What’s high mileage for an automatic engine?

[forestfern]

If a 2016 motorhome with an automatic engine had 58,000 on the clock, would you buy it? The price is right when you take it into consideration but we’re more trying to think ahead, re repairs etc but don’t have any experience of an automatic

Any thoughts please as they get older? Thank you

 

[funflair]

Hi

Of course it's the gearbox that is automatic rather than the engine but that aside we need to know what the engine is and what the gearbox is then even more importantly how has it all been serviced through its life so far.

I will add it also depends how it has been drive/used abused, but well looked after 58k miles is not really a lot.

 

[jongood]

If a 2016 motorhome with an automatic engine had 58,000 on the clock, would you buy it? The price is right when you take it into consideration but we’re more trying to think ahead, re repairs etc but don’t have any experience of an automatic

Any thoughts please as they get older? Thank you

Depends whether its been serviced and which automatic it is. Comfortmatics regularly feature on here in a negative way and lots of problems with the Agiles.

 

[PP Bear]

Absolutely, I don’t consider it high mileage. What engine and what van?

Also depends on service history etc. seen some horror videos of low mileage engines draining treacle instead of oil, so servicing schedule is really important.

Dealer or private sale

 

[jongood]

Jynx Martin

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[philann]

The base vehicle is essentially a delivery van originally designed to do 100000s of miles being driven by any Tom, Dick or Harry who doesn’t really care about it! 58k in a well looked after motorhome should be good!

 

[barsteward]

If it's with a reputable dealer then I shouldn't be concerned you should expect to get a min 1 year warranty. If it's changed hands a few times and a private sale tread a little more warily perhaps get an independent inspection.

 

[The Wino]

If a 2016 motorhome with an automatic engine had 58,000 on the clock, would you buy it? The price is right when you take it into consideration but we’re more trying to think ahead, re repairs etc but don’t have any experience of an automatic

Any thoughts please as they get older? Thank you

I'd be interested in the mot history to see when the miles were done if loads in the first years is it ex rental?

 

[Lenny HB]

Thats less than 10k a year that's low mileage a much better buy than some Motorhomes that spend their life sitting around they are far more lightly to have problems.
To me that's average mileage for a Motorhome we do 8 - 10k in ours a year.

 

[The Wino]

Thats less than 10k a year that's low mileage a much better buy than some Motorhomes that spend their life sitting around they are far more lightly to have problems.
To me that's average mileage for a Motorhome we do 8 - 10k in ours a year.

The mileage wouldn't put me off but if it was already 45,000 at the first mot would most likely indicate ex rental and like the ex rental we bought as our first MH I would expect the price to reflect that.

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[Lenny HB]

The mileage wouldn't put me off but if it was already 45,000 at the first mot would most likely indicate ex rental and like the ex rental we bought as our first MH I would expect the price to reflect that.

I agree about rental but why people think less than 10k a year is high mileage I don't understand. Most people I know do around 10k a year in their Motorhomes, perhaps it's because we are all retired running A Class's. 10k a year is fairly normal for an A Class.

 

[The Wino]

I agree about rental but why people think less than 10k a year is high mileage I don't understand. Most people I know do around 10k a year in their Motorhomes, perhaps it's because we are all retired running A Class's. 10k a year is fairly normal for an A Class.

I think we do about 7k a year but largely low due to lack of opportunity when we were working followed by covid then house alterations! I agree mileage wouldn't put me off although the automatic gearbox might.

 

[EuroTrotters]

If it’s a Mercedes’ 7G-Tronic, should of had a gearbox oil service.

 

[RobertJary]

Never trust the 'sealed for life' autobox. I've always had the auto transmission fluid (in my cars) changed every 50,000 miles. On my E Class the autobox outlasted the rest of the car, 352,000 miles. My colleague, C Class but also auto, didn't have the fluid changed and needed a new autobox at 160,000 miles.

 

[pagey]

when i bought my ex rental it had only done 8k at 1 year old

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[Bessy765]

Service history and mot history more important my 2003 to 2006 bought new had done 76500 when traded in 2006 to 2008 34000, 2008 to 2012 6300

 

[jongood]

If it’s a Mercedes’ 7G-Tronic, should of had a gearbox oil service.

I had the oil changed in my 7G on the car, still didnt stop the stepper motor going. Thats the problem with modern stuff, its not the oily stuff that causes the problems its the electronics, same with the Comfortmatic and the Agile.

 

[poppycamper]

I would rather buy a highish mileage vehicle that has been obviously been used (and therefore cared for) than a low milage one that has been left to rot on driveway or in stowage all winter(and therefore, IMV not cared for).
58000miles over 6yrs sound about right to me and auto or manual won't matter.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I had the oil changed in my 7G on the car, still didnt stop the stepper motor going. Thats the problem with modern stuff, its not the oily stuff that causes the problems its the electronics, same with the Comfortmatic and the Agile.

Same with my old sprintshit. Nothing but trouble

 

[Basildog]

I agree about rental but why people think less than 10k a year is high mileage I don't understand. Most people I know do around 10k a year in their Motorhomes, perhaps it's because we are all retired running A Class's. 10k a year is fairly normal for an A Class.

Take a look at most secondhand vans for sale ,
10k a year in the Motorhome world is seen as high mileage, most only do between 2 and 4 k .
I just looked at a good selection of used vans
The base vehicles are more than capable of coping with high mileages but the habitation side are definitely not designed for anything other than occasional leisure use , full timers vans can normally be spotted from a mile away , even the appliances aren’t designed for continuous use.
Most manufacturers actually specifically exclude anything other than short term leisure use in their warranty.

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[poppycamper]

Never trust the 'sealed for life' autobox. I've always had the auto transmission fluid (in my cars) changed every 50,000 miles. On my E Class the autobox outlasted the rest of the car, 352,000 miles. My colleague, C Class but also auto, didn't have the fluid changed and needed a new autobox at 160,000 miles.

When I had an L322 Range Rover I took it I to a renowned 4x4 specialised independent for a service and he said we will change gearbox oil... oh no no I said no need its sealed for life.
Oh no it is not he said.. whats your mileage.. I told him and he said he had forgot how many gearboxes he had change with less mileage than mine.
Initially thot he was at it but since found out he was right..
IMV No such thing as sealed for life anything where oil is involved.
If a manufacturer says sealed for life that means life expectancy of vehicle is 6yrs.ish

 

[EuroTrotters]

When I had an L322 Range Rover I took it I to a renowned 4x4 specialised independent for a service and he said we will change gearbox oil... oh no no I said no need its sealed for life.
Oh no it is not he said.. whats your mileage.. I told him and he said he had forgot how many gearboxes he had change with less mileage than mine.
Initially thot he was at it but since found out he was right..
IMV No such thing as sealed for life anything where oil is involved.
If a manufacturer says sealed for life that means life expectancy of vehicle is 6yrs.ish

Sealed for a short term lease life

 

[poppycamper]

Sealed for a short term lease life

Yes probably, but Land Rover service blurb definitely said "sealed for life and no renewal of oil required".

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes probably, but Land Rover service blurb definitely said "sealed for life and no renewal of oil required".

The amount of oil Land Rovers leak, they are not even sealed let alone for life.

 

[RandallC]

From past experience anything more than 7000 miles on a comfortmatic requires a significant outlay for clutch and hydraulic bits.

Never touch another one.

New 9 speed auto (touch wood) is so so much better to drive.

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[Lenny HB]

From past experience anything more than 7000 miles on a comfortmatic requires a significant outlay for clutch and hydraulic bits.

Why? My last Motorhome was 3 years old done 28,000 when I changed it, Comfomatic working fine, current one done 37,000 all good.

 

[poppycamper]

From past experience anything more than 7000 miles on a comfortmatic requires a significant outlay for clutch and hydraulic bits.

Do you mean 7000 miles per annum or 7000 miles full stop.
Either way that to me equals "not fit for purpose"
How many more disgruntled comfortmatic posts are we going to get.
Seems to me the ones with no issues are getting fewer or have been very lucky or don't want to admit they got a useless not fit for purpose gearbox.

 

[RandallC]

Full stop as in circa every 7k it needed a cash injection.
The swift Kontiki tandem axle MH was very good.

Seems like a roll of the dice. Given production numbers and owners complaints, how lucky are you!

 

[forestfern]

Thank you for all you responses, I really appreciate it

 

[barsteward]

From past experience anything more than 7000 miles on a comfortmatic requires a significant outlay for clutch and hydraulic bits.

Never touch another one.

New 9 speed auto (touch wood) is so so much better to drive.

Whilst ever my limbs are capable of changing gear on a manual gearbox that is the way I will go.
Unless I have a win on the lottery. When I can't change gear it's time to give up as my pension just will not keep up with technology.

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