The cost to run my 88 300CE 10,000 miles (70 to 80,000) in the past 12 months:

2 INDY oil changes $80.00. (N/C for tire rotations)
1 dealer service @ 75,000: Around $250.00
Fix broken odometer by INDY MB shop: approx $256 (3 hrs)
Exterior detailing: $125.00.
Fix flat: N/C
Figure $700.00 tops. Best year ever.

"If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand"*

*Famous last (Harley Davidson) owner's words!

Merry Christmas.

Oh don't worry as soon as I can afford one I'll buy one! I really like the CLS55, but my dream car is the CL65 with a few more mods. I was drooling over a black on black CL65 AMG at the dealer, wow just wow.


I think one of those would cost me about $200k by the time I got it out the door and had Brabus or Kleeman add a louder exhuast and maybe some other mods. I think 800hp would be about right.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'm sure you will.

But do you want to buy a MB AMG for $200K? or would you buy a Ferrari for that much?
I know I would.

F430's are currantly going for more then $200k. I'd get on the waiting list, then buy the CL65. Then get rid of the CL in a year or so and get the F430. The trick with Ferrari's is if you have the money to buy a new one every year. That way you break even or even make money.

I have this all figured out now I just need the money!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Ha ha!
Sounds like a good plan.
Good luck on the money part.

In all of the discussions regarding maintenance and repair costs, there is a significant increase in annual repair costs on vehicles that have higher mileage on the clock. Vehicles with 250K on the odometer are going to consume much more money per year than vehicles with 125K on the clock. In fact, many vehicles with 125K can get by with maintenance and repairs below $1K per year if the owner performs all the labor.

The SDL is a model that tends to consume more dollars than most of the other W126 vehicles. This one has absorbed about $4K in maintenance and repairs over the last 20 months. But, much of that was neglected by the PO, so, I expect it to decline significantly. About $800 of that figure includes new tires, reconditioned wheels and a new head unit.

It is also true that the owner's perception of the vehicle requirements weighs heavily on the maintenance costs. Many of these vehicles, and this SDL is no exception, can be driven on a daily basis with the need for $5K worth of repairs to get them back to perfect condition. But, the owner elects to ignore these items, preferring to state on the forum that his vehicle only needs $500. worth of repairs this year.

So, what's the true cost of repairs? It includes the actual out of pocket expenses and it also includes those items that are "deferred" through a deliberate act, or by the ignorance of the owner.

Anyone who claims to spend less than $1000 per year on a vehicle with mileage that is approaching 200K is likely kidding us, or themselves, or both.

Yep Brian nailed it. I am playing both sides of the fence with this one. Anyone who knows W126's could probably pick out $3k-$5k worth of stuff my SD needs to bring it back into top shape. But it runs and drives fine, granted not everything works that great but it runs pretty darn good.

I have done nothing to it other then oil, fuel, and air filters. The only "repair" parts I have installed were a $9 tie rod end, $65 battery, $20 worth of heater hoses, a $15 fuel filter bolt, and a $10 t stat. So $120 worth of parts and thats about it for this driving season on that car. I'll change the oil one more time and thats it until next fall. Maybe next fall I'll throw on a set of front brake discs. Basicaly its a $500 car I am running into the ground over two winters and will dispose of after that. But I spend less then $200 a year maintaining it.

After doing this I see that if I spent a bit more say $500-$1000 a year I could keep it on the road all year round for at least the next 5 years. So you can drive them cheap, but don't kid yourself your running it into the ground.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200