How much members spent in the 1st year - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BigBenzWV · #1 10-02-2004, 06:55 PM

to get your "new" purchase to "top" shape?

I got my 1991 560 SEL with 102 K mile in May for $5000. So far, I have spent $1035 on it, including all state paper, inspection, fluids/filters change, A/C charges, ball joint, radio and whole bunch of things. It is very frustrating because it just felt like there is no end to this upkeep thing. The only good part is that I have done most of work myself with kind supports from warm heart folks on this and other forums. I was even able to fix my others cars based on what I learnt here. Had I let dealer do all the works, I am sure it wiould be over $3000 already.

As of today, I am still facing an occasional high idle and a leaky compressor. Pretty soon, I would need timing chain and two new tires. So teh struggle continues.

Pete Geither · #2 10-02-2004, 07:45 PM

Got my TE in December of 02 for 12.5K. Had 84K on it with no real maintence records at all, but it was exactly what I was looking for and it drove nice with all originial paint. The major expenditure so far has been a tranny for 3K and an oil pump I didn't really need for around $600. Just put wheels and tires on it for 2K and painted all the lowers for around 1K. Put a 500E sway bar on the back and an oil sending unit, which cured the low oil gauge problem nicely. So I have way more in the car than what it's worth, which really means nothing to me as I really love this car and look forward to every time I get to drive it.

manny · #3 10-02-2004, 08:10 PM

Hmmmmmm....let me see.
You've spent about $ 1 k on a 13 year old car.

chazola · #4 10-02-2004, 08:31 PM

I've spent around $2k getting my 300E just how I like it. Nothing that it didn't need, just things to make it safer and more reliable. Most were usual parts that a 12 y/o car would need, just happened to be in the first 6 months of ownership.

My $7000 total investment feels, looks and drives a whole lot better than any $7000 saturn or similar, just happens to have 200,000 more miles on it. As a rather attractive young lady who I gave a lift to from a party the other night commented on sitting in the car: "mmm, this is nice", I knew my work and money was well spent

(unfortunately, her husband was sitting in the back...hehe)

Hatterasguy · #5 10-03-2004, 12:44 AM

Way to much, I have not added everything up in a few months.

Last count was $2,500 for my SDL I bought last Jan and about $5,200 in parts so far; but the $5,200 number is at least a month or two old, I bet I am over or right around $6k now. But what else am I going to buy?

cbdo · #6 10-03-2004, 07:40 AM

Bought a 560SL (1989) December of '02. Spent about $5K in '03, maybe $300 this year with the fall oil change to go. Of the $5K, about half was for things I now know enough to have looked for in service records--timing chain etc., radiator, suspension stuff. An experienced buyer would have expected to find evidence of repair for these things or else to budget for them.
As others have said, what I have now is a car I couldn't have any other way!

mhingram · #7 10-03-2004, 10:56 AM

I spent about $1500 a year keeping the 91 560sel up to top shape. A lot less than a car payment.

BigBenzWV · #8 10-03-2004, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhingram

I spent about $1500 a year keeping the 91 560sel up to top shape. A lot less than a car payment.

How many years do you have to do that?

BTW , what is a "car payment"?

psfred · #9 10-03-2004, 11:50 AM

Well, if you want cheap, you need to buy a middle-aged Toyota every four years......

I paid $4500 for the TE four years ago, and since then have replaced accumulators ($200), a tie rod end ($25), evaporator ($800 or so with etc), various vac stuff (less than $50), front flex disk ($90), various AC bits and seals, probably $200 with freon, etc., visco clutch and water pump with tensioner ($600), and rear brakes ($32). Put an exhaust on last week ($480). Engine mounts in there somewhere ($80 for the pair).

Still needs thrust and torque links (and probably camber and tie rod links plus spring link bushings, but they can wait) and probably a drag link and tie rod (other side) up front.

I consider tires (which I've also bought, $300) and brakes normal wear items, you can expect to replace them every three or four years, depending on milage.

Not the least expensive cars to own I've ever seen, but when in good shape, worth every dime as far as I'm concerned. I don't know of many other makes that run as quiet and smoothly as the W124s at 200,000 plus miles!

I know, these days you should throw the car away when it needs new brakes ( and a Toyota will cost MUCH more to do some of the above work at 200,000 miles, if you can still get the parts), but I simply cannot see doing that.

Peter

#10 10-03-2004, 01:43 PM

R18(rolling 18 months)Expenses on my 98 E320 w/88k miles

Non-maintainance items($530): 4 tires $420; Alignment $50; Cupholder $60

DIY maintainancce ($360): 3 oil+filter $150; coolant $30; fuel filter $50; wiper $10; PS filter+fluid $15; Int.& Ext. care items $50; cabin filter $22; air filter $15; bulbs $15

Cost of ownship less than $200/yr (knock on wood). Way cheaper than my friends lexus and acura RL.

Only problem a 2mm crack showed up on my dash within the last month

mhingram · #11 10-03-2004, 07:32 PM

If you do the work yourself budget $1500 a year. This includes regular maintenance assume @12000 miles a year driving. If you expect to get someone else to do the work budget $2400. This is a bit conservative but over the time period say 5 years it is really is pretty close to what you will spend yearly. Think of it as a $125/$200 monthly car payment. Save it up and at the end of the year roll it into the next year. At least you get to keep it if it does not get spent.

deportes · #12 10-03-2004, 09:57 PM

1993 300E 3.2, bought it a year ago for 6750 with 100K miles original owner, maint records up to 90K miles. Replaced oil and filter, OVP and ETA, 1650.00
Now the car runs great, idles great and the wife is happy. Great car.
The head gasket and wiring harness was done by the previous owner for 6k $
he wasn't happy when they blamed that his wife drove it without coolant.

8k$ so far, now is time to enjoy the car.

Bruno_300TE · #13 10-03-2004, 10:00 PM

Let me see... bought 92 300TE for 5200$ 11 months ago, needed front shocks, front flex disc, tandem pump, self-levelling valve, distributor, rotor, blower motor, little rust issue, transmission service, brakes, changed all fluids, will do a rear end rebuild - I guess I am up to about 3500$. First repairs were done at indy shop, now I started myself, it seems I found a new hobby ;-)
Bruno

ChipJ · #14 10-03-2004, 10:40 PM

1994 E320 Wagon bought for $13,400 1.5 years ago with only 78,000 miles on it. Spent $5000 in first two months on new exhaust, many new front and rear suspension parts (mostly rubber ones), new flexdisk, new engine mounts, complete tuneup, all new fluids, $1000 worth of bodywork, timing cover gasket, steering shock, and a few other minor items. Then all hell broke loose, as the water pump failed catastrophically, taking out the head gasket and wiring harness on the way. Needed head rebuilt and new serpentine belt - all told that was another $5000. All work done at Hatch & Sons in Wayland, Mass. Knock on wood - car has been great for about six months now - worst problem is the outside temp and fuel gauges failed - I fixed the fuel gauge myself and will get to the other soon. I figure I am due for the throttle actuator at $1700 and the A/C condenser for $2000 or so (maybe $3000 if I stick with Hatch and Sons) - then I will have paid for every expensive repair there is on the car!

G-Benz · #15 10-04-2004, 11:21 AM

1st-year experiences aren't really applicable for me, because I bought all of mine through a dealership, new or used, and each had either a factory warranty or an extended warranty package included with the purchase.

Mileage was also relatively low (for an MB), so problems did not crop up till much later on. $0 dollars in my camp, save for oil changes and other normal maintenance items.

I have owned each of mine for at least six years now, and the biggest $ hit was for the AC evaporator on the W124...$1800 incl. labor, which fortunately was paid for via the warranty.

Next largest was this year, when I had to get a new W163 fuel pump and MAS which was not under warranty...$1300.

Out of town and stranded, I had to let the local dealership perform the work.

The R129 has not needed a single major repair since ownership!

The rest of the repairs over the years have been performed by myself, and have never amounted to more than a few hundred dollars in parts...

...I think if you can manage to avoid the $120/hr labor rates and perform the work yourself, you'll find that these cars aren't so bad after all!