Q. Please could any present/past owners advise if it is a wise decision, keeping in mind the age of the car?
A. This mercedes is a beautiful car brother. it has got that SOLID MERC feeling. It is a great car to keep provided that "You get a clean and well maintained" car. If GOD forbid u end up getting an abused one then be prepared to spend all your savings because parts are very expensive and as these modern mercs are full of electrics so you will need a specialist mercedes mechanic too who has all the diagnostic tools and software. I bought a car in very good condition but still ended up spending 4-5 lakhs above the purchasing price. As you will be buying a 14-15 years old car so keep in mind that it may give you some surprises even if its a good one. As the age factor comes in so the suspension would have to be thoroughly checked, Also check for any rust around the car, including the under body. It has got too many sensors so they may also need replacing. Whichever car you decide to buy, do get it scanned by a computer on Star Diagnostic so you get to know if the owner is hiding any fault or not. You can contact me anytime for further details.
Q.How much can I expect to spend on regular maintenance etc as I often here that to maintain a Merc is very very expensive
A. As the E240 is a 2600 cc V6 engine so yes it is not fuel efficient and my guess is that it requires around 8 liters of oil. Rest if you use good oil like liqui moly or mobil 1 you'll be spending around Rs 15000 after every 10,000 kms including oil filter and air filters. Brake pads and the usual running items are affordable and are readily available too.
Any advise would be highly appreciated
My personal advise is, Search for the best car in the town, get it thoroughly inspected, take a good long test drive, check if all the electrics are working. Do try it out on bumpy roads and look for any strange noises. and the most important of all get it scanned in star diagnosis. If a car passes then get it even if u have to pay a lil extra. but do keep around 1.5 lakhs spare money above your budget just in case you know. I wish you all the very best in finding a great car.