A-Class Merc - reliable?

[orange71]

Looking to buy a year 2000 (V-reg) - 98k, diesel.

Heard nightmare stories about reliability, but if it's made it to 2012 should be one of the gooduns?

It's either that or a Berlingo.

Thoughts?

 

[drcarlos]

Need to be after 2002 to have any form of reliability, had a 98 model for a while, what I found out was horrifying, steering racks fail, rear springs fail, rear suspension bushes fail, gearboxes can fail (mine was an odd clutchless semi auto), air flow meters on the petrols fail. The Air flow meter, gearbox and steering racks all have potential to cost more than 1k to fix.

Carl.

 

[orange71]

:shock:

well this one's got full MOT with new front bushes, 1 brake pipe replaced, offside rear shock.

SRS light apparently comes on intermittently (?common fault).

Was yours reliable?

 

[legrandefromage]

If you are going the berlingo route try a doblo instead. Bigger simpler and very fuel efficient if its a JTD 1.9

 

[orange71]

Berlingo was a stretch sizewise as my wife had to be persuaded very hard to even go as big as a Berlingo...!

 

[drcarlos]

Need to be after 2002 to have any form of reliability, had a 98 model for a while, what I found out was horrifying, steering racks fail, rear springs fail, rear suspension bushes fail, gearboxes can fail (mine was an odd clutchless semi auto), air flow meters on the petrols fail. The Air flow meter, gearbox and steering racks all have potential to cost more than 1k to fix.

Carl.

Mine in 55k had the rear springs done, the air flow meter was failed when I got it (found a fix and sent it off for a £250 bargain replacement), the rear suspension bushes failed on one side in the few months I had it causing the handling on the motorway to be interesting. The steering racks and gearbox failure never happened to me but dealers said they wouldn't touch it as a part-ex, even though it was pretty much mint as the potential for failure was so high.

Carl.

 

[djoptix]

Don't know the Berlingo personally, friend of SWMBO has one and raves about it.

I have a Synergie and it's bloody fantastic. PSA diesels FTW.

 

[legrandefromage]

Berlingo was a stretch sizewise as my wife had to be persuaded very hard to even go as big as a Berlingo...!

Your missus will love the Doblo driving position, as high up as a Range Rover so she can see around for miles when in town or parking.

I cant stand driving it but the missus loves hers to bits.

Synergie thingy is a much bigger heavier van derived car and for some reason nowhere near as reliable - My work runs about 15 E7's which are Citroen/ Peugeot models and whatever the badge, they are forever going wrong. but, as they are disabled access, the local council lovem'.

 

[paininthe]

My 52 reg diesel has had a auxillary drive belt go (thats because i ignored it for 2months) that's it.

Changed discs and pads at last mot, 75000mls now.

They are quite a harsh ride, do not get with 50 profile tyres you will feel every cats eye. The long wheelbase ones have huge legroom in the back, more than an E class and with seats removed, 2mins, the loading area is huge.

Any more info give me a pm

 

[Grannygrinder]

.

Hmmm A class.
Didn't Mercedes have to completely re-jig the suspension because the early ones fell over during weave testing?