One Full Year (and nearly 20,000 miles) Without A Single Repair!

[nhdoc]

Yep, that's correct, I just checked my service log...December 2006 I did the last significant work on my '98 E300 including new motor mounts, fuel lines and DV seals. Since then I have put 19,200 miles on it and done nothing more than replace the oil/oil filter twice and fuel filters (OK, and one can of R134a). I did buy new tires too but can hardly fault the car for that

I know I'm cursing it but the past year has been trouble free and I've averaged darn near 30 MPG over that time. Couldn't be happier with the car this past year...hopefully 2008 will be just as good. Now, if Diesel would just get to be cheaper than premium gas!

[pawoSD]

Awesome!

I've only done about 14 repairs this year! Down from previous years of 25+ However, those repairs were all relatively minor. None exceeded $150. Most were below $50 I am not counting a $710 job at the dealer, since it wasn't so much a "repair" as a "choice to improve something".

Can't say that about previous years though...

[TMAllison]

For me its been almost a year ago that I replaced leaking DV valves and swapped out a bunch of buna o-rings for viton. Approx 35K trouble free miles since. No breakdowns or emergency repairs.

Maintenance wise, did a trans service recently, couple of oil changes and replaced a belt damper shock recently. Also replaced inner tie-rods which were a little sloppy after 210K miles. Need to do LCA bushings soon.

[Hatterasguy]

Normal year for the SDL, kind of light I need to add up what its going to get, probably only $2k worth of repairs this year.

[BIGRED]

Congratulations!

I tend to look at upgrading our cars differently than repairing / maintaining them. (new carpet which had been worn vs. a starter that just quit). From a repair standpoint, both our MB's are way more reliable than new cars I have owned.

From an upgrading standpoint I had a long list for each and it is getting smaller. It is where most of the dollars get spent. Doing most of the work on both of them, I average between $200 and $300 per month for maintenance, repairs and upgrades.

[nhdoc]

I've always said the worst thing you can do to a car is let it sit and not drive it. These cars degrade more sitting than moving. My car does better the more I drive it and this year I have put more miles on it than the prior years I owned it including a trip down to North Carolina this summer.

The next significant scheduled maintenance that's due is a tranny service at 175K but at this rate that won't be until late next year, so for now I will enjoy my reliable car. Snow tires are mounted and we're expecting some storminess tomorrow night...bring it on!

[E300TD99]

nhdoc,
I just put $1,200 in mine a month ago. I had a power steering fluid leak that cost me $750 and an delivery valve leak that cost me $450. Back to back in a matter of a week.

With regard to the power steering leak, mercedes says you need to replace the whole rack. My indy did just the seals. It was a lot of work for them and they probably learned some things that will help them in the future but it saved me about $1,600+.

My car is now running like a top and hopefully this will be it for a while.

I had my car for 2.5 years and I've put about $2,500 in it not counting preventive maintenance (oil, filters, glowplugs, tires). Preventive maintenance is pretty expensive on these cars. I've always been under the impression a diesel was less to maintain. I'm not seeing it.

Good luck to all,
Mike

[Cervan]

i allways laugh when i see these posts, of course its fun to have a car that just drives and you have no problems with it, but im allways under the hood on my car hell i got bored one night and removed the battery tray and welded/painted it to keep the rust from getting to it. but then again, getting to work the next day is alot of fun too congrats!

[raMBow]

I recently changed a bunch of fuel lines myself, as it finally started leaking along with viton o-rings. That was a repair, before that it was December of 2004 that I had glowplugs done (shop) as a repair. Gas cap issue I resolved last year, but it was like that for years.

And I did the lower control arm bushings as preventative maintenance a couple weeks ago.

But I am with you, that is my total in 3 years, pretty cheap really. I like doing the maintenance before it has to be done. Hopefully next is the wheel bearings being repacked.

[rg2098]

I am a bit of a perfectionist, therefor I'm a bit anal when it comes to the condition of my vehicles. Ask whunter about that...

I have around 15k in the 300 from the moment I saw her on ebay, to today. Then again I have gone through the thing bumper to bumper and she looks brand new if you ignore the wonderful gouges across every panel.

[probear]

Letsseee........
Just got her back, and had lower control arm bushings, ball joints, R&R fuel pickup screen, fuel filters, air filter, and alternator brushes......a couple of months ago, did all the steering linkage with front end alignment.
Now, the only thing left is radiator flush, ABS front wheel sensor (left), and eventually, the speed control unit (oh, and the seat springs...)
All things considered, she is just about ready for another year or two without major problems. I've put 46,000 miles on her in a little over two years, so she is doing really well considering 194K miles total at 28 MPG average.