My wife's car (a Ford) was rear-ended a couple of weeks ago, and since then, we have been using the MB exclusively. Some of our driving has involved a 100-mile or so trip once a week at high speed. We had been making the trip with the Ford, but now we do so with the MB ('84 380SE). I also am filling up with Chevron 91-octane. The result: The first week, I noticed that the MB's behavior was improving. After the second week ... well, she knocked my socks off. She's never been better! It's truly amazing what happens when you drive these cars as intended!

This goes alond with the theory that it is better to buy a car that has beeen driven regularly versus one form a little old who drove the car only to church on Sundays. For us diesel owners, it is particularly important to not let our engines go without running on a regular basis.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

gemoore

It's soooooo refreshing to hear some good news.
Have you seen all the mercedes-bashing, *****ing post around here lately?
Are you sure you're driving an M-B, not a Toyota, Lexus, Honda, BMW, etc. ?

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Yeah, just check out the "Mercedes what a car" post and the "Maintenence Nightmare" post.

Well I've got some more good news!!! My 86 420 runs like a top too! I drive it regularly long distances. At the very least twice a month I take it on 3 and 4 hour (one way) trips and then maybe another one. It idles perfectly smooth, don't know the motor is running, great throttle response when I get on it...it's right there. Hums all day long at 80mph. 180,000 well cared for miles.

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

The only time my 560SL gets a bit rough at idle, snorts a bit, or gets glitchy in the AC system is when it's not been exercising regularly.

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Craig Bethune

'97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition

'04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's)
'06 Lexus ES330
'89 560SL (sold)


SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes.
(Kudos to whoever said it first)

Believe it or not, the local M.B. serice advisor recommends that at least once a week you should do a high speed driving segment (and he means HIGH speed 70 to 90 m.p.h.) for at least 20 minutes to half an hour.

Also, to cure all kind of erratic behavior (rough idle, weird electric gremlims, etc.) there is nothing like a high speed run on your M.B.

The worst you could do is always drive your M.B. only very short distances and at town speeds.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]

Funny, today I filled the 190e with Chevron Supreme. Within a few miles it seemed to run better. By the end of the day it was clear the car justs likes it.

I have to agree regarding all the negative comments. I bought the 190e from a junk yard for $1k. It has needed ALOT of work. A lot of work. To put it into perspective: the heater core replacement, which is considered one of the nightmare jobs on the car, wasn't all that bad .... think about that.

Everytime I fix something on any of our Benzes it makes me happy. I achieve a sense of satisfaction and appreciation for the car. If it needs something in the future, often I am attuned so well to the car that I know what's up and can anticipate what will need to be done, when and how. I think that is very cool.

Do I expect perfection? No! Do I think the cars will never break or breakdown? Absolutely not!

Personally, I am sorry if someone else has had a bad time with their car, no matter what the make. But come on.... Where did anyone say these cars were perfect?

I have spent a lot of time checking them out, learning about them BEFORE I bought any of our cars. If they need something, I enjoy (most of the time!) repairing them. I nejoy providing this level of reliability, safety, comfort and road competence these cars have to my family and myself.

Here is a diffferent comment about Mercedes Benz: I like them! Even the old 190.

They make me happy. I think they are interesting and actually very predictable in service and maintenance.

Regarding the comment about driving them hard: If you have ever been to Europe, you would have a totally different appreciation for these cars. In Germany, they drive them hard. They don't beat their cars, but they use them hard! High RPM work over mountain passes, down hard on the brakes in turns. The Germans are not afraid to drive their cars.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)