aettee

Hi everyone, i was looking for around an used accord to purchase but noticed how comparable the price is to a 2008 C300. I always heard how used luxury vehicles are a money pit but I thought the W204 chasis was pretty reliable in general? I am looking to spend not too much on a vehicle and hopefully having to do just the basic maintenance. Would buying an used C-Class be a smart decision for someone like me?

Cardfan91

Generally Mercedes are going to last a long time and be reliable. Repairs, when needed can be more expensive than other brands. The key is to get all the service records you can, talk to who did the work (if possible) and have a trusted mechanic look at the car before you purchase. If you can find one that has full service records and was not abused then I think it could fit your needs.

Acapulco Bill

As mentioned by Cardfan91, maintenance history is a major factor, then how the C300 was driven, also mileage (hopefully below 100k). That said, after almost 8 years, besides the scheduled a & B services, my C300 has only had one preventative repair - replaced a plastic tension pulley on the serpentine belt. No oil between services (7-10k miles). The original brakes are still good for thousands of miles more, and no oil leaks anywhere. I plan to keep the C300 at least another 5 years.

Other family members have a BMW 328i and an Audi A5 the same age, but have spent thousands keeping them maintained. A Honda Accord requires twice the maintenance and many repairs.

Besides oil, very important are the ATF changes every 39k miles. If this hasn't been done, expect problems. Also, stay away from the 4Matic, imo.

timlippold

In general you will spend more to maintain compared to a Honda or Toyota. Higher maintenance and parts costs (Mercedes tax). These cars are also over engineered so there are more things that can break. That being said it comes with having a German car. Worth it in my opinion but know what to expect.

superangrypenguin

This sort of question is silly.

Is it better with the right or left hand? It's a silly question. Too many factors at play.

aettee

Can you explain to me the A/B services? I remember my friend getting his e350 serviced and it costing about ~$2000. Would each service cost that much for a 2008 c300 too? How much of the maintenance can I do at home? I have quite a few tools and regularly do my own oil changes and breaks for my current vehicle if that helps a litt.e

Flarearrow

Service A vs B

https://youtu.be/JhhNn49Aokw

michail71

Yes, it's very easy. Vacuum extraction is a popular method to use on these cars. For DIY it's roughly $40/$80 for A/B service.

chugden21

Not sure if you've checked BUT I happen to have a 2008 C300 for sale right now. I made a post for it in the classified section of this forum and also have it listed on autotrader. PM me if interested.

I've kept the car in pretty solid shape and think it could definitely go another 80-100k miles if kept on schedule with maintenance. Only reason I'm selling is because we got a new car for my wife and her old car is 2 yrs younger with about half the mileage... so it just made sense to hold on to that one.

chugden21

Also to answer your question, I would take a well-managed used German car over any other import or American made car any day. Yes, there are potentially more things that can wrong (over-engineering), but they're just nicer machines in general though. Obviously I'm a bit biased, but that C300 has treated me very well from miles 19k (when I bought) to 102-3k...

shotgun_banjo

The W204 range has been solid and reliable to most of us here. Dont be afraid to buy a used one. Just make sure it did not miss any of the maintenance and the transmission was serviced on time and done properly (ei. Torque converter was also drained). Cost of service is more expensive but it should be as it is a german luxury car. I would not compare this car with a japanese or american brand car as it is so different. One thing for sure if a german car breaks it is more expensive to fix and there is nothing you can do about it just open your wallet wide or try to get your hands dirty to save a few $$ and fix it yourself.

People have asked me the same thing before. Is it okay to buy a used MB? I say YES then I ask them back is it okay if you might spend a few thousand dollars to maintain it every year? If they say NO then I tell them they are not ready owning a luxury car yet. The car might not even break at you but if something major does break you need to be prepared to spend a small fortune in fixing it and if that small fortune will make you eat microwaved macaroni and cheese for months just to fix the car then dont buy one.

Cardfan91

Well penguin, you've piqued my curiosity. Is it better with the left or right hand or her hand?

hyperion667

Will be much more expensive to service, but you'll be happier than in a Honda.

mais821

Check if the EIS/ESL was replaced. It's a pretty common failure in the 08-09 and is relatively expensive to fix.

superangrypenguin

Not sure if you followed some of my other posts where I've dropped some other hints, but right now, the only 3rd option is...

"no hand". And trust me, that's boring as hell

michail71

Getting hands dirty is part of the fun.

Dealer repair costs are like eating at an expensive restaurant where they round up to the nearest $10 on the menu. The service department here goes from $300 and $500 for simple jobs and then by multiples of $1000 for anything else.

Indy shops have a way of bringing the costs down to reasonable levels.

michail71

I wish I was as lucky as you. Mine has been a bit of a crazy psycho the past 30K miles. But I agree with what you said.

CJG

I've only owned my 2014 C300 about a month. I've already experienced issues with the steering wheel not raising and lowering in "convenience mode". So, I can't speak to this long-term.

I can say, however, that I have had amazing dependability with Toyota/Lexus.

1994 Lexus LS400- I've owned for six years. 218,000 miles, zero issues other than routine maintenance. Never had a maintenance bill over $50. Timing belt and water pump replaced by previous owner.

2007 Toyota Matrix- Owned until 2103. Again, zero problems. Replaced front brake pads once. Tranny finally went bad at 148,000. $2,500 to replace.

2013 Toyota Camry- Still own. Again, zero issues.

When I say, "zero", I mean zero. Not a single issue or even rattle in any of these cars.

I'm already worried the Mercedes is not going to be near as reliable. I have nearly two years of warranty left, so that'll give me time to feel it out.

That said, I absolutely love the C300. Fingers crossed it's somewhat reliable.

PelicanParts.com

DIY will help keep costs down as well. We have a pretty extensive DIY tech library that can help you out if needed: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...Index-W204.htm. Plus, our parts pricing can help keep costs down as well. I am here if you ever need anything and good luck!

Colin G

Happens in newer cars also up to 2012. Search here and you will see.

ghlkal

Agreed. I've done all of my own service except the tranny fluid.

The Pelican Parts site is helpful with the DIY