I have mechanical OCD. I couldn't listen to my fathers reasoning "if it ain't broke don't fix it", and like I said I took an all or nothing approach. So if I had one bad tie rod end, I replaced them all. Bad distributor cap? Might as well replace the wires, plugs, and rotor too.

This approach only works if you do you own work, or are rich. Otherwise that $16K in parts over 5 years I spent would really be $40K including labor.

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

I too have an attitude a little bit like yours - I think it is the only way to own a really nice car - however I now try and get the most out of the parts on the vehicle as I don't like to waste stuff.

For example I made the mistake of replacing all original front and rear suspension parts with new thinking that new would be better - Febi let me down!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

1999 s320 just oil changes,trans too.Nitrous kit $250. 3 rd year owned paid cash for car.

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

Just remembered that my 1974 Beetle (RIP) I bought from the original owner in 2005, had EVERY single piece of paper since new, including oil changes (i've still got them somewhere).

I added it all up one time, and she had paid about $30K for a BEETLE....over 31 years mind you. But I still thought that was pretty cool.

__________________
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

I have owned my 300CE for 4 years now and I am sure I have spent close to $6500 on repairs during that time. That is basically what I paid for the car. I still will never trade it though. It is just too nice a car to let go of. Repairs and maintenance (within reason) will also be better than a payment on a depreciating new car.

__________________
1989 300CE

$6500/48 months = $135/mo....

What brand new car costs $135/mo with the tiny insurance costs these cars have today also?

$6500? That's a bargain!

I haven't spent a dime on the wagon since my trans replacement back in February other than the last oil change.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k