parkman
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2012
- Messages
- 192
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Cheshire, UK
- Your Mercedes
- E220 CDI Avantgarde 2004 + W126 500se 1983 + W124 260E 1991
Hi, I was having a discussion with a couple of guys that I know in relation to owning used E class cars and I wonder are they really worth the difficulties and stress of ownership. I suspect that there is somewhat of a "trying to live a champagne lifestyle with beer pockets" element when buying used Mercedes cars. I have had all sorts of stuff in the past from Lotus Sunbeams to Isuzu Troopers, Peugot 106 GTI's, Escort Twin Cams - but I do think as a used purchase the Mercedes E class may be the biggest headache so far. I wonder if it is just too complicated for a normal day to day car. I do like the car but all the time I am aware that the next garage visit could cost £1500- 2000 and that it may be just around the corner. I have a Jag 3.2 Exec 2001 that I use as a commuter and in 5 years it has cost me about £1500 in servicing and replacement parts, it has been very good and it is very comfortable. The W211 cost me £1100 after 10 months when it needed new Airmatic shocks on the rear. I have a suspicion that I will not keep it too long if the bills start to come in. I am not sure whether as one gets older one doesn't quite keep up with the DIY technology in the way one did when young. I had a Lotus Cortina at one stage in my twenties and it was a normal thing to have to take out the gearbox and replace a clutch on a Saturday morning and then head off for the afternoon with the g/friend, two hours to do the clutch repair. I had a Lotus Sunbeam that had a works motor and that needed constant attention but again it was just a daily task and the job would be done. But now I am more likely to ring the dealers and ask them to check out a problem as I have not kept up with technology. I knew about Weber and D'ellorto carburettors and grinding camshafts, but now I probably would find it a problem to get the cover off the top of the Mercedes diesel that I have. Oh well, that progress versus old age I still am trying to decide whether buying a fault code reader will end up giving me more problems than not, given that if you plug it in and find fault codes and you don't know what they are referring to, one could become paranoid with the fear of something expensive constantly going wrong. Is this a case of "Ignorance is Bliss" - please put me out of my pain
Regards, parkman
Regards, parkman