Just been offered a 2006 Mercedes E320cdi by a friend, only problem is, it's done 250k miles

On the positive side - he's had it since new, he does mainly motorway work, it's never had a problem, and has always been serviced on time at main dealer.

Is it just too many miles ??

I'm quite tempted for the fuel economy

Depends on how much he wants for it.

Basically you're never going to be able to sell it, so as long as you can write off the cost and run it for a while, why not ?

I think it all depends on what has been changed over the lifetime of the vehicle and what the price is compared to a low mileage comparison. High mileage would not put me off if I knew it has a well cared for and had recently replaced gearbox, engine, suspension etc at a price that would allow me to replace these bits if they failed. But remember some cars have huge prices for the main part replacements that would effectively write the car off on value terms.

250k seems to be the highest you ever see of used cars so it is pretty much at the end of its life in the retailer network and you'll really only get parts prices for it if you sell it on later.

Could be a bargain if you trust your mate. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

I've had a couple of (older) Mercs with over 200k on and they were fine. Newer ones...? Well, maybe not as well engineered, but if the history is known to be solid, and the price is right, it may well be a bargain. Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

As above, all depends on the history.

The 320cdi is a good engine and I have been in many 220s in Germany as taxis with way over 500k km on the clock, so they are good for some miles if cared for properly... 4.2 Supercharged Vogue SE

There are a few on autotrader that have done over 200k, which shows it is more common than other cars. All depends on the price really. For the money I would probably go for a diesel Audi as the E class Mercs are too commonly associated with taxis now. Tom

Current Drive
2011 4.4 TDV8 Autobiography - Santorini Black - Ivory Leather

Previous Drives
2004 Model Vogue Td6 (Touchscreen) - Java Black - Parchment Leather
1994 RR Classic 3.9 V8 Soft dash - Niagara Grey - Grey Leather
1972 Series III SWB Safari - Green (Hand Painted) - Black Plastic

Rust.

The front rad support beam and rads are known rust spots for a good few years on mercs so budget getting it off and a new rad to be on the safe side. Some I've heard of the support be gives out at one side and gets picked up at service time when they spot it and rarely the whole thing let's go while in motion... That could be fun!!

Gearbox fluid and diff fluid should be changed if not already done so and think about rear suspension bushes and shocks and springs all round if they haven't been replace in it's life as they are bound to need it by now... FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Which sounds like you might spend more money on preventative maintenance than buying the car.

If it were me, I'd get something with much less miles on, cos then at least you can sell it on. No one is going to be interested in a 250K+ car. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Depends on how much it is really.

I view any car over 250k as being one you'll not likely sell on but I've been proved wrong once and sold for more than I paid though I did do some work to it before selling. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Think he was going to check WBAC for a price.

Roughly looking at 2-3k depending on condition as with those miles I reckon it would the the 02-06 and not the 06-08 model.

Economy... You'll be looking at 25-40mpg as it is the big diesel unit and not the 220cdi... FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

25 - 40 MPG

Would be very happy with that ...

like others have said if you can write the cost off after some use then why not, I'd run it until it died then sell it in bits...likelihood is you will get your money back like that Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

Bangernomics to be honest I actually think they would most likely offer £2k at top dollar but then knock it down to £12-1400 hoping that a straight auction job would net them some profit after processing but they will go over every mark and blemish on the car as the guys at the drop off units are on a commission so will know 250k means very unlikely sale unless to a breaker or taxi driver and to be honest I reckon it would most likely end up at a specialist breakers from an auction house, if it were me id take it for £1500 and no more and then when bored of it stick it in eBay and let it run as after a year it's cost you less than £250pcm bar tax,insurance and sundries if it has a full ticket already. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

I just got rid of a Mazda 6 with 190k on the clock, value was £600 basically scrap plus a bit for having tax on it, there's not much demand for ultra high mileage cars when there are so many about