Anyone have experience with, or knowledge about Mercedes-Benz cars?

Killercanary · Mar 23, 2009

My wife and I are looking to replace our Ford Edge SUV with an AWD car and we just drove a 2007 Mercedes Benz C280 4 matic. We love the car but since I've never owned a Mercedes, or any German car for that matter, I wasn't sure if there was anything to look out for, be aware of, etc. I was hoping since we have such a diverse group of enthusiast on here that someone may have some input on these cars. Every car I've ever owned has been domestic except for my wife's Mr2 spyder. I like to do all of my own maintenance on my vehicles. What I'd like to know is if there are any common problems with these cars, if they have any dealer-only maintenance requirements etc. I don't want to buy a vehicle that I can afford to purchase and end up with one that I can't afford to maintain. This is my primary concern with this car. I didn't think I'd love it as much as I do, but within the 1st mile I was hooked. I already have the car held for me and plan to purchase it as soon as tomorrow unless I find reason's why I shouldn't. I appreciate any and all input if you are familiar with these cars. Thanks!
-Paul

P.S.- the mustangs are not going anywhere so don't worry!

KamiKaziDK · Mar 23, 2009

if you like paying A WHOLE LOT for parts and repairs, go for it.....I'd look domestic though if I were you. My land rover costs a fortune to work on and it's cheaper than most german cars.

blksn955.o · Mar 23, 2009

I love the Benz and BMW stuff...however that said I would not want to own one out of warranty. I think honestly I would sooner lease a Benz or a BMW before buying one. Unless it was a just retarded good deal I dont know if I would buy a used one even with some kind of remaining warranty.

They tend to drop in value like a rock in water.

Benz has been having some reliability issues over the last several years and ranks overall below avg. on quality rankings (new list just came out so you can search yourself). They are said to have been working on the quality issues but still...for the money you pay working should be "worked out" for those prices.

Dont get me wrong...if I hit a big lotto. The dd choice would be hard to make from an M5 or SL65 AMG. I would love to get an G wagon , X5, or Discovery.

Yobi1Kanobi · Mar 23, 2009

I just bought a E55 AMG and it has a melted piston. I have only had it for like 2 months. Let me tell you that its about 6-7k to fix. You want a warranty. And regular maintenance is kinda pricey too. Good luck tho nice cars.

blksn955.o · Mar 23, 2009

Yobi1Kanobi said:
I just bought a E55 AMG and it has a melted piston. I have only had it for like 2 months. Let me tell you that its about 6-7k to fix. You want a warranty. And regular maintenance is kinda pricey too. Good luck tho nice cars.

Baller...sucks to hear but those are NICE!!!

Yobi1Kanobi · Mar 23, 2009

I am going to get rid of it. The car shows signs of been beat up.

Grn92LX · Mar 23, 2009

Once you get into a German luxury car you'll fall in love. The suspension systems are second to none. I LOVE taking turns hard in my Audi Of course paying dealer rates for labor won't be cheap. Do you know of any Euro only shops locally? Try googling for some mercedes boards. Personally, all you're gonna get on here is here say from people who don't own/know German cars.

Adam95GT · Mar 23, 2009

get a lexus... IMO Toyota is more reliable....

KamiKaziDK · Mar 23, 2009

toyotas are reliable cause they're underpowered. I was a tech for 6 months at a local dealership, there were lots of electrical recalls that I was always fixing

OurBlue95GT · Mar 24, 2009

KamiKaziDK said:
if you like paying A WHOLE LOT for parts and repairs, go for it.....I'd look domestic though if I were you. My land rover costs a fortune to work on and it's cheaper than most german cars.

Our DD is a VW Jetta and just the marker light alone to fix was 130$. Lense alone for this was 35$. Oil pan(stupid NH frost heaves) was 170$ labor for it was $200. Would've done this ourselves but you need a "special tool" that even the garage needed to purchase to take the old one out. Parts are SUPER EXPENSIVE!
I can't wait till it's paid off, cause I will NEVER own another German vehicle, or Forgien fo that matter.

Just my opinion though.

Pokageek · Mar 24, 2009

DO NOT BUY ONE out of warranty if you want to keep your bank account. I have owned 2, well owned one and then smart enuf to lease the second one. The first one I fell in love with was an s-class and u know what I mean when you drive one. But after repair bills of $1000 mo on average and many many problems, I gave it up.

ProKiller · Mar 24, 2009

can't speak for a mercedes but a friend of the family bought a brand new 5 series bmw and after two months traded it in for an audi. already needed 3k of stuff to fix a problem. not that that little story helps you Paul, but German cars are just too expensive. go look at the Hyundai genesis.

turbogt · Mar 24, 2009

I will second everyone here.. they are AMAZING cars.. Build and ride quality blows everything else out of the water....

But don't own one unless it's under warranty or your gonna go broke..

BlownFiveLiter · Mar 24, 2009

I had the opportunity to drive my old boss's 2001 E430 once. It was an amazingly tight, responsive car, even as a sedan. He sold it in 2003 for an Audi A6 when the warranty expired after he had it in the shop numerous times (electrical issues, IIRC). I think that the 98-02ish E Class cars are probably some of the best looking German cars ever made, but after seeing how often it needed service, next to my domestic cars, I personally wouldn't get one unless I was made of money.

SVT3183 · Mar 25, 2009

i deal with C classes all the time in work with no known maintenance issues, however they get turned before there is any real mileage on them. for maintenance think of about as high as you think it could cost you then double it, but if you're doing the work yourself that's not an issue. i don't know how hard they are to work on.

08GTStang · Mar 25, 2009

Warantee is key I had an Audi 5000S years ago and man I tell you after the first 3000 dallor oput of warantee repair it was see you later car. It seemed that where ever you took it for repair it was lots of dough to make it go.

urban96 · Mar 25, 2009

OurBlue95GT said:
Our DD is a VW Jetta and just the marker light alone to fix was 130$. Lense alone for this was 35$. Oil pan(stupid NH frost heaves) was 170$ labor for it was $200. Would've done this ourselves but you need a "special tool" that even the garage needed to purchase to take the old one out. Parts are SUPER EXPENSIVE!
I can't wait till it's paid off, cause I will NEVER own another German vehicle, or Forgien fo that matter.

Just my opinion though.

damn dealership seen you comin, check around on the net and u can find parts for waaay cheaper

OurBlue95GT · Mar 25, 2009

urban96 said:
damn dealership seen you comin, check around on the net and u can find parts for waaay cheaper

that was shopping around... and it wasn't bought at the dealer...

KamiKaziDK · Mar 25, 2009

OurBlue95GT said:
that was shopping around... and it wasn't bought at the dealer...

agreed, a new lock and tumbler for my rover costs over $100, if I need the ignition switch with it, the price jumps to over $350 and that's over $200 cheaper than the next place!! German and british cars just cost a lot to work on period. They don't have the production numbers of domestics or the extra parts factories in mexico. Most of those parts are made in Germany and England, so they have good quality control

Pokageek · Mar 25, 2009

Ehemm.. yes I tried to work on it myself...For example, the window regulators that always go bad. Sure, a small plastic part will cost you $8.50 and then you can buy the $150 mechanical press to install it because that is the ONLY way you will get it on so ur window can go up and down. And no u cannot get any of the above at Salvo.

Anyone have experience with, or knowledge about Mercedes-Benz cars?

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