So, there is almost always something that can be done. But, how much time does your car really need devoted to it to keep it going strong? Hours a week, hours a month, roughly speaking? I'm curious. Throw me a bone, please.

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

Are we talking about just DIY time, or time in the shop too?

Personally, I probably only spend a couple/few hours per month. But I'm lazy and let my indy do anything that would take more than a couple of hours.

Too much time. Sometimes if I am not careful it ends up taking the whole day! Like my over torqued oil pan bolt!

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Too much time. Yes! Sometimes it is. "What could possibly go wrong???" - upon diving into a project on an old car something almost always rears up and causes a bigger time commitment than first imagined (especially when you're learning). Or, just when you fix one then something else breaks. I had a lower ball-joint replaced by my indy a little while ago and a day after I got the car back I noticed my expansion tank had developed a slight crack along the bottom. Not a big problem, but time consuming nonetheless. Today I replaced my battery tray, cleaned the drain holes, and did some rust preventative measures - fun things, but still time. I bought my car in September and I've only driven about 1000 miles, but so far, I'd say I've averaged about 8-10 hours a month working on my car (this includes hours for my indy's work). Is this figure average? you tell me.

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

I'm interested in total hours, both indy work and DIY. I enjoy working on my car, but I definitely have a limit and will pay someone else to do most work that would take me more than 2 or 3 hours (especially since I don't have a great place to work on my car). And, I don't really think that's lazy, I think it's simply making a decision regarding how one values their time.

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

I value my free time at an amount at least as great as what I bill my clients. No indy or dealer shop hourly rate comes close. Ergo, I do not do much "dirty work". Change a bulb is about it. Inspect under the hood every couple of weeks. Pay attention to the garage floor for tell tale signs.

I wash it every couple of weeks. Interior cleaning when needed. Detailed professionally once a year. (I guarantee you I would ruin the finish.) My car has always been garaged, so the maroon paint for a 21 yr old car still looks good and the car has no rust.

I also don't have a lot of free time to devote to car work, even if I had the skills, tools and desire. Time is, after all, the great limiting factor.
....and I don't play golf!

So, maybe 4 hours a month of my time.

I have a lift and many of the special tools needed to service these cars. All work is done by me at my garage, the only time I use the dealer is if I have an issue that requires the SDS system. Over the last decade I've been to the dealer once and I'd call myself a fairly advanced DIY'er on the skill level scale. My time levels should fall on the lower end of the time scale.

For the last year I added up the time for repairs/maintenance on 3 of the cars I'm responsible for.

1) W124.128 - total time 12.5 hours
2) W210.025 - total time 9 hours
3) W202.024 - total time 10.6 hours

I didn't have too many issued over the last year, the biggest job (from a time perspective) I had to do was an A/C condenser replacement on the W210.025 and IIRC that job took around 4-5 hours to complete. These figures could really go up if major work was be required.

These times do not include washing/waxing but my cars only get waxed maybe once a year and I'd guess I might wash them 4-5 times per year so maybe add 12-15 hours total if you wanted to include cosmetics.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (137K)
13 GLK250 (157k)
06 E320CDI (341K)
16 C300 (89K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

It takes a while to get a new car up to a good baseline, so the work will taper off once you get caught up. I've had mine for about 350K miles (8+ years), so I've been through everything at least once. At this point, it goes to my indy once or twice per year for a "do whatever it takes" visit, maybe 10-30 hours worth of work to make everything correct. In addition, It probably gets another 10-20 hours per year to take care of maintenance and whatever little nits need fixing.

It depends.......this year I spent probably close to two full weeks working on my car to fix rust issues and replace my transmission and rear brakes. BIG year for repairs. Normally its a lot less, just a trans fluid change and a couple oil changes etc....probably works out to less than an hour a week over the course of a year.

I also do work on all of my family's cars....so between all of them I spend a fair amount of time working on them.....however, I get paid for the majority of that.....so its not really wasted time at all.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

A year and a half ago I brought my car for the last time to a mechanic. After paying the guy $250 for a job I could have done easily myself I decided that if I have the time I will do it myself. I like to work on my own cars, it somehow relaxes me and it's very satisfying at the end if all went well.

Just replaced the water pump, ball-joints, brakes, replaced some front bushings with new poly's. And now that I have an understanding of the front suspension I will replace all the bushings for poly's, new struts, springs and steering rack. And a major tune-up is needed soon: spark-plugs, new timing belt, head gasket. Basically bringing it to stage O, so that I'm ready to squeeze some more horse power out of the engine. What will be the next step.

But to answer your question I think I spent at least two days a month doing something on my car, all is preventive work and common maintenance, my cars hardly ever break down. The only time I got stranded was when the sway-bar came lose and that was because the damn mechanic didn't torque it right when he replaced the bushings. Another reason to do it yourself.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

It varies year to year but I probably average about 15 hours per year.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Personally, I simply do not see how anybody can maintain these vehicle somewhat close to OE performance standards and spend 15 hours per year.

I recently rebuilt the front suspension on the SD and the time was easily 25 hours spent here and there.

Some years, they can go with minimal maintenance, however, when something major needs attention, the time can really pile up.

My estimate for each one is 75 hours per year and this would include waxing and detailing work on the interior.

By no means is this figure sufficient to return the vehicle to factory specs..........it simply provides a good looking driver where all systems work as designed.

That sounds about right. I probably spend a good 25 hours a year just on detailing and cleaning

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Well, it's a lot less hours for my indy than for me. I think they spent closer to 8 hours redoing my front suspension, who knows how long it would have taken me without a lift and all the proper tools.

A lift would be absolute nirvana for the DIYer.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.