Maintenance Costs
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: near Park City, UT
ML 350 and CLK 350 both '07
Maintenance Costs
Question for you who have greater experience than I do...
Offhand, what would you estimate your annual expenditures for repairs at, not counting regular maintenance such as oil filters etc?
More expenses earlier or more in the later years?
Offhand, what would you estimate your annual expenditures for repairs at, not counting regular maintenance such as oil filters etc?
More expenses earlier or more in the later years?
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: Montana, USA
2004 CLK500
Kind of an odd question... regular maintenance prevents repairs IMO.
For what its worth, I havent had any thing just "break" on my 2004 in the 2 years I've owned it. I have done regualr oil changes, did a full transmission flush, and replaced the entire brake system.
There is certainly some cost to keeping a MBZ running in tip top shape, but nothing ridiculous.
For what its worth, I havent had any thing just "break" on my 2004 in the 2 years I've owned it. I have done regualr oil changes, did a full transmission flush, and replaced the entire brake system.
There is certainly some cost to keeping a MBZ running in tip top shape, but nothing ridiculous.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: near Park City, UT
ML 350 and CLK 350 both '07
Odd, well maybe... trying to get a handle on whether to purchase extended service contract or not... and if so... what duration.
I am not a newbie to owning Mercedes, just new to CLK 350's. My ML 350 is going bare. No issues so far, knocking on wood.
As for regular maintenance, yes, of course....
FWIW replacing an entire brake system does not sound like regular and routine maintenance. Something happen or just regular wear...?
I am not a newbie to owning Mercedes, just new to CLK 350's. My ML 350 is going bare. No issues so far, knocking on wood.
As for regular maintenance, yes, of course....
FWIW replacing an entire brake system does not sound like regular and routine maintenance. Something happen or just regular wear...?
Last edited by hopz; Aug 20, 2012 at 09:11 PM.
Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: Montana, USA
2004 CLK500
OK.. "entire" sounds a bit extreme I guess... Rotors, lines, and pads on all four corners. Just regular wear (although I probably didnt need to do the rear rotors). The front rotors def. needed replacement at roughly 50k miles.
In my opinion, the biggest potential problem with CLKs is electrical issues. If your CLK has its service records available and doesnt show a tendency of these types of problems, I'd say you are probably looking good.
In my opinion, the biggest potential problem with CLKs is electrical issues. If your CLK has its service records available and doesnt show a tendency of these types of problems, I'd say you are probably looking good.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
OK, if we take out all "maintenance" items, including fluids, brakes, rubber (tires, hoses, belts), battery, alignments, motor mounts, catalytic converters, shocks, struts, bushings, etc., then it's going to be very low. Repair costs, whether paid by the owner or covered by MBZ under warranty, is an upside-down bell curve. New MBZ's tend to need some "adjustments". Whether that's squeaks and rattles or bad wiring harnesses or other failures, they show up early. After the first few oil changes, say around 30K miles, things tend to calm down a bit. Then, like any car, as it ages, things break. Plastic parts crack and electrical components die from the tough environmental conditions of being in a car.
I think the biggest concern is not these age-related repairs, but the weird flaws that sometimes plague certain models. For example, search for "balance shaft" and you'll find that half a million MBZ engines were built with a fatal flaw of premature timing gear failure that is expensive to repair and typically doesn't appear until after the warranty has expired, but hundreds of thousands of miles before it should ever be a problem. Then there was the Valeo radiator in the early 2000's that allowed coolant and transmission fluid to mix. And let's not forget the bad antenna amps in the W203 C-Class that almost always fail after five or six years. Active Body Control systems in the CL, CL and some other models seems to be good for about 50K miles and then starts going downhill fast with parts costing thousands to repair.
I think the biggest concern is not these age-related repairs, but the weird flaws that sometimes plague certain models. For example, search for "balance shaft" and you'll find that half a million MBZ engines were built with a fatal flaw of premature timing gear failure that is expensive to repair and typically doesn't appear until after the warranty has expired, but hundreds of thousands of miles before it should ever be a problem. Then there was the Valeo radiator in the early 2000's that allowed coolant and transmission fluid to mix. And let's not forget the bad antenna amps in the W203 C-Class that almost always fail after five or six years. Active Body Control systems in the CL, CL and some other models seems to be good for about 50K miles and then starts going downhill fast with parts costing thousands to repair.
Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 126
Likes: 7
From: Lower Alabama
2000 E320 Original Owner 2007 CLK550 Cabriolet 2015 S600
Just before my 2007 CLK550 ran out of warranty last year, I got the engine replaced. There was an abnormal ticking in the engine. MB took the engine out and found abnormal wear on two cylinders. I have an old thread with pics detailing my adventures. I could never get a value on all the work they did but I figure $10-$15k. I went ahead and bought an MB extended warranty through an MB dealer in Texas. I even offered my dealer in GA the opportunity to match the TX dealer's deal. They declined. The extended warranty was 3 years and some large number of miles that I will never drive. Since then I had the instrument cluster replaced. I am sure it didn't cost the $3000 the e.w. costs but I still have it for two more years.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: near Park City, UT
ML 350 and CLK 350 both '07
Thanks for the reply. That sort of thing is why I posted. We are headed out for a week or so, road test of the new unit... will report back soon.
Have fun,
Bob
Have fun,
Bob
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 68
From: Texas
C63 507 AMG DA Car #19
Sensors fail more frequently on these cars than most.
Crank position sensor
Cam position sensor
MASS Air sensor
Not expensive to do your self.
These repairs add up at the dealership if no warranty.
Suspension bits:
control arm bushings
Motor Mounts are common and expensive if done at dealer
Fuel pump is pricey
Stero with fiber optic comms is hit or miss... mine works 90% of the time.
Funky elec issues - agree here.... I just count on getting a random code once in a while..... usually goes away if turn key off and turn key back on...... I chalk that up to a super complex elec system that get's erroneous data from time to time.....
When something fails don't panic.... do a search here, buy a STAR diag tool, get codes.... and 9/10 you can DIY for pretty low price. Get your parts on-line.
Find a buddy who knows these cars in and out.
GL.
Crank position sensor
Cam position sensor
MASS Air sensor
Not expensive to do your self.
These repairs add up at the dealership if no warranty.
Suspension bits:
control arm bushings
Motor Mounts are common and expensive if done at dealer
Fuel pump is pricey
Stero with fiber optic comms is hit or miss... mine works 90% of the time.
Funky elec issues - agree here.... I just count on getting a random code once in a while..... usually goes away if turn key off and turn key back on...... I chalk that up to a super complex elec system that get's erroneous data from time to time.....
When something fails don't panic.... do a search here, buy a STAR diag tool, get codes.... and 9/10 you can DIY for pretty low price. Get your parts on-line.
Find a buddy who knows these cars in and out.
GL.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
