Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-24-2011, 01:07 AM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
How much do you spend on your W124 each year?

I keep all my receipts and over the last few months have built a pretty comprehensive documentation in excel for all my expenses on both my cars...oil changes, tires, everything!

300TE -- Purchased 3/16/2006....64k miles.
Total spent as of right now 5/23/2011....106k miles.

Ownership: 5 years, 2 months
Total Spent: $4,163.85
Mileage Driven: 42k miles

So roughly ~$830/year costs. I have head gasket and head rebuilt, water pump, transmission removed and bands replaced, fuel distributor. Most of the big boys are taken care of so I can only forsee A/C and sunroof being the next PIA items to go out...

ALL service intervals are up to date and scheduled ahead. Oil changed every 3-4k most documented (couldn't find all of them unfortunately)...

What do you guys think? Seem about right for an M103?

A lot of people see me spending a lot of money on my cars, but does $830/year seem reasonably well?
This is obviously no labor hours though since I've done it all myself.

-----

We won't get started on my 260E....LOL. She's a money pit, but I got it dirt cheap, so I guess "technically" I had a little headroom.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-24-2011, 11:47 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,177
I don't have my maintenence records handy but they aren't that much on a yearly basis. We wont talk about the money that needs to be spent on it. Regardless, the biggest expense is FUEL.
__________________

90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE
104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-24-2011, 11:50 PM
Craig
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Sounds about right for a low mileage car; they usually start getting more expensive someplace around 200-250k miles.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-25-2011, 12:51 AM
sptt's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 691
I'm right there with you. I have spent much more than I anticipated but was definately forewarned. These cars are built with quality parts but when they start failing, kaboom! Putting a new engine in mine now after 200K. In two years, I have spent about $1500.00 a year and doing my own labor. But, again, I don't know of too many other cars out there as old as these and still pretty much self repairable and running, and riding smooth!

PS2CHO....I was wondering, since you've already done this...when my engine is out of the car at the shop, can the friction bands be easily replaced in the transmission if it's still bolted in? The Auto Shop doesn't do tranny's but I said I could go down an do whatever I wanted while it was out. How long of a process was this for you once it was out of the car?

sptt
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-25-2011, 02:03 AM
Juck's Avatar
It could always be worse.
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Apopka, FL
Posts: 63
My awesome 1993 300CE Cabriolet with 97k miles has cost me maybe a grand in the last 5 years,, that covers regular maintenance, a couple of bits of trim and 2 rebuilt hydraulic cylinders. The evap needs fixing,,, but the wiring harness and radiator were replaced by the PO.

The car is paid for,, and even if I have to pay $3000 a year in repairs going forward,, what else can I get for $250 a month that is better than my brilliant 124? A lease on a Scion XB or Toyota Prius? A Ford Focus? Dodge POS?

Hell no.
__________________
I wasn't the one who misplaced the entire Deltivid asteroid belt.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-25-2011, 02:49 AM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
Quote:
Originally Posted by sptt View Post
I'm right there with you. I have spent much more than I anticipated but was definately forewarned. These cars are built with quality parts but when they start failing, kaboom! Putting a new engine in mine now after 200K. In two years, I have spent about $1500.00 a year and doing my own labor. But, again, I don't know of too many other cars out there as old as these and still pretty much self repairable and running, and riding smooth!

PS2CHO....I was wondering, since you've already done this...when my engine is out of the car at the shop, can the friction bands be easily replaced in the transmission if it's still bolted in? The Auto Shop doesn't do tranny's but I said I could go down an do whatever I wanted while it was out. How long of a process was this for you once it was out of the car?

sptt
Disks are easy as pie....But if you are gonna start removing stuff, get the front pump resealed. That is more tricky. Take a look at my 722.3 removal here:
http://www.w124-zone.com/articles.php?article_id=21

You can see with the front pump removed, everything else is removed one by one. Definitely do this if you can! It will prolong everything in there, not just the reverse...all that brake pad dust (which is what the bands basically are) has to go somewhere and unfortunately it ends up clogging ofrices and going places you really don't want it being.

Quote:
Originally Posted by duxthe1 View Post
I don't have my maintenence records handy but they aren't that much on a yearly basis. We wont talk about the money that needs to be spent on it. Regardless, the biggest expense is FUEL.
Fuel is expensive on any car, I'd never trade in a car for fuel reasons, its a horrible, horrible excuse. Spend $300+ /mo in payments + insurance to save $60/mo in gas?
__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-25-2011, 11:14 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 1,140
The rule for any out of warranty-aged Benz is $1000/yr, at least it's what I plan for
__________________
former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-25-2011, 11:40 AM
Home appliance genius
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: cleveland
Posts: 1,160
I bought my 300se about 4 years ago @89k. Now at 97k.

A/c Was expensive, about 2.5k, water pump, and regular maintenence.
So, I guess about 1k a year for it.

My 300e, (197k)which has been kicking and screaming to the 200k mark, has got me for about 1.5k just this year. (rear subframe)

And, I just found out my evap started to leak exactly 1 year after I changed everything in the system except that.


My opinion is that the m103/w124/126 starts to get real expensive to keep after 150k.
__________________
Eugene

10 E63 AMG
93 300te 4matic
07 BMW X3
14 Ford F-150 Fx2
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-26-2011, 12:26 AM
glenmore's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 963
I keep pretty detailed records on an Excel spreadsheet also. This is a good idea because it all becomes a blur when you try to remember when you did certain things. It also helps you anticipate repairs like new brakes.

Here are my numbers after a recent big whack (new tranny).

1991 300CE with 112k, purchased 6/2002, now 175k.

The two big ticket items were the head gasket, $1686 @ 125m, and a new tranny ($1622) @ 172m.

My cost per year is $1222.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-26-2011, 01:09 AM
sptt's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 691
PS2CHO...I found a guy down the highway here that only does MB Transmissions (The "Transmeister"!). I had already checked out your DIY and was going to try myself but he's not far from the repair shop where they are doing my engine. He said to call him when it's out and he will go get it and bring it back to his shop and check it out. Told me that the disks are a common problem and shouldn't be much to fix if that's all it needs. I'm hoping that's it because it shifts great normally. I told him it makes a "clickety" sound when backing up and he said it is usually just those b3 friction plates (discs). Crossing my fingers!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-26-2011, 02:46 PM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
Quote:
Originally Posted by sptt View Post
PS2CHO...I found a guy down the highway here that only does MB Transmissions (The "Transmeister"!). I had already checked out your DIY and was going to try myself but he's not far from the repair shop where they are doing my engine. He said to call him when it's out and he will go get it and bring it back to his shop and check it out. Told me that the disks are a common problem and shouldn't be much to fix if that's all it needs. I'm hoping that's it because it shifts great normally. I told him it makes a "clickety" sound when backing up and he said it is usually just those b3 friction plates (discs). Crossing my fingers!
Sounds perfect since he knows the b3 disks. Shouldn't cost you much either since the disks are about $80 to buy yourself and you don't have labor removing tranny since its pretty much already out. Go for it!

Make sure you get the front pump resealed! Trust me!
__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-27-2011, 12:09 AM
sptt's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 691
Is the front pump the part that you take off to expose the B3 bands? The one with the teflon rings?
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-27-2011, 12:43 AM
ps2cho's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Posts: 3,525
Quote:
Originally Posted by sptt View Post
Is the front pump the part that you take off to expose the B3 bands? The one with the teflon rings?
Yep, photos on my link.
__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-28-2011, 12:38 PM
JimFreeh's Avatar
Benz addict
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia
Posts: 3,366
How much does it cost?

I really don't know.

I mean I really don't want to know.

I mean I really, really don't want my wife to know....

Jim
__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-28-2011, 12:57 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Albuquerque, NM USA
Posts: 1,947
Quote:
Originally Posted by Will_w202 View Post
The rule for any out of warranty-aged Benz is $1000/yr, at least it's what I plan for
That's realistic I believe.

However, just note that you PURCHASED that new-car warranty and paid more than $4000 for a 4-year warranty. Extended warranties are cheaper, but cover less.

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page