Three Year Cost of Ownership

[alexnatt]

I just totalled up all my repair receipts and thought it might be helpful for those considering purchasing an older benz. Since I purchased the TE in Feb of 2004 I have paid my indy $11,741 for various repairs. Most were done early in the process as I purchased the car for $3200 without records but after having done a PPI which allowed me to knock $3000 off the asking price. Major repairs include head gasket ($1200), trans rebuild ($1600) , fuel pumps, new pushbutton unit, water pump. We have put 35,000 miles on the car during this time. About 40 cents per mile driven. I have no regrets about the purchase but had I to do it over again I probably would have looked for a newer TE with about 150,000 miles instead of the 209k it had when we bought it.

[Sergio]

I've spent over 10K in the past 3 1/2 years but drove 72K miles for a total of 14 cents a mile (in repair costs alone). Don't anticipate many more expensive repairs (although tranny and evaporator are original).

Sergio
'95 E320 187K miles

[mcbear]

With the big ticket items that you list hitting around $4K or so, what else have you had done in two years that ran that up to almost $12K? They don't have pole dancing at your service center do they?

[alexnatt]

new 02 sensor, reseal power steering box, motor mounts, radiator, thermostat, liftgate shocks, one rear wheel bearing, a/c service, 3 window lifters, new air cells, left tail light assembly, 10 oil changes, timing chain, 4 brake pads + one sensor, EHA fuel distributor. Sadly no pole dancing. This is Utah after all.

By the way, labor rate is $75 per hour.

[neanderthal]

mine has come up to about $3000 in 3 years and some. just needed a cylinder head rebuild. no real issues other than maintenance. only the waterpump which i did myself and a hole in the exhaust.

ive put an easy 50000 on it in the three years but i cant be too sure since my odometer is broken. my commute is 30 miles a day to work. school is a further 40 miles butive only done one semester with this car. my cousin commuted from half moon bay to san francisco for 6 months (40 miles each way) and i play rugby which entails travelling to away games (las vegas, santa barbara, san diego etc) half the season and all the rugby tournaments in summer (san diego, san luis obispo, vegas, santa barbara.) my mom lives in phoenix and ive gone there at least 5 times, plus further up north to arizona to see a friend in flagstaff. ive driven to colorado to hang with friends.

im pleased as punch with my purchase. my next (modern) car will be a 124. or an E30 M3. (i prefer oldies so id probably buy another BMW 2002 but an early round taillight one.) im buying a BMW R1200GS adventure later this year though. definitely my next vehicle.

[dababor]

noob's..
i've had my 300e for about 6 years.. spent around $2500.. oil changes done myself, major fixes done myself using new parts. mercedes repairs are 90% mental, and 10% physical. just try!

[DavidMichael]

I am with dababor on this one. Just like any other older car, it will be expensive to operate if you take it to a service center for every little hiccup. Unless you have a bunch of money you don't mind spending and have a thing for 15 plus year old cars, then by all means don't ever pop the hood yourself!

[Uboater]

" $ 2000 a year average was a standard " if you let the dealer do the "Normal work ". This is over say 10 -12 yrs , that's why you find a lot of 2-3 yr old Benz cars on the dealers lot they are perfect the first 5 yrs with the warranty .

My neighbor has an 05 E-320 that has had engine sensor problems , transmission shift -leak - issues they replaced it , this was all free with the warranty . Just the towing , loss of use is irritating .

My 94 E-320 needs a tranny in a while , but most of my DIY work about $1500 -2000 over 5 yrs it had 87K when I bought it with New paint - new wiring harness.

[omairtheman1]

i think with the right driver and the right parts you shouldnt have to do more then 500 dollars worth of work... in a year... per car.

if your putting more then that down for repairs... find a new car... and dealers rob you and so do independents! thats what i've learned even for my S class and any other car i change brakes, air filters, oil, spark plugs, rad fluid, etc... at my own house. not because i am cheap or i love getting dirty... i just dont trust to many people with the car. because when i do it I DO IT RIGHT.

the harness and head gasket was replaced with the previous owner... trans = original and 108, ooo miles on the odometer.

[247hoopsfan]

I agree with omairtheman. There are so many things you can do yourself on these cars. I dropped in a new radiator in about 45 minutes. Cost $125 for the part. Dealer price for job $650. I guess I have been lucky- I have never had to put a head gasket in any of my 3 W124's. Overall repair costs have been quite reasonable. I do brakes and oil changes myself.