What's a reasonable amount to spend for yearly maintenance?
 

I have a 96 W210 with 175,xxx miles.
I have had this thing since 98 and kept track of every repair and expense since the warranty expired.

On average, it's costing me $2,000 per year for maintenance including tires. Tires seem to be the most expensive and reoccuring item ($800) as I need new tires every year.

Assuming that cost of tires is removed from this amount, is $1200 per year a reasonable amount to spend on yearly maintenance?

What are you averaging and on which car?

It's VERY reasonable and much cheaper than depreciation on a new car.

I would have guessed a grand for service beyond oil,brake pads and tires.


Michael

New tires every year?? Wow how much do you drive?

OCEAN VIEW.... WOW... I don't spend even close to $1200/year. I drive 8K miles a year, I change oil Mobil 1 once a year ($4 qt x 7.5 = $30, plus $10 oil filter). The last time I changed 4 tires I bought Micheline MV4 plus(?) at Costco for $125 each, sometime Costco has a deal: buy 4 for the price of 3, free rotation and balance and fix of flat tires. I change (done my my indy MB master mechanis) trans oil every 60K miles, flush radiator every 25K miles or 3 yrs whichever comes first, change spark plugs every 30K miles..... So I don't think I even come close to your $1200 a year. Maybe I am missing something.

My guess is that it the difference between doing your own maintenance and paying to have it done.

Since I do my own work on my cars, my Mercedes has cost me as low as $200 per year and as high as $425 per year not including tires. This year was the highest year because I replaced my rear brakes and engine mounts.

Wow, I would be happy to pay $425 a year on my car.

I try to do my own maintenance when I can such as Oil changes, brakes, misc. but when things need changing like a water pump, I just don't have the time nor the expertise to attempt changing it.

If you look at the data (Edmunds, DesRosiers, etc.) $1200/year for a 10 year old vehicle is about average, especially if your going to the dealer for
A & B's

How many miles do you drive a year?

The last few years, I was driving about 20,000 miles a year, and spending about $2500-$3000 a year for repairs and maintenance. But, that also includes things like not buying the least expensive tires available, and some audio upgrades that I threw into my spreadsheet.

This year, I've cut my mileage by half to two-thirds, and I'm probably around $1500-2000, but that includes a set of new tires that will probably last the next couple years.

I am averaging $4k-$5k a year on my W126 and I do all of my own work, that figure is 100% parts.

Next year I will get a paint job and spike that figure a little!:D

I was driving it 12k-15k for the last year or so but now I don't use it in the winter so mileage should be cut in half.

$2k a year seems about right for a new car that doesn't need much. I'd buy a top of the line set of Mich's. They wear like iron if you rotate them 60k-80k our of a set is perfectly do able.

Mercedes Maintenace Expenses
 

I think it is obvious from reading comments in re: this thread that maintenance varies significantly, depending on the car model, its condition to begin with, driving load in miles per year and driver treatment of the car.

I spend very little on my four cars, three of which are Mercedes and buy the best tires -- which last a very long time. Of course I change certain fluids and buy batteries etc. from time to time, but spending several thousand dollars per year per car does not seem like a good standard. Some of the things members do to their Mercedes are cosmetic fixes or upgrades or add on systems that they just want on the car. Unless you have a really run down Mercedes or are driving it 20K - 30K a year, the normal maintenance should not be over a few hundred dollars per year. Of course, that does not include front end work, timing chains and the rest of those heavy cost jobs. I think too many people go to the MB dealer for things that they could DIY or have done at much lower cost at non-MB shops, buying the parts from the Forum source (Phil) and having the work done at a much lower rate.

The figure of $1200 per year as an average for older Mercedes may be correct, if it includes all the cars that are falling apart with all the ones that are in pretty good shape and not run into the ground. It is kind of like asking how long a piece of string is ??

I don't think you can't set a standard amount.

We try to budget 50 dollars a month for each car, plus tires.

However, my son probably drives 8k a year, I might drive 10k tops.

Our Expedition does 20 plus k a year... that's why I excluded tires from our totals.

I try to stock up on replacement parts and spend my budget... so when something needs to be done or should be done is done. I just go out to the parts dept. in the workshop...

I drive about 20K miles per year.
I have low profile tires so they usually only last about 20K.
If they would only make some cheaper 18" tires, I would buy them in a heart beat.

I didn't add options like stereo equipement into my maintenance expenses as these are not related to my cars usability.

$4-$5K per year for parts?

That's crazy. That comes to $333 - $416 per month. You could lease a new MB for that or get something else new and not deal with the hastles as you would have warranty to cover any expenses.

See this is one of the things that I was pondering about.
Even though I love my car and the driving experience that I have with it, sometimes I look at the numbers and wonder if I am doing the right thing by keeping it.
Since I drive over 20K miles per year, I was also thinking about getting a truck to use as a daily driver and a nice weekend car.
For $4k-$5k per year, I would definetly get a new car.

I've been spending between $2500 and $3000 (Canadian) on my '94 C280 for the past 3 or 4 years. That includes tires (and I run two sets). I'd be thrilled to be spending $1200 a year, let alone $450. I only put about 7,000 miles a year on that car, so spending between $200-$250 a month on maintenance is kind of silly, I admit. But everyone needs a vice, right? I love my car and I'm prepared to pay the price.