitted?
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I was about to say this, very possible that its had a plug in filter fitted. Very common on Merc/BMW/Audi etc. I'd never trust one with a mileage which looks a bit odd/low for the year.
 
Dr House said:
Maybe it’s been on a CH or PCP and had a Can filter fitted?
Click to expand...

my thoughts exactly is it a mercedes dealer selling it?

always a worry if the mileage stays low and the service intervals seem high, the good thing is always can be found with decent diagnostic equipment on mercs audis and bms etc.
 
Avoid avoid avoid. Whether it's a mileage blocker or been sitting at a dealer for 2 years, neither is a car I'd like to buy.
 
Psycho Sonny said:
Find another car. Stuff will be seized on it. Or end up falling apart. Cars once they have been broken in need to be driven regularly.
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Say what now? :D :rolleyes:

There are tonnes of potential concerns, but you've somehow shot a barrel of fish with a shotgun and missed them all! :p
 
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