96' W210 - Should I keep it or sell it?
 

For all those on this board with good exdperience and insight, I have a question for you.

I have a 96 W210 which just turned 140,000 miles.
It looks great and is in good mechanical condition.
The question is, should I sell this car while it still works well or should I take my chances and keep driving it and repairing what breaks down over time?
I have averaged $1500 per year in various repair bills since the car went out of warranty.

I have heard many MB's drive over the 300K miles that are diesels but I was not too sure about the gasoline engine.

If this question is too elementary, forgive me, I am not a mechanic and I value your advice.

Thanks

I am assuming it is the E320 M104 engine. If so, it is a great engine and very, very long lived. The engine will be one of the last things to wear in the car with the exception of the common head gasket leaks.

James, it depends what will replace your 1996 E320. If you intend to purchase a used MB without a Starmark Warranty then you will be dealing with a car that you really don't know (regardless of any detailed maintenance records) and you may spend an appreciable amount of money on repairs. On the otherhand if you buy a new MB, or a used MB with a Starmark Component Warranty then it will be 3 to 4 years before you're facing potentially expensive repairs. So it really depends on many variables -- your wallet, how satisfied you are with the 1996 E320, how many miles you drive per year, how dependable your transportation has to be, whether you do your own repairs, etc.

Ferdman:
I really do like this car. I have had it for 6 years now and drive it as my daily driver. Car is free and clear and I don't have to sell this car. I was just thinking about replacing it to maximize on resale value before there are more problems in the future.

I would have to replace it with another E but I dont want to spend more money if not necessary. Driving anything else other than a mercedes would be tough as I have been spoiled by it.

If I was to get another used MB, it would have to be covered under warranty otherwise, it would not be more different than just keeping my existing car. I am frugal so I try to do the routine maintenance and I drive about 20,000 miles per year.

Ali Al-Chalabi
My engine is a straight 6. If this is the correct engine number, Now I know. Also, I haven't any leaks on the head gasket (knock on wood).

Anyone else want to add their experiences with this car/engine?
Any forcasts on life?

Personally, I think you'd be nuts to sell it at this point. The car has "high miles" in the used market, and you'd take a real kicking for the odo.

Look at it this way: (I'll use my local Canuck-bucks, but you'll get the point...)

A new E320 is about $75K.
A 2000 E320 sells for about $35K
A 1996 with 140K-miles is worth about $17K.

Suppose you buy that 2000MY car. You'll be out of pocket about $18,000. In a few years that 2000 will be an $18-20K car. That $18,000 is a sunk cost.

If you took HALF the $13K and used it as a find to keep your 1996 car going, you'd have years and years of motoring at much less cost than buying a newer car, and dramatically less than buying a brand new one. And that 2000 will require work as the warranty expires.

If the car is a money pit, maybe you should abandon ship, but it sounds solid and reliable. I would bet that you would get at least another five years and 100K-miles before any kind of major repair might be required (maybe the tranny or some minor top-end work). The bottom end of the engine will outlast practically every part of the car if you keep the oil/filter in good shape.

Some repairs you may have in the next few years:

Front suspension bushings: common W210 area.
Minor AC woes: evap temp sensor is cranky, maybe some other minor repairs.
Window regulator: another common W210 problem.
Head gasket: M104 known area of concern, but I meet many W210 M104 owners with high mileages that seem immune. Maybe the gasket problem is solved? Dare we hope?

I have bought new cars. They are poor financial decisions. They are about "I WANT it, dammit." If you're just itchy for something new and don't mind the additional moolah for the newer ride, go for it. If you're looking for the lowest per-mile option, keep your car and think about grille-badge collecting...

What he said. I say keep the car.

BTW, Blackmercedes - did you get my PM about my upcoming trip to Calgary?

Yup, sorry, I meant to PM you back. Checking my schedule...

I say that you also keep your E320.

Based on the amount of miles you put on your car I assume that they are mostly highway. Highway miles are not hard on a car, Mercedes are designed to be driven.

I tend to buy my cars used (3 years old) with high milage and have had very good luck with them. I am also frugal (most people refer to me as cheap) and do all my own maintenance. I figure that I spend less on maintaining all three of my cars then people who pay for maintenance for one car.

One downside of maintaining an older car with high milage is that you start to spend $ on items such as alternators, water pumps, mufflers, shocks/struts. But it is still cheaper than a car payment.

I have a '94 with the same engine and transmission as your car I have just turned 214,000 miles. Sure I've fixed some things and yes it is paid for now but I'll drive this car for another 200,000 miles, it feels that strong right now. Routine service on the tranmission and change the oil and it will treat you better than other cars with that mileage. Keep it.

Blackmercedes:

That's a good point of referance. I didn't realize that my car would only be worth that if I sold it. Also, The car IS solid and looks great. I still enjoy looking at it as if I just got it. With all the mods that I put on that thing, I would lose alot of value if I sold it.

rjnonnie:
yes, these are mostly highway miles. This car is solid on the highway. Never felt that with my Lexus LS400 at high speeds.
This is one of the reasons that I am willing to pay higher maintenance costs on this car and keep.

dtf:
Wow, your doing good on the miles. Hope I can do as well.
I have changed my fluids often. I have used Mobil 1 every 5000 miles. I can't get to the tranny so I take that in for service. Wish I could do that as well.

The transmission service is a 30,000 mile interval service for our transmission (4 speed). It is trivial (~$150) as far as costs go in the grand scheme of things even at a dealer. Another item that is well documented to go is the fan clutch at about 200,000 miles. Mine went at 195,000 miles - cost of repair was less than a monthly car payment for another 200,000 miles of fan clutch. I win. You will too.

hi there:

"The transmission service is a 30,000 mile interval service for our transmission (4 speed). It is trivial (~$150) "

can I ask what is involved in these interval service for the trans? Is it just the trans oil, trans oil filter and the diff fluid?

Your advice will be appreciated.

thanks

That's pretty much it - the most expensive item is the fluid, 8qts I believe. Worth the peace of mind - replacement transmission costs are scary.

Another alternative that you have is find a reputaable 3rd party after market warranty company,, they are out there but hard to find,, and if im not mistaken most of them are under the $1200 mark for a full coverage plan.. just read the small print and make sure you know what your getting.. after all you dont want a small hole in the wall chevy mechanic working on your M104 engine, you need a mechanic that is familiar with its sometime funny ways..

Is it hard to change the transmission oil?
Can I do it with just a jack and stand and a Top Sider?
Is there a transmission oil filter too?

He said he spends $1,500 / year in repairs and that is "reliable"? :rolleyes:

I LOVE these cars, formerly had a '00 E320, and probably buying another in the future... but it amazes me how blind some "enthusiasts" can be:rolleyes:

A car that you have to buy an extended warranty for or spend $1,500 / year in repairs doesn't sound very reliable :( ...

I am just being realistic, love the cars but not blind...

$1500 per year in maintenance is a bargain.

Compare that to depreciation on a newer car, and it is an insignificant sum. Consider both depreciation and cost of capital when calculating net operating costs.

People tend to get nervous putting repair money into an older car, but have no problem with the fat payments and steep depreciation on a new one. Strange psychology at work here.

The trick is not to look at repairs relative to residual value, but instead relative to use value.

Is that parts only or dealer-maintained expenses? :confused:

I'd otherwise have to agree with yosshimura...I'd be a bit peeved if in any given year I had spent that much in repairs for all of my MBs combined!

Short of the possible head gasket or A/C issues (which should occur once in the car's lifetime, hopefully), I'd expect $$ spent for routine fluid changes, wear-related items, and occasionally, a set of tires, but that's about it.

You are right about being ahead in your yearly cost of ownership as compared to the "real" costs of owning and maintaining a much newer vehicle...

...but I would still balk at the $1500/yr. figure...unless I was maintaining an R107...
;)

$1500/yr

That amount is kind of a lot considering your car is a 96. I suspect you will be spending the same amount for the next 2 or 3 years for some major tune ups, transmission service, and suspension work. But after that your expenses should drop to no more than 500/yr

Consider this...many cars now a days have wheels 17 inches or bigger. Tires alone will cost you around (with mounting and balance) $1,000. So $1,500/yr is not that bad (if you figure in the monthly payments for the car too, you're doing VERY GOOD).

KEEP THE CAR.

jrmd01@yahoo.com

For someone that really drives their car and enjoys keeping it in top shape, $1500 a year is not an unreasonable figure to expect, but keep in mind that is going to be [i]average[/]. Some years more, some less. Some day in the future it'll need a tranny, maybe a rad, maybe a top end. Think long term.

Your right on the money JRMD01!

I have 18" tires on AMG rims and they do wear out faster than normal (14" - 16") tires. I am averaging 20,000 miles per set. So yes, out of the $1500 per year about $800 of it is in tires only.
The rest is spend at either the dealer or an indy shop.
I do alot of preventative maintenance or as soon as I detect something is wrong.

YOSSHIMURA:
$1500 may seem alot for yearly maintenance on a car but to me, it is worth it. The car has qualitites that make it worth paying this year after year. If I have to start paying more than $1500 - $2000 per year, I will consider getting a new MB. This is the topic of discussion here.

By the way, my wife has a 98 Lexus ES300 with 146,000 miles on it. Very reliable car. I don't worry about it. I spend about $500 - $750 on routine maintenance per year. Yes its affordable, but, it doesn't give me the same satisfaction as my mercedes.

I have attached a pic of my MB, looks almost new.

I just bought a used E320 with 148k for under 10K

CRASH DUMMIE:

Ouch that hurts!
I have way too much money into this car to sell it at that price.
I spend about $12,000 - $14,000 in aftermarket parts like body kit, rims, tires, exhaust, springs, shocks, stereo system.

Guess I will have to drive it till it has to go to the junk yard myself.

yes, see that is why you should keep your car. this one i bought is mint inside and out.

Sometimes in your life, you just plain 'ol want a new car, and if you can afford it, go buy it. However, if you boil it down to the financial solution, buying the new car never makes sense.

My wife wanted AWD. Mercedes announced the 4-matic C-Class. We went to look. We sat down and crunched the numbers, and it just didn't make sense. We bought a new-price $42,000 Subaru for $21,000 that's barely three years old that will be worth $16,000 in three to four years instead of a $50,000 car that will be worth $22,000 in three to four years.

Now, this keep 'em strategy does NOT always work. It happens to with almost all Mercedes because they retain so much of their pleasure even as they age. We're a little unusual because we know that in 10-12 years our cars will be rust-free, solid, fun to drive cars. This is not so with a Neon.