In the January/February issue of "The Star" magazine (publication of Mercedes Benz Club of America) in the Technical & Restoration Forum they were talking about "Keep It Or Not." The subject vehicle was a 2001 ML500 but the response applied to all Mercedes vehicles built after 1995. The following is the quoted response.

"The ticking noise is heard in any Mercedes-Benz built after 1995 that is beyond the factory warranty. You have had good service from your ML, and its repair record is far shorter than others we have heard about. Well-maintained pre-1995 Mercedes-Benzes are seen as better investments. Our personal feelings are that any model after the 1995 E-Class can be more of a liability than an asset. For recent models, repair costs are very high, and the exposure is too great -- in our mind -- to justify risk. This is a totally subjective personal opinion, but we wouldn't own a late-model car without a warranty, original or StarMark. Perhaps this is changing -- with DCAG's new management and quality control procedures -- but we would opt out of cars built between 1995 and whenever new quality-control procedures are proven."

I own a 1995 C280, a 2000 ML320 (extended warranty through Warranty Direct), and a 2003 C230 coupe. The ML320 has had the normal issues reported through this forum and the C230 has had its share of quality issues including leaving my wife stranded on the side of the road when the pulley on the water pump sheared off. I have 4 months left on the C230 lease and you better believe I will not buy it out of lease.

My opinion is that Mercedes has too many quality issues and repairs are much too expensive to own one without a warranty. Based upon my experience, the cheapest way to own a recent Mercedes is to lease it and not own it outside of the original factory warranty. That is the only way I would get a recent model MB and more likely my next vehicle will not be another Mercedes product.