OK - here's the $64,000 question -

On average (average being the key word here) what would you say you spend annually on maintenance for your MB?? I have heard $1,000/year up to $3,000/year (not 190E owners exclusively).

Mine is an '85 190E with 130k miles on it - timing chain is a likely culprit for some new and not-too-pleasant noises. Probable $1,000 fix for this. My wife and I aren't excited about the $2-3k/year maintenance outlook. Is this realistic? High? Low? Any other things I should look/listen for??

TIA-

Stephen Davis
MBCA - N. Texas
1985 190E 2.3ltr. with an unpleasant *tinking* noise..

If you really think the timing chain is going, don't wait! Mine broke and the resulting repair cost $2200. Two different places said it would have been less than $400 to replace the chain before it broke.

Here's what I spent on the 190 in 3 years, going from 85K to 135K miles:
A/C compressor $1100
Alternator $200
Brakes $200
Tires $300
Center resonator $150
Power window switch $45
Power seat switch $80
Antenna mast $25
Timing chain / valve job $2200

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Rick Miley
Tampa, FL
86 190E
87 300E

Timing cahin Change should not be such a headache I know for a fact that they use a tool which connects the new chain to the old which then gets pulled all the way around until the new chain comes out again after which the old cchain gets reconected and job is done taking no more then 10 Minutes, cost wise I canot remember what it was but defently no more then $400.
Apart from that the only major expense we had with our 135000 Miles car was a blown headgasket, I presume thats down to it being tuned.
Apart from that:
1. Expansion tank
2. Cooler
3. 4 exhausts
4. Alternator
5. Startermotor
And loads of tyres but that's down to the bad roads in the U.K.
I can only recomend 190's.
happy Motoring

Thanks again for the information. I am no longer the owner of the 190E. My wife and I took the car back to the dealer, complained a bit, paid a few (read: MANY) more dollars for a more suitable, stable and mechanicaly sound 1988 300E. Dealer aknowledged the car was sold in "not-so-great" condition needing nearly $4,000.00 in repairs!!

Whew!