Is merecedes too troublesome ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 08-25-2003, 04:28 PM

Guys,
after doing DIY troubleshooting on my benzes pretty much every weekend and reading posts and posts of trouble, I was just thinking today, my corolla has more miles on it that the 124 at the moment and never did it leave me stranded on the road, require a jump, snap a fuse or had me go to the dealer besides the 60K mile service. same can be said about a honda that my friend owned that had more than 300K before he sold it for good price. And it made me wonder. when we opted to buy a mercedes, did we buy quality/reliability or a three point star with contiunous problems and DIYs under the hood ?

stevebfl · #2 08-25-2003, 04:39 PM

My Mercedes never give me any trouble, been driving them for 30 years. Never got left on the side of the road.

If I had to drive a Honda every day, I'm not sure I wouldn't rather be on the side of the road.

1991300SEL · #3 08-25-2003, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Benz300
did we buy quality/reliability or a three point star with contiunous problems and DIYs under the hood ?

Was your MB purchased new by you or did you buy it used? You may have inherited someone else's neglect.

I seem to recall a thread here where Steve Brotherton said the worst thing that ever happened to a car was it's owner.

Just the other day Larry Bible commented about a Honda his daughter drives. Total POS from what I can gather. I too have one of those Hondas you mentioned with alot of miles, but I was the original owner and not someone who never grasped the concept of regular maint.

davidmash · #4 08-25-2003, 06:00 PM

I'm not sure. I have a 190 16v. We bought it when it was 2 years old. It had 40k on I think. It's a euro model. It did not seem abused and for 10 years it was fine but my folks rarely drove it. I bought it from them 3 years ago and have put nearly $10k into it and I am still not done. It seems to go in for major work 2 times a year. Sitting back and thinking about it, I do not think I am mad at the fact that it goes in 2 times a year. I cannot say I know how it was treated the 1st 2 years. My folks did basic maintenance but they only put 30k or 40k on the odo in 10 years.
I think what irks me the most is that nothing, and I mean nothing is easy on my car. I have to have the valves adjusted on my car tomorrow. It is not a matter of pulling the valve cover and taking a wrench and feeler gauge like it was on my 77 240D. No, they need to pull the cams (double OHC) and remove the buckets, measure the shims and add or subtract shims. That’s 5 or 6 hours of labor at $75 a hour. My steering box when out, My steering box is unique to my car. $1800 for a new one. Thank god they could rebuild it for $700. I know I bought a performance car. But why can’t the engineer talk to the mechanic when he designs my car? Why does everything have to be such a PIA to fix on it?

I have been told that on 190’s there is a gear that runs the distributor. Apparently it is notorious for failure. The part is cheap (by MB standards) at under $200. Thing is I am told you have to nearly rip the engine down to the block to replace it. Why? That is not what I expect from MB. Things break down, SH&T happens. I understand that. But I am disappointed with the design of my car.

daddiojiggy · #5 08-25-2003, 06:57 PM

do you think the guy that buys an f40,a modena or that new bugatti says 'hey why do i need to do so much maintainence on this car,when i haven't changed the plugs in my yugo for two years!'if i gave you the choice between a brand new accord or a 5yr old porsche i know what 90% of us would take

sure it's frustrating when things go wrong with our babies(how many accord drivers refer to their cars like that?) but when they're running strong you wouldn't want anyhting else(well,i wouldn't!).i grew up with the"engineered like no other" banter and wish i never had to worry but that's life.
to paraphrase Heston you can take the keys to my M.B. 'from my cold dead hands!'
for my wife's crv-just write me the cheque!!

zafarhayatkhan · #6 08-25-2003, 07:30 PM

MB's are three point star with contiunous problems and DIYs under the hood. My car was in "Like New" condition and I have spent more time at the dealerships and DIY in the last five months than I have in the last ten.

"engineered like no other" is similar to Ford's "Quality is Job 1". Mercedes engineering has not impressed me.

psfred · #7 08-25-2003, 09:34 PM

Then again, my 87 300D hasn't have that much wrong with it (AC gone now, links in the rear suspension, starter locked up at 180,000 miles). The 280 SE is 31 years old and runs line a top. Blew a transmission cooler line and it needed tons of work when I got it, but it sure beats the you-know-what out of the Nissan I drive for work with similar milage.

Mercedes are NOT low maintenance cars -- they require considerably more work than a Toyota or Honda, but will generally outlast them, and the parts are usually cheaper.

As far as engineering goes, the difference isn't what it once was -- after all, MB used a fully independent suspension starting in 1953, disk brakes on all four wheels starting in 1959, etc. Drive a 1950s American car, you will see why that slogan appeared. Again, everyone else caught up.

I'm still in love.....

Peter

terminator · #8 08-25-2003, 09:55 PM

I have been pleased with all the Mercedes that I have owned. I have also owned 4 Lexus as well, and although they where nice cars, they will never compare to a Mercedes-Benz. As long as I am able to, I will drive a Mercedes. I have seen more older Toyotas smoke and more older Hondas towed to know that they aren't that bullet proof.

A. Rosich · #9 08-25-2003, 10:10 PM

Mercedes-Benz cars are of extreme high quality (at least the W140/W126 and W124/W123 were, can't say much about the W220, W201 and W210), BUT they require high preventive maintenance.

And still, there are some Achiles hills that in my opinion plage all Mercedes-Benz, regardless of year and/or model:

1/ Tricky and temperamental (to say the least) electrical issues (including but not exclusive to power windows/seats, radios and worst of all: FUSES and RELAYS!)

2/ Water pumps and radiators (could it be because most M.B.s tend to run REALLY hot at all times?).

3/ Over complicated and over engineered extras: like the self levelling rear axle/suspensions.

4/ All vacuum assisted systems (locks, self closing doors, etc)

5/ And if you live in country where the roads are horrible: alignment and balancing issues.

My opinion is derived after more than 20 years of M.B.s ownership. Anyone is welcome to disagree with me.

ramco18 · #10 08-25-2003, 10:53 PM

My personal experience is that they were good and reliable until 1990.

I have been driving a 1995 S500, ( Bought it used, STARMARK at 22K miles and bought 2 extra years of MB Warranty )
at present I have 55K miles.

Its troublesome for two reasons:

1. I think the quality has gone down.
Second, Is the problem with MB Authorised dealer.

In my first year of Starmark warranty, dealer was very cooperative. However in the second and third year of STARMARK warranty, dealer had no interest in fixing warranty jobs. My car had to be sent back second and third time to fix the SAME warranty job correctly. So the quality of service has also become POOR.

Car was never returned on the same day as promised, but usually after 2/3 days.

Dealer's service department NEVER returned your phone call when the car is in the shop. Heard his complaint from other users also.
While waiting at the dealer to pick up my car, which was never ready at promised time, I had the pleasure to watch other customers express their frustration and anger for the quality of service and repair jobs.

I hope MBUSA are reading this post. They have to fix the problem of Quality of the car and quality level of their dealers.

I am hearing great reviews about quality and SERVICE from my friends who drive LEXUS.

blackmercedes · #11 08-25-2003, 11:13 PM

Some interesting words..

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pb/vintage.htm

Momo · #12 08-26-2003, 02:34 AM

As you can see from my signature, I have two new ones on order, so I can't be too unhappy. But...

The E280 has been trouble-free. It goes through two headlight bulbs a year (non-Xenon), and about one instrument panel bulb a year. The battery was replaced under warranty when the car was a year old and left me by the side of the road.

The SL had no faults when I bought it four years ago from the dealer. Since then, it has had a variety of small niggles, some of which are not yet fixed. It will be in for its 60k km/36k mile service on the 10th and 11th of September.

The faults:-
- Leaking hard top. Didn't leak last winter after I followed a tip here about applying vaseline along the seals before putting it on. Have changed employer, and will have outdoor parking this winter, so we will see.
- Driver-side headreast gear slips, so headrest does not go up and down.
- Driver-side orthopedic seat air currently not working. Can hear air leaking at valve.
- Two radio antenna masts so far, as they just seem to lock up.
- Tempremental remote locking. (Once a month, the lock lights stay on after operating, of course not while the dealer is checking it, and the passenger side receiver no longer seems to work.)
- Leaking radiator expansion chamber. Leaks where the metal part that supports the cap meets the plastic part.
- Bulb behind external temperature LCD has blown.
- Driver-side heated seat blows fuses regularly when I switch it straight to high position. Fine if I start off on low heat.

The car is still a pleasure to drive. Everything mechanical is wonderful! It's "character" (meaning the things above) irritates my wife. She spotted a 12-month old new SL at the local MB dealer, which is what ultimately led me to order the CLK500 convertible, as I need more than two seats. 9-month lead time. Delivery April. The new E should arrive in January.

Before these cars, I had three BMWs. An early 323i was full of problems. (Injection system, gearbox) A 320i was totally problem free over 200k km, and my 525i had two hydraulic fluid leaks. Had an early Accord at the same time, which rusted to death while I was living in Holland.

Momo

#13 08-26-2003, 07:47 AM

I rekon computers are what ruined the later mercs.

Cap'n Carageous · #14 08-26-2003, 12:07 PM

I have been really disappointed with my MB experience. I was told they 'last forever' but that ain't true. It has stayed broken down a LOT more than it has run. I've owned it for 5 years and it's only run long enough to put 35,000 miles on it. If I didn't have my Accord to depend on , I would have to buy another car. The timing belt on the Accord stripped out at 158,000 miles and cost me $25 to replace. Try that on a Mercedes.

stevebfl · #15 08-26-2003, 12:15 PM

And just where would you put a timing belt on a MB.

For twenty five years I have kept care of hundreds of Mercedes for which the owners felt they were efficient cars.

Me thinks, cars with repeat mechanical problems aren't seeing the right technician.