Forum menu
I probably won’t sell it tbh. Not for a couple of years anyway. But I will mull it over.
I would be tempted to see what it's actually worth. Most second-hand cars have appreciated in value over the last few months. If you can flog it to a Mercedes dealer it becomes their problem.
I would be tempted to see what it’s actually worth
Less than I paid by about a grand I think, at least private sale. If prices go up that's when I might consider it.
EDIT actually maybe not too far off actually the 19" wheels seem to up the price a bit. There's a fairly wide variation though of course.
But you know its history now..
Yeah, frequently redlined up and down an a-road from cold 😉
I probably won’t sell it tbh. Not for a couple of years anyway.
But I will mull it over
16's on the back, 22's up front?
IGMC
.
Less than I paid by about a grand I think, at least private sale. If prices go up that’s when I might consider it.
I think that is beyond optimistic, second hand cars depreciate faster than cheese, look after it and you might just be able to recoup something, but don't waste time imagining some sort of financial investment with cars bought from showrooms, they take the only profit left in it, what you have now is mobility with style, the money paid is gone, it's now just function, make it last and spend your time getting that Passat back up and running.
second hand cars depreciate faster than cheese
This one appears to have apparently kept half its value after 15 years, so it's not too bad..
This one appears to have apparently kept half its value after 15 years, so it’s not too bad.
Second hand prices are through the roof at the minute due to shortages of new cars, presumably the prices will drop again like a stone when production returns.
I think that is beyond optimistic, second hand cars depreciate faster than cheese
Not at the moment. I bought a used Volvo from a main dealer in December 2020 and just sold it to another main dealer for more than I paid for it with another 10,000 miles on the clock. Full asking price, no haggling.
Not at the moment. I bought a used Volvo from a main dealer in December 2020 and just sold it to another main dealer for more than I paid for it with another 10,000 miles on the clock. Full asking price, no haggling
Sure, as I said above, if you can go without a car for a while you could even make a profit there by not buying another till the price drops again, but selling high and buying high is not achieving much.
I still have the Passat.....
I still have the Passat…..
Anyone else hear the chords from the start of the Jaws theme? 🙂
Mols, you need this thread next
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1637958&i=1760
but selling high and buying high is not achieving much.
I agree. But it seems to me that molgrips just wants a car that doesn't induce paranoia so if he can do a straight swap it makes no odds.
@Flaperon is right to a degree. But I am also conflicted because I also want to forget about it all, and I also very much like the Merc in many ways.
It depends how I feel in a few months' time I suppose. Thing is though, it wants underbody treatment and it wants new wheels really, which would cost. But then, if it had the new wheels would it just be amazing to drive and I'd love it more than anything else? Maybe I'll put a speculative advert on Autotrader with a high price and see what happens.
I'm turning into @Kryton57 at this point.
How long have you had it? 2 weeks!
Erm thanks but I’ve just remembered I’ve left the kettle on.
It’s just new car insecurity. Once you’ve had it a year or so you’ll feel more confident in it. You’ve had it checked and it appears all is ok. If you’re a bit unsure about the software update get the box and engine mapped by somebody reputable like Darkside Developments. If you sell it now unless you buy something dull your back into the unknown.
swop it! swop it! swop it! swop it!
(and we've still the drama of the Passat repair to come. Who needs Netflix!)
Where is the rust - I'd be getting a tin of Aquasteel on it pronto. MB's are shocking for undersealing - next to nothing under the plastic trays underneath.
Fertan and Dinitrol are your friends for dealing with rust. Or save your marriage once more by not coating the dog/cat/driveway in stinking Dinitrol by taking up my generous previous offer for the RNP fleet that have already been done...
(17year old 190k Volvo)
[url= https://i.ibb.co/9YNRnHj/814371-C8-42-A5-4-CF7-A1-DA-3492952-D6-FFC.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/9YNRnHj/814371-C8-42-A5-4-CF7-A1-DA-3492952-D6-FFC.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
If you’re a bit unsure about the software update get the box and engine mapped by somebody reputable like Darkside Developments.
Apparently not wise, the update is software not just a map and it can't be undone; and if you try using a remapmit can make bad things happen.
Where is the rust
Light rust on the rear swingarms apparently. I'll take it to a dedicated rust place as I've already promised myself I'm not ****ing about with cars any more unless I have to.
For some reason I feel compelled to look after this thing. I've read a lot of forums and they are full of people complaining bitterly about MB but somehow they keep buying them. It's a bit of a cult, and I can see why. There's something about the design of this car that is really very good and it makes me want to deal with the obvious downsides rather than give up.
If I was you I'd get the Passat fixed and make a decision when you have them both running.
Bit of rust on swingarms is not a big problem, at worst you replace them, but if you can get under a Passat enough to take the chassis off I'm sure a jet wash and painting a bit of rust stuff on is comparably straight forward.
It has Pirelli P-Zero on the rear, apparently these are well known for being very noisy.
Given how much tread is left on them I might buy some foam and stuff it in the spare wheel well or behind the wheelarch liners, apparently doing the spare wheel well helps.
but if you can get under a Passat enough to take the chassis off
That ended well didn't it 😀
Blimey, that Volvo looks like new underneath @RustyNissanPrairie, I'll have a look at that treatment for my car/van. Is it a one-hit job or a regular application thing?
My GLC with the 250 Diesel engine did its best to kill me at the weekend (twice!!).
Driving home after visiting parents (130 miles), mid way it says Adblue is low please refill (or words to that affect).
I bought the Adblue but didnt put it in thinking I’d be fine to get me home.
I live outside Milton Keynes, but had to go through MK on the very fast dual carriageways….as I’m exiting the motorway the car starts lurching, goes into 4th gear then drops straight to 1st, unpeeled my face from the windscreen, pull over as safely as I can. Turn engine off, check for any messages on screen and none, add the Adblue, takes the full large bottle. Check it’s registered it’s had it, yep, 3/4’s full.
Start driving again, feels fine. Rejoin dual carriageway, all good. Slow at a roundabout, then as increasing speed, gets to 40 then slips back to 1st gear, loads of rev’s but no speed. Didn’t have enough power to get over a kerb. So stopped on the dual carriageway where cars are flying past. Two didn’t notice, even though the flashers are on, I’m beeping my horn and waving my arm out of the window, they both swerved over at the last second….. anyway car re-started limped to a petrol station and waited 6 hours for the RAC who didn’t turn up….they have outsourced their car pick up and three companies had rejected the job.
Took it to the indie MB dealer, no issues found. Collected it today and it’s driving like a dream. Indie garage didn’t charge us, they hooked it up to the computer and also did two 10 min test drives.
^^^ I have a 1yr old 300d GLC and it has occasionally completely lost power (done it perhaps for or five times but not at all recently).
Blimey, weird if there are no codes.
Don't make me worry about selling this thing again.
Blimey, that Volvo looks like new underneath @RustyNissanPrairie, I’ll have a look at that treatment for my car/van. Is it a one-hit job or a regular application thing?
It's had a few quick applications over the years we've had it but I've just done a mid life rebuild of the car and spent a lot of time on the underside/wheelarches etc.
My method is;
1. Clean off any loose rust.
2. Apply Fertan as per instructions
3. A few coats of zinc rich epoxy primer
4. A few coats of Dinitrol 4941
You have to remove and kill the rust or it just carries on underneath the Dinitrol. Don't bother with waxoyl.
Re the tyre noise, I bought some deadening and absorbing foam and lined the spare wheel well, because apparently Merc skimped on the soundproofing in that area. It made a big improvement, which surprised me a bit because this kind of tinkering usually never does much for me! Also apparently Pirelly P-Zeros are very noisy tyres in general, so it may quieten down more when they eventually get swapped.
It's currently in the Trade Centre Wales repair place, I'm trying to persuade them the engine mounts are on the way out and they need replacing, but I don't hold out much hope.
Can you not install a Mercedes branded one of these? Maybe next to your sunglasses holder?
I’m trying to persuade them the engine mounts are on the way out and they need replacing
Really? Why? Surely they can't be knackered in a car this age? I've never really understood why folk have this sort of relationship with a car where all the time something has to be fixed or swapped or tinkered with. I've literally never cared about engine mounts since the days I drove 20 year old spitfires back in the 90's, and even then...who the hell really cares? It's got to be totally draining surely to have that sort of constant low level anxiety about an object all the time?
Really? Why? Surely they can’t be knackered in a car this age?
It's on nearly 90k and 8 years old. Perhaps a little under-specced for this car, it's widely acknowledged on forums that they only last about that long.
Why do I care? Because I just do. I spent a fair whack on a car, I want it working the way it's meant to work i.e. nicely. Otherwise I'd buy a banger and throw it away when it breaks. Eventually mounts completely fail and they need fixing, these aren't that bad yet but if I can get a new set out of TCW then great.
I look after things. My bikes work well, my computers work well, and I want my cars to work well. Is it draining? At times, yes. But that's just how things are.
What state are your bikes in?
We're back in that rabbit hole.
Are they broken no.
Are they worn possibly....
Did sir buy a new car? No.
Will they swap them... doubtful.
How about asking for a full set of dampers n suspension components too? May be a new drivers seat?
Not convinced this is healthy pal. Honestly.
Otherwise I’d buy a banger and throw it away when it breaks.
I think you should seriously consider this option 🙂
I want my cars to work well. Is it draining? At times, yes. But that’s just how things are.
Yes, But if you constant pick at this stuff (and the last 11 pages seems to suggest that you do) why don't you just sort out your life so that you don't have to worry about this shit? Sub-contract out that worry to some other organisation? If you want your cars to be "work well", build a decent relationship with a garage you can trust and stick to the inspection and service intervals. It's not rocket science. Let them worry about engine mounts, that way you don't have to.
My bikes are fine, thanks for asking.
It’s got to be totally draining surely to have that sort of constant low level anxiety about an object all the time?
This week I resembled that remark, having driven to Norfolk and back with 4up, all the luggage in the back, a Thule tow bar rack and two bikes on the back wondering if our 2008 Kuga would spit its dummy after feeling little hesitant on-throttle, noisy with a "wheel bearing?" thought and with a slight whiff of diesel from a leaky (minor) injector, and me trying to spot a dpf regen hoping it does activate.
My relationship with my car goes something along the lines of:
I drive it, I check the water and oil, and tyre pressures "regularly" (ahem) I fill up the screen wash when it tells me to. These days even the car knows when it wants servicing, so when the light comes on, I wait a couple of days for the service centre to call me, if not I call them to book it in. Occasionally they say stuff like "The dingle-flange compressor pully strap needs replacing, are you OK for us to go ahead and do that?" and I say "yes".
I pick the car up, I drive it home again...Rarely they say stuff like, "The dingle-flange housing bearing is being an awkward bastard so the car won't be ready tonight. We've sorted out a replacement car, but unfortunately for you it's this Citroen Tant Pis" (If I'm lucky I get a Citroen tant meiux, and all the ladies come to the yard, but that's another story)
I don't think I've ever ever thought about engine mounts once in my life, and my car's been fine all this time.
I'm aware that engine mounts exist. They must do, after all. Something has to attach the engine to the ...erm... other stuff.
Thats the limit of my thoughts on engine mounts. In common with 99.9999999999999999999999999% of the population, I'd guess
Molls... have you thought about spending less time and money on cars and more on coke and hookers? Or maybe just going to the pub more often? I think it'd definitely be beneficial
These days even the car knows when it wants servicing, so when the light comes on, I wait a couple of days for the service centre to call me, if not I call them to book it in. Occasionally they say stuff like “The dingle-flange compressor pully strap needs replacing, are you OK for us to go ahead and do that?” and I say “yes”.
Having gone through the full gamut of having a reasonably nice car and then trying to scrimp on servicing etc, buying old knackered cars and spending more money than they're worth trying to keep them on the road etc I am now firmly in this camp.
Bought a nice enough '15 plate Golf Estate - service history showed it needed a new timing belt. Found a good VW indy and just got it done. Have been taking it there ever since for all its servicing needs etc. Sure there are cheaper ways but they're good, they spot trouble before it becomes a real issue and the car runs very nicely all the time.
Edit: after all that worrying we returned home fine. After unpacking, Mrs k has just popped out and dragged the side of it along a bollard exiting a car park, scraping the rear door, and denting the wheel arch whilst removing the trim.
Strangely, I’m not bothered 😀
If you want your cars to be “work well”, build a decent relationship with a garage you can trust
So you don't care too much about cars - that's fine, no-one needs to. But you're telling me to run my cars in a way that satisfies YOU, not a way that satisfies ME.
If you want your cars to be “work well”, build a decent relationship with a garage you can trust
I've not yet found such a place. That's why I started sorting them out myself. I got fed up of garages. Also, they cost money. In any case, I replaced my old car precisely to break free of this kind of problem - seems it hasn't worked very well.
Put it this way. If you went into a bike shop looking for a decent bike, and you ended up spending 50% more than you wanted on something that should have been great, but instead you find there's a mysterious grinding sound coming from somewhere and the rebound is always a bit too fast, would you just shrug your shoulders and ignore it?
If this car had been spot on straight away, there'd have been no issue. I don't make this stuff up. But there's a rattling noise from the transmission. It could be a £5k job to rebuild or replace the transmission. Wouldn't you be concerned? If you bought a premium automatic car and the shifting is a bit crap, wouldn't you care? Wouldn't you think something was up?
So basically, the conversation is now how molgrips shouldn't be molgrips, because being molgrips is bad? Ok got it!
I knew I’d posted too soon for it seems the pendulum has swung back to…
Thats the limit of my thoughts on engine mounts. In common with 99.9999999999999999999999999% of the population, I’d guess
I had the bonnet up yesterday and when I saw that the engine seemed a little more "lively" than I'd have expected at tickover I thought "hmm, engine mounts?".
So that'll throw your numbers off a bit.