Long term ownership costs, '98 C280 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cgshawaii · #1 07-18-2012, 02:18 PM

Well hello, an occasional lurker will now try post something useful.

We've had a '98 C280 for almost seven years four months when it absorbed an Xterra in the back while stopped at a light. I was in the passenger seat and from the impact I thought the back bumper would be in the back seat, but no, the trunk lid and sill were pushed in about 3 inches and the right fender at the turn signals the same. No torn metal, hardly noticeable from a distance, we were quite surprised and happy at the crashworthiness of the car, until the other guy's insurance said it was a total.

We were the third owners and it was the wife's daily driver. We got it at 7x,000 miles and ran to 151,xxx.

The front shocks showed a little staining on the boots, which may have meant they were leaking, but the ride quality seemed well damped with no bottoming so I did not change them.

We used Benz parts and Mobil 0-20 euro oil throughout. The car never leaked or used oil except once when I didn't get the filter o-ring on straight, then six quarts on the driveway and neighborhood roads.

I never changed the plugs in seven years. So sue me, but mpg was constant at 22 throughout. Looking back I wish I'd had at least one out just to see.

Attached is a summary tabulation of maintenance costs over our ownership. Note that supposedly "common problems" afflicted us as well: AFM, fuel pump, radiator, trans conductor plate, one O2 sensor.

Overall our maintenance costs were about $98 per month. I did what work I could (most of it) with parts sourced from a local independent shop. As one sees from the cost summary, the high dollar repairs were those done by the dealer or independent pros.

Long term gas mileage was about 22, but gas costs have varied so much I can't give an overall cost related to gas price. Note that historically, we here in Hawaii have paid the highest prices in the USA for almost ever. We used 87 octane most of the time and never had any discernable trouble or detonation.

When the car was Xterra-ed, we were offered $4,300 or so by the other guy's State Farm insurance. After looking at the comparables in our local craigslist, we felt this was likely more than we could have sold the car for. The insurance adjuster didn't note several running defects and never started the car during his assessment.

We replaced it with... a Calypso Green (special order paint) '98 C280 that turned 24,000 miles the second day we had it. Clean carfax, third owners again from an obsessive young male who posted for $6900, though Edmunds suggested $5k, we gave him $6k.

mbdoc · #2 07-19-2012, 08:11 AM

Sorry for the loss of a very good car!

Very nice summary of your ownership! Thanks