So, my 2001 E320 4-Matic with 92,000 miles.

Dump or Keep?

Last year: $4500 in repairs including, new injectors, spark plugs, wires, engine sensor, carbon blast of engine (to get rid of knocking and pinging rough idle, and carbon build up) broken rear door sill trim, passenger vanity mirror replacement, new brake pads, new rear brake light assembly (persistant lighting malfuntction error), new front left fog lamp (broken), new rear star decal (stolen) AND $7000 in repairs after being rear-ended by dump truck.

This year: Air conditioning blowing warm: estimate from dealer: $1200. Replaced Thermo Evapororator sensor on my own, but dealer found two major leaks in system. Car still needs new dash cluster (temp guage and clock missing pixels), driver side mirror (no longer heats), steering wheel groans (either new steering rack or replace/repair rubber seal depending on who you talk to), and driver side seat heats only bottom seat and not back of seat (approx $800 per dealer).

So here's the silly question. Keep or replace? Car is $54,000 new. It drives like a dream through the snowy mountains in the winter. I was rear ended by a huge dump truck and walked away unscathed. Drives wonderfully (except for the intermittent groaning steering wheel). (even after the accident)

I drove a 2003 used E320 at the dealer today with the airmatic suspension, but honestly, I like my 01 better because the drive is smoother. The dealer is offering 0% interest on new 07 C's for 72 months, but I have had three newer generation C's prior to this car and I definitely prefer the ride and styling to the E. So, do I keep shelling out the bucks and hope that my E gets to a point where it keeps running strongly for a while (at least 70, 80k more miles)? Or should I dump it? My 6th Benz, but I am questioning the economics. It seems like my car is afflicated with every known annoyance the W210 has. Is it just me?

 

No,its not just you,it's just that the w210 is just a pain to keep up,especially
the pain in the *** lighting system,that shows a malfunction on the dashboard
no matter what you do. That's why I now have a 211......

 

You can't count collision repairs against the car.

No doubt that the W210 has the potential to cost a lot. But I'd question the economics of servicing the car at the dealer first before questioning the economics of the car itself.

Dealers have high overhead and cater to a naive clientèle. Your list of repairs cost $4500 only because the work was done by the dealer.

 

I think at this point, you've gone through the pain points already. The near future should be smoother, assuming you had the trans fluid serviced.

 

a few points:


you waaaaay overpaid for the work you mentioned. are you getting all the work done at a dealer? find an indy.

also, if you asked this question last yr before you shelled out $12000, i might have told you to just dump it then. but it makes no sense to dump the car now after shelling that much out already. the current problems you mention sound pretty minor.

but if you're getting the 'new car itch', then by all means dump it and get a new car. you only live once, and car buying is as much emotional as counting pennies and economics.

MB is leasing the 07 E350s for really cheap nowadays. go read up on the W211 board, it's almost ridiculous how affordable these cars are, if you have enough cash to do a 1 time lump sum payment lease.