Service Histories.

[whysub]

Four weeks ago I purchased a 1989 Mercedes 300E that came with a stamped service book which I flicked through-the stamps were mostly Mercedes main dealer, latterly independents-and some MOT's. I bought the car mainly on it's condition and mechanics, so having a stamped up service book was a small bonus.  There are only a few receipts, but this doesn't bother me at all as the car cost me little more than its scrap value.

Today I had some time on my hands so looked properly at the service book and MOT's and noticed some odd things.

It had its PDI in October 1989. The first inspection due at 3,000 miles was carried out at 1,900 miles in September 1995 (six years later)!

By February 2008 the speedo reading was up to 115,200 miles, averaging 8,700 miles per year. Nine years later it is now just over 121,000 miles (3,000 of that in the last 12 months).

All this tallies up with the MOT's I have (first one dated September 1995). I wonder what it did for the first six years of its life, and between February 2008 and January 2014 when the previous owner to me purchased it? Maybe I'd be better off not knowing!

 

[PandaSelecta]

Not unheard of for a first buyer to drive the car only a few hundred miles a year, so the 1900 in 6 years is very possible.

Maybe it was then sold/lent to someone who used it much more (hence the 115K miles), then it went back into the hands of the original owner or another who just used the car sparingly.

If all the documents tally, then i wouldn't worry

[whysub]

Jan 28, 2015 1:31:49 GMT PandaSelecta said:

Not unheard of for a first buyer to drive the car only a few hundred miles a year, so the 1900 in 6 years is very possible.

Maybe it was then sold/lent to someone who used it much more (hence the 115K miles), then it went back into the hands of the original owner or another who just used the car sparingly.

If all the documents tally, then i wouldn't worry

You are right as it is all possible-looking at W124's for sale there are many 20 year old ones with 70,000 odd on them

I'd have bought the car without any history as it looks and runs great.

[Battles]

I've got a couple of W124s that appear to have led similar lives, fully documented dealer history for ten years showing a thousand odd miles a year for the first owner then a second or third owner hammering on mileage, they're now sitting with just over a hundred thou each and, for whatever reason, the saloon is bearing the mileage better than the estate.
On the other hand, my coupe and one of the other estates I have are both knocking on the door of two hundred thousand miles, have dealer history showing they were doing ten thousand miles a year for the first ten to fifteen years years and then hardly any in more recent years.
They're both in pretty good nick but not perfect.

This is a rambling way of saying that condition is more important than mileage and, as you say, you'd have bought it on the condition alone.
I've using an '89 300E as my daily at the moment, how about a couple of photos of yours?

A car I had a couple of years ago, a W203 C320, turned out to have been massively clocked (48k showing, various other mileages recorded in the system but probably well over 150k) but was in great condition had been well looked after and had no mechanical issues. Had I not been able to get my money back (it was an approved used car from a Benz dealer) I would still have it because of the condition, regardless of mileage. Though I probably wouldn't have considered such a high mileage car at the time I bought it.

At the other end of the scale, I'm looking at and thinking about buying an E39 M5 at the moment, a pal is selling it. He's the second owner, had it since 2004. It's a '99 car with 65k miles, fully documented, and it's in terrible condition. Electrical problems, corrosion, bad paint. He only wants three and a half for it.
Condition over mileage, unless it's seriously cheap.

[bortaf]

Retierment car, hospital and PO trips till the owner gets too ill or dies then it sits about till his widow sells it or also dies then the family get rid of it then the next owners uses it normaly ?

[Del]

Could be the first owner bought it and unexpectedly couldn't use it? In the forces and got posted abroad (Gulf War kicked off in August 1990)?

[skylinedave]

Diplomatic vehicle or similar ? Only running from point a to point b twice a week or something ?

[whysub]

l