I can see getting one in 10 years...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4504834101&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

.......know all about this.

FS-1999 E300TD in Memphis, 1 owner 157k miles.

This is a good point. It has been discussed here before that the new technology cars are not maintainable by the average DIY home mechanic. In ten years this will no longer be new technology and there may be new techniques and tools that make them a better choice for DIY. Of course then, maybe not. By the time it is 15 years old I will probably have to take a chance on one. Maybe by then I will adjust to the styling and not think it is buuttt-uugggly.

In ten years my ability to trouble shoot electronic glitches won't be any better.



Cheers,

Bill

Well if have already made up your mind....

I thought I would never own an electronically controlled vehicle. Now, for a gasser, I prefer it.

Actually if you have wrenched on a 603 you won't be lost if you look under the hood on that one. The 606 isn't much different.

If you have pulled the center console out of a W126 you will thank the MB gods that whoever designed the W210's learned.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

will have been "used up"...just TOO much embedded electronics, plus the fact that electronics guarantee a set shelf life. All new cars are meant to be disposable, no different from a BIC lighter.

They're already a few small companies that are manufacturing electronic components for cars made 10-20 years ago, because new parts aren't available. But today's cars are SO complex and electronics-dependent (add to which the small comparitive volume of Mercedes on the roads) that it's likely such an effort wouldn't be financially viable for a "retro" manufacturer...IF Mercedes would grant permission for an aftermarket firm to produce parts for MB cars. In the latest The Star, there's an ad from the MB Classic Center that ECMs for some of the first fuel injected cars are being remanufactured. But they aren't cheap...I wasn't paying attention, but I think the amount of $3,000 per unit was mentioned.

Also in The Star (issue arrived yesterday) is a second issue's load of letters from complaining owners (most of whom have had new Mercedes for decades) that the cars are glitch-filled and the old "iron duke" reliability and simplicity seem to have gone out the window more than 10 years ago...if not 20.

As I see it, the only Mercedes worth having in the future are the already "old" ones many of us have now. I'm hoping to avoid a future where ALL I can get is an ugly, expensive, disposable car by grabbing every nice pre '85 diesel I can find...and if that doesn't work, then not living too much longer.

Old cars are fun to play with but the world marches on. Computers now are like emissions controls were back in the 70's. In 10 years electronics won't be an issue.

The W210 is an extremly good car that isn't to hard to work on. I can not make that same statement about the W211 yet but I think they are very sharp looking.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I wonder why....

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Ah, I was going to point that out.

Instead of the usual "A Mercedes-Benz Product", the sticker has been substituted with it's Daimler-Benz variant.

When you have one computer fighting another computer(MAF) and (PLUGS 1 + 3 MISFIRING) that there is a faulty wiring harness, of course due to poor biodegradeable insulation of wires and leaky batteries, that is excessive.

The diesels most of us drive have NO electronics that will inhibit driving performance. I have said it many times in the past, but it is reassuring knowing that a car will take you from A to B without the randomness of an electronic fault.

No jumpy idles, no stalling at traffic lights, no nearly getting killed on a major interstate while in the passing lane doing 80 mph in 4-lane rush-hour traffic at twilight on slick pavement.

With a gas car, this can be accepted to an extent with EFI. But a diesel I have always thought of as a simplistic alternative to the air-suckers.

That is just a typical European car, they all have their share of problems. Lexus and Acura seem to be getting it right, I would imagin pretty soon MB will to.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

We'll see.

I have more confidence that a 20 year old MB diesel will still be on the road 10 years from now than I do of a 5 year old car (of any make) still being on the road 10 years from now.

- Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

This guy consistently has some of the finest vehicles for sale on eBay. Where the hell does he find them? They not only look clean always, they're also almost always one owner, non-smoker cars with all the service records. Cool!! I wouldn't mind one of those either. But at 6' 3" and almost 300 lbs, that car will be too cramped for me. I only drive full size cars.

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver