Expert answer

Hi Sophie,

In this situation we'd advise you to get a second opinion. However, instead of going to a regular mechanic seek out an auto electrician near you - preferably one that comes recommended.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi Keith,

The areas you have to check carefully on an E60 5 Series are the suspension and electrics. If there are any nasty noises coming from underneath, or if the steering feels anything less than precise and solid, you've got possible trouble. The run-flat tyres can also cause trouble, suffering from little air leaks that play havoc with the tyre pressure monitoring system. The iDrive infotainment system can also be wayward, sometimes taking as long as 20 minutes to boot up, but apparently post-2005 cars are far better in this regard. Finally, check all the electrical and electronic systems to make absolutely sure that everything is working as it should be, and don't even consider a car that doesn't have a full service history.

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Hi Garry,

Without having the car in front of us it's hard to tell, but it really sounds like the issue could be with the switch itself rather than the mirrors or their motors. It seems too coincidental that they'd both fail.

That could save you rather a lot of money if so - let us know how you get on.

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Hi Mary,

I presume that's either a Laguna or a Scenic you're talking about? In that case, it looks like a very good price for a car with very low mileage. However, with that kind of small miles on a diesel you need to be careful of two things. 1 - make sure that the previous owners have been doing enough long, high-speed runs to generate temperature in the exhaust system to clear out the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and, 2 - carefully check the history of the car to make sure that the mileage is genuine. Renault build quality is generally a little better than you might think, but you still need to be more careful than with other brands. Check carefully that all the electrics are working properly, especially the windows, and make sure the car has a full and complete service history.

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Hi Derek,

Despite being based on the 2002 E-Class (one of the most unreliable Mercedes models in history), the CLS seems to have escaped the worst of its progenitor's breakages. Just be wary of any electrical issues that can be wearisome and expensive to put right, and your 2009 prospect will not have been affected by a brake system recall that only applies to up-to-2005 models. Build quality inside is fantastic and the CLS is a joy to drive. Just watch the headroom if you're especially tall.

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Hi Suzanne,

I'd be wary. That second generation Mégane doesn't have the best reputation for reliability. Everything electronic, the credit-card style ignition keys and the brakes can all give trouble, as can the window seals (water gets in occasionally) and the electric windows themselves. A total of 112,000 miles isn't the massive mileage it once was, but on a car with a poor reliability background, I'd say it's of concern.

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Hi Chris,

We checked with Renault on this and here's the response we got:

"There is nothing technical to stop a customer carrying out an LPG conversion on the TCe 90 engine, but there is no manufacturer support to do it.  There is no such thing as 'an approved convertor'  for LPG on any Renault/Dacia so the customer would need to be satisfied themselves in the quality of work and warranty provided by whoever carries out the conversion.

"Additionally, carrying out a conversion does not necessarily invalidate the manufacturer warranty as a whole and is still valid for non LPG related parts. However, if an incident arises that is directly or indirectly found to have been caused by the conversion, that would not be our responsibility. In other words, normal warranty applies on anything that is not in any way connected to the conversion (e.g. an internal electrical defect with an alternator would not have been influenced by the conversion)."

Hope that helps

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Hi Jonathan,

Land Rover's reliability has been improving out of all recognition lately, and the RR Sport is based on the third generation Discovery, which is a generally reliable vehicle, so that's good news. Watch for issues with the gearbox and anything that has an electric wire attached to the back of it. Check all buttons and switches work properly and that the car has a full and complete service history. Make sure the air suspension raises and lowers as it should too - leaking units can be expensive to rectify.

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Hi Joe,

The last-generation S60 got a bit unfairly hit by various Irish tax regimes (it never had an engine under 2.0 litres for instance), but it's actually a cracking car - well built and superbly comfy, as Volvos tend to be. Keep an eye out for minor electronic glitches (the cruise control and electric windows seem to be vulnerable points) and if the engine is 'lumpy' when you're switching it off, you're looking at injector issues - expensive ones.

In terms of day-to-day running costs, it should do 44mpg with a manual gearbox (a little less with the optional automatic) and emissions of 175g/km mean you can tax it for €750 a year. That's pricey, but better than buying a pre-2008 model (2008-2009 was the last full year of production) when the engine capacity would land you with a €1,034 tax bill. One running cost to keep an eye on is front tyres. The S60 is quite nose-heavy and has a massive turning circle, things that tend to banjax the front boots. Check any potential purchase for worn rubber and budget for at least a new set every year.

Expert answer

Hi Tony,

It's the electrical systems that are the E-Class's Achilles' heel. Mercedes had so many problems with the 2002-2009 model that it actually had to replace entire interiors and indeed entire cars for some irate customers. So, check everything very, very carefully and if even one little switch isn't working, walk away. If the car has had remedial work done by Mercedes, ask to see the paperwork to see exactly what was done. Check too that the automatic gearbox selects gears quickly and easily. 

The battery is prone to running flat too, if the car is left standing for a few days, and the computer that controls the brakes can go haywire too. Also check the paintwork for poor finish or flaking.