A lot of electrical issues...with these cars

[yosshimura]

Just a general observation..... my 95 E320 hasn't had a major issue in the last two years I have owned it , but every few months its one little electrical thing or the other... causing to be stranded a few times....

Prior W210, had one major electrical problem.. guess the one major washes out the "little" electrical problems....

At the local MB dealer, every day........... a longggggggg line of MBs for service / repair... seems its always one little electrical issue or another... wheather its the a/c switch on a CLS, the air susp on an S, etc, etc....

So, I was thinking of trading up to a 01-02 CLK430 end of this year, so I asked my mech, and he said The newer MB's , its always something electrical...!?!?! WTF... He said on the newer ones, he sees less problems with the BMWs, but still have issues... as I have read here many times newer = more electrical stuff, etcc (but then we go back to my 95...not a lemon , by no means, but it has seen the shop more than my freind's '00 Focus or '02 Civic).... He said he hears less problems from clients who also drive Lexus / Infinity... (NO, I am not going there...)

That brought me to think, that even the VWs have electrical issues... I am always hearing freinds with different VW models and electrical issues (small, but annoying... )...

So what' s with the electricals on these German cars?

You could say, "just lease a newer one"... but you are still going to be plagued with little "bugs".... just that its hopefully covered under warranty then....

Thoughts?

[manny]

As much as it hurts me to say it but, you're right.
I also agree with you on the Volkswagen statement ( been there, done that ).
German electrical systems suck.
The fact that your friends 00 & 02 cars seem to have no problems may only be a temporary thing.
Give them another 5 years.
Todays cars are just too complicated, with too many gadgets to act up.

[450slcguy]

maybe we all should consider trading our cars in for a Chevy they are pretty good these days and alot more reliable and certainly 1/2 the cost.

[manny]

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

maybe we all should consider trading our cars in for a Chevy they are pretty good these days and alot more reliable and certainly 1/2 the cost.

Hmmmm, news to me.
My circle of friends ( many of them are die-hard GM guys ) are suggesting, due to their many problems in recent years ( last 5 - 7 years ), will probably NOT buy another GM.
Transmissions, brakes, electrical problems, power accesory problems,trim falling off, etc.

[Kestas]

I agree. Electrical issues seem to plague every modern car.... Why?..... because the average new car buyer demands lots of features on his car for a low price.... and he gets it. Couple that with the complexity of engine control systems to meet government mandates, and you have problems waiting to happen where no problems existed before.

This will only stop when the manufacturer gets backlash from the new car buyers. Most of us here on this forum are used car buyers, so we have no audience with MB.... except for the fact that if it gets any worse, residual values of MBs will drop further, and those that lease or buy new cars will start making some noise.

Yosshimura, just like you, nearly all the problems I've had to deal with on my 95 E320 are fixing electrical "conveniences".

[mpolli]

My observation is the Germans have really good connectors but really poor quality circuit boards. The Japanese have (some) bad connectors but better circuit boards. The Japanese cars seem to have less electrical problems overall. Nissan might be an exception to this. They don't seem too good.

Mike

[riethoven]

Originally Posted by yosshimura

Just a general observation..... my 95 E320 hasn't had a major issue in the last two years I have owned it , but every few months its one little electrical thing or the other... causing to be stranded a few times....

Prior W210, had one major electrical problem.. guess the one major washes out the "little" electrical problems....

At the local MB dealer, every day........... a longggggggg line of MBs for service / repair... seems its always one little electrical issue or another... wheather its the a/c switch on a CLS, the air susp on an S, etc, etc....

That brought me to think, that even the VWs have electrical issues... I am always hearing freinds with different VW models and electrical issues (small, but annoying... )...

Thoughts?

I have a piece of sh-t 1999 Volvo that has the same maladies. I plan on getting rid of it soon. Modern electronics on cars is why we now have two 1985 300TDs. Very few electronics to go bad, and none of that OBDII crap that is mandated by the fed. I can fix it all myself, and when you start to look at driving to the dealer, waiting in line, paying his price etc. I think I save time and money, and know that I don't have "Bubba the parts changer" working on my car.

Yeah, I have an investment in tools and shop equipment, but I still think it is worth it in the long run.