I have a 2002 C320 wagon with 220,000 Km on it, and once I replaced a light bulb on the brake. This 2008 R320CDI with 220,000 km looks like it can compete with the Tata from India. In 12 years of ownership, I went through 3 sets of light bulbs. The engineer who designed them should work on servicing them for at least a couple of years to see what a poor design he can be proud of. Each light bulb needed to be replaced with its igniter as its prongs that holds on to the bulb is made out of cheap plastic that hardens due to high temperature.
This is only a minor problem.
The air duct connected with turbo again is made out of cheap plastic and due to higher temperature it cracks and breaks into pieces that fails into the turbo, thus damaging the fins.
Not to mention the rear suspension - the rubber bellows started leaking at 85K km and needed to be replaced. What's worse is the way they are designed is a pity. Again cheap plastic housing for leveling sensors allowed the water to get in and the variable resistors rust thus making hard to set the proper level.
How about "leather seats"? With 110k km, the drivers seat started to show cracks. Presently it is falling apart. My 2002 c wagon still has good seats.
This is my last Mercedes. I checked with Lexus RX350 and seeking to trade in as my friends who owns them enjoy their car, not the endless trips to dealerships.
On the positive site, Mercedes dealers have a good coffee, perhaps to make up for the high bills in repairs.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have a 2002 C320 wagon with 220,000 Km on it, and once I replaced a light bulb on the brake. This 2008 R320CDI with 220,000 km looks like it can compete with the Tata from India. In 12 years of ownership, I went through 3 sets of light bulbs. The engineer who designed them should work on servicing them for at least a couple of years to see what a poor design he can be proud of. Each light bulb needed to be replaced with its igniter as its prongs that holds on to the bulb is made out of cheap plastic that hardens due to high temperature.
This is only a minor problem.
The air duct connected with turbo again is made out of cheap plastic and due to higher temperature it cracks and breaks into pieces that fails into the turbo, thus damaging the fins.
Not to mention the rear suspension - the rubber bellows started leaking at 85K km and needed to be replaced. What's worse is the way they are designed is a pity. Again cheap plastic housing for leveling sensors allowed the water to get in and the variable resistors rust thus making hard to set the proper level.
How about "leather seats"? With 110k km, the drivers seat started to show cracks. Presently it is falling apart. My 2002 c wagon still has good seats.
This is my last Mercedes. I checked with Lexus RX350 and seeking to trade in as my friends who owns them enjoy their car, not the endless trips to dealerships.
On the positive site, Mercedes dealers have a good coffee, perhaps to make up for the high bills in repairs.
- Daniel S., Toronto, ON, Canada