TheDon says: - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TheDon · #1 08-28-2010, 12:57 AM

Mooo..

no not really..

But I miss having a diesel benz.

Fulcrum525 · #2 08-28-2010, 01:28 AM

compu_85 · #3 08-28-2010, 01:48 AM

Buy a cheap one off ebay

Everyone says these cares cost nothing to maintain, and we all know everything on the internet is true. That's why I went with the best model... the online reliability ratings of the 350 are unsurpassed!

-J

JamesDean · #4 08-28-2010, 03:13 AM

Comparatively speaking my gasser Mercedes have been more expensive to maintain than my diesel ones. I've got about 6-7k racked up in my w201 (including a replacement engine/transmission reseal/install and axle halfshaft) all within the past four years (comes to around $150/month). I've got about 2k wrapped up in the SEL (timing chain/guides/ac compressor/major tune up) over the past 3-4 months.

The one diesel has maybe 1k-2k in it over the past 4 years.
The other maybe has 7-8k over the past 15 years. It get pampered and babied though.

Food for thought.

LandYaghtLover · #5 08-28-2010, 03:28 AM

Ya. But if you dont have car payments, $150/month is not much. At least, that is what I tell myself. Besides, if given a choice on a free car I would rather drive a 560 SEL in good condition than a Ford Focus right off the production floor.

My second Benz will be a diesel though. Never owned a diesel anything.

TheDon · #6 08-28-2010, 11:04 AM

There is a nice 92 or something W124 300D on my craigslist somewhere in FL for 2k.. good shape but I dont have 2k... I just had to pay tuition(what scholarships didnt cover)

chilcutt · #7 08-28-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

There is a nice 92 or something W124 300D on my craigslist somewhere in FL for 2k.. good shape but I dont have 2k... I just had to pay tuition(what scholarships didnt cover)

My 79 300 SD is just sitting over in Brooksville...while I am out of the country...I doubt that I will return anytime soon to put her back on the road...She has been worked on by Peirre Hadary over in Titusville....

TheDon · #8 08-28-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

My 79 300 SD is just sitting over in Brooksville...while I am out of the country...I doubt that I will return anytime soon to put her back on the road...She has been worked on by Peter Hadary over in Titusville....

I wonder if I have seen it at all. Brookesville? Thats quite a drive to Pete's.. I pulled my parts car delorean from the junkyard in that town.

Fulcrum525 · #9 08-28-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesDean

Comparatively speaking my gasser Mercedes have been more expensive to maintain than my diesel ones. I've got about 6-7k racked up in my w201 (including a replacement engine/transmission reseal/install and axle halfshaft) all within the past four years (comes to around $150/month). I've got about 2k wrapped up in the SEL (timing chain/guides/ac compressor/major tune up) over the past 3-4 months.

The one diesel has maybe 1k-2k in it over the past 4 years.
The other maybe has 7-8k over the past 15 years. It get pampered and babied though.

Food for thought.

I think it's all relative really as everyone's car is going to be different. I calculated that I put about $1,000 into my car every year (Although sometimes on repairs that it didn't actually need....)

pawoSD · #10 08-28-2010, 06:29 PM

Gasser MB's are exciting until something is wrong and they drive you crazy figuring it out. And around town they are quiet and boring. The diesels are awesome ALL the time!

I went up north today and actually chose the diesel vs the gasser for the trip, because I love the 617 sound. I've driven mine 800+ miles this week!

Fulcrum525 · #11 08-28-2010, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Gasser MB's are exciting until something is wrong and they drive you crazy figuring it out. And around town they are quiet and boring. The diesels are awesome ALL the time!

I went up north today and actually chose the diesel vs the gasser for the trip, because I love the 617 sound. I've driven mine 800+ miles this week!

I've had some recent fun driving the 280CE and I have to say both it and my diesel around town are about the same (Ok...the 350 is out in front here)

However once you get above 30 or so it's a whole new ball game

BOTH cars are eager to go and it's something that I explained to my friend. These cars are highway cruisers that you can throw into a curve and they'll take it. Around town you don't need off the line speed which is why they are geared the way they are.

JamesDean · #12 08-28-2010, 08:12 PM

I like both my gasser and diesel MB's. Its fun to play with the 420's double kickdown on the freeway.

I told a friend of mine that I've paid 150/month for my 190E's maintenance and repairs and he was all shocked. Said he would have gotten rid of it a while ago. I responded with "and how much do you pay a month for your 06 Wrangler? AND you still pay to fix **** on it?" (answer: around 450)

I dont understand his reaction though, I paid a fraction of full price for the car, my running maintenance cost is much less than anything other than a entry-level sedan's monthly payment...

My figuring is this:

I could have bought the car new, paid that AND maintenance on the vehicle.

Let's say a 190E was 35k when new in 93. Adjusting for inflation thats around $51k in today's money.

So far including purchase price of the car I have a little under 21% invested in the 190E. Now, since the 190E was a gift to me from my parents when I graduated HS. I, personally only have 13% of the original price invested.

Now I know this isnt the "normal" way of looking at cars and their worth but I look at if from the standpoint of..if i bought it when it was new...and maybe thats a flawed method of looking at it..

Looking at the 420SEL my parents just bought, sticker price was high 50's..so let's say $56k. In today's money, thats $95k. So far they've paid, including purchase price, around 6% of the MSRP.

Granted your mileage may vary from car to car and situation to situation..

I'll have to run though my records book and put in all the bills for my one 300SD. It was bought new and kept in the family...

Any thoughts on this train of thought? Think its flawed?

pawoSD · #13 08-29-2010, 02:01 PM

People at my work are dumb also, can't understand why I drive such an "old" car....all of them have newer suv's and pickups that slurp gas, have expensive insurance, and have huge monthly payments. My car has cost me very very little in recent years since I repaired so much early on. In the past year/25,000 miles I have only done some fluid changes, and replaced the shutoff valve on the IP. Thats it. So not even $300 in 12 months! All of my coworkers spend 1.5x that EVERY month.

Plus my insurance is about $55 a month. Can't beat that!

LandYaghtLover · #14 08-29-2010, 02:11 PM

Good thing we dont treat houses the way we treat old cars. Well, most people.

New car can cost $35k for a very decent one. For that price I can get a new engine, new transmission, new suspension and new paint job. Probably still come out way ahead and still have a much better ride.

iwrock · #15 08-29-2010, 02:49 PM

Comparing an OM617 to a(n) M103 or M116/117 is like comparing an apple to an orange...

The OM617 is better compared to something like an M115...

With that being said, I am willing to bet that if we comapre a motor of similar vintage, and a chassis of similar vintage, we will find that gasser and diesel running costs are similar....

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode