Hello Mr Kilmer,
What do you think of a 2001 Mercedes c240 with 51000 miles? Thank you!
ayo.
I would pass on that! These are all overengineered German machines full of technology and will cost a small fortune every time something breaks or needs repair. Also, companies like Mercedes know the vast majority of people lease their vehicles so they cram a lot of technology and features into their vehicles so the lessee will continue staying with them as well as get new lessees. They are not on the business of making vehicles that will last a long time without breaking (like a Toyota or Lexus). Also, good luck finding a competent mechanic that can work on those vehicles (especially with all the electronics) - if you find one they will cost more - and if you have to go to the dealer the y will definitely charge an arm and a leg.
I'm one of the rare Mercedes fans/owners that watch his content, I can give you an honest and realistic answer, as I own a C320 and multiple other mercedes.
The W203 chassis with the M112 engine and 722.6 is extremely reliable. The only main gripes is that some of the interior parts are kind of cheap, but that's Daimler-Chrysler for you.
If you DO NOT work on your own cars, I would be a bit leery. I do EVERYTHING on my Mercedes, and I have saved thousands of dollars and I have only owned them for less than a year. If you must rely on an independent mechanic, make sure you are satisfied with the labor cost they are charging, dig around in your area.
If you want a couple examples of quotes to ask for, ask about a transmission conductor plate or comprehensive valve cover gasket replacement including all of the crankcase hoses.
That car can last at least 15 more years if you take decent care of it. I have 177k on my C320, 206k on my ML 430 and 151k on my S500, all with the same engine and transmission as that car. It can be reliable, but if you don't do your own wrenching, I would be cautious. If you do though, junkyards have a ton of parts for these cars, and especially with mercedes, their parts bin is huge. That car has the same transmission as the SLR.
If you have any questions with Mercedes, go to mbworld or benzworld. Most forum members here aren't fluent with Mercs.
I sure am not fluent. Thanks for weighing in.
The only reason I caught this was because I saw Mercedes on carkiller and it caught my eye LOL. Just got done making a full 1600 word writeup on an S500 😆 😆 I learned that this forum is more for general, american and japanese. It is still useful, just expect to be crucified if you say Mercedes 😆 cheers 😉
Owning a Mercedes is still a bad idea for the vast majority of people. Most of them (especially that post questions here) don’t wrench on their own cars. If OP was a wrencher, he would have done all the research before posting here.
You’re right, the typical Scotty Kilmer customer doesn’t want/rarely interested in the Mercedes money pit experience. Don’t get me wrong, they’d love to own one, they just don’t know about the $$$ side of things, or haven’t realised it just yet. Most of us, including Scotty, don't deny that german vehicles are great fun to drive. I certainly enjoy my time behind the wheel of a mate’s C class & few other VWs.. I just don’t want to be the one paying for the repairs when they do finally break.
The W203 C class is minimally problematic, especially at the mileage. And you don't have to be a total wrench head, the M112/722.6 doesn't have catastrpohic failure. Its a C class, not an S class. I wouldn't be suprised if he is able to get the car for 5-6k , which is great value for a car with 51k. Just my two cents though. I could be biased 🙄
yeah, the big 'IF' in your advice is the part about doing your own wrenching. Most people don't, so for them Scotty's advice is pretty sound. I don't want anybody to be crucified. I just try to match up cars , expectations and people appropriately. What years are your Mercs?
If you dont wrench AT ALL you shouldn't buy an old mercedes and I stand by that.
2004 C320 4matic (W203 which is the same chassis as OP's car)
2000 S500 W220
1999 ML430 W163
how are the electronics to work on in the '04? Do you find you have to go to the dealer for that stuff?
The only electronic that failed was the original alternator that I found at a junkyard. I never had to go to the dealer for anything. I get everything on the junkyard. The only problem I would have finding parts for that I wouldnt be able to at a junkyard are for V12s and SLs and S class coupes. Its a death sentence if you buy 98% percent of anything at the Mercedes dealership. Like I mentioned the partsbin is immaculate for Mercedes, especially so for a C class. The only problem is that my car is a 4matic (awd) and one of my front axle boots are torn. An oem cv axle would cost 1200 (uneffingbelievable) but thats because the previous owner didn't change the motor mounts in time. Plus, the OP's car isnt a 4matic so thats out of the equation regardless. But if the OP isn't willing to make an occasional visit to the junkyard then it may not be worth getting the car.
And all of the electronics are direct replacement, nothing needs to be recoded or reprogrammed, you could get everything from the junkyard for nothing. My S class has VIN coded parts which was a TOTAL PITA but I figured it out and fixed a bad shifter module for 6 bucks. Total headache? Yeah but I saved +500 bucks and learned a ton.