Thanks for letting me join the community. New member here. Joined to harvest wisdom from the hive...

I have a 2010 C300 Sport, Manual Trans, with 240k miles. Has been driving just fine and very few problems. Just brought it in to an independent MB mechanic (whom is very good), whom identified a host of issues that would end up costing a good bit more than the blue-book value (Radiator leak - the cause of this visit; thrust arm rattle/bushings, oil filter housing leak -- you get the idea).

The question is whether to invest and what I might expect in terms of durability/longevity of the car. I'm happy to spend the money if it isn't throwing good money after bad. Given the number of miles I'm not sure which way to go. Mechanic suggested that for the C-class I was nearing end of life and might not be worth the investment. Opinions? Anyone out there with high miles and/or similar situation? Many thanks in advance!

 

How much was the quote? Those don't sound like big ticket items, and within reason of a 240k-mile car. In other words replacing those would probably net you another 50-75k miles, maybe more.

 

Hello @krubin and welcome to the forum!

I just acquired my first W204 but I have had several Mercedes vehicles and so my advice is general and not specific to the W204.
These are excellent cars and properly maintained, you can get at least twice that mileage from it. The fact that it's a manual transmission is a very nice option that probably makes it a little more coveted (at least in the U.S.). Every Mercedes I've owned, I have sold in better shape than when I acquired it. That said, the ultimate question you need to ask yourself is what is the cost vs. benefit to you. If you love the car, the investment will pay itself over in the years of enjoyment you will get down the road. If you are looking forward to a more modern, hassle-free experience, then letting it go for a newer car would make more sense for you. Either way, you're going to spend money.

I have learned how to stretch my dollars wisely to keep my cars on the road as long as possible. Many things I tackle myself - I source the parts online for the best price and get dirty. For example, changing the radiator is something I could easily do myself and save several hundred dollars. Other things, such as a transmission service, I do not let anyone touch the job other than the dealer. Everything else is in between. I have certain shops I go to for certain types of repairs, other shops for others, balancing each shop's expertise and cost vs. the complexity of the job.

I know this is probably not the answer you were looking for, but if you invest some time in planning and do your homework, you can keep your C300 in top shape for a reasonable amount of expense. On the other hand, using that money towards a down payment can get you into a refreshed driving experience much sooner.

Final thoughts: Getting into another used car is almost guaranteed to require an additional investment into maintenance and repairs, with the additional headache of having to learn the car's quirks and behaviors.

Best of luck and keep us posted on which way you decide to go.

 

Thanks for the thoughtful comments. To answer the questions raised, the quote was in the $2k-$2.5k all in. Some of that cost is to be expected and routine maintenance stuff. For @EuroDriverSD I appreciate the sentiment but I'm not handy and wouldn't be one to take on repairs myself. Definitely not my super-power. In terms of total cost, and you hit on the main issue I was getting at, the car has been fantastic and I've only had a few issues, and really nothing problemmatic (maintenance and wear items, a few bigger ticket but reasonable for the mileage). If another 50-75k isn't an unreasonable expectation, I'll do the work. I do drive the car hard but it is being well maintained and is still a joy to drive. Was really hoping that the sentiment here would clarify a good direction to go.

The point about maintaining another used car is well taken. Typically I buy cars just off of a lease so I know they've been maintained and generally have low miles.

 

If you love the car, love driving it and it is otherwise as you state in good shape, do the repairs and move on.

You will never find a car for the money you will put into the repairs, and you know what you have. My 2 cents, …..

 

Agree with others, life is short so don't stress about these little things, if you love the car keep it for every smiles per miles you get from it, if you want to explore something new or got bored it get something new.

 

Not to mention the M276 is a very solid engine and is super easy and a joy to work with, there are no major flaws with it.
Edit: Hmmm maybe I am mistaken with the engine code you have, sorry about that, you might possibly have the M272 instead.

 

Thanks to everyone on the thread. You helped me make the decision to invest in bringing it back to tip-top shape.

I was quite taken aback by the initial recommendation from the shop that "it might be time", but all of your reassurances affirmed what I had originally been thinking and that this puppy has a lot of miles and good times remaining! Parts are ordered and repairs underway!

 

I was in a similar boat before I bought my W204. I had a 06 Lexus IS with 265K miles and bought it with less than 15 miles on it from the dealer.

It threw a code and it was related to the tranny. It was going to cost me in the range of 3.5-6K to repair/rebuild or replace the tranny. If I went ahead with the repair, I'm confident it would go till 300K but I would only use it as my commute car and errands around town. But being I started to work from home, my driving miles dropped significantly. I could drive the car fine until it wouldn't shift pass 3rd gear.

I picked up my W204 to replace the Lexus and I got it for a really good deal that I couldn't pass up. I sold the Lexus and I don't regret, but if it was going to cost 2K to repair, I would have done it in a heart beat. At that point, the Lexus was going to be low maintenance due to lack of miles and insurance was dirt cheap.

You with 240K on your W204 makes me good know that my ride with 160K still has a ways to go.

 

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

$2K in parts and labor for radiator, thrust arm/bushings (one unit) and oil filter housing leak on a 240K-mile car that you enjoy is an easy spend for me. And if I remember correctly the 2010 is an M272-power car, definitely a mile-muncher of an engine, and sounds like it's RWD so you don't have the transfer case to worry about in the 4-matic examples.

So yup, go for it!

 

Remember, "Blue Book" value is determined by the market, not the value of the car to you. I imagine there is not much of a market for a car with 240k miles, so I wouldn't expect the value to be that high. Getting it back into shape for $2500 seems reasonable if you can't do the work yourself.

I have a 2000 Ford F150 beater truck with the 4.7 liter engine and 225k miles. These engines are notorious for blowing spark plugs out of the head. I've had two blow out in the past and it costs about $200 to repair each time. Six more and the truck would be "totaled". Would I not repair it? No because it's hard to find another truck for $1200 to use for my purposes that wouldn't also have problems.

 

Spend the money and keep the car. That car will outlast ANY new mercedes out there right now. If the body and interior is in good shape no reason not to fix the mechanical issues even if the repair cost will be on +$5k. The way you should look at it is this, how much is a newer vehicle? maybe 2017-2019 model then look at your repair cost. I am sure it will be around $25-30k for a newer pre-owned C-class that you don't know what is lurking under the bonnet. I'll pick the $5k over a $25-30k loan ANYDAY. Also the W204 is one sexy looking car, proportion wise, it won't hold a candle with the current c-class. If you think the interior needs some modernization spend $1000 and install a android auto screen or if you have the flip-up screen buy the android auto module and it will be the same.

One other thing. Make sure to check your drive belt if your oil filter housing is leaking. Most of the time the oil leak contaminates the drive belt and you must replace it.