Need second and third opinion on C180k

[Rouxenator]

Someday when I grow up I'll have a Mercedes, I have always wanted one.

 

[KhoisanX]

We had a C180K, they're rock solid, well made and even have good fuel economy(got as low as 6l/100km on the open road). Normal services aren't that expensive, but when someone breaks it can get really expensive.

On ours the alternator failed, just under R13k from the stealership. That's nearly 10% of the value of the car you're looking at. So what you really need to consider whether you can afford to fix it when things go wrong.

Would I buy the car in question today? No.

 

[froot]

On ours the alternator failed, just under R13k from the stealership.

:wtf:
I paid R1000 ex VAT on mine at the "stealership".

Labour was maybe 1 hour. So 2k incl everything.

 

[KhoisanX]

Probably got robbed lol, think it was around 2006/7 including labour etc. It actually failed again around 2009, paid a bit over R3k that time, not from the dealership though.
Figured it was best to get a new car after that.

 

[ponder]

On ours the alternator failed, just under R13k from the stealership. That's nearly 10% of the value of the car you're looking at. So what you really need to consider whether you can afford to fix it when things go wrong.

Well just maybe out of warranty you should not be using the stealerships?

MB does not make alternators, it could be a bosch unit or from some other manufacturer. Quick look online reveals £160 (you could probably get it for less) for a genuine part so for arguments sake lets say R3000 just to be batschit crazy. To remove & replace the part for a diy job is 45min so you are looking at under an hours labour. You got fscked over properly

 

[ponder]

:wtf:
I paid R1000 ex VAT on mine at the "stealership".

Labour was maybe 1 hour. So 2k incl everything.

Ok thx for that, just confirms what I said above. He got fscked without any lube, the lube would probably have been extra

 

[Grant]

Although you need to consider, that with a good example being the W203 Merc, if you take care of your car you shouldn't need any sort of rebuilding whatsoever under 250'000-300'000km.

they do seem to just go on & on & on

I have an old 300E that i keep for visitors / friends who come over on holiday.
Simply because it is so utterly reliable I cannot part with it. Every couple of weeks or so I will go pick it up & take it for a drive, to keep it running.
The car has now done 340 000 km.
It cruised to constantia from city and back like a dream, smooth, quiet & plenty of guts. I was quite amazed.

 

[Kloofvreter]

We had a C180K, they're rock solid, well made and even have good fuel economy(got as low as 6l/100km on the open road). Normal services aren't that expensive, but when someone breaks it can get really expensive.

On ours the alternator failed, just under R13k from the stealership. That's nearly 10% of the value of the car you're looking at. So what you really need to consider whether you can afford to fix it when things go wrong.

Would I buy the car in question today? No.

LOL, another one who went to the dealer to get ripped a new one. I thought it was common knowledge that this is what they do