I wouldn't recomend an old Merc to someone who couldn't.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I wouldn't recommend an old ANYTHING to someone who isn't handy with a wrench...

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Well on the C230 I have no expensises so far and it is almost 2 years old. The 190E is a diferent story.

$800 for car.
$200 for tires but that is normal wear and tear.
$70 for brakes, again normal wear and tear.
$400 for Euro Headlights, for my own peace of mind and more light.
$500 in various parts! Sensors, water pump, heater/core, ball joints, motor mounts, tranny mount, fuel pressure, regulator, cap, rotor, plugs, oil, tranny fluid, gaskets.

After all this, it is now running great and will for the next few years, at least until the next part ages and fails. All in all it has saved me car payments as it is paid for. And I am now happy with it, even though every once in a while it pisses me off! Never left me stranded in the last year and always starts just fine. My analness at trying to make an 18 year old car run like a new one is what costs me so much.

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

98 E-320 about 14 months now. Bought at 43K mile - it's about 53K miles now.

- Replace alternator, ATF, oil, brake pads, front disc and sensors, oil change in one shot - $900.00 (ouch)
- Oil change - $ 60.00
- Balance +Alignment - $100.00
- RW voltage regulator - $150.00
- Air & cabin filter (DYI)- $ 50.00
- CD changer (DYI) - $300.00

Other minor stuff - grease, light bulbs - no big deal. So it costs me ~1600 the past 14 months- not too bad. The car has been running beautifully though (KOW)

JeffreyP

I paid 3700 for my car. After knowing all the other $$$ I have spent(about 2000, maybe a little more) I would have tried to get it for 3000.00 as it needed almost 1200.00 right off the bat.

Vacuum diaphrams for the ac vents, big time suspension work, etc.....

Most of the other stuff I have done, about 1000 has been more for cometic purposes, with at least another 1500.00 before it is perfect.

We all have different reasons for buying these cars. Mine was an attraction since my Junior year in HS(1983). I don't mind putting money into it little by little. It's the big $$$$$ things that get me pissed.

I am sure there are several things I have fixed that others would have left alone, I just happen to like it when everything works.

IT's all a matter of perspective I guess. To me, my car is more of a toy as a opposed to others who have them as a daily driver, although mine is certainly capable.

Thanks

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

I should have limited the question to those owners of 14 year or older gas powered Mercedes. Apparently, new cars and diesel cars require less maintanences.

I just spend 389$ today buying a part from Phil,was the only one able to find it...except the dealer who wanted 500$.I just bought the car 1 month ago,95 300d,any other MB even a S600 coupe the same part will cost me 200$ tops,so,diesels are not always easy and cheap to fix.

1990 300SE. Bought it a year ago for $3000, put another $3000 into it. Runs like new.

1987 420SEL, bought for $2600 a year and half ago. Spent 1200 so far and almost done, runs great now. I did all the work myself, including timing chain, water pump, valve stem seals, ignition wires, rotor, cap, AC compressor leak, sunroof, windows regulator, seats, belstien shocks, tie rod ends, guide mount rod and list goes on. Funny thing is that now it is getting in top shape, but I have an itch to sell it and buy a diesel preferable a 1987 300SDL.

But at the end of the day it is well worth it.

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87 420 SEL
Looking for a nice mid 80's MB diesel.
87 BMW 528e (Sold)
99 TOYOTA 4Runner
1989 Honda Accord (Sold)
1988 Honda Accord (Total)

Lemme talk about my daughters '87 300E.
Bought it last summer for $1,800. Had around 190k on the clock. Replaced battery and voltage regulator early on. Replaced thermostat cover (old plastic-new metal), upper hose and radiator (neck crumbled in my hand), also early on. New center and rear muffer recently. New left lower ball joint.
Then late last Friday night as she was coming home from her boyfriends it happened. She rounded a curve only to find a car backing out of a driveway and blocking both lanes. Since it had just started to rain (first time in two weeks) and the driveway was right at the exit of the turn, she opted to try to drive around them. Was fine for first 10 feet, then the shoulder dropped off dramatically. She actually drove the car on a sideways 45 degree slope till reaching the bottom about 30 feet later. Was trying to stop, but wet grass doesn't provide much traction. Then she hit the telephone pole. Pole met the car just left of center, right at the vertical left edge of the grill. Pushed thru the bumper and pushed in the bottom of the core support about 5 inches. Car actually doesn't look too bad. Airbag did not go off. Guess her wheels were nearly locked by then. She's sore as can be, but really undamaged. Any rice burner would have been destroyed and maybe the driver too.
She's 19 and the only daughter I have. She is actually a good driver. I have it on good authority that she kinda just pokes along most of the time. Probably 60k miles under her belt.
Don't know if I will repair or replace the car (I do most of my own work on them). Still, this car was a bargain for what it did. and that's why it'll always be MB in my household.
Funny, that was 4 days ago and just NOW I'm shaking.

BobK
'86 300SDL 218K
'88 560SL 139K
'87 300E 210K (not currently running)
'83 300D 380K
Racing Alan Hamm and Hatterasguy to 250K

The cost of buying an old Mercedes should include 50 to 100 dollars for a complete inspection. If you do that you will get a car which has a total cost of ownership much lower than most any other car. There are plenty of "money pit" cars out there but if you are patient you can find a good one. Many used Mercedes cars were owned by rich folks that took them to the dealer every 3,000 miles and babied them. You just have to look hard and be willing to "pay up" so that you can find one.
I bought a 92 300D with 108,000 miles on it for my daughter for 12k in 2000. The prepurchase inspection done by a local independent Mercedes shop came up with a list of things which had to be done to the car by the seller and revealed that the car was well maintained and a good buy.
All of her friends got new Camrys and Accords (at a cost of about $20,000 each), but they liked her car better. In the first year, I bought a set of tires and changed all of the fluids and bought her a topsider and that cost about $500 total. Add in about $2,000 for depreciation and the total cost of ownership aside from fuel was around $2,500 for the first year. Insurance was cheaper and my licensing and property tax on the car was around $800 less than a new Camry would have been.
The Camrys and Accords her friends got did not cost anything to maintain because they were new and under warranty but they depreciated about $5,000 that first year. I felt that the $2,500 difference was a good hedge against some sort of catastrophic repair like an air conditioner failure. My daughter puts a couple of hundred dollars into an account each month (in lieu of a car payment) for that.
It has been 4 years and the car has gone 60,000 miles. Glow plugs have been replaced ($100) along with a timing chain ($200) and idler pulley and shock($150). Oil changes every 3000 miles (20 x $24) and total fluid replacement twice (2x $75). and a battery ($75) Brake pads are free on the Auto Zone lifetime plan. Thats about it.
I am getting ready to install a new water pump ($75) vacuum pump ($300) and alternator brushes ($45) as a preventive measure and the car will need tires($400) in the next year. After that she should be set The car is now worth about the same as a 4 year old Camry or Accord. An old Mercedes costs more to maintain but the depreciation is already out of it . It is a good transportation value if you do your own work using the tips that you get here on shop forum.
Owning one of these cars is like having a hobby that can pay off. If you don't have the time or interest, Get a depreciated 4 year old Camry or Accord that you have had inspected. They are very reliable cars but not as safe and classy as a Mercedes.
As a side note I have an 84 300SD with 176,000 miles that I have owned for 9 years and driven 100,000 miles. In that time I have had to do very little to it outside of regular preventive maintenance and about $6,000 worth of depreciation. I am in the process of spending around $2,500 on it to get it up to like new condition (seat repair, complete suspension rebuild, new chain, vacuum modulator for the tranny, new motor mounts and glow plugs). It now drives like a dream. It sounds crazy to spend $2,500 on a car that is only worth $3,000 in the market but I would have to spend that much in sales tax, property tax, and collision insurance not to mention depreciation for a car that rides as well. That is about 4 lease payments for the average guy driving around in a luxury car. So after about 4 months I am ahead.

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Tom Hughes
St. Louis
84 300SD
92 300D
86 300SDL

Excellent way to look at it.

Thanks

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

OK!

Piston W/rings $193
5 valves@ $10 ea $50
Valve job (that is only machine work $275
Gasket set with new plentum rubber and stem seals $150
Timming chain with all guides $0
(donated by my brother because
he conned me into trading my 240d)
Book (worthless) $22.50
Another $100 for misc and tools $100

Eight Hundred dollars. Say it fast and it isn't so bad

I've had my car for about 14 months now and it has been great. As it was stated before on one of these threads, "You don't buy a Mercedes for good gas mileage or cheap repair costs." I've spent about $6000 so far and going to spend a few more on some of the major items i.e. evaporator core.

The previous owners drove this car into the ground and I anticipated the non existent maintenance history of "Dieter". This Friday I am replacing all of the breather hoses as they have become hard and cracked. Eventually when I have time, I will replace all of the oil bridges as well as the upper timing chain guides.

Gosh, I love my car.

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'94 SL500 Tourmaline Green, 120K miles as of February 27, 2005.

http://home.earthlink.net/~boudreaux...ictures/17.jpg
Updated photo September 2004

Dieter is a lovely ride. (I want a 500SL for myself.) Car was very lucky to be rescued by someone who will take proper care of it. You've spent some serious $$$ but have probably rounded the bend and will see a lot less expense in the future. Regular maintenance costs money. Some folks will pay it and some won't. I'd rather buy quality parts, do the work myself and have a car I can depend on. Some people will just drive a car into the ground. They should drive whatever cheap rental fleet type cars are being made that year.