Just wanted to throw out a bone to the early (92-94) 140 owners...in the past two years of ownership I have had the following repairs...
New Engine $10,000,AC Evap core,dash control unit,vacuum accumulator,various AC switches..$6,000,closing assist pump $1,000,
alternator,motor mounts $1,200,front end work $1,000,electric steering wheel control unit $650
about $20,000 in repairs(90% warranty)..and this was a one owner full records auto when I bought it.....granted I have had all the work done at the dealer and they(MB dealer and my local MB rep) tell me that all the repairs are not uncommon on these!!...at this point the only thing that hasn't been replaced by me or the first owner is the AC compressor and transmission for the most part...in fact the AC evaporator has been done twice!!!
Anybody else out there with a 140 that has had a multitude of problems?....I only have 6,000 miles of warranty left and I am getting somewhat concered...I have a buddy in town who has 1992 400SE with about 8,000 miles of warrenty left and it is for sale because he is afraid to have the car after the warranty expires...he has had about $12,000 in repairs in two years......My MB dealer keeps telling me I have now had ALL the trouble spots addressed and it should be smooth sailing for a long time....I wonder about that...any advice?

Warren
1992 300SD 115K
Columbus Ohio
turner@greif.com

Wow!!!
 

That's some menu. Personally, you could have done most of the repairs for quite a bit less, substantially less!

For example, my S500 cpe developed DTC problems and I was able to fix it for $200, new Ignition Control module. The dealer price is $1113 for the part plus labor, about $1800 price tag. BTW, that was the only problem with the car to date! :D

So most of your items could have been fixed similarly except possibly, the engine. But even that could have been rebuilt for much less. Yes, the cars are very expensive but your car seems like just about everything major 'broke', very unusual. Especially, replacing two (2) A/C evaporators.

So bottom line, I agree with what you've replaced it should outlive you. But in the future, you may want to do some of the 'stuff' yourself, provided your decide to keep the car.

Somehow, I don't think you will! ;)

Thanks Jim for the reply.....I am not sure about the keeping /selling the car at this point...but The car seems so complicated that I am almost afraid to take it anywhere but the dealer for fear of getting in back in worse shape....I agree the evaporator thing was unreal...the original owner paid for the first replacement in 1996 and it was repaired again under warranty in 2000 while I was the owner....I am not sure if you have ever seen that done...but the complete dash has to be diassembled... about 28 hours of labor.I would not trust that job to many people
The dealer tell me thay do many evaps on 140's...that concerns me....my tech even told me he once did an S600 which only had 16K on the odometer....and s600's he told me have two evap cores!!!
How long have you owner your car?....never any AC problems?

Warren
1992 300SD 115K
Columbus Ohio
turner@greif.com

Good Independent Shop
 

Warren,

I should have touched on this; find a good independent MB shop. It'll make a difference in the bottom $$ line. I use a small shop here in SD, CA called 'Exclusive Motors'. The tech is the best diagnostician I've ever seen. He's frankly a little weak in electronics but is just great at engines, transmissions, and everything else!

Personally, not had any problems with this S500, A/C included except for the DTCs. So go figure?

BTW, DTC problems can also break the bank. In fact, that's what got me to 'learn' the internal ECU systems (click on red house) in the car because, frankly, the local dealer's knowledge was minimal.

Problems in that area are difficult and very time consuming to find. Since THEY are paying the bill (Starmark), it tends to be a quick r&r. If you have to come back, so what!
If YOU'RE paying, then the time for detailed check of DTCs becomes very expensive ($90/hr) just for troubleshooting!

[Edited by JimF on 05-18-2001 at 03:08 PM]

Jim,

After my warranty expires I will probably be looking at another avenue for repairs....but I am not in a large cosmopolitan area as you are so independent shops(that are any good ) are much harder to find
I moved to Columbus from Dallas Texas where there were 20 times more MB's on the road. In Dallas there were some great independents that knew the technology of the new cars...in Columbus I think all I would trust some of these guys with is the brakes....it really makes a difference as to how many MB owners are in your area as to the quality of service that you can expect
Taking that into consideration I would be very afraid to let any of the independents I have seen in my area even attempt an diagnostic/repair of an electronic component or an evap core

Warren
1992 300SD 115K
Columbus Ohio
turner@greif.com

One more thing Jim,

The tech that works on my car here at the dealer here in Columbus used to be a tech at Fletcher Jones Motorcars...which I think is in your area.....as I recall heard that Fletcher Jones was the biggerst MB dealer in the US
He is very good...I can call him up and he can usually diagnose problems over the phone...he has told me while he was at Fletcher Jones Motocars they did evaporator cores daily...so he could probably do one in his sleep...also very good with electrical gremlins on the 140's ....seemed to have seen about all of them before....the reason being I assume Fletcher Jones saw many 140's come throught the shop there

Warren
1992 300SD 115K
Columbus Ohio
turner@greif.com

Fletcher Jones= $$$$$
 

Yes, it is Warren! THE largest dealership that I know of. Just added sixty (60?) stations so lots of cars go thru the place.

It located in Newport Beach which is a very well-to-do place to live. Thus lots of MB's around.

But their prices are about $20K more than one should pay for a used MB ('95 C140 for $58K). But that 'pays' for the Starmark warranty. Good for some people but not in my book!

Well, hope to see you in your new Lexus! :D

1995 S-350
141,000 miles
Engine mounts 100K $150
Front End work 100K $200
Closing assist pump (did myself) 120K $250 i think
Window regulator 70K $200 i think
Engine starting to use a little more oil - concerns me because of what I hear about 3.5 diesel engine
Thats it - no ac trouble whatsoever. Topped off freon twice in 6 years.
Overall best and most trouble free car I have ever owned and first Benz.

http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/...0/30919066.jpg

Funny how I was thinking of picking up a 94 S320. I was quite hesitant in making this decision, but finally made it to rest after reading this post.

No doubt that S320 has a complete service history, I fear it might just start dishing out its menu.

I was initially attracted to that particular S320 because of its immaculate service history, bullet-proofed body and belongs to a friend's brother (who is known to love cars).

Anyway, I'd give it a pass.

Well I don't have much to say on this one. Except that I take my car to Fletcher Jones! I'm practically there daily for something or for one of my friends! Actually, I'm trying to not go as much, I feel kind of stupid!
But yeah, Newport Beach has the most MB per capita than any other city in the world.
As for FJ being the biggest dealership in the US, it could be, but I've never heard that. I do know that their dealership is huge though; they have tons of cars on the lot, and just as money in storage up top. And then they rent out (?) this parking structure (top 2 floors) across the street that is FILLED WITH MERCEDES. When I get my digital camera, maybe I'll take a picture. So they're big, but I don't know HOW big.
I would assume that the tech would be good coming from FJ. But their service still isn't up to standard. Well the physical aspect is... with the marble showroom, the putting green out front, the full service bar and 'waiting' room, internet access, children's playroom, Collection store, NAIL SALON (!), shoe shining, and appointments that are nicer than most places I've ever been to.
Just my .02. Check http://www.fjmercedes.com for more info!

Yes David....Fletcher sounds quite impressive
I moved to Columbus from Dallas....where there was vast amount of MB's.Park Place there is a huge dealership...marble floors...huge posh waiting area...valets that meet you at the service drive to take your car into the service area....a VERY professional place and top notch service.
But in Dallas the MB owners that took their cars to Park Place were not forgiving people .....they expected the shop to make O mistakes and were very vocal if any mistakes were made or if their cars were not ready at the time promised.
Columbus (Crown MB) has a nice dealership .....much smaller that the Dallas area dealers...but not bad....but I can say that the whole group there does not have as much of a professional persona as I was accustomed to in Dallas...people in Columbus seem to be more forgiving if there are mistakes made.....those have someties been frustrating to me...but I will say they have always gotten it right..just maybe not the first time

Warren
1992 300SD 115K
Columbus Ohio
turner@greif.com

By the way Old South thats a great looking car

I was looking at the prices you paid for repairs....where are you getting parts for that cheap?...I too have had those items that you had done

front end....$650(parts only)
closing assit pump...$635(parts only)
engine mounts $342(parts only)


those prices you have stated are unreal....I need to find out where you get those prices because I only have a little bit of warranty left..about 4,000 miles


Warren
1992 300SD 115K
Columbus Ohio
turner@greif.com

Prices
 

Warren - Fastlane has engine mounts for $82 each. Thats two for $165. It takes about 30 minutes to install them.

I shop around for parts. This site has some good prices on most stuff. Mercedes shut down the dealership in my area and two of the mechanics that worked there set up their own shops. Competing against each other. I try to do all mechanic work that I can myself and stuff I can not handle I take to them. Can't wait until the 140 Service CD comes out. Should be able to do a lot more myself. Try some repairs yourself. You would be surprised how easy some are. The closing assist pump was a piece of cake after I figured how to take out the trunk liner. The plastic rivets had me stumped. Just remember, you can't tear up anything that old money and new parts won't fix!