Tell us about your Mercedes - whats your favorite/least favorite things about it?

[86560SEL]

Not sure if we have had this type of thread before, so thought we could give it a whirl.....

Tell us about your Mercedes - whats your favorite/least favorite features about it? What year/model do you own? What problems do you have that you would like to fix? What do you like/dislike about it?

Enjoy!

[86560SEL]

OK. I will start I suppose.

My car:
1985 Mercedes 380SE 4dr sedan.
Color: Silver, with dark blue MB-Tex interior
264K miles, runs great, especially for a 21 year old car.
Manufactured in October of 1984.

Favorite things: I LOVE the way this car drives and rides. Excellent handling, yet soft and supple ride. Excellent guage layout as in all Mercedes cars. Another plus is the way the turn signals stay on a little longer after a turn (Stay flashing until turn is complete, which is a common thing with most European cars. Excellent power, excellent braking, transmission performance. The quality of the interior/controls. Still no leaks (hope I do not kinx myself). The way the doors close with a solid "thunk". The solid feel of the car in general.

Least favorite things: Controls can be confusing to a "new" MB owner. I am awaiting my owners manual, to figure out things about it. My other dislikes about it are common with these cars, such as the "stopped up" drain problems and potential rear window leaks. High maintainence costs are also a negative, but that goes with owning a MB. Lack of tilt steering wheel, which seems odd on a super high end luxury make. Even some American cars of the 50s had this feature and more common on the 60s American cars. Another dislike is the burden of not knowing if and/or when the "upper rails" and "chain guides" were changed. Timing chain/tensioner obviously OK, because no noises, even at cold startup, at least at this time. These are all petty things though.

Things on the list "to do": Change transmission fluid/filter, new spark plugs, another oil/filter change in about 900 miles, find the interior leak, try to get the paint back a little shinier, change out the "green" anti-freeze, replace front/rear brake pads and change out power steering fluid.

I am sure I will think of more.

[Strife]

I like and am in harmony with the design philosophy of MB's (up to about 1992). Everything is just right - not too much, not too little. No extra frills to distract or fail. The parts seem to have a real quality to them, right down to the electrical connectors. Many of the parts can be "renewed" - not as in thrown in the garbage, but "refreshed" and made like new. A famous example of the conservative design is the motorized passenger and manual driver side mirrors on the 560SL - I think about this every time I need to adjust the mirrors on the Taurus. How many new 560SL buyers said, $50,000 - and they can't motorize BOTH mirrors?

Another example is the complete lack of power seats on a 107SL. I have super duper power seats in my Taurus, and I have adjusted them exactly twice. In the meantime, I've been driving 100,000 miles with 10 pounds of expensive mechanisms and electrical motors that will fail either from disuse or corrosion. Really - there are some people who are outside the baseline ergonomics who need them, but most people don't. Same with tilt steering, etc.

MB's have a reputation of being expensive and/or difficult to fix. If you want to see expensive and/or difficult to fix, I'll take changing the timing chain on a 107 ANY DAY over changing the timing belt on my wife's POS PT Cruiser (recommended interval:70K). I have the manual, and I wouldn't dare even attempt it. For those who say MB parts are expensive - have you priced domestic car parts recently? Wow! And MB's of my car's era has lots of OE parts that keep prices in check.

If there is anything bad about my car, it is that it is going to be almost impossible for me to buy a post-1992 car again. That and maybe a power top as an option would have been nice. Wife #1's LeBaron, cheap as it was, had a wonderful, absolutely leak and trouble-free power top with a real headliner and heated glass - almost 15 years ago. That was a great piece of chassis engineering on an otherwise pretty bad car.

[TheDon]

car 1985 mercedes benz 300D turbodiesel sedan

what i like: its my first car so im going to love it.. i like how big and safe it is to me the seats despite beign 20 years old are comfortable my gf loves it the simplicity of the engine to work on diy friendly.. and the fact its a diesel

what i dont like.. where to start.. the battery is dead or charging system i need to fix the a/c system for a modern freon needs paint needs headlight doors new fogs oil change filter change some interior work need to get drivers window to go up perfectly gotta get the mechanical locks to work the vacuum is fine nothing wrong no leaks its just the mechanical part is iffy.. if anyone knows how to fix lemme know.. ummm just alot of nit picky stuff i could go on about that i will fix

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

What I like. It's safe and solid and gets great gas mileage.

What I don't like. I don't know where to start. I used to love this car, but in the last 6 months the A/C compressor seized, the transmission is about to bite the dust for good (never particularly fond of autos anyway), it probably needs a new MAF sensor, the interior rearview mirror broke and rattles around (and $1,000 for a new part, you have got to be kidding me, I'll take open it up and glue it back together myself), the combination switch detent wore out to where the wiper won't turn off sometimes. Hmmm, remind what I like about it again. Well, it still has its original headgasket!

[Gigtime]

I've got an 88 560 SEL (pictured below).

I love the way I feel like the king of the road when I'm driving
it. It also relaxes me and makes me in a bit less of a rush.
After all, I'm behind the wheel of my Mercedes, where else would
I rather be.

It's the exact opposite of my BMW Z3 which brings on the
adrenaline and has me in a hurry to get to the curves. Having the
Z3 also keeps me from trying to convert the big SEL into
something it isn't, a sports car.

For highway driving, it's the most comfortable car on the road.
In 1988, it was Mercedes top-of-the-line car and it was made at a
time when Mercedes considered the Rolls Royce to be its
competition and before Lexus prompted the shift to a different
kind of car.

I've always loved the look of the 126, especially the Euro
headlights version. I love the feel of the car. The huge sunroof
is a great feature. I love the trunk. My Z3's trunk has about
enough room for a carry-on bag for one. My Mercedes' trunk has
enough room for my Z3.

Least favorite features?

Well, why is it that Mercedes decided we needed a town & country
two-tone horn but not drink holders? And let's face it, these
cars have the worst air conditioners on the planet.

I live in Texas. Until I bought my car, I never really wondered
why most 126's I saw driving around had their
windows rolled down. Now I know. Dead A/C's. I've had
my car for just over a year and have put between three
and four thousand miles on it tops.

In that time, I've replaced the blower motor, blower regulator
myself and had the compressor and dryer replaced
by an indy. On the way home from the shop, the A/C died again.
This time, it looks to be the climate control unit.
Plus the pods behind the dash need to be replaced. When the
unit works, half the air comes out through the defrost vents.

Next up for my MB is new motor mounts, front shocks and the
rest of the A/C repairs. I've also got a bit of play in the
steering wheel to eliminate. There's also an exhaust problem
to be fixed, she's a bit louder than she should be and there are
some rusty spots on the exhaust. Fortunately, that's the
only rust on the car.

The original 15 hole rims look rough and I've decided to get
8-hole replicas rather than have the current rims powder coated.
I like the look of the 8-holes and think they'll be much easier
to clean than new 15's. Unfortunately, Tirerack is out of them
and I'll have to wait until February or March to get them.

The PO repainted the car. He got rid of the two-tone and went for
an all-over desert taupe. Unfortunately, he paid Macco $1,000 to
do it and declined any surface preparation. The car looks good
from 6' away but has orange peel in a few places and more chips
than it should along with a wavy line
on the roof along the driver's side channel.

It looks like they also didn't put any kind of bonding agent in
the paint for the bumpers and didn't sand them. It's peeling in a
couple places.

I'm considering having it repainted the right way even though
that will probably cost close to or more than I paid for the car
($3900).

I'm actually considering going all out and fully restoring the
car. I'm not a mechanic so this isn't going to be cheap and
doesn't make sense financially. I know some of you will recommend
I start doing some of the work myself. I have done a little bit
and I enjoy detailing the car.

It would take me twice as long, if not more, to do the job than a
good indy MB mechanic. And he's got the tools, I don't. If I
devote that same amount of time doing something in my business
that I enjoy doing, I'll make more than my mechanics hourly rate.
So my way is to stick with what I do best and let my mechanic do
his thing. He's honest, grew up working on German cars and
charges a fair price.

On the one hand, I'll have a cherry 560 SEL that I couldn't buy
new if I wanted to. On the other, I'll never recoup my investment
unless I put it in storage for 20 years.

But the car has a big sentimental value to me and represents a
big step I took in my business. It's a long story but important
enough to me that I want to keep this car around.

One of the best things I've discovered since beginning my search
for the car has been this forum. I'm an Internet marketer by
trade so I'm used to using forums. Usually I'm the one giving
advice. Here, I'm a total newbie and have really appreciated all
the help from forum members as well as the many articles, etc.

Good topic, btw.

Bill

[zcc]

560SEL is the best Mercedes-Benz car ever made. I wish if I can fine a 1991 model with a top shape. : ))..

[tvpierce]

The good: I love my 201! IMHO, it's the best looking vehicle MB has ever produced. I adore the lack of gadgetry -- even the climate control fan is manual (so are the seats). It is the best engineered vehicle I've ever seen.

The bad: My only problem with this car is the transmission. No lock-up torque converter. Inexcusable for a 1992 car of this caliber. I'd also like it to be geared higher, or have an overdrive gear. My automatic has a final ration of 1:1. The 5 speed manual equipped cars were 1:1 in 4th gear, with 5th being an overdrive gear. That sure would make this a more pleasant highway cruiser.
Aside from the gearing and the TC, the transmission is wonderful. Smooth as silk, and pleasant to drive.

Jeff Pierce

[blueeagle289]

My 99 ML320 has been AOK up to 68K ... cannot complain about anything!
My 68 230S is such a basic car that I can't think of anything to really be concerned with; just got it and performing some (mostly cosmetic interior )refurbishments on it.
My 89 420SEL is in mint condition, but I am going to check the chain and guides shortly and probably replace the guides. I don't like all the vac lines on the 420, but they are not as big a tangle as they are on the 450SEL, which I just sold (really difficult to find and trace them all on the 450).

Overall, I am basically happy with the three Mercedes I have; no heavy complaints!

[GParker]

I like the fact that my 99 E430 drives like a brand new car when it isn't broken, despite the fact it is 7 years old has 84K on it.

I hate the fact that something breaks three to four times a year, and that I have spent US$15K maintaining and fixing the piece of junk over it's life so far.

I like that it gets great fuel economy for a "sport sedan"

I hate the fact that 275HP is not what is was in 1999, and that many mommies with minivans have the same power.

I like the fact that I did not spring for an E55 that year. Daddie's with sportutes can have more power than even those AMGs.

I really like the fact that I can buy a 300C SRT 6.1 with 425HP next. It's the closest I will ever get to a German made car for awhile.

[siredmund]

ONLY reason to own one of these pseudo elitist over gadgeted inefficient tanks: They'll run on veggie oil, heated or unheated. That's what i like about them, and they're marginally more comfortable than my other cars.

What i dislike. Piss poor fuel economy on diesel or veggie; diabolically hard to work on, super expensive parts, electric windows that don't work and vacuum operated stuff like door locks that ought to be manual.

sir edmund the green


1970 vw van
1981 vw diesel rabbit (my favorite)
79,81,83 & 85 Mercedes 300D (= 1 good one)

[Bob G]

Well you cann't beat German engineering , that is what sells me on the two Mercedes-Benz vehicals I have . I own a 1968 W113 Pagoda SL that has been in the family since my dad purchased it in 1968 European delivery. I am now trying to restore the car and taking my time to learn how the German way of engineering works. A bit intimating at first, I am not much of a motor head but I try and ask questions and purchase the correct tools and books to help me understand.
My other vehical is one my client had purchased new a 1992 300-E sportline black on Black well maintained with under 30,000 milesThis is a car my wife and I sort of share. again A little intimating
But it feels good to be able to learn to work on such a nice automobile and have real pride in driving it.
My sister has a 1987 300-E does not know what an oil change is and complains and wants the cheapest work done to keep it running . This is a person who should be driving the bus to work or a cheap japanese car.
I am sort of helping keep the car running till she decides to sell it. It really is not bad just negleted and in need of a person with more time to service it . A nice driver.
I really like this forum and the people I have had an opportunity to interact with. I have learned so much more from other 300-E owners than I could by my self.
My personal grips with Mercedes-Benz automobiles price for parts are expensive not all but enough to dig for digging deeper in to your pockets especally for classic parts.
Mercedes-Benz takes a little too much engineering and does not make it simple to change the cogg belt on my 300-E .
Over all their is no other car I would rather own . I remember an advertising line Mercedes-Benz used in the 60s and 70's " Over engineered ! Definely soo.
Mercedes does not build convential car and never will".
They got that right.

Bob Geco

[Panzermann]

The fan controls. You seem to have 3 choices: High, low and whatever the car feels like. Would much prefer to have a simple selector, say high low medium.

[neanderthal]

the tank (aka "ze panzer")
1990 W124 300E 2.6.
150000 or so miles. odo broke at 105141
beige/ champagne colour with a light tan MB tex interior

*love the monowiper. cleans more surface than most dual wiper systems and starts on the drivers side to immediately clean the screen.
*love the little sunscreen above the mirror. its thoughtful little touches like this that really endear me to the car
*love that the buzzer goes off if i leave the keys in the car or the lights on
*love that the coolant passes through the windshield washer bottle; cars that are plugged in overnight can have warm water melt the snow off the windshield
*love the two stage opening act of the hood. used this feature many times as a mercedes apprentice mechanic back when
*clear precise instrumentation. proper oil pressure gauge, accurate coolant temp gauge fuel economy gauge!!! warning lights for everything.
*nice large fuel tank. near 500 mile range with very very very easy foot.
*cavernous trunk
*dashboard rheostat dims all interior lights.
*driver retractable rear headrests
*beautiful beautiful shape. and elegant timeless shape that still looks attractice and contemporary today. W210 looks ungainly by comparison
*clean well laid out interior
*MB tex still looks new.
*arm rests are both in the perfect position for me
*no cupholders
*closing all windows and sunroof with key in door
*UV filtering glass
*road/ highway presence. manners on the road are impeccable.
*compact car turning circle
*this goes with the above. the glasshouse is so expansive you can clearly see where you are going when you reverse. ive manouvered my baby into some tight spots

i could go on and on and on.


dislikes arent many.

*cruise control demons
*only a four speed auto with no lockup. would prefer a 1st gear start coupled with a longer rear ratio or a five speed.
*passenger side mirror. that square ugly square thing may give a nice view but its hideous
*sorry DOT headlights. will remedy this with euro lights in the future
*factory stereo lacks bottom end thump.
*fuel economy can be pitiful when youre foot is in the gas all the time.
*lack of warning triangle in trunk

[t walgamuth]

about the only real pisser on these cars in my mind is the #@$%&* automatic ac controls. the under sized gm ac compressors in the 123 cars come in a close second.

oh yeah and the frankenstein ac bracket in 115 and early 123 cars and the 115 alternator adjusters #@$^%&! to them.

tom w