Mercedes-Benz is a name that has been synonymous luxury cars, allowing their owners to exude a sense of pride and superiority. When a brand is hailed as the epitome of automotive engineering, they must be doing something right. Perhaps it’s the fact that they offer the best driving experience in their class that gives owners the right to show off how they do it. After all, these machines are powerful and nimble, which makes them competent enough to go head-to-head with modern sports cars, despite their luxury car status. Surely, there is no doubt that these cars symbolize success for most people in the world.
However, alongside other major luxury car brands, there are certain issues that tend to lurk beneath the surface of owning a Mercedes-Benz, which owners would rather not talk about. So here’s a list that delves into the murky underworld of Mercedes-Benz ownership to reveal the things that proud owners of these impressive machines would never dare admit out loud. Maintenance statistics are taken from CarEdge.
10 Mercedes-Benz can have serious maintenance costs
When a gearhead finally buys that Mercedes-Benz they’ve been wanting for years, they’re grateful to have gotten the car of their dreams. Unfortunately for them, what awaits them is something that will drain their bank and cause them stress. The maintenance costs of a Mercedes-Benz are nothing to smile about. Maintenance costs for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class are considered higher than the industry average for luxury sedan models by $345.
There is about a 31% chance that these cars will require at least one major repair during this time. Knowing all this can make anyone second guess the purchase of the Mercedes of their dreams. But this is something that many owners prefer to keep quiet.
9 The higher cost of insurance affects Mercedes-Benz owners
Almost everyone who buys a luxury car has difficulty insuring it. Cars like a Mercedes-Benz tend to be more expensive to insure because they have a higher value, so repairs and replacement parts cost more than usual. This increases the cost of owning a Mercedes-Benz, and for models like the AMG GT S, the cost to insure is around $6,818 per year.
Insurance companies seem more than willing to take these numbers into the stratosphere. Millionaires won’t care, but the average Joe needs to look before he leaps.
8 Mercedes-Benz owners can’t find reliable third-party mechanics
The local mechanic is almost always cheaper when you need to fix the regular family car. Always good to have on your Christmas card list. In an ideal world, if the mechanic follows Mercedes-Benz’s schedule and rulebook to the letter and uses original parts, the car’s warranty should still be valid. This is often not the case, however, and many drivers, as well as mechanics, do not want to take the risk. After all, they are dealing with a premium luxury car. This leads to a long waiting time at official dealers and an increase in the cost of repairs. Be careful though, as these bills will not be for the faint of heart!
There are still some ways, however, in which you can find the best affordable repair shop for your car that can be quite reliable.
7 Rubbish and scratches terrify Benz owners
Another thing Mercedes-Benz owners are always worried about is the slightest scratch or dent on their beloved ride. Quite often, they can be seen parking their cars in the farthest corner of a parking lot, away from other cars, just to avoid the risk of damage. Luxury cars look best in their premium state, and even minor damage can break their character and presence. While Mercedes-Benz makes truly reliable machines, it’s no invulnerable beast and fears the ghostly sound of a scratch as much as any other car.
Plus, there’s the added factor that the average jealous idiot might try to take your awesome Mercedes-Benz out of spite.
6 The risk of theft is always present with a Mercedes-Benz
When you own one of the world’s most popular luxury car brands, you’re a prime target for thieves. Homeowners are always aware of the risk of theft and often have to take extra precautions, such as installing expensive security systems, which add to maintenance costs. There’s also the fact that many insurance policies don’t cover your car against theft, which is an all too likely scenario depending on where you live. Living in constant fear of vandalism and theft isn’t exactly “luxurious,” but Mercedes-Benz owners often don’t like to admit it.
5 Older Mercedes-Benz can be prone to oil leaks
A common problem with many Mercedes-Benz cars that are more than a decade old is oil leakage problems. The last thing you want is to be driving down the road and suddenly find yourself with a stuck engine, all because they couldn’t keep the oil level up. Although the most modern variants of these cars are many times more reliable in terms of hardware quality, the same cannot be said for all generations of Mercedes-Benz.
Owners of any pre-2010 Mercedes-Benz are well aware of their reputation for being over-engineered and having valve-gasket sealing problems from time to time. Hopefully, these problems will be a thing of the past, along with the cars they chase.
4 Mercedes-Benz rusts faster than a sinking ship
It’s not just a problem with older models, even some newer Mercedes-Benz cars can start to show signs of rust before you know it. It’s like they were made to dissolve in salt water. When you spend a lot of money on a Mercedes-Benz, you expect it to last. And rust is not something you want to have to deal with, especially if you live in a place with harsh weather conditions.
Prevention is better than cure, so in case you live in the coastal regions of North America, it would be wise to protect your Mercedes-Benz with regular cleaning and waxing. The wax will act as a protective layer and prevent moisture from seeping into the paint and causing rust. It is also recommended to follow helpful guidelines and take additional measures to prevent and treat rust and corrosion.
3 Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to engine failures
Before they even reach the 100,000 mile mark, Mercedes-Benz owners may witness the flashing of the “check engine” light. It may be just the beginning of an engine failure problem that, if left undiagnosed and treated, will likely only get worse. Since older Mercedes-Benz models are good friends with corrosion and rust, the most likely cause of this engine failure is corroded spark plugs. Replacement and sandpaper treatment may be the best option in this scenario.
The worst of these cars is, perhaps, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250, which has five recalls and more than 300 complaints to its name, which could very well win a medal if there was a world championship for engine problems.
2 Mercedes-Benz cars depreciate like crazy
Unfortunately for readers hoping to trade in their cars for something shinier in the future, the depreciation rate for a Mercedes-Benz is one of the highest in the industry, and for good reason. Although it depends on a number of factors, such as the model year and the type of driving it has been subjected to, these cars can reasonably be expected to lose 40% to 50% of their value in three years and up to 60% in five years .
Although the Mercedes-Benz is not a favorable choice for those looking for a car with a good resale value, a high depreciation rate also has advantages. For example, while it is true that many drivers want to own a new Mercedes-Benz, they may not have the money to pay for the privilege. In this scenario, it might be in your best interest to put your name down for a used one and still get something reliable and luxurious.
1 Mercedes-Benz is not so friendly to the environment
They don’t explain to drivers the environmental impact of driving a gasoline-guzzling luxury vehicle. It may not be common knowledge to the average car enthusiast, but Mercedes-Benz has been sued many times for emissions cheating. They were also fined $16.9 million for breaching emissions regulations by South Korean authorities. The claim was that Mercedes had installed software in its cars to alter pollution mitigation devices, changing their performance under normal driving conditions compared to certification tests. While some may not take the environmental impact of these incidents seriously, drivers should understand that when a top-tier automaker like Mercedes-Benz is willing to go to great lengths to hide related information with emissions, it’s not something to be taken lightly.
Mercedes-Benz is a well-reputed brand with millions of fans, so these stocks are not becoming the auto giant they are.
