How much do you spend on your W124 each year? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ps2cho · #1 05-24-2011, 01:07 AM

I keep all my receipts and over the last few months have built a pretty comprehensive documentation in excel for all my expenses on both my cars...oil changes, tires, everything!

300TE -- Purchased 3/16/2006....64k miles.
Total spent as of right now 5/23/2011....106k miles.

Ownership: 5 years, 2 months
Total Spent: $4,163.85
Mileage Driven: 42k miles

So roughly ~$830/year costs. I have head gasket and head rebuilt, water pump, transmission removed and bands replaced, fuel distributor. Most of the big boys are taken care of so I can only forsee A/C and sunroof being the next PIA items to go out...

ALL service intervals are up to date and scheduled ahead. Oil changed every 3-4k most documented (couldn't find all of them unfortunately)...

What do you guys think? Seem about right for an M103?

A lot of people see me spending a lot of money on my cars, but does $830/year seem reasonably well?
This is obviously no labor hours though since I've done it all myself.

-----

We won't get started on my 260E....LOL. She's a money pit, but I got it dirt cheap, so I guess "technically" I had a little headroom.

duxthe1 · #2 05-24-2011, 11:47 PM

I don't have my maintenence records handy but they aren't that much on a yearly basis. We wont talk about the money that needs to be spent on it. Regardless, the biggest expense is FUEL.

#3 05-24-2011, 11:50 PM

Sounds about right for a low mileage car; they usually start getting more expensive someplace around 200-250k miles.

sptt · #4 05-25-2011, 12:51 AM

I'm right there with you. I have spent much more than I anticipated but was definately forewarned. These cars are built with quality parts but when they start failing, kaboom! Putting a new engine in mine now after 200K. In two years, I have spent about $1500.00 a year and doing my own labor. But, again, I don't know of too many other cars out there as old as these and still pretty much self repairable and running, and riding smooth!

PS2CHO....I was wondering, since you've already done this...when my engine is out of the car at the shop, can the friction bands be easily replaced in the transmission if it's still bolted in? The Auto Shop doesn't do tranny's but I said I could go down an do whatever I wanted while it was out. How long of a process was this for you once it was out of the car?

sptt

ps2cho · #5 05-25-2011, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sptt

I'm right there with you. I have spent much more than I anticipated but was definately forewarned. These cars are built with quality parts but when they start failing, kaboom! Putting a new engine in mine now after 200K. In two years, I have spent about $1500.00 a year and doing my own labor. But, again, I don't know of too many other cars out there as old as these and still pretty much self repairable and running, and riding smooth!

PS2CHO....I was wondering, since you've already done this...when my engine is out of the car at the shop, can the friction bands be easily replaced in the transmission if it's still bolted in? The Auto Shop doesn't do tranny's but I said I could go down an do whatever I wanted while it was out. How long of a process was this for you once it was out of the car?

sptt

Disks are easy as pie....But if you are gonna start removing stuff, get the front pump resealed. That is more tricky. Take a look at my 722.3 removal here:
http://www.w124-zone.com/articles.php?article_id=21

You can see with the front pump removed, everything else is removed one by one. Definitely do this if you can! It will prolong everything in there, not just the reverse...all that brake pad dust (which is what the bands basically are) has to go somewhere and unfortunately it ends up clogging ofrices and going places you really don't want it being.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duxthe1

I don't have my maintenence records handy but they aren't that much on a yearly basis. We wont talk about the money that needs to be spent on it. Regardless, the biggest expense is FUEL.

Fuel is expensive on any car, I'd never trade in a car for fuel reasons, its a horrible, horrible excuse. Spend $300+ /mo in payments + insurance to save $60/mo in gas?

Juck · #6 05-25-2011, 02:03 AM

My awesome 1993 300CE Cabriolet with 97k miles has cost me maybe a grand in the last 5 years,, that covers regular maintenance, a couple of bits of trim and 2 rebuilt hydraulic cylinders. The evap needs fixing,,, but the wiring harness and radiator were replaced by the PO.

The car is paid for,, and even if I have to pay $3000 a year in repairs going forward,, what else can I get for $250 a month that is better than my brilliant 124? A lease on a Scion XB or Toyota Prius? A Ford Focus? Dodge POS?

Hell no.

Will_w202 · #7 05-25-2011, 11:14 AM

The rule for any out of warranty-aged Benz is $1000/yr, at least it's what I plan for

lorainfurniture · #8 05-25-2011, 11:40 AM

I bought my 300se about 4 years ago @89k. Now at 97k.

A/c Was expensive, about 2.5k, water pump, and regular maintenence.
So, I guess about 1k a year for it.

My 300e, (197k)which has been kicking and screaming to the 200k mark, has got me for about 1.5k just this year. (rear subframe)

And, I just found out my evap started to leak exactly 1 year after I changed everything in the system except that.

My opinion is that the m103/w124/126 starts to get real expensive to keep after 150k.

glenmore · #9 05-26-2011, 12:26 AM

I keep pretty detailed records on an Excel spreadsheet also. This is a good idea because it all becomes a blur when you try to remember when you did certain things. It also helps you anticipate repairs like new brakes.

Here are my numbers after a recent big whack (new tranny).

1991 300CE with 112k, purchased 6/2002, now 175k.

The two big ticket items were the head gasket, $1686 @ 125m, and a new tranny ($1622) @ 172m.

My cost per year is $1222.

sptt · #10 05-26-2011, 01:09 AM

PS2CHO...I found a guy down the highway here that only does MB Transmissions (The "Transmeister"!). I had already checked out your DIY and was going to try myself but he's not far from the repair shop where they are doing my engine. He said to call him when it's out and he will go get it and bring it back to his shop and check it out. Told me that the disks are a common problem and shouldn't be much to fix if that's all it needs. I'm hoping that's it because it shifts great normally. I told him it makes a "clickety" sound when backing up and he said it is usually just those b3 friction plates (discs). Crossing my fingers!

ps2cho · #11 05-26-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sptt

PS2CHO...I found a guy down the highway here that only does MB Transmissions (The "Transmeister"!). I had already checked out your DIY and was going to try myself but he's not far from the repair shop where they are doing my engine. He said to call him when it's out and he will go get it and bring it back to his shop and check it out. Told me that the disks are a common problem and shouldn't be much to fix if that's all it needs. I'm hoping that's it because it shifts great normally. I told him it makes a "clickety" sound when backing up and he said it is usually just those b3 friction plates (discs). Crossing my fingers!

Sounds perfect since he knows the b3 disks. Shouldn't cost you much either since the disks are about $80 to buy yourself and you don't have labor removing tranny since its pretty much already out. Go for it!

Make sure you get the front pump resealed! Trust me!

lkchris · #12 05-28-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will_w202

The rule for any out of warranty-aged Benz is $1000/yr, at least it's what I plan for

That's realistic I believe.

However, just note that you PURCHASED that new-car warranty and paid more than $4000 for a 4-year warranty. Extended warranties are cheaper, but cover less.

sptt · #13 06-03-2011, 03:42 AM

1991 300E

2011:
Replace Headgasket $380.00 (Self)
Blown engine 1200 miles later with tow to shop...$60.00.
Transmission rebuild $500 (has always needed it).
Replace engine $875.00 for used / tested (?) Engine + $1200.00 labor to take out blown engine and tranny and reinstall Tested (?) engine and rebuilt tranny.
Praying that it works every day after dumping all this money into it...stressfully priceless!!!

TheDon · #14 05-28-2011, 01:11 PM

The cabriolet I lucked out on. I think I put maybe $750-1000 into it.

The 300D I haven't spent much on it yet. I do know I want to do the vacuum pump, the ball joints are getting done in a week, refresh the interior, update the trunk liners, updated hood and lights, etc.

But maintenance stuff is probably going to be low since it was well cared for.

pawoSD · #15 06-03-2011, 07:19 AM

I had to put a bit into my 300E when I got it a couple years ago, but since then the repairs have been minimal. This year all it has needed was a trans fluid/filter change (about $65), a new starter (about $240), and a new oxygen sensor. ($78). Also slapped a new belt tensioner pulley on it ($51) Just took it on a 900 mile trip last weekend and it got 28.3MPG at 72Mph average. Ran perfect the whole trip. Not bad for a gasser with 157k on it!