Hi Everyone,

I just talleyed the repair costs on my 99 E430, bought new and well maintained to 84K miles. The car does not have a scratch on it, and looks brand new. Who would know it costs $2100 / year to maintain. What a piece of junk.

Maintenance Cost: $7236 over 7 years. (Includes 3 sets of tires.)
Defects: $7446 since the warranty ran out 3 years ago.

New Stuff Includes the list below. If your car is like mine, you can expect something to break 3-4 times each year. Each thing that breaks will cost $500 to $1000, keep in mind I spent the 7 grand above only AFTER the warranty ran out which covered some of this junk.

Drivers Seat Frame (Creaking)
SunRoof Cover (Rattling)
Drivers Headrest Motor, Rail
Dashboard Bulbs (3 Times)
Steering Rack
Rear Window Regulator, Right
Rear Window Regulator, Left
Catalytic Converter, Left
Catalytic Converter, Right
Upper Ball Joints
Lower Ball Joints
Harmonic Balancer (2 Times, Despite an OK on recall "Inspection", where the tech simply marked it as out of true. I have the pic with the markings. MB can't even make a part that is round and true, or replace one when it is out of true. Later, the out of true condition probably caused my water pump to fail due the vibration.)
Radiator
Water Pump
Steering Column "Clock Spring"
Engine Mounts
Shift Rod Bushing for Auto Trans
Battery
Gas Filler Cap
Mass Air Flow Sensor
Crankshaft Position Sensor

I've exluded the $1752 I spent on stuff that was my fault or idea -- a couple of broken fog lamp lenses, OZ wheels, lost keys ($180 each), and floor mats...

I might keep this one longer as a science experiment in my own patience... but it is NOT a rational thing to do so.

Is there a cure for this?

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GParker
'99 E430 - Smoke 'n Parch

I admire your record keeping skills and wouldn't disagree that one can reasonably call the car junk. The only possible solution is channel you record keeping skills into DIY auto repair skills. But even then you'd be better off with a 95 or earlier car.

I agree with you on the tire life on that car. Mine has had two sets of Michelins and a set of Toyos. None of them made it much past 25,000 miles. I've got a set of Bridgestone Potenzas on it now based on some recommendations of other drivers who liked them.

However, on your other repair issues, even though I'm not particularly keen on the amount of electronics thrown into these newer cars, my maintenance costs have been small. I do all of my own work on the car, so that's a huge help. I don't have the costs of everything that I've done, but I do keep a log of everything ever done to it. Looking over my list, I'd guess I spent maybe $5000 including about $1500 for tires. So even with the tires, that's only $700/year which I think is pretty good. Major issues for my have only been a window regulator, an AC sensor, a fuel shut off valve and a stuck glow plug.

It is basically a nice driver, but it's my third favorite car out of the three listed. I just haven't "bonded" with that car like I have the other two.

Len
'99 E300TD 88,000 miles
'83 240D 345,000 miles original owner and first Mercedes
'59 220S cabriolet

That's a long list and some of those things definitely should have lasted longer than seven years...

Maybe I'm lucky I can't afford a much newer MB than the one I've got!

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

With recordkeeping, a stack of invoices, 10 minutes with Excel, and done.

As far as tires are concerned, I couldn't care less. They are supposed to wear out. I tend to replace tires early, as tread seems to matter just a bit in the rain.

I am sure I could save money by fixing things myself... but that really isn't the point. The point is a) the car freaking breaks 3-4 times per year, and needs attention, and b) MB arrogantly avoids dealing with the issue to the point where Consumer Report now calls MB the least reliable car you can buy.

Now for the recommendation that I buy an OLDER car to find a more reliable one... hell no! A Lexus GS Hybrid is more like it... and fast too. Too bad it looks like a Lexus.

In 10 years, there will be about a dozen people on this board. 10 will be in their 80s driving perfectly good vintage MBs. The other two will be idiots chatting about how their Maybach lives at the dealer.

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GParker
'99 E430 - Smoke 'n Parch

Sokoloff, I am glad, btw to hear that you have had better luck.

If I drop the post warranty gas engine and cooling repairs off the list, and note that the cats are only on the gassers, maybe a diesel really was the right choice.

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GParker
'99 E430 - Smoke 'n Parch

I was also really surprised and happy to see how DIY friendly the diesel is too. I was kind of worried that my DIY days were over, but my car has been in the shop twice in the five years I've owned it, once for some warranty work and once for an alignment. Everything else I've been able to do myself.

Len

That's interesting. Our '99 E430 has been bulletproof, even after 85K miles, with very low repair costs. It has been every bit as reliable as a Lexus which we have had for 13 years.

You asked if there was a solution to this, i.e the high repair costs. There's just two solutions - get rid of the car, or learn how to fix it yourself. There's no magic dust to sprinkle on it to make it reliable.

Ditto for my 1998 E320, now with 100300 miles on the clock. Just for kicks I will look up my car's maintenance and repair history and tally up all the costs post 50K miles (warranty expiration).

I previously owned a 1999 Seville SLS that was purchased new and meticulously maintained. From October 2004 through July 2005 that car ran up repairs costs in excess of $6000.00. (They were all covered by teh extended warranty that I bought before the GM warranty expired).

The last straw came in when one the light button switches (on the overhead console) broke. We had to replace the ENTIRE overhead console (couldn't replace just th switch). It was over $300.00 to get one light switch repaired.

As soon as the switch was repaired I sold the car. It had less that 49K miles!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...life is to sort to drive crappy troublesome cars!

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

Here we go.
2000 C 230 K, purchased used ( 3 years old, 28 k miles on it ).
Now ( 3 years after purchase ) 80 k miles on it.
Repair Cost to date $ 0.00.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Not bad actually. $2k+/- a year is about what I expect from a MB/BMW ect. C's seem to be a bit cheaper. S's a bit more.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Wow
Can't understand why so much difference in repair costs
My 99E 320 Estate has been bullet proof so far.
All A&B maintenance done plus additional work at scheduled service intervals. Also changed 722.6 tranny fluid, annual rust proofing, plus one set Michelins.
Only repair cost in 6 years not covered under dealer warranty was repair of CD Changer = $200.

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2012 ML350 Bluetec 4-matic
1999 E320 4-matic Estate


"A ship in harbour is safe, but thats not what ships are built for". - John A. Shedd

http://www.varaderocigar.com/images/...ontecristo.gif

Here's a flashback on me... I bought a brand new ML320 in 1998. Cost me in the 60's. It broke down the very first week, the Fuel Pump. During the warrenty period, Mercedes quite possibly replaced half the truck.

1) Fuel Pump
2) Sunroof
3) head Light harness
4) Engine - Died at 15 000km
5) Some bushings, wheels were shaking when stopping
6) Rear Window smashed with Defrost on (wasn't covered under warrenty - mercedes claims first case, talked to ford dealer - told me it happens very rarly)
7) Stereo died and was fully replaced
8) Driver side power seat failure....

just some of what i remember.

Some repairs weren't covered, some were. The transmission started acting up, and I was told it would go within 5 000 km. Warrenty had just expired on it. Also it needed new brake pads and rotors all around, and a major tune up. I dumped a bunch of Lucas Transmission Conditioner in it, got it detailed to look brand new and sold it to some old widow for $25 000, at the time $2000 more then dealers had it listed for.

Now I wonder how happy she is.
First she overpaid for the truck. Then once the transmission died on her, she was probobly in that truck for more then 5000 dollars compared to the ones dealers were selling. Then when they did her transmission they probobly told her she needs to do a major tune up, and OMG you have NEXT TO NO BRAKES!!! and tire tread for another 6 months....new tires! But I know everyone out their is going to call it maintance, but sometimes I feel sorry for the old lady that bought my truck, but atleast she knows she's driving a mercedes and it won't break down on her....

hahaha...that's sooo true! Man, when I say stuff like this, people want to kill me and hang me...but its the truth.