Hi, I would like to know what you M-B owners prize about your cars the most. I don't own a Mercedes yet, but i would like to get a 1986-91 W126 560SEL or a W140 400SEL/420SEL/500SEL or after college. Is this a wise decesion for a 22 year old? What attracted me to Mercedes-Benz was the class, style, luxury, design, reputation, the status they bring to the owner, they're german, the german engineering, the many many intelligent well thought out features included in all M-B's, they have excellent resale values, they have SUPERB reliability for the most part. And they are some of the most thoroughly engineered cars in the world. They can last many many miles. (I hear 1,000,000 miles is possible with some of the older diesel models!!!) The biggest drawback to owning a M-B, for me atleast, is the price for parts/labor. Is it really that bad? Overall, one could say that Mercedes Benz makes the world's finest cars.
Your choice of of the cars for after college is good. I'm sorry to say that MB reliability has gone down very steep in the past years. The newer models generally will have a lot of problems. The older models have less problems. Prices for parts and labor may be expensive, but you may be better off buying the parts elsewhere and doing it yourself. DIY stuff is a great way to get acquainted with your car. This way you won't have to go to the stealer everytime. There are a lot of things that you can do very cheaply by yourself than go to the dealer and have them charge you 50 bucks for something you could have done for maybe 25 cents. I mean this is what the forum is for. You may want to join mercedesshop (dot) com. They have parts for sale and they are also a forum (a boring one I might add, that's why I didn't join).
Oh i know all about dealers charging a TON of money for parts. I have a '92 Cadillac Sedan deVille, and i just did all 4 struts on it. The dealer quoted me $257 a strut. I went to Napa and got each auto leveling strut for $79.80.
Your choice of of the cars for after college is good. I'm sorry to say that MB reliability has gone down very steep in the past years. The newer models generally will have a lot of problems. The older models have less problems. Prices for parts and labor may be expensive, but you may be better off buying the parts elsewhere and doing it yourself. DIY stuff is a great way to get acquainted with your car. This way you won't have to go to the stealer everytime. There are a lot of things that you can do very cheaply by yourself than go to the dealer and have them charge you 50 bucks for something you could have done for maybe 25 cents. I mean this is what the forum is for. You may want to join mercedesshop (dot) com. They have parts for sale and they are also a forum (a boring one I might add, that's why I didn't join).
Your choice of of the cars for after college is good. I'm sorry to say that MB reliability has gone down very steep in the past years. The newer models generally will have a lot of problems. The older models have less problems. Prices for parts and labor may be expensive, but you may be better off buying the parts elsewhere and doing it yourself. DIY stuff is a great way to get acquainted with your car. This way you won't have to go to the stealer everytime. There are a lot of things that you can do very cheaply by yourself than go to the dealer and have them charge you 50 bucks for something you could have done for maybe 25 cents. I mean this is what the forum is for. You may want to join mercedesshop (dot) com. They have parts for sale and they are also a forum (a boring one I might add, that's why I didn't join).
I'm hooked for sure on MB. I purchased my sl in April 05. Private party. Had a flat tire on the way back from TX. Called benz roadside assistance on how to change the tire. They said we will send someone to change it for free. WOW. That if you own a MB no matter how old. How many owners. You are entitled to FREE 24 hour roadside assistance, for flats. run out of gas or need a tow... That sold me forever on MB.
The 126 is a grand dame, a real tank that continues to be respected on the road. It drives big, feels big, has nice torque, plenty of room and still has the looks. Tighten the suspension a bit, put on wider tires to reduce body roll, and do some cosmetic work and you will be quite satisfied.
Most of these for sale have a lot of work to do it seems as previous owners did not keep them up. Find a real diamond in the rough and you will be amazed at the quality.
When they tried to compete with the Honda, Toyota, and Nissan luxury cars. The combination of outsourcing, poor quality suppliers, and automated assembly plants made the MB as common (and as reliable) as a Ford. All Toyota had to do, for example, was stick an ‘ES300’ badge on a Camry and you have an instant Lexus. There was no way DB could compete and retain the Old World assembly techniques that made these the best-built cars in the world.
So my favorite thing is just that: unmatched superior build quality now forever lost in the automotive world.
Modern Merc's are now more drive & throwaway, and made with the same built in redundant/fast depreciating factor as a new computer, cellphone, etc etc.
Older Merc's fit more like your after work slippers, Mums shortbread, Sunday roast, - sort of a comfort nice to have thing.
It's only when the repairs/maintenance becomes a pain in the arse that this 'hammock'illusion tests wallet reality, but that star thing on the bonnet sure has a certain something....
My favourite thing about owning an old Merc? - waking up each morning and seeing it [].
I have an S500 and drove a 300D and a 300SD for a LOOOONNNGGGG time. I think that when you compare a 300SD (126 body style) and an S500 (W140) you are comparing apples to oranges. I loved my 123 and my 126 BUT they are very simple cars. I think that the most complicated part was the ACC or the power doors. My S500 is an extremely complex automobile. When you shift into reverse the parking assist raises antennae to help you see the back of the car. When you open the trunk, a handle pops out so you don't have to get fingerprints on the paint. If I leave the sunroof and windows open I can close them from 25 feet away with the remote....closing assist, etc.
With each new version of the "Sonder Klasse" Mercedes-Benz is deleting more "convenience" options. The early W220 S classes had a feature that when you put the car into reverse the right headrest went down and the passenger mirror tilted down so that you see the curb and not scuff your tyres...now it's gone. W220's that had the convenience smart key option would move the seat, steering wheel and mirrors to the position of the key owner as soon as the door was unlocked.....now, gone.
I think that Mercedes-Benz tried to compete with Lexus and Infinity's features and couldn't make them work reliably. If you want reliability and cheap replacement parts buy a W126 300SD or SDL. If you want average reliablility and an impressive ride that was meant to compete with Rolls-Royce buy a W140. BUT, they are expensive to maintain and repair.
After all, when the Maybach was designed the engineers started with the W140 chassis NOT the W220. []
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