UKC

I've read two years, being around 1994 and around the year 2000.

Our family had a Merc estate company car in red when I was a kid which took us on loads of holidays, so I've a bit of a soft spot for them.

Ta

In reply to Timmd:

It was before I bought my 2005 SLK 350.

No longer have it.

Too many electronic gagets, including engine management system, which cost a bomb to repair when they go wrong

In reply to Trangia:

I think that's the case in most cars these days although the engine management for a Merc probably costs more than for a Ford Mondeo but I know which I would sooner have. I've owned dozens of cars over the years but these days if it's not German I'm not interested. And who would want to go back to the 70's/ 80's. There may have been less electronics but cars were always breaking down and bits dropping off with rust. Cars today are much, much better.

Al

In reply to Timmd:

When they developed the rustbucket know as the 'Vito'?

In reply to Andy Say:

I’ve had a 2005 and 2009 S-class. They are complicated machines with a lot that can and did go wrong on them.

In reply to Timmd:

I've a 2005 sprinter 208 and it's mechanically sound still, with very few repairs ( 1 x new starter motor and 2 x new horns....). Rusts up badly though! Mates that work for logistics company seem to think that this is the norm for merc vans - micron thin paint as not really designed for shitty Scottish weather.

Cheers,

Stuart

In reply to GridNorth:

As my local garage mechanic (and he was a mechanic) said to me ... you don't have cars any more you've got computers with wheels.

In reply to zebidee:


Is that true though? All the computer is doing is controlling the fuel going into the engine. Everything else is exactly the same (bar a few refinements) as it was when they invented the combustion engine. It is just that the fuel injection system is mega complicated and the frustration is that if any sensor gives spurious data, the computer won't play ball.

That said, I used to have an old Escort with a carburettor on it that was always playing up.

In reply to Timmd:

Who cares, they all look like generic Japanese plastic dross made for the U.S. market. If anyone doesn't know thats not a good look.

D

In reply to ByEek:


The computer may (not all engines will be the same level of sophistication obviously) be monitoring oil pressure/flow/location, coolant, manifold pressures, the air flow into the engine, air-fuel ratios, exhaust oxygen levels, the turbo-/super-charger pressures, etc. etc.

Based upon all this monitoring it'll be controlling the air-fuel ratio, ignition timings, idling speeds & valve timings.

That's a wee bitty more than just controlling the fuel going into the engine.

On top of that the "computer" could be controlling the suspension, traction control, etc.

If you've got something like the newer Discoverys or Range Rovers it'll also be monitoring the surface conditions and adjusting the ride/handling/gearing selection of the car appropriately.


'nuff said

In reply to Dauphin:


I wouldn't say all, but I vaguely agree.

http://www.globalcarslist.com/data_images/gallery/02/mercedes-benz-200t/mer...

This is the model we had as a kid, it was as tough as old boots. If I ever come across a diesel model when I've passed, I might buy it for nostalgia's sake and run it on cooking oil. (:~))

In reply to Timmd:

I ran a W124 E280 Estate for while. It was beautifully built and is regarded as being one the last 'hewn from granite' or other robust cliché.

Having said that it leaked badly! Under the passenger seat carpets and around the rear three quarter glass. I patched up, made good and sold it to guy who travelled from Ireland to collect it. It was at the sweet spot when you could buy as a banger and sell as a classic! W124 prices are silly now.

The W123 is a proper, no nonsense old school motor that is straight forward to maintain but again the prices are getting steep.

I also had a CLK of 2001 vintage. Not so good. I see one in car park near me and ALL the arches are rusted out. Not acceptable.

Mrs tmm has a 2012 E class estate. I am grateful for the extended warranty as it has had a succession of things wrong and the servicing costs are epic. Not convinced we will be buying another Merc unless this ownership experience improves and that the problems in our time with the car have been front loaded.

In reply to Timmd:


From about 1994 onwards when Mercedes decided to change from a European producer of premium cars to being the world's bigger global producer. As part of this in 1998 it "merged" (ie.took over) Chrysler and had to spread its best engineers and managers too thinly across the world. I think that merger is generally considered the ket moment in its decline. Quality suffered.

Very noticeable when I recently drove through Germany and Austria that I hardly saw a Merc compared to Audis, BMWs and, of course, VWs.

In reply to Postmanpat:
Sounds about right. I have a German teacher friend , and visited him around then, and he told a similar story.

He drove an Audi ( like a maniac) but said he would buy Japanese before buying a Merc, as Mercs were unreliable. But I think the taxis were Mercs and that did not make sense to me, as you would think that taxes would go for reliability first and foremost, so I'm interested in this thread for that reason, I would like that puzzle answered.


Edit :- Taxis

In reply to TMM:





The company car we had was a 200 or something like that.

I think it was one of these I saw on Fifth Gear while flicking stations, which being given lots of abuse and proving to be very robust, which was a car from 94.

https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=667&q=1...

I'm going to try and avoid getting a car for as long as I can, as it seems greener, but as I get closer to being qualified in the kinds of jobs I'd like to do it's looking like something I need to be thinking about, and a simpler/ reliable car seems desirable, I'm looking for the right combination of home maintainable and reliable, probably like most people who don't want to think about service costs.

A long in the tooth Mercedes probably isn't the best choice.