Ryan...

Hey everyone, spent the last 15 years on BMW forums, but I'm potentially buying my first Merc this coming week! Looking at a 6 speed manual C300 and I'm beyond excited.

Previously I've owned an E39 M5, bunch of e36 M3s, various E39s, E30s, tried my luck with a 996 911 for a while, Range Rover Sport, etc...

Anyways, looking forward to gaining some insight and knowledge on these cars.

-Ryan

chassis

Welcome! There are a lot of helpful owners and enthusiasts here who can help. Tell us more about the 996 experience.

Ryan...

The 996 saga was.....an experience lol

I bought it in Alabama, nearly sight-unseen, off eBay for $13k in 2015. I had a local shop (which I later learned was owned by a friend of the seller) perform a PPI, and they missed the fact that the heat didn't work, the AC didn't work, and the car liked to not start when warm. They also missed that the clutch was about 97% worn. Anywho, I flew down to Alabama, test drove it, didn't do a great job inspecting it myself, handed him the check, and drove home to Wisconsin. I hit a snow storm in southern Illinois and did a fancy 360 on the highway at 40 mph and almost got smoked by an F350. I spent the night in the Bates Motel and was surprised to see the 911 still in the parking lot the next morning. Drove home, slowly, until I left that godforsaken cesspool that is Illinois, and made it home safely.

Once I got it home it stopped starting when warm, and during the inspection by my trusted mechanic, I wrote them a check for about $6,700 to have the clutch and flywheel replaced, IMS done (I had planned on doing this), RMS done while in there, they replaced the spark plugs while in there, and did my lower control arm bushings I believe.

I thought I was in the clear after that, but obviously that was not the case... Chasing the electrical issue down was about about 14 hours of labor, I forget the actual root issue but my guy fixed it and only charged me 7 hours of diagnosis because he's a sadist and loves chasing down electrical issues (what a freak). I never fixed the heat and ultimately sold the car to some guy who turned it into a track car. My final bill for one year of ownership and about 13k miles was a hair under $10k in maintenance, sold it for like $15k.

The real kick in the pants is that I could have bought a '72 911 for about $14k at the time, but I wanted a faster car.. Months later the air cooled market absolutely exploded and I was sitting there in my broken down 996 like an idiot.

In my life, I probably spent less than $6k in maintenance on all of my M cars combined, with about 60k worth of mileage between them.

Ryan...

^^^ All of that being said, I will own a 997 someday, and would love to get an air cooled 911 if the prices ever make sense again.

chassis

Thanks for the recap. It is a similar theme to my 1982 Series III XJ6 story, yours however is more expensive than my story. Looking at P cars now, and appreciate hearing how it "really is".

Ryan...

I think as long as you aren't looking for an early 996, or a 944 of any year, you'll be pleased with just about any P car you end up with. Despite all of its numerous and expensive issues, the 996 was an absolute blast to drive. I did many all day trips in it, cruise at 75 mph, and never once got bored or uncomfortable. Throwing it around the back roads was also fun, making me feel like I was at once perfectly safe, near death, and a much better driver than I really was. The fiance still wants me to buy another one because it's the one car I've owned that she actually loved.

chassis

Well, what are you waiting for? If momma ain't happy...

Ryan...

Seeing as how she's soon to be the bread winner of this family, I'll let her buy us a Porsche this time around! Shoot, I wouldn't even be mad if she brought home a surprise Cayman...

MJ50

welcome to mbworld...

MBpippo

Welcome to the forum Ryan. Loved reading your P story. Hopefully you’ll have less hassles with the C300.

Ryan...

Thanks!

Thanks! I'm hoping so as well lol