Anyone have experience with or knowledge about Mercedes-Benz cars?

**Killercanary** · 03-23-2009, 08:46 PM

My wife and I are looking to replace our SUV with an AWD car and we just drove a 2007 Mercedes Benz C280 4 matic. We love the car but since I've never owned a Mercedes, or any German car for that matter, I wasn't sure if there was anything to look out for, be aware of, etc. I was hoping since we have such a diverse group of enthusiast on here that someone may have some input on these cars. Every car I've ever owned has been domestic except for my wife's Mr2 spyder. I like to do all of my own maintenance on my vehicles. What I'd like to know is if there are any common problems with these cars, if they have any dealer-only maintenance requirements etc. I don't want to buy a vehicle that I can afford to purchase and end up with one that I can't afford to maintain. This is my primary concern with this car. I didn't think I'd love it as much as I do, but within the 1st mile I was hooked. I already have the car held for me and plan to purchase it as soon as tomorrow unless I find reason's why I shouldn't. I appreciate any and all input if you are familiar with these cars. Thanks!
-Paul

**biminiLX** · 03-23-2009, 10:07 PM

My good friend with a blown '95 Cobra is a MB/Audi tech back in OH, he has nothing but the best to say about MB products and 'most' Audi stuff (he doesn't like the long service intervals on the turbo motors).
If you like it go for it---is it CPO?
-J

**Killercanary** · 03-23-2009, 10:18 PM

Thanks J. What is CPO? I have heard a lot of bad things about the newer Audi stuff, that is why I haven't looked into the A4/A6 stuff, maybe I was misinformed. I have heard they are plagued with electrical problems.

**Viper_ed** · 03-23-2009, 10:50 PM

Can't go wrong with a Benz or BMW IMO, but don't count out the domestic Caddy STS4. Monica and I both really like the one I got her for Christmas. The AWD is fantastic in it and goes every bit as good as the Mark LT in the snow.

**biminiLX** · 03-23-2009, 10:54 PM

CPO=cert. pre-owned
I'm sure its still under warranty as an '07 but CPO has some nice extra coverage.
I really like Audis, test drove quite a few '00-01 S4s and '04 A6 S-lines before moving here but ending up with a 9700 mile '97 SHO which I got bored with and found my SVT Contour :)
-J

**yeahloh95** · 03-23-2009, 10:56 PM

i like the bmw 's too

**stieny** · 03-23-2009, 11:16 PM

I'm a big fan of the C series. I think its a great car for the money.

Obviously I've never owned one but I did own a VW and I loved it. It was a very reliable, good running vehicle and fit and finish was top notch. It never gave me an ounce of trouble with the exception of some warranty work that they were extremely easy to work with to get it done. I have known a lot of people that have owned German cars (Audi's, BMW's, VW's) and everyone had nothing but good things to say about them.

As far as maintenance costs are concerned, my Volkswagen wasn't bad at all. Out of all the German cars owned by my friends, the only one that was expense to maintain was my buddies M3 but that is going to be expected with those cars.

I say if you and your wife drove it and liked it, then pull the trigger.

Good luck with it.

**SonofaBish** · 03-24-2009, 06:49 AM

My boss has one of the new MB C300 sport sedans and he absolutely loves it... its less powerful than his Infinity G35 sedan was, but he says he can't tell with the 7speed auto tranny....
I know that he insists on taking his car to the dealership for an oil change, etc because he says that's where you are supposed to take it.. but he's not really an automotive person, so he really doesn't know how to do it himself even if he wanted to...

Pretty good lookin' ride too!

**03 OW SVT** · 03-24-2009, 03:35 PM

My wife and i just bought an 07 Audi A4 (see sig) and i have to tell ya it is awesome.

I did some research on it before we bought it to see what owners had to say about them. Out of 7 pages i read on Edmunds.com there were only 5 people that were not satisfied. I don't remember reading anything about electrical problems with Audis.

P.s No matter what German car you buy you will love how they feel on the road. Our Audi is a drivers car.

**SonofaBish** · 03-24-2009, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by CST 03

My wife and i just bought an 07 Audi A4 (see sig) and i have to tell ya it is awesome.

I did some research on it before we bought it to see what owners had to say about them. Out of 7 pages i read on Edmunds.com there were only 5 people that were not satisfied. I don't remember reading anything about electrical problems with Audis.

P.s No matter what German car you buy you will love how they feel on the road. Our Audi is a drivers car.

I've heard a lot about electrical problems as well.. My boss' girlfriend has an A4.. as well as a good friend of mine's wife.... they both had to have expensive repair jobs done to the windows because the just quit working out of the blue....

My friend told me that its a common thing with teh Audi's....

personally - i'd deal with a possible window issue if it meant purchasing a S5 :)

**03 OW SVT** · 03-24-2009, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by SonofaBish

I've heard a lot about electrical problems as well.. My boss' girlfriend has an A4.. as well as a good friend of mine's wife.... they both had to have expensive repair jobs done to the windows because the just quit working out of the blue....

My friend told me that its a common thing with teh Audi's....

personally - i'd deal with a possible window issue if it meant purchasing a S5 :)

I just hope if we have electrical problems it will happen under warranty.

I like the S5's also

**KBCobra** · 03-24-2009, 03:48 PM

Guy I work w/ has an 05 e350 i believe. He loves it. Only issue he ever had was something w/ the battery. I guess these cars have a seperate battery just to power all the misc options these cars have. I know he said it's incredible in the snow with the awd

**Christine57** · 03-24-2009, 04:04 PM

I owned a 2003 C320 Sport. I bought it used with 11K on it and it was certified used through Mercedes which added 2 more years for warranty. After about a month the car had a slight miss with check engine light on, took it to get checked and all they did was reflash the computer with new updates. This went on once a month and then I noticed a noise from underneath car and said hmmmm, a miss, check engine light and now a noise centered around the cat. Well, 3 weeks later it left me stranded on the highway,(after I took it back to dealer and asked them to check the cat, just humor me) called for road side assistance waited on hold for 20 min. So I called a tow truck myself. Towed out to dealer. Low and behold the catalytic converter broke apart at 12,135 miles! I traded it in due to the fact at 12K the cat went, and the miss was still there. And, their customer service dept. really sucks! BUT, the car had alot of options and did hold a curve at 85mph.

**03 OW SVT** · 03-24-2009, 04:23 PM

Just want to add the interiors are top notch in the German cars.

**Rio94gt** · 03-24-2009, 04:45 PM

Paul, my mom owned a Mercedez 2004 C230 4 Matic which was the year before they came out with the C280 4 Matic. Her new car is a 2008 BMW 328Xi. I have driven them both. Both are awsome in the snow with the AWD. The Mercedez was severly under powered but the model you drove does have more horsepower. Also the BMW has a much tighter and sportier feel than the Mercedez. I prefer the BMW. They are both in the same price range so i think it would be worth your while to drive a comparible BMW.

**AdamantiumSilvr** · 03-24-2009, 07:06 PM

Don't know to much about'em other than they can get quite pricey and they're SICKK!!!

**badf250** · 03-24-2009, 07:35 PM

I currently own a Jetta and am fairly happy with it. very solid built car for it price range. As for the Audi A4, I probably buy a VW Passat 4 motion first as it is almost the same car for less $$. They all tend to be more expensive to repair than an American car though and sometimes you have a hard time getting parts for them as well.
Mercedes Benz cars seem to be built well as we have some customers with them, but their interior stylingis not really to my likeing. We do have a customer with an ML55AMG that is a total POS that constantly has problems from brakes, front end parts to power windows goign bad.

As to BMW's they drive really well, but I havent been overly impressed with them relyability wise as some of our customers have 7 series that have had some stupid problems with them.

**Troll** · 03-24-2009, 10:07 PM

Paul, did you buy it? pics !!!

**Shadowstealth** · 03-24-2009, 10:40 PM

why awd? personally i love toyotas... theres a lot you can do to a toyota... and get the things you maybe looking for... check some yotas out!

**2001GTTT** · 03-25-2009, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by KBCobra

Guy I work w/ has an 05 e350 i believe. He loves it. Only issue he ever had was something w/ the battery. I guess these cars have a seperate battery just to power all the misc options these cars have. I know he said it's incredible in the snow with the awd

my boss has the same car, two batteries replaced by Smail Mercedes = $700. fun fun.