I can count, on one hand, the number of times I let my car go more than 2,200 miles without an oil change and filter. Maybe it's overkill, but I haven't had any major engine issue yet, other than the ongoing need for valve seals. I read that the 119 engine is one of the more unforgiving engines for long oil change intervals.

I was looking at doing the valve seals and timing chain myself, but I would need over $700 in tools and I'm not sure I want to risk not getting the four cams lined back up correctly. Other posters have recommended that this is a tough DIY job to tackle unless you've seen someone with experience do it before.

I am thinking about pulling the heads off myself, taking them to a good machine shop (someone that knows MB), and then towing my car to a tech when the heads are finished, so I can watch him torque them back on and get the cams installed correctly. I would probably tow it back home afterwards and do the remaining work. That way, I wouldn't have to worry about buying or renting the special tools and I wouldn't have to worry as much when it came time to turn the key.

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1993 400E, 256,000 miles (totaled)
1994 E420, 200,000+ miles
1995 E420, 201,000 miles

It has to be one of the more forgiving engines - very tough engine, top and bottom.

Yes, the cost of maintenance on our old cars can some months equal the monthly payment on a new car, but we don't have the highest expense that new cars have: depreciation. Our old cars have virtually stopped depreciating, but a $50,000 new Mercedes E class will lose slightly more than half of its value over the first four years.

Thus, the monthly cost of depreciation of a new E class comes out to about $520 / month, and this is on top of the monthly payment.

Save your money and keep this car on the road.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

People either seem to be unaware, forget, or choose to ignore depreciation expense. Myself, I'd rather let someone else pay that cost!!

Yes, if you look at the cost of car ownership on Intellichoice, depreciation is the single highest expense of owning a new car; higher than maintenance, insurance, or even fuel.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I guess it's more of a matter of philosophy to me. Older cars are cheaper to insure and property taxes are low.

The rate at which a new car depreciates is mind-blowing. If you buy a new car, you are grouped into 2 categories in my book: 1) You're a complete idiot. 2) You have so much money that it simply doesn't matter (there is nothing wrong with this, as long as it's really true).

Your car is one of the last truly great automobiles. I would rather sink $2,500 in my car today, then pay $600/mo for a new car for the next 6 years with an inferior build quality...

It's all in how you approach the issue...

Good Luck,

-GH

I think it's over-simplistic to say "well, you're smart to have a depreciated classic car, so of course you should repair it rather than allow yourself to own something that depreciates." At 210k miles without these repairs having been done, he has a car that is worth maybe $1500-2000 on craigslist. The original poster is potentially looking at:

- pads and rotors and sensors ($1200?)
- timing chain and rails and tensioners (cost me over $2500 on my 500E 4 years ago)
- wiring harness ($1500? - I'm guessing on these costs, so please forgive me if I'm way off)
- evaporator ($1500? $2000?)
- transmission ($3000+?)

These could all come in rapid succession. So if all of it happens in the next 24 months, you're looking at maybe $8000-10000 to keep a $2000 car running. I spent something like $7500 in a 12 month period on my 500E on things like this. And the fact that I had a car that wasn't depreciating like a new car did not make me feel one bit better.

I loved my 500E (got rid of it 3 years ago) and last month, I was in the market to get another 4 door sedan. I thought really hard about a 400E/E420 and the 300E/E320. Between head gaskets, wiring harnesses, timing chain rails, AC evaporators, etc., I just couldn't do it even though I could buy a nice example for $5000. I ended up picking up a 1999 C280 in very nice shape for a little under $9000 because it doesn't have all of those known high ticket failures. I'm sure I'll learn over the next few years where this car is weak.

If it were me, since the original poster's car runs great and there are no signs of imminent doom otherwise, I would do the brakes and keep driving it. But be ready to bail when the grim reaper comes.