2009 Mercedes C300. Bought used for 7k. I got 125k miles on it. Never had a problem. Runs perfect. It's the smoothest ride I've ever owned. Will keep it forever.
Some of them are very well built. Conversely I owned a first generation ML500 and the engine and transmission were fine, but everything wore out early and the cosmetics were weak. To a of rust early too
Forever is a long time. Don't bet on it. At least that is one of the more simple cars so it should be easier to keep going. At least until Mercedes no longer makes parts for it
Hello, I am also looking at a 2013 C300 ones 50k miles with the V6 on it. How is it on a daily basis (fuel consumption, maintanance cost, reliability) according to your experience?
But I bet two things... you don't drive it hard and you stay on top of preventative maintenance. That's what I've done with mine and I don't have issue's with any MB I've had.
been buying used Mercedes for decades , never had any problems with any of them … you want a Mercedes, buy it , just make sure it was serviced and taken care of , and just keep on top with service and maintenance and take care of it … there is nothing like Mercedes …. eBay is full of new and used affordable Benz parts … remember , life is too short to drive boring cars 😊
My BMW infotainment screen melted and spiderwebbed in the Texas heat. The part alone was $3,000. I took the screen out and bough the exact Sharp model number off eBay for $65. Easy peasy.
Reel most of the things he was mentioning it’s just things that could go wrong with any car or truck. It’s like the dash breaks that’s gonna cost money it’s not like it’s gonna be free with anything else. 😂😂
Very true video. I loved my two GLKs several years ago, very reliable, tough, and wonderful to drive. BUT also very maintenance-heavy, and as I recall, the cheapest repair bill I had on either of them was $1,800. So the question isn’t “can I afford to buy it”, it’s “can I afford to keep it?”
I bought a Mercedes CLA with 19,000 miles and have 84,000 miles. I replaced the air blower myself after it started chirping at low speeds. Everything works and it still looks like new
I have a 2013 CLS550 that I bought in 2017 with 43K miles on it. I got extended warrantee with unlimited mileage on. Now in April 2022 I have 200K miles on it. Yes the animatic suspension when out while under warrantee and fixed for free and 2nd time out of pocket about 3K. I have only has to change rotors once and set of pads twice. After 200K miles still drive like a dream and still get a sexy look. I have not regrets, I am only going to sell it to get another used Mercedes’. Who keeps a car for 20 years now? Technology and safety changes. Great video but Benz is way better in maintenance thanks it’s competition. You say it all the time life is too short to drive a boring car.
It doesn’t make sense to buy any luxury vehicle if you can’t afford to maintain and repair it out of warranty. Good information. Potential buyers need to watch this.
This is so true. I have personal experience, I bought a low mileage w212 220 cdi (134 000 thousand kilometers only) year ago. I have a familiar mechanic and he repairs it quite cheap. He charges 75 euros/hour. Still I counted I have used 5100 euros in one year for repairs... egr, coolant water pump, transmission oil, mass air flow meter, base repair and regular oil changes. But it,s awesome car, harldy consumes any diesel, super comfortable for long trips. Thank you for this video and respect from Finland!
Bought a 2015 CLA 250 4Matic.. 96000km- 2 Year, or 60000KM Warranty on basically everything. Seemed like a pretty decent deal WITH THE WARRANTY. Without I wouldn’t of made the purchase.
I have a 2015 c300 i bought last year in 2022. As i agree with your opinion, i had a nissan altima before this which costed me more in repairs than my c300. The only thing wrong with these cars were the 2015 piston issues other than that these cars are very reliable and if you watch a couple youtube channels you can fix alot of things yourself
My last Mercedes’ was e220 diesel from 2010 . I drove it until end of 2019 . The last mileage on display was 730000 km. That has seen almost every corner of Europe . Never seen a bmw or a an Audi doing the same. It is how you drive and maintain. If you abuse and neglect the car because it’s “ premium “ car that can handle it , then it will become very expensive . Otherwise , I would always prefer a 3-4 years old used Mercedes’ to a new Volvo or Japanese car. For me , it’s the most reliable car . You may pay more for it but you also get more from it back.
In my opinion, my merc has served me well. I bought it from an approved merc dealer, it's had a full service history from approved merc garages and I get it regularly serviced. Finally, drive it properly and it will serve you well.
“Me thinks thoust does protest to much”. I am on my third used Mercedes. I currently own a 2017 e400 wagon owned for 5 years and a 2020 SL450, owned for 3 years. Other than fuel, tires and regular maintenance the cars have cost me zero dollars.
I wound up with a CDI Benz from 2005. They’re “rare” in the US and I really wanted it. I wanted that diesel torque. There’s nothing like it!I wound up getting one and that story can be found on “The Car Wizard” channel. It cost a few bucks to get it sorted out but it could have been worse. I wound up finding another one with waaaaaaay less miles and is hands down better than my first one. That said, I knew what I was getting into and I had a plan. I can also wrench on my own cars a bit and the BIGGEST thing I can mention is that I can AFFORD to fix my old Benz. I did my research and I got a good example. I’ve haven’t “liked” a car so much in quite a while. I’m almost 60 so that’s saying something. Listen…..If you have BEER POCKETS then you shouldn’t be buying CHAMPAGNE! RIGHT? 🤔🍾
@@ECPP th-cam.com/video/4pnuxtUGjak/w-d-xo.html Yeah. If you can wrench their great. Certain models are better than others. I like the W211's the most and I can wrench. When I can't wrench for whatever reason, I have good independent mechanics like The Wizard. Nowhere NEAR what the stealership costs but good results nonetheless. ✊🏿 ✊🏿
My last 3 cars have been used MB. The interior and paint at 100k+ miles looks amazing compared to other brands and I guess I've been lucky because they've been very reliable. Great bang for buck. Hopefully #4 is a GT63🥳The quality is unmatched imo. Do your research before buying anything.
I have been driving Mercedes for decades. They have been solid and reliable for me. Maintenance, common sense, mechanical knowledge, proper care and respect for your automobile goes a long way.
My mechanic told me a long time ago to stay away from BMWs and Mercedes because he doesn’t want to keep repairing those cars for me and I end up getting mad at him because he will have to charge me a lot of money. Sure, if you have money and TIME to wait for the repairs, go for it. But if you have a busy life and only own one car, you need a reliable one.
Meanwhile, people are driving those boring Lexuses, without these issues associated with Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis, for 20 years. But, "life is too short to drive a boring car".
We wasted so much money on our 2007 ML350. Gas mileage isn’t that great either. Had to replace engine due to balance shaft issue…$7K. Simple brake work on these things are about $1K. Just recently, the AC compressor seized, shredded the drive belt and a few pulleys. Had to replace the compressor, evaporator coils, manifold, idler pulleys, blah blah there went $4,100 bucks. This thing should have been mechanically totaled a long time ago, but she has sentimental value to us. She’s pretty old but now runs perfect. And I’d rather be in that ML350 than a more modern offering from Lexus or Acura. There’s something special about this brand in general. You feel SAFE in them. It feels rock solid and confident. You can go really fast in these things and still have the feeling of complete control of the vehicle. The doors close with a solid ‘thunk’ like a Diebold safe. When driving them, you literally connect with the car. These cars preemptively anticipates your driving patterns and runs accordingly. Want more performance out of your Mercedes? Drive the shit out of it. It will then adjust its operational parameters to the way you drive. Old or new, Mercedes products will always be on team ‘you’. It’s not the most reliable brand…these cars complain about every single little thing because it’s over engineered German powertrains are engineered with probably zero tolerances. Sensor out of whack with a voltage deviation of 0.001 volts? Check Engine light. Accidentally fart in the drivers seat? Check engine light. The couple next door arguing about dinner…check engine light. Don’t want this nagging light nagging you all the time? Follow the maintenance schedule on these cars EXACTLY. It will be expensive. If you cant afford the Mercedes maintenance schedule, you don’t belong in these cars. Everything about this brand is expensive. However, I wouldn’t want to drive anything less.
I have that same blue c300 coupe ,it’s a 2017 and now has 170k miles and it’s been thru an engine rebuild at 85k miles that failed after 20k miles which lead to a new engine at 105k miles, (all under warranty), and it’s running great as of right now after that new engine
I Bought a used 2020 Mercedes C43 AMG in 2023. I opted into the warranty (negotiated the price on it) because of the high repair costs. Even though it had great service records, and my mechanic gave it a clean bill of health, he said nothing is cheap on it to fix. Everything is running great so far. Recently, the rear suspension had a small leak, and my mechanic said it’s not bad but I will eventually want to replace it. He called the warranty company and they covered it. So I essentially already broke even on the cost of the coverage. German cars don’t have great long term reliability, so I’ll probably switch to something else in 2027/2028.
On my 3rd CPO Mercedes and love them all. Never had any reliability issues or problems and I get my maintenance done by AAA. Make depreciation your friend and buy a 2 or 3 year old used car.
i bought 2 used ones i had 1995 E300D and had a 2003 S500 never had problem with none of them...from who you buy thats the most impportant....next year i will buy a 2019 E220D sedan finally the price getting down by 50%...
Thank you so much for this. I love my 4 runner, and I was looking at purchasing a second vehicle for my 50th birthday. I really really wanted a used Mercedes C class. But after watching your videos, l decided to look at the Lexus IS 350. I really don't want to pay the costly maintenance and repairs on the Mercedes even if it's going to be my weekend car.
I have 2011 s550 with a natural V8 a Lil over 95,000 miles had it for 2 years with no major issues. Keeping my fingers crossed. Stay AWAY from turbos!!!
Got a 2019 C43 amg 2 years ago for 45k, it was stickered at 72k! Had like 13k miles on it an like 25k now. I have zero issues, runs strong and this one came with like 15k worth of extras, carbon fiber it pops and bangs when shifting lol and has been a real treat to drive every single time i get into that car! I love my "used" Benz lol
My C200 Diesel has 184,000 miles and does 55+ mpg. It is 18 yrs old and I bought it for £500 ($650) over two years ago. If I'm going to buy an old heap, I always buy a Merc oil burner as the engines rattle on for ever.
Good information. These high compression engines are now made of plastic and light aluminum alloy, two materials that do not hold up well to heat. Over time, Mercedes and BMW's deteriorate to a premature end-of-life cycle stage.
My uncle has a Mercedes CLS 550 With I reckon a Biturbo V8. its a monster of a machine. It will do 275 kilometers an hour and doesn't need to take a breath on the way there or think twice about how it will get to speed. Unfortunately an intoxicated person drove a golf cart into it and an insurance claim was filed ( car repaired masterfully ) but..... But uhh.... Nobody will buy a used luxury/performance mercedes after its had an insurance claim filed on it..... Plus just the cost to change the oil. Its a car buyers worst nightmare. Fortunately he's got the cash to keep it running. You make a great point with this video. You must be weary. Thank you very much for the videos. Always so well done and I really appreciate your Content Mark!
Thanks a lot for sharing and yes sadly that’s also a nasty part of ownership. Other drivers can really put a hamper on the experience. Can you imagine a Hypercar on the street and a careless yo-yo puts their Chev Cobalt into the back of it. One word ouch.
@@ECPP Yes would be mortifying if a junker bumped into a hyper car ahaha "You hit WHAT!?!?!?" Haha. I appreciate your reply man. I so so love you content and will forever enjoy and reccomend your Content.
How much did you pay for prepaid maintenance? My GLE 350 was $2650/4yrs. I had heard that an A/B service was approx $500/1k, but I researched recently and it’s actually $300/600 even at the dealer. Felt a fair bit dumb after the fact. I did have enough brain cells to decline gap, extended warranties, hazard protection, etc.
Wow, thanks for sharing Jimmy, that would be hard to say because it came with the car as a second hand buy. Previously paid for. With that said, purchase price probably means we paid anyhow.
In my small fleet is a 2009 SL350 with 70,000km (43000 miles). It has an immaculate service history and is genuinely in as new condition with no discernible wear. Everything works. I paid less than 20% of what it cost new in 2009. This time of year in Western Australia (Autumn) with temperatures in the mid - high 20s celcius and bright blue skies, its the vehicle of choice for most daily duties, of course with the top down. Its a normally aspirated and very smooth V6. It has no complex MMI but does have the Comand system. If it goes wrong, I will install an aftermarket system. The biggest risk is with the folding roof, I self insure for any such issues. Its built like a tank. Sure, its running costs may be higher than some cars but with the weather we have here and being able to drive it top down for weeks at a time, its worth every $ to me.
You are lucky you can get an SL350 with a V6, best of both world for luxury and reliability. Those V6s from Mercedes are bulletproof. I’m from Canada and all we have here is V8, it’s more powerful, smoother ride but less reliable and consume lots of gas. I love the styling of a SL but cannot get a V6 here. What a shame :(
@@KseRBanshee Thank you, I love my SL, its a beautiful car. Its winter now here in Western Australia which is often wet, but a mild sunny day saw the SL out on Friday! I like theV6, its easily enough for the car. I own a European Automotive service and repair shop so my own guys service and take care of her.
Yeah I love that M272 engine, I had a CLK350 here in Canada and I think we have pretty much the same engine, it is so smooth and I spent $0 on repair for the 4 years/89000km ownership of the car apart from wear and tear items: 2 times brake pads, tires change once, and 6 oil changes and that’s it and it drives just like the day I got it. And I drive hard, even got a muffler delete on it and just love to pull and pull. Would love to try an SL but no V6 here and the gas price is 😮💨
3 years ago bought a 2009 SL65 for $49k. 54k miles on it. Drove 10k more. Now this Mercedes is worth ......$65,000 and rising. A shrewd man buys a Mercedes timely, at the bottom of it's depreciation. Because owning a 13 year old Mercedes affordably is a skill for which he is rewarded. But everyday I had to study, research and work on the car. Everyday.
just bought a 2017 mercedes c300 AMG pack i got it for 14k had new turbo oil pan gasket and a bunch of other things serviced for 14k it has the panoramic roof , burmester system, 19 inch amg wheels it runs great, no issues
Life cycle of a Mercedes. First owner is well to do, leases or buys it, then trades in a couple of years, the next owner (middle class who always wanted one) buys it, warranty runs out, starts getting hit with an expensive repairs and cuts his losses, sells cheap. The next owner is the young poser (40k a year guy), suspension goes out, he can't afford to repair it, it gets repo'd and car get parted out.
Should I get a 2017 e300? The reliability rating is 4/5 but Im not too sure if I should or not. Im not the richest but I just want a nice car with a beautiful interior like the e class.
My old 240D, 4 speed was a tank. We put about 150k on it and two of my kids took their driving test on it. Easy to work on brakes and other things. A subsequent car, not so much, but not equipped with today's computer mess. To your point, Not today, without a solid warranty. We learn a considerable amount based upon your experience with these cars. Thanks for bringing it up!
For sure Thomas, some of the older Benzs are true work horses and good for a lot of miles, hence taxi duty for some as well as other commercial activities. The newer ones can be good but some are junk. It’s a matter of research. The S class for example is still great although they had a generation of trash there too when the top executive wanted to save some cashola. It seems that the S class is solid again but the price point cars like the CLA or GLA are not built to regular Benz standards. Like they say, an oldey but a goody.
I can only speak from experience....My Wife bought a brand new MERCEDES, I will not name the model because I do not want to damage the brand...at 22000km she was driving along, -11C and at the corner of a major intersection her car just stops and rolls into the middle of the interssection, The car died, would not start and she was stuck, luckily she was safe, but a brand new mercedes that just dies...they told her OH you had a BAD ALTERNATOR... that they replaced... She got rid of the car right away and bought An ALFA ROMEO and SHE LOVES it! 88000km and going strong and the LOOKS she gets are unbelievable and shes loving every minute of it! GOOD LUCK MERCEDES!
Another great video, Mark. I own two SL-class and my experience with maintenance cost has spanned the spectrum. The 2010 SL63 has to go into the shop again to fix the folding hardtop, which I opened the first day I took the car out of the garage this spring, and could not put the top back up. This is the second time, and it will likely cost a few thousand dollars. I do many repairs myself, but that top/trunk has a zillion moving parts, switches, sensors and hydraulics. I don’t have the diagnostic gear nor the knowledge or experience to DIY. I bought my 2001 SL500 in 2009 for 1/5 of what it cost new, fixed a few things that the previous owner ignored, and have an absolute beauty that looks and works like new inside and out. It is such a global car that parts were alway easy to find, and not overly expensive. It’s 21 years old now so that may be changing.
Great comment David, yes there are some issues that is next level complex, for example I probably would not do the rod bearings on my M5, not because I can’t do an engine rebuild but even to get access to the bottom of the engine, is quite involved. There’s only so much we can tackle. Regarding the older machine, we had an ML500 which had a similar engine and other than a mis fire that the dealer struggled with and a crank sensor, the engine and trans were solid. Sadly the ML was built in thenUS and the overall quality of cosmetic parts was a bit substandard for a Benz. It also rusted aggressively but I am a rust belt so if a person lives in a better climate, that would not be an issue. Either way, some of the older Mercs were very solid and reliable.
You are totally right. Prices are not consistent with quality as these parts often break as often or more frequently than a good ole non luxo brand. Ie BMW vs Toyota
nah i'll keep mine yeah i've had some problems but my machanic is good to me going on 3years and i love my 2011 mb c300 about to wrap it this summer can't wait
It can be hit or miss with any car, just people fail to take into consideration that most Mercedes are high end cars which can be costly. My C63 was bullet proof and then I spent about £5-6000 restoring an 04 CLK55 AMG. (kind of a barn find) Honestly, I’ve always lived by the saying “if you can’t afford the repairs, it’s too much car” people make these mistakes way too often, assuming they are getting say a 2008 BMW M6 for $15,000 only to find out 6 months in they have to take the car to a dealer or an independent mechanic to have the rod bearings replaced or Vanos worked on… then are shocked when they have a $3000 repair bill. PPI is always the way to go when buying a used high end luxury brand, I avoided a 2005 Gallardo based on the PPI alone, 30% clutch remaining was a no no for me.
Reason I got a 16 CTS 3 years ago. However, I still want an E-Class. I'll make sure I have the money for repairs. I used to tell people the parts are going to cost the same weather the car is new or not. Yeah Lexus is reliable but they are so boring.
Very informative video currently have the 18 c300 4matic with AMG package fully loaded and currently has 77k miles never skipped service still running and sunroof works buttery smooth but like you said the maintenance ain’t cheap for sure.
@@ebinwatkins1428 I’m still under warranty so go to dealership service a 400-500$ service B 700-1000$ sometime they do prevention maintenance as you go high in mileage but after warranty I’ll do them myself doesn’t seem too complicated
I was just about to buy a SL 1992 in a few days and YT pops me this up, coincidence? I think not. On ther side, great to know and have in mind all this
CPO warranties only make sense with ZERO deductible and VERY comprehensive coverage. A lot of people get sucked into CPO warranties thinking they're identical to new car warranties; which is objectively false. Even a deductible of $100 can massively add up over multiple dealer visits as these cars age. Wear parts (not covered under CPO warranty, sometimes covered under new car warranty, depending on the circumstances) can be diabolically expensive on a used luxury car. Audi wanted $4000 for one (1) 19" wheel replacement on my car in 2014. Four thousand dollars for one wheel! Imagine you hit a curb and bent your wheel. Sure, insurance may cover it but good luck convincing them the actual cost is 4k. Never mind convincing a discount insurance company that's what it's worth. Of course, the old luxury car adage goes: If you can't afford it new; you (really) can't afford it used.
One company, ASC Warranty, charges up to $9000 USD for extended coverage if you buy a used Mercedes or BMW. It's not a matter of if but when repairs will be needed.
Route66 is the company I use. My credit union sells the policy to me on the last three used BMW’s I’ve financed now with them. No shocks. Mechanic loves them. Less than 4K for 5 yrs, 120k miles. Not offered as often with x5, etc. made in US. Checking different models with them shows me what cars they don’t trust.
Personally I wait for luxury cars to fall to somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of their original value. By that time there are many used parts around and lots of knowledge of how to economically fix things. I always make a stragegty to what I would do if the worst happens. For example second hand engines can be purchased cheaply for cars with reliable engines. The problem is finding repair shops who think like I do. Therefore I do most of my own repairs. By doing this I have often done more miles than the original owners with no huge expenses. I think the absolute worst thing you can possibly do is to pay 50 percent for a 4 year old perfect car without an extended warranty. As well as loosing a huge amount on depreciation you will loose again on repairs and repairing it yourself may not be all that cheap or easy to do due to many factors.
Oh man. I am so glad to buy a low mile used lexus over C class mercedes. I save alot for doing this. Now that I have enough for a new mercede. I might just go for the E class!
Mercedes are poor quality and expensive. In the UK some of the diesel engines are supplied by Renault which would be fine but they still charge Mercedes prices. Avoid at all costs. Thanks for the informed vids.
Mark the reason most people don't get a Mercedes is the mantiance cost. My Chevy pick starter is 150 bucks a starter for Mercedes 300 bucks and up. Labor on my truck is 100.00 an hour Mercedes is like 200 250 an hour here in Texas.
Seen a vlog where the guy bought brand new C amg 63s ...hydrolocked in a rain storm ...3000 mi...total loss...made my mind up then...insurance said the engine replacement was $71000 ...luckily he had New car replacement coverage or he would have been screwed
I know a woman that about 5 years ago bought a used E-Class Mercedes. All kinds of electronics started going wrong. She kept it only about nine months and traded it in on a ...get this.. an Explorer that she still has and has had few issues that I know of...Who knew?! I drive Toyota's.
Taking the side, we speak of the Japanese cars, Toyota, Honda, etc As being more reasonable in terms of repair expense. But the upper tier models, such as the Lexus and Acura have the same reasonable expense for the same type of malfunction? On a non-warranty basis, that is.
Hey again Thomas. What I have seen and heard, there are premiums to be paid for on anLexus and Acura even though they often share many of the same parts, ie 3.5L engine in Toyota and Lexus. It’s almost a rite of passage, but with that said, they don’t unreasonably break like many BMWs, etc.
This is all generic but good advice. They cost more to maintain because they cost more to begin with. I’m on my second C300. First one, I put 100k miles on it. Apart from usual wear parts only had to replace O2 sensors. Sold it at 130K and it ran smooth. Now on 2018. No repairs yet. I prefer the calling out of known problems. I know someone working maintenance at the dealership. Turbo failures are extremely rare. Had an X5. Bunch of warranty work. Run away.
Thats my favorite SUV except the turbos and air suspension scare me..I bought a 2015 ml 350 because I figured it was less maintenance but I love the gl63.
Thank you very much. I believe that they carry more cache than BMW and likely a bit more dependable as well. Sometimes, and for some people it’s certainly worth it.
In most African countries you almost never see a BMW anywhere. You'll find a few F10/F80s, E60s, and fewer E90s and E46s. The E46s usually look beaten up, especially from the paint. Popular luxury brands in Africa are Mercedes, Lexus and Acura.
@@YYZ-SRQ pretty bulletproof cars, those, and the W210 to some extent. They just keep going on with just regular maintenance. Sad that they don't make them as they used to.
I don't care for the column shifting on the Benz..they are problematic and takes the fun out of the drive especially if you have am AMG. I like my shifter on the floor..I was looking at the C Class you have a few years ago before I bought the Z...was disappointed when I saw the shifter was on the steering column. I liked CLA 250 though...it might be tolerable in a compact..especially the 2021
Buying ANY luxury car is a mistake. They are all now built with cheap parts in order to maximise profit, yet people keep buying them for status. One thing I have noticed is parts / repairs appear to be so much more expensive in the US then they are here in Europe.
My close family wants me to buy his C300 2008 for $3500 which I’m only going to have for like 1 year until I trade it in & get my dream car C6 Corvette for now might stick w that Mercedes
basically true with any car., my friend poured an unbelievable amount of money into the 'cheap' Camry they bought. Had to replace things that you never usually have to like fuel filler neck, heater and windshield wiper motor to name just a few of the items
BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, Land Rovers, and even some Volkswagens. Anything European is more likely to be an endless money pit. Every European brand sold in the USA except for Mini, Volkswagen, and Fiat is a luxury brand and even the non luxury European cars are still money pits. Many of these luxury cars end up in salvage yards and I’ve seen a ton of older model BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, Land Rovers, Mercedes-Benz cars, and Volkswagens in a pull a part yard and their European section is full of junk. If you see an Asian car or even some American cars in a pull a part, most of them in the junkyard have been totaled in an accident rather than a engine or transmission failure.
I’m a benz tech. Don’t buy a used Mercedes’ ever unless you get it looked over by a professional…..an honest professional. There are so many things other than just a pretty star on the hood. Mercedes uses many inferior engine internal parts and components in order to save money in production costs. A professional will know what to look for. Also a good idea Is for that professional to run a VMI to get all documented dealer service history. He will also know how to spot body damage repairs. There are also used Mercedes’ to just avoid altogether. Do not buy a used 4 cyl turbo pile Of junk….yes they’re all piles of junk. The 272 and the 276 and the 278 engines all have their problems. As. Benz tech I drive Ford vehicles for a good reason…..because they just don’t break down like Mercedes’ junk does.
The second owners of mercedes are usually the average. When they buy an older mercedes s class from 2008 for example, they forget that it used to be a $100k car and they don't expect the maintenance to be pricey and they get smacked in the face with the repair bills. If you want a used mercedes, you still have to have big money.
For the sake of balance I think the Mercedes "reliability" thing falls into a middle of the range of auto manufacturers and the cost of maintenance and parts while it's def a little more than other manufacturers... I've seen repair bills on say Dodge's and Honda's and it's not exactly cheap and Dodge and plenty of other brands have higher failure rates. Mercedes isn't going to be an abuse taking tank like a Toyota but if you keep up on the maintenance schedule and don't drive the piss out of it the car will last a long time for regular use. I have a 2016 C300 as my daily driver that I bought in 2019 before the used car price explosion for 21k out the door at a dealer(was a leased car they wanted to unload)with 27k miles and came w/a 3 year warranty and I've put 50k miles on it without even a tiny problem so far-- the last service the tech stated the car has no leaks and is in pristine condition and "is going to last a long time".... I've owned them in the past too and have never had any major issue's with them other than a little thing here and there BUT I stay on top of the maintenance. 77K isn't a lot of miles of course but the tech stating the car is in rock solid condition still functionally and will be around for a long time.. throws into that logic of "they die after the warranty"... warranty is at 50k... take care of them and they're not bad.
What’s your opinion on a 2018 GLC 300 4 Matic? I would really like your honest opinion!!! Is being 1.5 years and is a amazing SUV and no problems so far!!
I own the c300 which is more or less the same vehicle, same chassis, same engine, same trans, and overall I have seen that it is full of tech and starts in very cold weather reliably, moderate for maintenance costs and predicted reliability for me is average. I would say from experience that it is beautiful but a bit fragile. We have owned our 2018 for about 1.5 years and so far so good. Engine is a little rattled too.
If you buy a used (>6 years) Mercedes treat it as if you would buy a sailboat or yacht. Do not buy if you are not prepared to spend purchase price +50% of the purchase price on maintenance.
Maybe in USA,but in EU is just little bit more expencive then Volvo,Opel Insignia, BMW ,citroen, Toyota etc....but not that expencive. I own w205 c220 bluetec and oil change,pollen filter,oil filter with labor cost me 360 euros in Mercedes dealer
"Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Range Rovers are endless money pits when the warranty runs out. Lease them for three years to get it out your system". Scotty Kilmer
True to a point but the world is not black and white, but there is a lot of gray in the middle. Ultimate in reliability comes in the form of a bicycle so reliability is very important but value and fun definitely play in there too.
I got a c200 2011 for 5k with 220k miles.., engine start has a rough startup, brakes squeek, scroll knob dont work only directional and press, rear sensor didnt work but fixed with wd40. Esp and tire pressure sometimes gives me a unoperative warning. And oil leaks from somewhere, i think a bolt on the engine was loose, and it came from dere.
Wow that sounds like a bit of a nickel and dime unit but honestly even some older Toyotas have issues but owners of those often hold those vehicles to a lower standard and are ok will little oil weeps or other
With All those Crazy Expensive Repair Cost and problem, buying use Car may actually end up costing more in insane repair cost than New Car Depreciation. Plus all the Headache, Stress, Danger our Driving a Broken car being stuck in middle of road, and so much Wasted Time in repair shops, and you'll be driving an old, used, outdated model. Better off buying New Car instead. It make so much sense that These 'Luxury' Car SHOULD Depreciate So much, because its Just not worth it. Better off just buying new and have the added security, especially when if you can afford it. If you Cant Afford it, better off buying Reliable Economic Sensible cars like Toyota, Honda, Even American cars instead since they are much more affordable to maintain and easier to repair.
You are one of my favorite car/vehicle youtubers. Keep it up man! Love your content and channel. I will continue to watch.
Thank you very much, I appreciate the support. Hope you are having a great week.
2009 Mercedes C300. Bought used for 7k. I got 125k miles on it. Never had a problem. Runs perfect. It's the smoothest ride I've ever owned. Will keep it forever.
Some of them are very well built. Conversely I owned a first generation ML500 and the engine and transmission were fine, but everything wore out early and the cosmetics were weak. To a of rust early too
Forever is a long time. Don't bet on it. At least that is one of the more simple cars so it should be easier to keep going. At least until Mercedes no longer makes parts for it
@@kevinbarry71 FCP euro is all I need. In my home town. Has all the parts I need
Hello, I am also looking at a 2013 C300 ones 50k miles with the V6 on it. How is it on a daily basis (fuel consumption, maintanance cost, reliability) according to your experience?
But I bet two things... you don't drive it hard and you stay on top of preventative maintenance. That's what I've done with mine and I don't have issue's with any MB I've had.
been buying used Mercedes for decades , never had any problems with any of them … you want a Mercedes, buy it , just make sure it was serviced and taken care of , and just keep on top with service and maintenance and take care of it … there is nothing like Mercedes …. eBay is full of new and used affordable Benz parts … remember , life is too short to drive boring cars 😊
Exactcly
Very true buddy
Thank you boss
Love it! ❤
If you’re too poor to afford $1k+ annual maintenance they shouldn’t be buying Mercedes. Let’s be honest
My BMW infotainment screen melted and spiderwebbed in the Texas heat. The part alone was $3,000. I took the screen out and bough the exact Sharp model number off eBay for $65. Easy peasy.
Haha, nice win there for sure. There are ways to be thrifty, just have to research a bit like this. Thanks for the great comment.
It always helps if you can do some work yourself.
Moral of the story:Don’t buy any cars just take the bus everywhere
Reel most of the things he was mentioning it’s just things that could go wrong with any car or truck. It’s like the dash breaks that’s gonna cost money it’s not like it’s gonna be free with anything else. 😂😂
Dude I’m telling you, I would if I could, but Atlanta suburbs suck when it comes to public transport. Everyone here wants a car
Exactly
Depend Public Transport or cycle good😂
Very true video. I loved my two GLKs several years ago, very reliable, tough, and wonderful to drive. BUT also very maintenance-heavy, and as I recall, the cheapest repair bill I had on either of them was $1,800.
So the question isn’t “can I afford to buy it”, it’s “can I afford to keep it?”
Exactly right, it’s more about keeping them running and on the road.
No issues with my GLK
Reason when I finally get me a E-Class Cabriolet I'm going to make sure I have like 15k just for emergency repairs
I bought a Mercedes CLA with 19,000 miles and have 84,000 miles. I replaced the air blower myself after it started chirping at low speeds. Everything works and it still looks like new
Good experience by the sounds of it
84k is not alot brotha
@@bohrora2293it’s quite a good amount though brotha
It]s it the 2020 redesign?
@@datway3582 it is a 2014 made in September 2014
I have a 2013 CLS550 that I bought in 2017 with 43K miles on it. I got extended warrantee with unlimited mileage on. Now in April 2022 I have 200K miles on it. Yes the animatic suspension when out while under warrantee and fixed for free and 2nd time out of pocket about 3K. I have only has to change rotors once and set of pads twice. After 200K miles still drive like a dream and still get a sexy look. I have not regrets, I am only going to sell it to get another used Mercedes’. Who keeps a car for 20 years now? Technology and safety changes. Great video but Benz is way better in maintenance thanks it’s competition. You say it all the time life is too short to drive a boring car.
got a 02 Lexus RX300 with 122K for $3800. Brakes and tires and oil changes is all I've done so far. Thanks Scotty Kilmer!
Thanks
It doesn’t make sense to buy any luxury vehicle if you can’t afford to maintain and repair it out of warranty. Good information. Potential buyers need to watch this.
You are right. Still have to be able to afford it, or be an amazing DIYer.
Only luxury id by is Lexus. Just need to update their line up (powertrain and gadgets like the new NX350)
@alumnkid cool story bro.
@@Alumnikiid Acura is a good brand too. Most of their models are reliable.
@@Alumnikiid Lexus isn't really the same class. It's a competitor to Acura / Infinity, not to a Mercedes
This is so true. I have personal experience, I bought a low mileage w212 220 cdi (134 000 thousand kilometers only) year ago. I have a familiar mechanic and he repairs it quite cheap. He charges 75 euros/hour. Still I counted I have used 5100 euros in one year for repairs... egr, coolant water pump, transmission oil, mass air flow meter, base repair and regular oil changes. But it,s awesome car, harldy consumes any diesel, super comfortable for long trips. Thank you for this video and respect from Finland!
Cheers
Bought a 2015 CLA 250 4Matic.. 96000km- 2 Year, or 60000KM Warranty on basically everything. Seemed like a pretty decent deal WITH THE WARRANTY. Without I wouldn’t of made the purchase.
Yes get the warranty. My cayenne warranty paid for itself and then some. The German autos are damn expensive to maintain.
I have a 2015 c300 i bought last year in 2022. As i agree with your opinion, i had a nissan altima before this which costed me more in repairs than my c300. The only thing wrong with these cars were the 2015 piston issues other than that these cars are very reliable and if you watch a couple youtube channels you can fix alot of things yourself
My last Mercedes’ was e220 diesel from 2010 . I drove it until end of 2019 . The last mileage on display was 730000 km.
That has seen almost every corner of Europe .
Never seen a bmw or a an Audi doing the same.
It is how you drive and maintain.
If you abuse and neglect the car because it’s “ premium “ car that can handle it , then it will become very expensive .
Otherwise , I would always prefer a 3-4 years old used Mercedes’ to a new Volvo or Japanese car.
For me , it’s the most reliable car . You may pay more for it but you also get more from it back.
Maintenance is very important
I have a 2013 CLS 63 AMG. So far, I haven’t experienced the problems you described. Keeping my fingers crossed. 😀
Top pops for the ride though. Hope it holds up for you.
Your car and the w219 are the most gorgeous MBs ever produced👍🏻
Love the CLS 63 AMG
In my opinion, my merc has served me well. I bought it from an approved merc dealer, it's had a full service history from approved merc garages and I get it regularly serviced. Finally, drive it properly and it will serve you well.
This is the comment I wanted to hear lmao
“Me thinks thoust does protest to much”.
I am on my third used Mercedes. I currently own a 2017 e400 wagon owned for 5 years and a 2020 SL450, owned for 3 years. Other than fuel, tires and regular maintenance the cars have cost me zero dollars.
Sounds like a good run for sure
I wound up with a CDI Benz from 2005. They’re “rare” in the US and I really wanted it. I wanted that diesel torque. There’s nothing like it!I wound up getting one and that story can be found on “The Car Wizard” channel. It cost a few bucks to get it sorted out but it could have been worse. I wound up finding another one with waaaaaaay less miles and is hands down better than my first one. That said, I knew what I was getting into and I had a plan. I can also wrench on my own cars a bit and the BIGGEST thing I can mention is that I can AFFORD to fix my old Benz. I did my research and I got a good example. I’ve haven’t “liked” a car so much in quite a while. I’m almost 60 so that’s saying something.
Listen…..If you have BEER POCKETS then you shouldn’t be buying CHAMPAGNE! RIGHT? 🤔🍾
You are right but if you can wrench and DIY then it can be palettable.
@@ECPP
th-cam.com/video/4pnuxtUGjak/w-d-xo.html
Yeah. If you can wrench their great. Certain models are better than others. I like the W211's the most and I can wrench. When I can't wrench for whatever reason, I have good independent mechanics like The Wizard. Nowhere NEAR what the stealership costs but good results nonetheless.
✊🏿
✊🏿
Ok boomer.
My last 3 cars have been used MB. The interior and paint at 100k+ miles looks amazing compared to other brands and I guess I've been lucky because they've been very reliable. Great bang for buck. Hopefully #4 is a GT63🥳The quality is unmatched imo. Do your research before buying anything.
I have been driving Mercedes for decades. They have been solid and reliable for me. Maintenance, common sense, mechanical knowledge, proper care and respect for your automobile goes a long way.
My mechanic told me a long time ago to stay away from BMWs and Mercedes because he doesn’t want to keep repairing those cars for me and I end up getting mad at him because he will have to charge me a lot of money. Sure, if you have money and TIME to wait for the repairs, go for it. But if you have a busy life and only own one car, you need a reliable one.
You are right, hard to be an only car. Especially BMW even more.
Meanwhile, people are driving those boring Lexuses, without these issues associated with Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis, for 20 years. But, "life is too short to drive a boring car".
Thanks
We wasted so much money on our 2007 ML350. Gas mileage isn’t that great either. Had to replace engine due to balance shaft issue…$7K. Simple brake work on these things are about $1K. Just recently, the AC compressor seized, shredded the drive belt and a few pulleys. Had to replace the compressor, evaporator coils, manifold, idler pulleys, blah blah there went $4,100 bucks.
This thing should have been mechanically totaled a long time ago, but she has sentimental value to us. She’s pretty old but now runs perfect. And I’d rather be in that ML350 than a more modern offering from Lexus or Acura.
There’s something special about this brand in general. You feel SAFE in them. It feels rock solid and confident. You can go really fast in these things and still have the feeling of complete control of the vehicle. The doors close with a solid ‘thunk’ like a Diebold safe. When driving them, you literally connect with the car. These cars preemptively anticipates your driving patterns and runs accordingly. Want more performance out of your Mercedes? Drive the shit out of it. It will then adjust its operational parameters to the way you drive. Old or new, Mercedes products will always be on team ‘you’.
It’s not the most reliable brand…these cars complain about every single little thing because it’s over engineered German powertrains are engineered with probably zero tolerances. Sensor out of whack with a voltage deviation of 0.001 volts? Check Engine light. Accidentally fart in the drivers seat? Check engine light. The couple next door arguing about dinner…check engine light. Don’t want this nagging light nagging you all the time? Follow the maintenance schedule on these cars EXACTLY. It will be expensive. If you cant afford the Mercedes maintenance schedule, you don’t belong in these cars.
Everything about this brand is expensive. However, I wouldn’t want to drive anything less.
I have that same blue c300 coupe ,it’s a 2017 and now has 170k miles and it’s been thru an engine rebuild at 85k miles that failed after 20k miles which lead to a new engine at 105k miles, (all under warranty), and it’s running great as of right now after that new engine
I Bought a used 2020 Mercedes C43 AMG in 2023. I opted into the warranty (negotiated the price on it) because of the high repair costs. Even though it had great service records, and my mechanic gave it a clean bill of health, he said nothing is cheap on it to fix.
Everything is running great so far. Recently, the rear suspension had a small leak, and my mechanic said it’s not bad but I will eventually want to replace it. He called the warranty company and they covered it. So I essentially already broke even on the cost of the coverage.
German cars don’t have great long term reliability, so I’ll probably switch to something else in 2027/2028.
On my 3rd CPO Mercedes and love them all. Never had any reliability issues or problems and I get my maintenance done by AAA. Make depreciation your friend and buy a 2 or 3 year old used car.
i bought 2 used ones i had 1995 E300D and had a 2003 S500 never had problem with none of them...from who you buy thats the most impportant....next year i will buy a 2019 E220D sedan finally the price getting down by 50%...
Nice win on that
Thank you so much for this. I love my 4 runner, and I was looking at purchasing a second vehicle for my 50th birthday. I really really wanted a used Mercedes C class. But after watching your videos, l decided to look at the Lexus IS 350. I really don't want to pay the costly maintenance and repairs on the Mercedes even if it's going to be my weekend car.
You are so welcome! The Lexus IS series is a wonderful car too so thats a great choice.
I have 2011 s550 with a natural V8 a Lil over 95,000 miles had it for 2 years with no major issues. Keeping my fingers crossed. Stay AWAY from turbos!!!
Cheers
Got a 2019 C43 amg 2 years ago for 45k, it was stickered at 72k! Had like 13k miles on it an like 25k now. I have zero issues, runs strong and this one came with like 15k worth of extras, carbon fiber it pops and bangs when shifting lol and has been a real treat to drive every single time i get into that car! I love my "used" Benz lol
My C200 Diesel has 184,000 miles and does 55+ mpg. It is 18 yrs old and I bought it for £500 ($650) over two years ago. If I'm going to buy an old heap, I always buy a Merc oil burner as the engines rattle on for ever.
Nice
This why I want a 1962 Studebaker Avanti-easy to fix and cheap to run..plus it appreciates
Haha nice old school
Good information. These high compression engines are now made of plastic and light aluminum alloy, two materials that do not hold up well to heat. Over time, Mercedes and BMW's deteriorate to a premature end-of-life cycle stage.
True they are no longer built to last
My uncle has a Mercedes CLS 550 With I reckon a Biturbo V8. its a monster of a machine. It will do 275 kilometers an hour and doesn't need to take a breath on the way there or think twice about how it will get to speed. Unfortunately an intoxicated person drove a golf cart into it and an insurance claim was filed ( car repaired masterfully ) but..... But uhh.... Nobody will buy a used luxury/performance mercedes after its had an insurance claim filed on it..... Plus just the cost to change the oil. Its a car buyers worst nightmare. Fortunately he's got the cash to keep it running. You make a great point with this video. You must be weary. Thank you very much for the videos. Always so well done and I really appreciate your Content Mark!
Thanks a lot for sharing and yes sadly that’s also a nasty part of ownership. Other drivers can really put a hamper on the experience. Can you imagine a Hypercar on the street and a careless yo-yo puts their Chev Cobalt into the back of it. One word ouch.
@@ECPP Yes would be mortifying if a junker bumped into a hyper car ahaha "You hit WHAT!?!?!?" Haha. I appreciate your reply man. I so so love you content and will forever enjoy and reccomend your Content.
How much did you pay for prepaid maintenance? My GLE 350 was $2650/4yrs. I had heard that an A/B service was approx $500/1k, but I researched recently and it’s actually $300/600 even at the dealer. Felt a fair bit dumb after the fact. I did have enough brain cells to decline gap, extended warranties, hazard protection, etc.
Wow, thanks for sharing Jimmy, that would be hard to say because it came with the car as a second hand buy. Previously paid for. With that said, purchase price probably means we paid anyhow.
In my small fleet is a 2009 SL350 with 70,000km (43000 miles). It has an immaculate service history and is genuinely in as new condition with no discernible wear. Everything works. I paid less than 20% of what it cost new in 2009. This time of year in Western Australia (Autumn) with temperatures in the mid - high 20s celcius and bright blue skies, its the vehicle of choice for most daily duties, of course with the top down. Its a normally aspirated and very smooth V6. It has no complex MMI but does have the Comand system. If it goes wrong, I will install an aftermarket system. The biggest risk is with the folding roof, I self insure for any such issues. Its built like a tank. Sure, its running costs may be higher than some cars but with the weather we have here and being able to drive it top down for weeks at a time, its worth every $ to me.
You are lucky you can get an SL350 with a V6, best of both world for luxury and reliability. Those V6s from Mercedes are bulletproof. I’m from Canada and all we have here is V8, it’s more powerful, smoother ride but less reliable and consume lots of gas. I love the styling of a SL but cannot get a V6 here. What a shame :(
@@KseRBanshee Thank you, I love my SL, its a beautiful car. Its winter now here in Western Australia which is often wet, but a mild sunny day saw the SL out on Friday! I like theV6, its easily enough for the car. I own a European Automotive service and repair shop so my own guys service and take care of her.
Yeah I love that M272 engine, I had a CLK350 here in Canada and I think we have pretty much the same engine, it is so smooth and I spent $0 on repair for the 4 years/89000km ownership of the car apart from wear and tear items: 2 times brake pads, tires change once, and 6 oil changes and that’s it and it drives just like the day I got it. And I drive hard, even got a muffler delete on it and just love to pull and pull. Would love to try an SL but no V6 here and the gas price is 😮💨
3 years ago bought a 2009 SL65 for $49k. 54k miles on it. Drove 10k more. Now this Mercedes is worth ......$65,000 and rising.
A shrewd man buys a Mercedes timely, at the bottom of it's depreciation. Because owning a 13 year old Mercedes affordably is a skill for which he is rewarded.
But everyday I had to study, research and work on the car. Everyday.
That’s the new wave these days
just bought a 2017 mercedes c300 AMG pack i got it for 14k had new turbo oil pan gasket and a bunch of other things serviced for 14k it has the panoramic roof , burmester system, 19 inch amg wheels it runs great, no issues
Wow, sounds like a nice spec. How many miles on your car?
@@ECPP over 100k
Life cycle of a Mercedes. First owner is well to do, leases or buys it, then trades in a couple of years, the next owner (middle class who always wanted one) buys it, warranty runs out, starts getting hit with an expensive repairs and cuts his losses, sells cheap. The next owner is the young poser (40k a year guy), suspension goes out, he can't afford to repair it, it gets repo'd and car get parted out.
I had a ‘14 GLK 250. Replaced it with a 2011 Crown Vic. Happy to move down the ladder.
Well….
Should I get a 2017 e300? The reliability rating is 4/5 but Im not too sure if I should or not. Im not the richest but I just want a nice car with a beautiful interior like the e class.
Screw it, get it. Credit card 0% financing if you ever need it.
My old 240D, 4 speed was a tank. We put about 150k on it and two of my kids took their driving test on it. Easy to work on brakes and other things.
A subsequent car, not so much, but not equipped with today's computer mess. To your point, Not today, without a solid warranty. We learn a considerable amount based upon your experience with these cars. Thanks for bringing it up!
For sure Thomas, some of the older Benzs are true work horses and good for a lot of miles, hence taxi duty for some as well as other commercial activities. The newer ones can be good but some are junk. It’s a matter of research. The S class for example is still great although they had a generation of trash there too when the top executive wanted to save some cashola. It seems that the S class is solid again but the price point cars like the CLA or GLA are not built to regular Benz standards. Like they say, an oldey but a goody.
I can only speak from experience....My Wife bought a brand new MERCEDES, I will not name the model because I do not want to damage the brand...at 22000km she was driving along, -11C and at the corner of a major intersection her car just stops and rolls into the middle of the interssection, The car died, would not start and she was stuck, luckily she was safe, but a brand new mercedes that just dies...they told her OH you had a BAD ALTERNATOR... that they replaced... She got rid of the car right away and bought An ALFA ROMEO and SHE LOVES it! 88000km and going strong and the LOOKS she gets are unbelievable and shes loving every minute of it! GOOD LUCK MERCEDES!
Sounds like a great result with the new car
Another great video, Mark. I own two SL-class and my experience with maintenance cost has spanned the spectrum.
The 2010 SL63 has to go into the shop again to fix the folding hardtop, which I opened the first day I took the car out of the garage this spring, and could not put the top back up. This is the second time, and it will likely cost a few thousand dollars. I do many repairs myself, but that top/trunk has a zillion moving parts, switches, sensors and hydraulics. I don’t have the diagnostic gear nor the knowledge or experience to DIY.
I bought my 2001 SL500 in 2009 for 1/5 of what it cost new, fixed a few things that the previous owner ignored, and have an absolute beauty that looks and works like new inside and out. It is such a global car that parts were alway easy to find, and not overly expensive. It’s 21 years old now so that may be changing.
Great comment David, yes there are some issues that is next level complex, for example I probably would not do the rod bearings on my M5, not because I can’t do an engine rebuild but even to get access to the bottom of the engine, is quite involved. There’s only so much we can tackle. Regarding the older machine, we had an ML500 which had a similar engine and other than a mis fire that the dealer struggled with and a crank sensor, the engine and trans were solid. Sadly the ML was built in thenUS and the overall quality of cosmetic parts was a bit substandard for a Benz. It also rusted aggressively but I am a rust belt so if a person lives in a better climate, that would not be an issue. Either way, some of the older Mercs were very solid and reliable.
Had a 2016 535i. Now I have a 2013 GS350.
I do not plan on owning another German car.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, as the prices go up, up , up unfortunately the quality goes down, down, down 🤬
You are totally right. Prices are not consistent with quality as these parts often break as often or more frequently than a good ole non luxo brand. Ie BMW vs Toyota
Absolutely the Quality are garbage even the dealership are crooks.
Bought a 2018 c43 with 35000 miles I'm hoping baby Jesus is looking out for me
Totally. Thanks for watching
I bought an gle 350 2017 57k miles on it pretty good so far also v6 engine very powerful
I have the opportunity to get an SLK 200 r171 2008 with 54,800 miles. Is it a good option? Is it reliable?
nah i'll keep mine yeah i've had some problems but my machanic is good to me going on 3years and i love my 2011 mb c300 about to wrap it this summer can't wait
Thanks
You're making things up here. I had a turbo Mercedes from 1981 and that car ran like new.
It can be hit or miss with any car, just people fail to take into consideration that most Mercedes are high end cars which can be costly. My C63 was bullet proof and then I spent about £5-6000 restoring an 04 CLK55 AMG. (kind of a barn find) Honestly, I’ve always lived by the saying “if you can’t afford the repairs, it’s too much car” people make these mistakes way too often, assuming they are getting say a 2008 BMW M6 for $15,000 only to find out 6 months in they have to take the car to a dealer or an independent mechanic to have the rod bearings replaced or Vanos worked on… then are shocked when they have a $3000 repair bill. PPI is always the way to go when buying a used high end luxury brand, I avoided a 2005 Gallardo based on the PPI alone, 30% clutch remaining was a no no for me.
Reason I got a 16 CTS 3 years ago. However, I still want an E-Class. I'll make sure I have the money for repairs. I used to tell people the parts are going to cost the same weather the car is new or not. Yeah Lexus is reliable but they are so boring.
Depends if you take good care of your vehicle
I agree, Mark. That's some reasons I've never owned one.
It certainly can be limiting.
Very informative video currently have the 18 c300 4matic with AMG package fully loaded and currently has 77k miles never skipped service still running and sunroof works buttery smooth but like you said the maintenance ain’t cheap for sure.
Thanks for sharing and hopefully it keeps running well. I know I own the same type of car too.
Do you take it in to the dealer or do you go to a third party mechanic. And how much do you normally pay if u don’t mind me asking.
@@ebinwatkins1428 I’m still under warranty so go to dealership service a 400-500$ service B 700-1000$ sometime they do prevention maintenance as you go high in mileage but after warranty I’ll do them myself doesn’t seem too complicated
I have my 2012 e220 coupe for over 4years not much gone wrong, good drive and reliability good car over 110k miles 10 years old
I was just about to buy a SL 1992 in a few days and YT pops me this up, coincidence? I think not. On ther side, great to know and have in mind all this
If you can’t afford a Mercedes Benz, don’t buy it 💡
CPO warranties only make sense with ZERO deductible and VERY comprehensive coverage.
A lot of people get sucked into CPO warranties thinking they're identical to new car warranties; which is objectively false.
Even a deductible of $100 can massively add up over multiple dealer visits as these cars age.
Wear parts (not covered under CPO warranty, sometimes covered under new car warranty, depending on the circumstances) can be diabolically expensive on a used luxury car.
Audi wanted $4000 for one (1) 19" wheel replacement on my car in 2014. Four thousand dollars for one wheel!
Imagine you hit a curb and bent your wheel. Sure, insurance may cover it but good luck convincing them the actual cost is 4k.
Never mind convincing a discount insurance company that's what it's worth.
Of course, the old luxury car adage goes: If you can't afford it new; you (really) can't afford it used.
One company, ASC Warranty, charges up to $9000 USD for extended coverage if you buy a used Mercedes or BMW. It's not a matter of if but when repairs will be needed.
True
Route66 is the company I use. My credit union sells the policy to me on the last three used BMW’s I’ve financed now with them. No shocks. Mechanic loves them. Less than 4K for 5 yrs, 120k miles. Not offered as often with x5, etc. made in US. Checking different models with them shows me what cars they don’t trust.
Problem with older and non premium car is that you will not get parts easily in future.
True
looking to buy a used c class, my brother is a mechanic and fixes literally anything to that does lift most of my worries
For sure if you have that resource than go for it because they are amazing cars to drive
Who’s your brother 👀
Personally I wait for luxury cars to fall to somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of their original value. By that time there are many used parts around and lots of knowledge of how to economically fix things. I always make a stragegty to what I would do if the worst happens. For example second hand engines can be purchased cheaply for cars with reliable engines. The problem is finding repair shops who think like I do. Therefore I do most of my own repairs.
By doing this I have often done more miles than the original owners with no huge expenses.
I think the absolute worst thing you can possibly do is to pay 50 percent for a 4 year old perfect car without an extended warranty. As well as loosing a huge amount on depreciation you will loose again on repairs and repairing it yourself may not be all that cheap or easy to do due to many factors.
Absolutely so good buys
Oh man. I am so glad to buy a low mile used lexus over C class mercedes. I save alot for doing this. Now that I have enough for a new mercede. I might just go for the E class!
Mercedes is less DIY friendly than BMW. Also, I feel like the BMW B series (B46, B58) engines are more reliable than their Mercedes equivalents.
The B series engines are reliable because quality testing was done mostly by Toyota, IMO.
I lucked out with our 2015 glk250, Mercedes diesel emissions scandal just put a 4 year warranty on the entire emissions system this year.
Wow, very nice. Maybe BMW needs to ante up too.
Mercedes are poor quality and expensive. In the UK some of the diesel engines are supplied by Renault which would be fine but they still charge Mercedes prices. Avoid at all costs. Thanks for the informed vids.
Thank you very much
I have owned over 10 different mercedes. E class to S class. The worst was the 2002 Cl500 i bought on 2004. Suspension $$$
I would buy certain model old Mercedes, but nothing new. If a modern luxury car is your kick, there's wiser options.
Nice
Mark the reason most people don't get a Mercedes is the mantiance cost. My Chevy pick starter is 150 bucks a starter for Mercedes 300 bucks and up. Labor on my truck is 100.00 an hour Mercedes is like 200 250 an hour here in Texas.
True, it’s certainly not for everyone
Fun fact: you can buy a Cadillac Escalade and buy a Chevrolet truck starter and it’ll fit.
@@atx-cvpi_99 yeah cause all it is Chevy Avalanche with Cadillac stickers on it. 😆
Seen a vlog where the guy bought brand new C amg 63s ...hydrolocked in a rain storm ...3000 mi...total loss...made my mind up then...insurance said the engine replacement was $71000 ...luckily he had New car replacement coverage or he would have been screwed
Wow, that is absolutely ridiculous
I was actually looking for a used Merc myself. You just made up my mind. Thank you!
What did you get instead?
I know a woman that about 5 years ago bought a used E-Class Mercedes. All kinds of electronics started going wrong. She kept it only about nine months and traded it in on a ...get this.. an Explorer that she still has and has had few issues that I know of...Who knew?! I drive Toyota's.
Can’t go too wrong with Toyota and Lexus
Yes I’m thinking of trading my Mercedes in for Toyota .
Infinity is also an better option over Mercedes Benz and BMW
Thanks for keeping it real. You helped me save a lot of money. I might just get a new sport edition new Corolla 😎
Taking the side, we speak of the Japanese cars, Toyota, Honda, etc As being more reasonable in terms of repair expense. But the upper tier models, such as the Lexus and Acura have the same reasonable expense for the same type of malfunction? On a non-warranty basis, that is.
Hey again Thomas. What I have seen and heard, there are premiums to be paid for on anLexus and Acura even though they often share many of the same parts, ie 3.5L engine in Toyota and Lexus. It’s almost a rite of passage, but with that said, they don’t unreasonably break like many BMWs, etc.
@@ECPP we can create absolute crazy custom sound with speakers
This is all generic but good advice. They cost more to maintain because they cost more to begin with. I’m on my second C300. First one, I put 100k miles on it. Apart from usual wear parts only had to replace O2 sensors. Sold it at 130K and it ran smooth. Now on 2018. No repairs yet. I prefer the calling out of known problems. I know someone working maintenance at the dealership. Turbo failures are extremely rare. Had an X5. Bunch of warranty work. Run away.
While I agree,this isn’t always the case as I have a used 2015 gl63 only 30kmiles perfect condition
Thanka
Thats my favorite SUV except the turbos and air suspension scare me..I bought a 2015 ml 350 because I figured it was less maintenance but I love the gl63.
Great & realistic facts, but Merc still commands a powerful brand despite being a truly endless money pit as they age. Great vid, as always.
Thank you very much. I believe that they carry more cache than BMW and likely a bit more dependable as well. Sometimes, and for some people it’s certainly worth it.
In most African countries you almost never see a BMW anywhere. You'll find a few F10/F80s, E60s, and fewer E90s and E46s. The E46s usually look beaten up, especially from the paint. Popular luxury brands in Africa are Mercedes, Lexus and Acura.
@@damilolaakanni In deepest Africa you still see lots of W123 and some W124 going strong
@@YYZ-SRQ pretty bulletproof cars, those, and the W210 to some extent. They just keep going on with just regular maintenance. Sad that they don't make them as they used to.
@@damilolaakanni W210 here in North America had a rusting problem, front fenders and rear trunk lid around the key button
I don't care for the column shifting on the Benz..they are problematic and takes the fun out of the drive especially if you have am AMG. I like my shifter on the floor..I was looking at the C Class you have a few years ago before I bought the Z...was disappointed when I saw the shifter was on the steering column. I liked CLA 250 though...it might be tolerable in a compact..especially the 2021
Buying ANY luxury car is a mistake. They are all now built with cheap parts in order to maximise profit, yet people keep buying them for status. One thing I have noticed is parts / repairs appear to be so much more expensive in the US then they are here in Europe.
My close family wants me to buy his C300 2008 for $3500 which I’m only going to have for like 1 year until I trade it in & get my dream car C6 Corvette for now might stick w that Mercedes
"The most expensive car is a cheap Mercedes" - so the saying goes.
That’s with many luxury cars for sure
basically true with any car., my friend poured an unbelievable amount of money into the 'cheap' Camry they bought. Had to replace things that you never usually have to like fuel filler neck, heater and windshield wiper motor to name just a few of the items
BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, Land Rovers, and even some Volkswagens. Anything European is more likely to be an endless money pit. Every European brand sold in the USA except for Mini, Volkswagen, and Fiat is a luxury brand and even the non luxury European cars are still money pits. Many of these luxury cars end up in salvage yards and I’ve seen a ton of older model BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, Land Rovers, Mercedes-Benz cars, and Volkswagens in a pull a part yard and their European section is full of junk. If you see an Asian car or even some American cars in a pull a part, most of them in the junkyard have been totaled in an accident rather than a engine or transmission failure.
I’m a benz tech.
Don’t buy a used Mercedes’ ever unless you get it looked over by a professional…..an honest professional.
There are so many things other than just a pretty star on the hood.
Mercedes uses many inferior engine internal parts and components in order to save money in production costs.
A professional will know what to look for.
Also a good idea
Is for that professional to run a VMI to get all documented dealer service history.
He will also know how to spot body damage repairs.
There are also used Mercedes’ to just avoid altogether.
Do not buy a used 4 cyl turbo pile
Of junk….yes they’re all piles of junk.
The 272 and the 276 and the 278 engines all have their problems.
As. Benz tech I drive Ford vehicles for a good reason…..because they just don’t break down like Mercedes’ junk does.
Absolutely right
The second owners of mercedes are usually the average. When they buy an older mercedes s class from 2008 for example, they forget that it used to be a $100k car and they don't expect the maintenance to be pricey and they get smacked in the face with the repair bills. If you want a used mercedes, you still have to have big money.
You nailed it
For the sake of balance I think the Mercedes "reliability" thing falls into a middle of the range of auto manufacturers and the cost of maintenance and parts while it's def a little more than other manufacturers... I've seen repair bills on say Dodge's and Honda's and it's not exactly cheap and Dodge and plenty of other brands have higher failure rates. Mercedes isn't going to be an abuse taking tank like a Toyota but if you keep up on the maintenance schedule and don't drive the piss out of it the car will last a long time for regular use.
I have a 2016 C300 as my daily driver that I bought in 2019 before the used car price explosion for 21k out the door at a dealer(was a leased car they wanted to unload)with 27k miles and came w/a 3 year warranty and I've put 50k miles on it without even a tiny problem so far-- the last service the tech stated the car has no leaks and is in pristine condition and "is going to last a long time".... I've owned them in the past too and have never had any major issue's with them other than a little thing here and there BUT I stay on top of the maintenance.
77K isn't a lot of miles of course but the tech stating the car is in rock solid condition still functionally and will be around for a long time.. throws into that logic of "they die after the warranty"... warranty is at 50k... take care of them and they're not bad.
Some of the Mercs suffered build quality issues in the early 2000s as Germany had just reintegrated
Excellent video, your positive energy helps me wake up to have a good day!!
Thank you very much
I'll stick with Ford and invest the price difference into assets like gold, stocks and real estate!
Thanks
What’s your opinion on a 2018 GLC 300 4 Matic? I would really like your honest opinion!!! Is being 1.5 years and is a amazing SUV and no problems so far!!
I own the c300 which is more or less the same vehicle, same chassis, same engine, same trans, and overall I have seen that it is full of tech and starts in very cold weather reliably, moderate for maintenance costs and predicted reliability for me is average. I would say from experience that it is beautiful but a bit fragile. We have owned our 2018 for about 1.5 years and so far so good. Engine is a little rattled too.
If you buy a used (>6 years) Mercedes treat it as if you would buy a sailboat or yacht. Do not buy if you are not prepared to spend purchase price +50% of the purchase price on maintenance.
Great point of view
If those things fail it's going to be a situation just like in the song "it's not a technological brake down, it's a road to financial hell."
Not really true tho, we bought a used E350 2011 and never had any issues with it till this day
thank you for standing in the cold for us, I’m going to say I appreciated you for that.😂😂
Any time!
Maybe in USA,but in EU is just little bit more expencive then Volvo,Opel Insignia, BMW ,citroen, Toyota etc....but not that expencive. I own w205 c220 bluetec and oil change,pollen filter,oil filter with labor cost me 360 euros in Mercedes dealer
"Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Range Rovers are endless money pits when the warranty runs out. Lease them for three years to get it out your system". Scotty Kilmer
True to a point but the world is not black and white, but there is a lot of gray in the middle. Ultimate in reliability comes in the form of a bicycle so reliability is very important but value and fun definitely play in there too.
I got a c200 2011 for 5k with 220k miles.., engine start has a rough startup, brakes squeek, scroll knob dont work only directional and press, rear sensor didnt work but fixed with wd40. Esp and tire pressure sometimes gives me a unoperative warning. And oil leaks from somewhere, i think a bolt on the engine was loose, and it came from dere.
Wow that sounds like a bit of a nickel and dime unit but honestly even some older Toyotas have issues but owners of those often hold those vehicles to a lower standard and are ok will little oil weeps or other
With All those Crazy Expensive Repair Cost and problem, buying use Car may actually end up costing more in insane repair cost than New Car Depreciation. Plus all the Headache, Stress, Danger our Driving a Broken car being stuck in middle of road, and so much Wasted Time in repair shops, and you'll be driving an old, used, outdated model. Better off buying New Car instead. It make so much sense that These 'Luxury' Car SHOULD Depreciate So much, because its Just not worth it. Better off just buying new and have the added security, especially when if you can afford it. If you Cant Afford it, better off buying Reliable Economic Sensible cars like Toyota, Honda, Even American cars instead since they are much more affordable to maintain and easier to repair.
I bought a 2014 Mercedes C250 in 2016 with only 5,000 miles on it. The best ride I ever had and it has 91,000 miles.
Great to hear
Im Looking at a 94 S Class (320). good price, thoughts? I dont really care new cars much honestly