Buying A Used Mercedes Could Be The Biggest Mistake Of Your Life...

Are Mercedes reliable? Should you buy a used Mercedes Benz? Here are 5 reasons the question "are Mercedes worth it" is more complicated then the standard car review. You need to know this stuff, before you go and buy a used luxury car, period.
Where we believe that Life's Too Short To Drive Boring Cars so we just don't and you shouldn't either.
Of course, as always join us on the channel by clicking below:
/ @ecpp
TWITTER - @Exoticcarplaypl
- / exoticcarplaypl
FACEBOOK -
- / supercars2000
INSTAGRAM - @Exoticcar_Playplace
- / exoticcar_playplace

[@markusanthonygriego6204]

You are one of my favorite car/vehicle youtubers. Keep it up man! Love your content and channel. I will continue to watch.

[@ECPP]

Thank you very much, I appreciate the support. Hope you are having a great week.

[@billbog25]

2009 Mercedes C300. Bought used for 7k. I got 125k miles on it. Never had a problem. Runs perfect. It's the smoothest ride I've ever owned. Will keep it forever.

[@ECPP]

Some of them are very well built. Conversely I owned a first generation ML500 and the engine and transmission were fine, but everything wore out early and the cosmetics were weak. To a of rust early too

[@kevinbarry71]

Forever is a long time. Don't bet on it. At least that is one of the more simple cars so it should be easier to keep going. At least until Mercedes no longer makes parts for it

[@billbog25]

@@kevinbarry71 FCP euro is all I need. In my home town. Has all the parts I need

[@zylo8576]

Hello, I am also looking at a 2013 C300 ones 50k miles with the V6 on it. How is it on a daily basis (fuel consumption, maintanance cost, reliability) according to your experience?

[@englishsteel-nz6im]

But I bet two things... you don't drive it hard and you stay on top of preventative maintenance. That's what I've done with mine and I don't have issue's with any MB I've had.

[@damirzanne]

been buying used Mercedes for decades , never had any problems with any of them … you want a Mercedes, buy it , just make sure it was serviced and taken care of , and just keep on top with service and maintenance and take care of it … there is nothing like Mercedes …. eBay is full of new and used affordable Benz parts … remember , life is too short to drive boring cars 😊

[@danielfoster1199]

Exactcly

[@prosptsfitness]

Very true buddy

[@isaiahbattle4393]

Thank you boss

[@FFE-js2zp]

My BMW infotainment screen melted and spiderwebbed in the Texas heat. The part alone was $3,000. I took the screen out and bough the exact Sharp model number off eBay for $65. Easy peasy.

[@ECPP]

Haha, nice win there for sure. There are ways to be thrifty, just have to research a bit like this. Thanks for the great comment.

[@johnsradios484]

It always helps if you can do some work yourself.

[@chrsf589]

Moral of the story:Don’t buy any cars just take the bus everywhere

[@Just.a.big.guy_]

Reel most of the things he was mentioning it’s just things that could go wrong with any car or truck. It’s like the dash breaks that’s gonna cost money it’s not like it’s gonna be free with anything else. 😂😂

[@VolkswagenNut1969]

Very true video. I loved my two GLKs several years ago, very reliable, tough, and wonderful to drive. BUT also very maintenance-heavy, and as I recall, the cheapest repair bill I had on either of them was $1,800. So the question isn’t “can I afford to buy it”, it’s “can I afford to keep it?”

[@ECPP]

Exactly right, it’s more about keeping them running and on the road.

[@treyhale8063]

No issues with my GLK

[@vernonpaigejr.1517]

Reason when I finally get me a E-Class Cabriolet I'm going to make sure I have like 15k just for emergency repairs

[@Alonzo_4]

If you can’t afford a Mercedes Benz, don’t buy it 💡

[@MyCatIsSmarter]

I bought a Mercedes CLA with 19,000 miles and have 84,000 miles. I replaced the air blower myself after it started chirping at low speeds. Everything works and it still looks like new

[@ECPP]

Good experience by the sounds of it

[@bohrora2293]

84k is not alot brotha

[@datway3582]

@@bohrora2293it’s quite a good amount though brotha

[@datway3582]

It]s it the 2020 redesign?

[@MyCatIsSmarter]

@@datway3582 it is a 2014 made in September 2014

[@kenc8359]

I was actually looking for a used Merc myself. You just made up my mind. Thank you!

[@dckikswalton7731]

very informative! Thank you.

[@moeanthony9308]

Thanks Mark. Great video as always

[@ECPP]

Thank you

[@jackibillings4397]

I have a 2013 CLS 63 AMG. So far, I haven’t experienced the problems you described. Keeping my fingers crossed. 😀

[@ECPP]

Top pops for the ride though. Hope it holds up for you.

[@mikimoto99]

Your car and the w219 are the most gorgeous MBs ever produced👍🏻

[@MyCatIsSmarter]

Love the CLS 63 AMG

[@toniseppanen4381]

This is so true. I have personal experience, I bought a low mileage w212 220 cdi (134 000 thousand kilometers only) year ago. I have a familiar mechanic and he repairs it quite cheap. He charges 75 euros/hour. Still I counted I have used 5100 euros in one year for repairs... egr, coolant water pump, transmission oil, mass air flow meter, base repair and regular oil changes. But it,s awesome car, harldy consumes any diesel, super comfortable for long trips. Thank you for this video and respect from Finland!

[@ECPP]

Cheers

[@zerocapacitance1]

Excellent video, your positive energy helps me wake up to have a good day!!

[@ECPP]

Thank you very much

[@TAkinmboni]

I have a 2013 CLS550 that I bought in 2017 with 43K miles on it. I got extended warrantee with unlimited mileage on. Now in April 2022 I have 200K miles on it. Yes the animatic suspension when out while under warrantee and fixed for free and 2nd time out of pocket about 3K. I have only has to change rotors once and set of pads twice. After 200K miles still drive like a dream and still get a sexy look. I have not regrets, I am only going to sell it to get another used Mercedes’. Who keeps a car for 20 years now? Technology and safety changes. Great video but Benz is way better in maintenance thanks it’s competition. You say it all the time life is too short to drive a boring car.

[@kevdreadful]

I wound up with a CDI Benz from 2005. They’re “rare” in the US and I really wanted it. I wanted that diesel torque. There’s nothing like it!I wound up getting one and that story can be found on “The Car Wizard” channel. It cost a few bucks to get it sorted out but it could have been worse. I wound up finding another one with waaaaaaay less miles and is hands down better than my first one. That said, I knew what I was getting into and I had a plan. I can also wrench on my own cars a bit and the BIGGEST thing I can mention is that I can AFFORD to fix my old Benz. I did my research and I got a good example. I’ve haven’t “liked” a car so much in quite a while. I’m almost 60 so that’s saying something. Listen…..If you have BEER POCKETS then you shouldn’t be buying CHAMPAGNE! RIGHT? 🤔🍾

[@ECPP]

You are right but if you can wrench and DIY then it can be palettable.

[@kevdreadful]

@@ECPP kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqHRpquqiqydl80 Yeah. If you can wrench their great. Certain models are better than others. I like the W211's the most and I can wrench. When I can't wrench for whatever reason, I have good independent mechanics like The Wizard. Nowhere NEAR what the stealership costs but good results nonetheless. ✊🏿 ✊🏿

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

Ok boomer.

[@davidhamilton5991]

Bought a 2015 CLA 250 4Matic.. 96000km- 2 Year, or 60000KM Warranty on basically everything. Seemed like a pretty decent deal WITH THE WARRANTY. Without I wouldn’t of made the purchase.

[@bobsmith962]

Yes get the warranty. My cayenne warranty paid for itself and then some. The German autos are damn expensive to maintain.

[@davidlowe9041]

got a 02 Lexus RX300 with 122K for $3800. Brakes and tires and oil changes is all I've done so far. Thanks Scotty Kilmer!

[@ECPP]

Thanks

[@emiliog.4432]

It doesn’t make sense to buy any luxury vehicle if you can’t afford to maintain and repair it out of warranty. Good information. Potential buyers need to watch this.

[@ECPP]

You are right. Still have to be able to afford it, or be an amazing DIYer.

[@Alumnikiid]

Only luxury id by is Lexus. Just need to update their line up (powertrain and gadgets like the new NX350)

[@mann_idonotreadreplies]

@alumnkid cool story bro.

[@atx-cvpi_99]

@@Alumnikiid Acura is a good brand too. Most of their models are reliable.

[@PratManDoo]

@@Alumnikiid Lexus isn't really the same class. It's a competitor to Acura / Infinity, not to a Mercedes

[@gsu4life1]

Meanwhile, people are driving those boring Lexuses, without these issues associated with Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis, for 20 years. But, "life is too short to drive a boring car".

[@ECPP]

Thanks

[@HelloNewWorldPodcast]

Thanks for keeping it real. You helped me save a lot of money. I might just get a new sport edition new Corolla 😎

[@sunnyskiesblue]

I agree, Mark. That's some reasons I've never owned one.

[@ECPP]

It certainly can be limiting.

[@GordonHeaney]

In my opinion, my merc has served me well. I bought it from an approved merc dealer, it's had a full service history from approved merc garages and I get it regularly serviced. Finally, drive it properly and it will serve you well.

[@lenol0315]

This is the comment I wanted to hear lmao

[@lexluthor54]

This is the video I needed to see. Thank you.

[@ECPP]

You are welcome

[@xvsj5833]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, as the prices go up, up , up unfortunately the quality goes down, down, down 🤬

[@ECPP]

You are totally right. Prices are not consistent with quality as these parts often break as often or more frequently than a good ole non luxo brand. Ie BMW vs Toyota

[@ibrahimalmotawa967]

Absolutely the Quality are garbage even the dealership are crooks.

[@jimmycarter9099]

Love the video 😊

[@ECPP]

Thank you! 😁

[@user-yk5eg8qf5k]

I have a 2015 c300 i bought last year in 2022. As i agree with your opinion, i had a nissan altima before this which costed me more in repairs than my c300. The only thing wrong with these cars were the 2015 piston issues other than that these cars are very reliable and if you watch a couple youtube channels you can fix alot of things yourself

[@paulevans240]

On my 3rd CPO Mercedes and love them all. Never had any reliability issues or problems and I get my maintenance done by AAA. Make depreciation your friend and buy a 2 or 3 year old used car.

[@Alps6408]

It can be hit or miss with any car, just people fail to take into consideration that most Mercedes are high end cars which can be costly. My C63 was bullet proof and then I spent about £5-6000 restoring an 04 CLK55 AMG. (kind of a barn find) Honestly, I’ve always lived by the saying “if you can’t afford the repairs, it’s too much car” people make these mistakes way too often, assuming they are getting say a 2008 BMW M6 for $15,000 only to find out 6 months in they have to take the car to a dealer or an independent mechanic to have the rod bearings replaced or Vanos worked on… then are shocked when they have a $3000 repair bill. PPI is always the way to go when buying a used high end luxury brand, I avoided a 2005 Gallardo based on the PPI alone, 30% clutch remaining was a no no for me.

[@vernonpaigejr.1517]

Reason I got a 16 CTS 3 years ago. However, I still want an E-Class. I'll make sure I have the money for repairs. I used to tell people the parts are going to cost the same weather the car is new or not. Yeah Lexus is reliable but they are so boring.

[@MrJoseBarnes]

I was just about to buy a SL 1992 in a few days and YT pops me this up, coincidence? I think not. On ther side, great to know and have in mind all this

[@vlone_slatt3504]

Very informative video currently have the 18 c300 4matic with AMG package fully loaded and currently has 77k miles never skipped service still running and sunroof works buttery smooth but like you said the maintenance ain’t cheap for sure.

[@ECPP]

Thanks for sharing and hopefully it keeps running well. I know I own the same type of car too.

[@ebinwatkins1428]

Do you take it in to the dealer or do you go to a third party mechanic. And how much do you normally pay if u don’t mind me asking.

[@vlone_slatt3504]

@@ebinwatkins1428 I’m still under warranty so go to dealership service a 400-500$ service B 700-1000$ sometime they do prevention maintenance as you go high in mileage but after warranty I’ll do them myself doesn’t seem too complicated

[@martymiguel4496]

Another great video.

[@ECPP]

Thank you very much

[@thomashelm6931]

My old 240D, 4 speed was a tank. We put about 150k on it and two of my kids took their driving test on it. Easy to work on brakes and other things. A subsequent car, not so much, but not equipped with today's computer mess. To your point, Not today, without a solid warranty. We learn a considerable amount based upon your experience with these cars. Thanks for bringing it up!

[@ECPP]

For sure Thomas, some of the older Benzs are true work horses and good for a lot of miles, hence taxi duty for some as well as other commercial activities. The newer ones can be good but some are junk. It’s a matter of research. The S class for example is still great although they had a generation of trash there too when the top executive wanted to save some cashola. It seems that the S class is solid again but the price point cars like the CLA or GLA are not built to regular Benz standards. Like they say, an oldey but a goody.

[@juliochingaling5824]

Thank you brother for all the great info. Stay safe n God bless amigo.

[@ECPP]

Thanks so much and hope the sun is shining over there. It’s starting to here.

[@juliochingaling5824]

@@ECPP thanx brother, we finally had great weather 74 n 😎☀️ Have a safe weekend amigo. Enjoy the outdoors 🤠

[@777Edub]

Got a 2019 C43 amg 2 years ago for 45k, it was stickered at 72k! Had like 13k miles on it an like 25k now. I have zero issues, runs strong and this one came with like 15k worth of extras, carbon fiber it pops and bangs when shifting lol and has been a real treat to drive every single time i get into that car! I love my "used" Benz lol

[@aeyb701]

I had a ‘14 GLK 250. Replaced it with a 2011 Crown Vic. Happy to move down the ladder.

[@ECPP]

Well….

[@m.gezginesin9600]

My last Mercedes’ was e220 diesel from 2010 . I drove it until end of 2019 . The last mileage on display was 730000 km. That has seen almost every corner of Europe . Never seen a bmw or a an Audi doing the same. It is how you drive and maintain. If you abuse and neglect the car because it’s “ premium “ car that can handle it , then it will become very expensive . Otherwise , I would always prefer a 3-4 years old used Mercedes’ to a new Volvo or Japanese car. For me , it’s the most reliable car . You may pay more for it but you also get more from it back.

[@ECPP]

Maintenance is very important

[@pharoahmonk50]

Good information. These high compression engines are now made of plastic and light aluminum alloy, two materials that do not hold up well to heat. Over time, Mercedes and BMW's deteriorate to a premature end-of-life cycle stage.

[@ECPP]

True they are no longer built to last

[@highbrass7563]

My uncle has a Mercedes CLS 550 With I reckon a Biturbo V8. its a monster of a machine. It will do 275 kilometers an hour and doesn't need to take a breath on the way there or think twice about how it will get to speed. Unfortunately an intoxicated person drove a golf cart into it and an insurance claim was filed ( car repaired masterfully ) but..... But uhh.... Nobody will buy a used luxury/performance mercedes after its had an insurance claim filed on it..... Plus just the cost to change the oil. Its a car buyers worst nightmare. Fortunately he's got the cash to keep it running. You make a great point with this video. You must be weary. Thank you very much for the videos. Always so well done and I really appreciate your Content Mark!

[@ECPP]

Thanks a lot for sharing and yes sadly that’s also a nasty part of ownership. Other drivers can really put a hamper on the experience. Can you imagine a Hypercar on the street and a careless yo-yo puts their Chev Cobalt into the back of it. One word ouch.

[@highbrass7563]

@@ECPP Yes would be mortifying if a junker bumped into a hyper car ahaha "You hit WHAT!?!?!?" Haha. I appreciate your reply man. I so so love you content and will forever enjoy and reccomend your Content.

[@Byctvyb]

Bought a 2018 c43 with 35000 miles I'm hoping baby Jesus is looking out for me

[@ECPP]

Totally. Thanks for watching

[@andrejusgerasimovas1586]

I have my 2012 e220 coupe for over 4years not much gone wrong, good drive and reliability good car over 110k miles 10 years old

[@RunningThruLife]

My last 3 cars have been used MB. The interior and paint at 100k+ miles looks amazing compared to other brands and I guess I've been lucky because they've been very reliable. Great bang for buck. Hopefully #4 is a GT63🥳The quality is unmatched imo. Do your research before buying anything.

[@benkubenku1]

Making great videos!!!

[@ECPP]

Thank you very much

[@genekelly8467]

This why I want a 1962 Studebaker Avanti-easy to fix and cheap to run..plus it appreciates

[@ECPP]

Haha nice old school

[@powerboatguy2308]

Life cycle of a Mercedes. First owner is well to do, leases or buys it, then trades in a couple of years, the next owner (middle class who always wanted one) buys it, warranty runs out, starts getting hit with an expensive repairs and cuts his losses, sells cheap. The next owner is the young poser (40k a year guy), suspension goes out, he can't afford to repair it, it gets repo'd and car get parted out.

[@bghoody5665]

Great video, lots of good points. MB has made some amazing cars (SLR and SLS come to mind) but I'm not sure I'd ever buy one as a daily, not even something like a B class hatchback - the cost of keeping it running would just be too high. It would have to be as a fair weather treat or something to drive to a special occasion. Either that or go with a Lexus.

[@ECPP]

They do high fairly high running costs for sure

[@Drushkaa]

I bought a 2009 c300 with 63k miles on it to use as a daily in hopes of keeping miles off my new truck lol well see how this goes. So far 3k miles no problems. Need to do an oil change myself tho as it costs around 200$ at a shop!

[@melscorner4598]

Thank you so much for this. I love my 4 runner, and I was looking at purchasing a second vehicle for my 50th birthday. I really really wanted a used Mercedes C class. But after watching your videos, l decided to look at the Lexus IS 350. I really don't want to pay the costly maintenance and repairs on the Mercedes even if it's going to be my weekend car.

[@ECPP]

You are so welcome! The Lexus IS series is a wonderful car too so thats a great choice.

[@paulmaier26]

I have been driving Mercedes for decades. They have been solid and reliable for me. Maintenance, common sense, mechanical knowledge, proper care and respect for your automobile goes a long way.

[@timcollins380]

In my small fleet is a 2009 SL350 with 70,000km (43000 miles). It has an immaculate service history and is genuinely in as new condition with no discernible wear. Everything works. I paid less than 20% of what it cost new in 2009. This time of year in Western Australia (Autumn) with temperatures in the mid - high 20s celcius and bright blue skies, its the vehicle of choice for most daily duties, of course with the top down. Its a normally aspirated and very smooth V6. It has no complex MMI but does have the Comand system. If it goes wrong, I will install an aftermarket system. The biggest risk is with the folding roof, I self insure for any such issues. Its built like a tank. Sure, its running costs may be higher than some cars but with the weather we have here and being able to drive it top down for weeks at a time, its worth every $ to me.

[@KseRBanshee]

You are lucky you can get an SL350 with a V6, best of both world for luxury and reliability. Those V6s from Mercedes are bulletproof. I’m from Canada and all we have here is V8, it’s more powerful, smoother ride but less reliable and consume lots of gas. I love the styling of a SL but cannot get a V6 here. What a shame :(

[@timcollins380]

@@KseRBanshee Thank you, I love my SL, its a beautiful car. Its winter now here in Western Australia which is often wet, but a mild sunny day saw the SL out on Friday! I like theV6, its easily enough for the car. I own a European Automotive service and repair shop so my own guys service and take care of her.

[@KseRBanshee]

Yeah I love that M272 engine, I had a CLK350 here in Canada and I think we have pretty much the same engine, it is so smooth and I spent $0 on repair for the 4 years/89000km ownership of the car apart from wear and tear items: 2 times brake pads, tires change once, and 6 oil changes and that’s it and it drives just like the day I got it. And I drive hard, even got a muffler delete on it and just love to pull and pull. Would love to try an SL but no V6 here and the gas price is 😮‍💨

[@KloseDatBaxkdoor]

Should I get a 2017 e300? The reliability rating is 4/5 but Im not too sure if I should or not. Im not the richest but I just want a nice car with a beautiful interior like the e class.

[@meganoobbg3387]

"The most expensive car is a cheap Mercedes" - so the saying goes.

[@ECPP]

That’s with many luxury cars for sure

[@YYZ-SRQ]

basically true with any car., my friend poured an unbelievable amount of money into the 'cheap' Camry they bought. Had to replace things that you never usually have to like fuel filler neck, heater and windshield wiper motor to name just a few of the items

[@atx-cvpi_99]

BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, Land Rovers, and even some Volkswagens. Anything European is more likely to be an endless money pit. Every European brand sold in the USA except for Mini, Volkswagen, and Fiat is a luxury brand and even the non luxury European cars are still money pits. Many of these luxury cars end up in salvage yards and I’ve seen a ton of older model BMWs, Audis, Jaguars, Land Rovers, Mercedes-Benz cars, and Volkswagens in a pull a part yard and their European section is full of junk. If you see an Asian car or even some American cars in a pull a part, most of them in the junkyard have been totaled in an accident rather than a engine or transmission failure.

[@williamcusco379]

Talking about saving money and calling a car an investment is not adding up.

[@gordonarnold7465]

My main Man "Pots & Pans" Awesome👌channel & Info I appreciate what you do for the public, it is well received Knowledge is power I am one of your #1 fans Peace👻

[@ECPP]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@AndrewGibson22]

My C200 Diesel has 184,000 miles and does 55+ mpg. It is 18 yrs old and I bought it for £500 ($650) over two years ago. If I'm going to buy an old heap, I always buy a Merc oil burner as the engines rattle on for ever.

[@ECPP]

Nice

[@rkw3000]

You're making things up here. I had a turbo Mercedes from 1981 and that car ran like new.

[@glasser2819]

"become a trained Ford mechanic to swap parts randomly!" - LOL 😊 👏

[@ECPP]

Ouch

[@Jimmy-ph8xn]

How much did you pay for prepaid maintenance? My GLE 350 was $2650/4yrs. I had heard that an A/B service was approx $500/1k, but I researched recently and it’s actually $300/600 even at the dealer. Felt a fair bit dumb after the fact. I did have enough brain cells to decline gap, extended warranties, hazard protection, etc.

[@ECPP]

Wow, thanks for sharing Jimmy, that would be hard to say because it came with the car as a second hand buy. Previously paid for. With that said, purchase price probably means we paid anyhow.

[@tim3172]

CPO warranties only make sense with ZERO deductible and VERY comprehensive coverage. A lot of people get sucked into CPO warranties thinking they're identical to new car warranties; which is objectively false. Even a deductible of $100 can massively add up over multiple dealer visits as these cars age. Wear parts (not covered under CPO warranty, sometimes covered under new car warranty, depending on the circumstances) can be diabolically expensive on a used luxury car. Audi wanted $4000 for one (1) 19" wheel replacement on my car in 2014. Four thousand dollars for one wheel! Imagine you hit a curb and bent your wheel. Sure, insurance may cover it but good luck convincing them the actual cost is 4k. Never mind convincing a discount insurance company that's what it's worth. Of course, the old luxury car adage goes: If you can't afford it new; you (really) can't afford it used.

[@imohbalu]

hi what do you think about GLC-300 ? good or bad for long run GLC-300 VS R4 hybrid ?

[@danieltan5246]

Hi Mark. Thanks for your video. But do you own a Lexus or Acura?

[@ECPP]

I did but not currently

[@starseed_b]

Watching this as I am considering a used 2017 GLE 350 now. Noticing similar possible expenses and problems in my Nissan Titan XD with Cummins diesel motor, screen and basic tech. Parts are skimp and costs are high even with Nissan. What would be your input about the GLE 350?

[@ECPP]

True

[@Cabezon76]

" no pep boy action there" lol!

[@ECPP]

Lol

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Personally I wait for luxury cars to fall to somewhere between 10 and 20 percent of their original value. By that time there are many used parts around and lots of knowledge of how to economically fix things. I always make a stragegty to what I would do if the worst happens. For example second hand engines can be purchased cheaply for cars with reliable engines. The problem is finding repair shops who think like I do. Therefore I do most of my own repairs. By doing this I have often done more miles than the original owners with no huge expenses. I think the absolute worst thing you can possibly do is to pay 50 percent for a 4 year old perfect car without an extended warranty. As well as loosing a huge amount on depreciation you will loose again on repairs and repairing it yourself may not be all that cheap or easy to do due to many factors.

[@ECPP]

Absolutely so good buys

[@astudentpilotlife]

Oh man. I am so glad to buy a low mile used lexus over C class mercedes. I save alot for doing this. Now that I have enough for a new mercede. I might just go for the E class!

[@Maybaby1959]

If it’s not cpo. Or one owner with receipts RUN!!

[@ECPP]

That’s the safest way

[@slowsonyc]

Had a 2016 535i. Now I have a 2013 GS350. I do not plan on owning another German car.

[@SonNguyen-fc2xg]

My mechanic told me a long time ago to stay away from BMWs and Mercedes because he doesn’t want to keep repairing those cars for me and I end up getting mad at him because he will have to charge me a lot of money. Sure, if you have money and TIME to wait for the repairs, go for it. But if you have a busy life and only own one car, you need a reliable one.

[@ECPP]

You are right, hard to be an only car. Especially BMW even more.

[@Fister_of_Muppets]

I would buy certain model old Mercedes, but nothing new. If a modern luxury car is your kick, there's wiser options.

[@ECPP]

Nice

[@dpvbischoff]

Another great video, Mark. I own two SL-class and my experience with maintenance cost has spanned the spectrum. The 2010 SL63 has to go into the shop again to fix the folding hardtop, which I opened the first day I took the car out of the garage this spring, and could not put the top back up. This is the second time, and it will likely cost a few thousand dollars. I do many repairs myself, but that top/trunk has a zillion moving parts, switches, sensors and hydraulics. I don’t have the diagnostic gear nor the knowledge or experience to DIY. I bought my 2001 SL500 in 2009 for 1/5 of what it cost new, fixed a few things that the previous owner ignored, and have an absolute beauty that looks and works like new inside and out. It is such a global car that parts were alway easy to find, and not overly expensive. It’s 21 years old now so that may be changing.

[@ECPP]

Great comment David, yes there are some issues that is next level complex, for example I probably would not do the rod bearings on my M5, not because I can’t do an engine rebuild but even to get access to the bottom of the engine, is quite involved. There’s only so much we can tackle. Regarding the older machine, we had an ML500 which had a similar engine and other than a mis fire that the dealer struggled with and a crank sensor, the engine and trans were solid. Sadly the ML was built in thenUS and the overall quality of cosmetic parts was a bit substandard for a Benz. It also rusted aggressively but I am a rust belt so if a person lives in a better climate, that would not be an issue. Either way, some of the older Mercs were very solid and reliable.

[@startingtech3900]

just bought a 2017 mercedes c300 AMG pack i got it for 14k had new turbo oil pan gasket and a bunch of other things serviced for 14k it has the panoramic roof , burmester system, 19 inch amg wheels it runs great, no issues

[@ECPP]

Wow, sounds like a nice spec. How many miles on your car?

[@startingtech3900]

@@ECPP over 100k

[@lawrencefearon6830]

3 years ago bought a 2009 SL65 for $49k. 54k miles on it. Drove 10k more. Now this Mercedes is worth ......$65,000 and rising. A shrewd man buys a Mercedes timely, at the bottom of it's depreciation. Because owning a 13 year old Mercedes affordably is a skill for which he is rewarded. But everyday I had to study, research and work on the car. Everyday.

[@ECPP]

That’s the new wave these days

[@3ffrige]

We wasted so much money on our 2007 ML350. Gas mileage isn’t that great either. Had to replace engine due to balance shaft issue…$7K. Simple brake work on these things are about $1K. Just recently, the AC compressor seized, shredded the drive belt and a few pulleys. Had to replace the compressor, evaporator coils, manifold, idler pulleys, blah blah there went $4,100 bucks. This thing should have been mechanically totaled a long time ago, but she has sentimental value to us. She’s pretty old but now runs perfect. And I’d rather be in that ML350 than a more modern offering from Lexus or Acura. There’s something special about this brand in general. You feel SAFE in them. It feels rock solid and confident. You can go really fast in these things and still have the feeling of complete control of the vehicle. The doors close with a solid ‘thunk’ like a Diebold safe. When driving them, you literally connect with the car. These cars preemptively anticipates your driving patterns and runs accordingly. Want more performance out of your Mercedes? Drive the shit out of it. It will then adjust its operational parameters to the way you drive. Old or new, Mercedes products will always be on team ‘you’. It’s not the most reliable brand…these cars complain about every single little thing because it’s over engineered German powertrains are engineered with probably zero tolerances. Sensor out of whack with a voltage deviation of 0.001 volts? Check Engine light. Accidentally fart in the drivers seat? Check engine light. The couple next door arguing about dinner…check engine light. Don’t want this nagging light nagging you all the time? Follow the maintenance schedule on these cars EXACTLY. It will be expensive. If you cant afford the Mercedes maintenance schedule, you don’t belong in these cars. Everything about this brand is expensive. However, I wouldn’t want to drive anything less.

[@sonmalachi6364]

nah i'll keep mine yeah i've had some problems but my machanic is good to me going on 3years and i love my 2011 mb c300 about to wrap it this summer can't wait

[@ECPP]

Thanks

[@colinchandler6516]

great video

[@ECPP]

Thank you

[@mugiv5664]

I have watched many of your videos and learned a lot about about Mercedes cars. We recently visited a used car dealership and saw a 2014 Mercedes GL 550 that looks decent outside and inside. My wife wants to buy it, but I watched most of your videos and I’m on the fence about it. Do you think we should buy this car? Please let me know ASAP when you get this message as I’m very close to put in an offer. Thank you very much my friend in advance. I wait for your advice.

[@abcxyz6606]

As saying goes, if you Can't afford it new, then you Can't afford it used. Can you afford to Buy this car new? Given all risk already mentioned with 'Luxury' cars in many vids like this, its a gamble. If the Cost of maintenance and repair end up costing a lot, maybe even more than depreciation on a Brand New car itself, might as well buy New, and enjoy the latest and greatest model with out the Headache, Stress, Anxiety of potential Costly Maintain and Repair Breakdown Cost. Worst is if Used car breakdown in middle of highway, could be dangerous. And tons of time wasted in repair shops. I'm not giving advice, Just some thing to consider. Everyone is different so entire depends on your situation. GL. and oh does GL stand for Good Luck??...Hahaha

[@KC2024Champs]

I don't care for the column shifting on the Benz..they are problematic and takes the fun out of the drive especially if you have am AMG. I like my shifter on the floor..I was looking at the C Class you have a few years ago before I bought the Z...was disappointed when I saw the shifter was on the steering column. I liked CLA 250 though...it might be tolerable in a compact..especially the 2021

[@KC2024Champs]

Seen a vlog where the guy bought brand new C amg 63s ...hydrolocked in a rain storm ...3000 mi...total loss...made my mind up then...insurance said the engine replacement was $71000 ...luckily he had New car replacement coverage or he would have been screwed

[@ECPP]

Wow, that is absolutely ridiculous

[@kalletp8939]

Problem with older and non premium car is that you will not get parts easily in future.

[@ECPP]

True

[@gennaromontagna9482]

I can only speak from experience....My Wife bought a brand new MERCEDES, I will not name the model because I do not want to damage the brand...at 22000km she was driving along, -11C and at the corner of a major intersection her car just stops and rolls into the middle of the interssection, The car died, would not start and she was stuck, luckily she was safe, but a brand new mercedes that just dies...they told her OH you had a BAD ALTERNATOR... that they replaced... She got rid of the car right away and bought An ALFA ROMEO and SHE LOVES it! 88000km and going strong and the LOOKS she gets are unbelievable and shes loving every minute of it! GOOD LUCK MERCEDES!

[@ECPP]

Sounds like a great result with the new car

[@nkgudih]

Great & realistic facts, but Merc still commands a powerful brand despite being a truly endless money pit as they age. Great vid, as always.

[@ECPP]

Thank you very much. I believe that they carry more cache than BMW and likely a bit more dependable as well. Sometimes, and for some people it’s certainly worth it.

[@damilolaakanni]

In most African countries you almost never see a BMW anywhere. You'll find a few F10/F80s, E60s, and fewer E90s and E46s. The E46s usually look beaten up, especially from the paint. Popular luxury brands in Africa are Mercedes, Lexus and Acura.

[@YYZ-SRQ]

@@damilolaakanni In deepest Africa you still see lots of W123 and some W124 going strong

[@damilolaakanni]

@@YYZ-SRQ pretty bulletproof cars, those, and the W210 to some extent. They just keep going on with just regular maintenance. Sad that they don't make them as they used to.

[@YYZ-SRQ]

@@damilolaakanni W210 here in North America had a rusting problem, front fenders and rear trunk lid around the key button

[@benz500r]

If those things fail it's going to be a situation just like in the song "it's not a technological brake down, it's a road to financial hell."

[@tubeyouaja]

Please review porsche macan 2.0 year 2015-207. Is it have reliability issue also?

[@MrTurboRotary]

Dang brother! I admire your brutal honest opinion. But, are y sure that this big automaker are not coming after you crying that you are killing their business?👍👍👍

[@ECPP]

Just sharing my experience and knowledge. Hope it helps the consumer

[@amitchell4206]

What’s your opinion on a 2018 GLC 300 4 Matic? I would really like your honest opinion!!! Is being 1.5 years and is a amazing SUV and no problems so far!!

[@ECPP]

I own the c300 which is more or less the same vehicle, same chassis, same engine, same trans, and overall I have seen that it is full of tech and starts in very cold weather reliably, moderate for maintenance costs and predicted reliability for me is average. I would say from experience that it is beautiful but a bit fragile. We have owned our 2018 for about 1.5 years and so far so good. Engine is a little rattled too.

[@forrest2416]

You are right. Many thanks

[@MrJasonfromcanada]

I lucked out with our 2015 glk250, Mercedes diesel emissions scandal just put a 4 year warranty on the entire emissions system this year.

[@ECPP]

Wow, very nice. Maybe BMW needs to ante up too.

[@englishsteel-nz6im]

For the sake of balance I think the Mercedes "reliability" thing falls into a middle of the range of auto manufacturers and the cost of maintenance and parts while it's def a little more than other manufacturers... I've seen repair bills on say Dodge's and Honda's and it's not exactly cheap and Dodge and plenty of other brands have higher failure rates. Mercedes isn't going to be an abuse taking tank like a Toyota but if you keep up on the maintenance schedule and don't drive the piss out of it the car will last a long time for regular use. I have a 2016 C300 as my daily driver that I bought in 2019 before the used car price explosion for 21k out the door at a dealer(was a leased car they wanted to unload)with 27k miles and came w/a 3 year warranty and I've put 50k miles on it without even a tiny problem so far-- the last service the tech stated the car has no leaks and is in pristine condition and "is going to last a long time".... I've owned them in the past too and have never had any major issue's with them other than a little thing here and there BUT I stay on top of the maintenance. 77K isn't a lot of miles of course but the tech stating the car is in rock solid condition still functionally and will be around for a long time.. throws into that logic of "they die after the warranty"... warranty is at 50k... take care of them and they're not bad.

[@johnlacroix1639]

WOW very interesting super kool ,1st class great info.,,, AAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++ again great video I liked it a lot ,keep up the great work.

[@ECPP]

Great. Thanks

[@autoauctionsreviews6358]

Mercedes is less DIY friendly than BMW. Also, I feel like the BMW B series (B46, B58) engines are more reliable than their Mercedes equivalents.

[@damilolaakanni]

The B series engines are reliable because quality testing was done mostly by Toyota, IMO.

[@markhazzard9730]

"Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Range Rovers are endless money pits when the warranty runs out. Lease them for three years to get it out your system". Scotty Kilmer

[@ECPP]

True to a point but the world is not black and white, but there is a lot of gray in the middle. Ultimate in reliability comes in the form of a bicycle so reliability is very important but value and fun definitely play in there too.

[@theblacksamurai6329]

I bought an gle 350 2017 57k miles on it pretty good so far also v6 engine very powerful

[@rafaelyorro4466]

So l will dismiss to buy c250 4 cyl turbo 2013 mercedes?correct?

[@gwats19577]

I spent the day cruising around in my wife's GX460.... It's gonna be tough to drive my FJ or Tacoma around for the rest of the week!!!🤣🤣🤣😁😁😁😀😀

[@ECPP]

Haha

[@bdsouza1977]

This is definitely a good video because some of us think we can afford a cheap Mercedes. LMAO, we can't.

[@ECPP]

Thanks

[@colinchandler6516]

I agree

[@ECPP]

Cheers

[@rockflock4698]

I have 2011 s550 with a natural V8 a Lil over 95,000 miles had it for 2 years with no major issues. Keeping my fingers crossed. Stay AWAY from turbos!!!

[@ECPP]

Cheers

[@donaldbanner2185]

get a Lexus...I have a brand new Lexus...only maintenance was / is 78.00 for oil... & get this they fill the gas tank for FREE......Lexus is considered Very nice in Luxury / Gucci vehicles and I have gained money in resale and depreciation is 5% maybe...don't be dumb get a Lexus!!!

[@shantellbethel4966]

Hi Mark, what do you think about the Mercedes GLE 450 4matic brand new & used?

[@ECPP]

Absolutely gorgeous, I love that new GLE450. Saw one recently. nice road presence and wide stance. Yes, I would, just for the looks.

[@shantellbethel4966]

@@ECPP thanks for your quick response, the only problem is that it is my dream car and I will finally be able to afford one but I am from the Bahamas and I don't know of any certified mechanics here to work on it. I don't know if it would be wise to purchase one but I love that car.

[@1DonFF]

Infinity is also an better option over Mercedes Benz and BMW

[@ortiztheinfamous2771]

Im Looking at a 94 S Class (320). good price, thoughts? I dont really care new cars much honestly