http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/autos/reliable/4.html

http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/autos/reliable/5.html

Didn't i hear that mercedes stopped "overengineering" there cars in the mid nintys... they said it like it was a good thing...

maybe there is a little to much Chrysler in their Dimlar

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thats bull.. how can you claim most reliable on a car that just came out... WEAK!...

most reliable pickup truck

Most reliable (Best score first)
Subaru Baja


wtf its not even a pickup truck its a frign UTE...idiots

Mercedes scores again.

Somebody on here had a list of things to repair on their 98 or 99 E300D, with just over 100K. I was going to point out how much stuff that was to do on a car with so few miles, but didn't want to speak badly of their car. \
MB's poor quality is not a recent thing. As a matter of fact, even our beloved W123's and W126's require much more attention in all areas to my run of the mill '79 Chevy PU, or my generic '97 F-150.
Bottom line, we just love the "klackin......"

(you know, my ex-wife just got rid of her CLK430 and has a Lexus LS430. She loves the Lexus! Had problems with the Mercedes)

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

The fact is, for several years Mercedes, with their exorbitant pricing, was #1 in customer satisfaction according to JD Powers. Far exceeding any other manufacturer in this standing.

Back in '87, the least expensive Mercedes Benz, the 190E 2.3 (Baby-Benz), would cost us almost 50K dollars in todays money (about 29K dollars in '87)!!! And people were pleased with their purchase since they were buying an heirloom.

When will people realize that a car is not an heirloom unless you garage it for thirty years?

But I do have high standards for cars, and am willing to pay for it. $.50/mile plus fuel and maintenance is my breaking point, which leaves me with plenty of options.

I saw these lists on money.com too. It is really sad to see them at the bottom of the lists like that. I think you are right, too much Chrysler in the Diamler

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1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

I dont think your right about W126's or W123's requiring more attention than the cars you mentioned. Before I owned my benzes, I owned chevys, fords, Chryslers, mitsubishi's, and none of them were half as reliable as my benz. But I have never owned a W123 (so I cant speak for them) not to mention my 300 SD's get much better MPG any of my previous cars, incluing a 4cyl mustang that was slower than the turbodiesel.

I think driving a benz we want everything to work, we aren't willing to live with anoying defects. on my fords I always put up with the little stuff that I didn't want to fix again.

Quite a few of the mechanics I talk to say that the W126/W123 was the best car ever made, (im dead serious). most of the people on this forum have over 200Kmiles on thier car, I can't tell you how many ford's gm's and chryslers, dont ever make it to that mileage.

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1984 Euro 300SDC, (4spd standard)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser Diesel HJ60 5spd X2

Gone but not forgotten (some sold, some stripped)
1983 300 SD, 1985 300 SD, 1983 240D, 1986 300 SDL, 1985 300 SDL, 1983 300 D, 1984 300 D, 1985 300SD, 1987 300 SDL, 1983 300 SD, 1985 300 TD Euro, 1983 380SEC, 1990 300 D, 1987 300D, 1982 300D, 1982 300D, 1994 E420, 1987 300 TD, 1987 300 D, 1984 300 D

Consumer Reports also rates ALL Sears Kenmore appliances astronomically superior in ALL categories. Ever had one break? Sears is good for some items, Kenmore appliances not being one of them.

Makes one wonder about their methodology/ratings and reporting.

Having spent maybe $175 to maintain (parts only, I'm a tech) a 1981 300SD from 223K to 247K miles since April 2005, I can safely say that the W126 is the finest car I've ever owned, in terms of perceived quality, actual reliability, and price of maintenance.

I bought it from my former employer, a mechanic since the early 1970s, who was retiring. he owned this 126 for 4 mos prior to selling it to me. He has owned at least one 126 since 1995. This guy has owned numerous GTOs, Cadillacs from the 1950s thru 1990s, Chevy trucks of all varieties including a 70s dually with Dodge Cummins engine transplant.

Even before he owned the 300SD he sold me, he mused aloud many times: "Detroit used to do some interesting ***** in the 1950s, but the W126 is *the* car."

My father owned a 1965 230SL and currently drives a 2001 SLK230. He just raises his eyebrows when I tell him the current odo reading on the big 126 when I go to visit, but whenever I acquire a W123 he inquires as to condition, color, and asking price! And he was considering a Touareg TDI as next purchase, clearly he sees the old 123/126 era as something special.

What I'll be driving in 20 yrs, I'm not sure, but i fear it probably won't be anything like a 21st century MB, sadly...

My sister is looking for a car, a diesel, a VW... I keep talking to her about cars, because I’m the big brother and I’m in school for a mechanics degree. Anyway, she said that I’m always working on my car, she said that she doesn't see why I think it’s so great. But here is my experience: when a part breaks on my Mercedes, I fix or replace it and walk away. That job is done. Another month or so down the road something else breaks, so I fix or replace that part. I’ve never fixed or replaced the same part twice. And my car is 22 yeas old with 310,000 miles on it. Things are wearing out. I know that if I could take my car apart, and replace all the parts that wear (rubber parts mainly) it would be set for another 20 years. In that way it is an heirloom. This is true with every piece of machinery, and that is how I see my car as a machine. If I keep it up to snuff it will last forever.

She also asked how I felt about buying more expensive parts, I told her you get what you pay for. For example, I changed a 22 year old shock 2 days ago… why… because 6 months ago when I changed the rear shocks I check the front ones, I took them out and sure enough they still bounced back… so why change them. I’m not surprised it failed, but I am surprised that it has lasted so long.

I’ve owned fords and Chevy’s that you just can't do that with them. Sooner or later some poorly engineered vital part fails, and you just can't fix it... the car has literally DIED

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G'mornin',

My $0.02 worth.....I think my '85 300D will be running for a long tome after the electronics begin to give out in these "modern" cars.

And...W123's were/are used as Taxis in many places worldwide....ever see a Toyota/Lexus Taxi other than in Japan??

My brother has an '02 MB C230.....just cost him a bit over $1500 for a "B" service and an AC re-charge....in Orlando, at the Dealership of course!!

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

JIMMY, JIMMY, Jimmy....

I'm sorry, but with something near 1 million miles of driving and maintaining MB automobiles plus that many more in many other makes, I just can't buy this. The 123's of the late seventies, early eighties were virtually trouble free compared to most any American car I've ever driven, and I've had some very good American vehicles.

My experience with the 123's was while they were new, near new. Buying an old one, even a low mileage one today and expecting trouble free mileage is not a fair comparison.

Now as far as TODAY'S MB's, yes they definitely have a reilabiltiy problem. I ended up dumping my beloved 2001 manual transmission C240 with less than 40,000 miles due to EXTREME quality problems, mostly electronic in nature, but just because the new ones have gone down hill, don't shoot all the dogs because one of them has fleas.

Sigh. I'm sorry to hear this. My hopes for a modern MB were in part based on Larry's good experience w/ his car. Guess I'm just going to have to wait for Lexus/Acura/Infiniti to bring a nice diesel over here... although I've actually hear pretty good things about the Bimmer 330d 's... either way, still sad...

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Tjohn

82 300 SD
77 450 SL (gone)