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Mercedes are renowned the world over for their craftsmanship, luxury, and quality. However, in many countries, some or all the models for sale are imports. This means that not only the cars themselves but also any replacement parts. Add to this the need to go to a certified maintenance shop, and the cost of owning a Mercedes can add up quickly.
By the way, this is not anecdotal as a recent survey of ownership costs by Repair Pal identified Mercedes as the second most expensive car, in general, to own behind BMW. Given than Mercedes owners pay about $908 per year to keep their cars in tip-top shape, it is no wonder that drivers of older models chose to get extended warranties like this program: https://gogetolive.com/extended-car-warranty/mercedes/.
Beyond extended warranties, there are several steps you can take to find out the maintenance cost of an aging Mercedes and then find ways to save money. With that in mind, here is some insight into how much it costs to maintain a Mercedes.
Maintenance Plans
Offering free maintenance has become standard for premium and luxury car companies in recent years. While some of these programs will cover up to the first 110,000 miles, this does little to help drivers with an older car. After all, most Mercedes are built to last forever – or almost that long.
If you do decide to get a maintenance plan, you will have to check out the cost with your local dealers as this is not something that you can buy online, unlike an extended warranty, and this means that the dealers have more control in setting how much you will need to pay for it.
As such, a downside of a maintenance plan is that you could end up paying more for the plan than if you were to pay as you go. This is mostly dependent on how often you drive. If you find that you are not driving your Mercedes every day, then it might not make sense to pay upfront for a maintenance plan you will never use.
General Costs
Keeping up with the maintenance schedule on your Mercedes is just as important as you would do with any cart – if not more important, given the cost of major repairs. Also, following your maintenance schedule can help to preserve the value of your car when you go to sell it or trade it in.
While the average annual maintenance cost for a Mercedes Benz car is slightly more than $900, but there are two types of maintenance events – A and B., The first time for Event A is after 10,000 miles. This includes oil and filter changes, fluid checks, and other diagnostic checks. The first time Event B happens is at 20,000 miles, and this check contains all the activities in Event A plus brake checks and engine diagnostics.
Event A usually costs about $250, but Event B can cost more than $900 – and that’s before any repairs are required. As you can see, these maintenance events are the same as the $50 oil change at your local Jiffy Lube. Part of the reason is that the manufacturer’s guidelines call for original filters and synthetic motor oil.
Assume you own an E350. Over five years, you will end up paying more than $4,000 just in maintenance costs. As you can see, these costs add up quickly, and if you are only driving 10,000 miles per year, the cost per mile is eight cents per mile.
This might not sound like a lot, but when compared to other cars on the road, you see that owning a Mercedes means that you need to have the ability to pay to keep the car in good condition. Of course, this is just one example as the actual costs will depend on the model, for example, service for S-Class vehicles costs more than C-Class vehicles, and how many miles you drive.
By the way, if you are considering purchasing a Mercedes, then you might want to check out some of the Total Cost to Own tools online, such as the one from Edmunds. These tools will give you an idea of how much it will cost you to have your dream car and to keep it running.
Note, we have only talked about traditional drive vehicles (i.e., benzene and diesel engines) and not the hybrid or electric drive options that Mercedes offers. While some of these vehicles have fewer moving parts, you will need to replace the batteries from time-to-time, and this could end up costing quite a bit in repairs. However, you must keep in mind the money you will be saving on gas, which can be quite a bit.
As you can see, it is not cheap to own a Mercedes. If you are considering buying one, make sure you can afford the regular maintenance and have a plan to cover major repairs in case they pop up. This will not only help you to enjoy your car but will make sure you don’t go broke in the process.
