Hello,

I thought I'd make a post here about the real and true cost of owning an older Mercedes diesel. Anything 1986 and prior is now 32+ years old and the ownership costs is going up, as the parts are getting more rare and expensive. All dealership OEM parts have gone up. That darn monovalve is now $110! I want to make this clear though, if you find yourself a decent Benz which is mostly rust free and that has been maintained overall, the cost of ownership is still significantly less then a leased/used car, never mind brand new. I'll put some basic figures below for you.

Model: 1985 Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel from NY

Inspiration: First car was a Mercedes 300E, rusted to heck but drove better then any other car I've ever been in. I started following the forums and reading amazing posts like Squiggle Dog restoration (Please don't sell your car squiggle!). People like him inspired me to buy one.

Purchase Price: $5000 (yes expensive but 0 rust which is rare in Canada)

Maintenance Cost: (Canadian)

2016: $569.71 CAD
2017: $6571.80 CAD
2018 total: $1693.32 CAD and counting!

I'm guessing that between this year and next, I will drop about 4-5k finishing off literally everything that could be replaced or rebuilt (minus the engine and transmission which don't need it). Data to follow below. With these cars, you will have months that are expensive sure, however, if you tackle it in a well organized fashion with a budget, you can slowly restore one of these beautiful pieces of over engineering that the world will never see again for a darn good price! Who wants to drive a new ford with echo boost anyway? Or those silly new fully loaded dodge pickup trucks for 65k. So dumb.

1985 Mercedes 300D Maintenance Costs Total Parts Total Labor Total with tax

2016
Aug-16
Aug 11 -German Auto Kitchener - Oil Change & Brake Fluid Flush (dot4) $149.19 $69.99 $239.76
Month Total $239.76

Oct-16
Krown Rustproofing $119.95 $135.54
Month Total $135.54

Dec-16
Dec 2 - German Auto - Oil Lube Service & Air Filter $150.99 $170.68
Dec 5 - German Auto - Replace Washer Check Valve and repair plastic lines $23.73 $23.73
Month Total $194.41

2017
Jan-17
Jan 5th - Mercedes Benz Burlington - 4 Serpentine Belt and pre-fuel Filter $54.61 $54.61
Jan 7th - Fairview tire and auto - install 4 OEM serpentine belts $189.84 $189.84
Jan 18th - German Auto - Front right wheel bearing, water pump, upper rad hose, theromstat and anti-freeze flush OEM Parts $388.77 $489.96 $992.96
Jan 26th - Rebuild 2 front calipers by John and Stewart Brake Hamilton $240 $240
Jan 26th - 2 brake flex lines, dot 4 brake fluid and other shop supplies (A&A Auto Parts) $60 $60
Month Total $1,537.41

Feb-17
Feb 16 - Front Left Wheel Beating - OEM - German Auto $337.29 $337.29
Feb 17 - 5 Injector Nozzles & Heat Shields - Mercedes Benz Burlignton $254.82 $254.82
Feb 24 - A&A Auto, Oil Filter (Mann), Oil Liqui Molly (5w40), Fuel Injector Cleaner, Gloves, O ring $119.38 $119.38
Month Total $711.49

Mar-17
March 16 - Mercedes Benz Burlington - passenger headlight cover, 2 rear sway bar links $146.31 $146.31
Month Total: $146.31 $146.31

Apr-17
April 3 - Walmart - Purchase 2 wipers (rainx brand) $25 $25
April 4 - Mercedes Benz Burlington - Purchase 4 throttle linking ball joints $38.69 $38.69
April 18 - Autopartsway.ca - 2 Upper Control Arms (Lemforder) & 4 Upper Outer Bushings (FEBI) (installed myself) $191.18 $191.18
Month Total: $254.87

May-17
May 25th - German Auto - Oil change, injector leak repair, turbo boost repair $198.88 $198.88
May 29th - Autopartsway.ca - 2 front rotor, 2 pads, 2 lemforder engine mounts $188.97 $188.97
Month Total: $387.85

Jun-17
June 6 - Mercedes Benz Burlington - 2 diff output seals axle ends $35.12 $35.12
June 13 - Jay's Auto Service Waterdown - 2 rear diff seals, 2 new axles, diff fluid and reseal $491.93 $450 $941.93
June 16th - Active Green and Ross Fennel - 2 new front tires and full alignment $245.18 $245.18
Month Total: $1,222.23

17-Jul
July 6 - Injectors pop cleaned, pop tested, set to 135 BAR, new OEM heat shields, torqued down to spec $222.21 $222.21
July 15 - Valve Adjustment completed - no cost - dealership allowed to use wrenches $0
July 18 - AutoPartsWay.ca - Air Filter Bracket, Air Filter Rubber Mount x3, injector heat shieldx3, MANN Air filter $110.69 $110.69
July 27 - Jay's Auto Service Waterdown - replace rear right axle as it failed and leaking - no cost (Warranty) $0.00 $0.00
Month Total: $332.90

Aug-17
August 3 - autopartsway.ca, Rear Brakes - zimmerman rear rotors x2, pagid rear brake pads $125.16* $125.16
August 3 - install air filter housing bracket, install MANN air filter and rubber mounts $0.00 $0.00 $0
August 4 - JK Auto Repair Kitchener - Install rear brake rotor and pads $100.00 $100
August 4 - German Auto - Oil Change $127.11 $127.11
August 5 - Victoria Star Motors - new sunroof clip, 3 heat shields for air filter housing mounts $54.82 $54.82
August 5 - Install heat shields on rubber mounts for air cleaner bracker $0.00 $0.00
Month Total: $407.09

Oct-17
October 1 - Replace broken boost cables, install 2 turbo sleeve seals, install boost cable, bypass valve $30 $30
October 12 - add 1L oil 15W40, repair A/C bolts (coming out and hitting belt) $50 $50
October 22 - Krown Rust Protection $104.24 $104.24
October 24 - Oil change - Liqui Molly 5W40 - MANN Filter- A&A Auto Parts, replaced 2 smaller seals on oil filter $96.54 $96.54
Month Total: $280.78

Nov-17
Nov 7 - autopartswaysite - Radiator (Spectra Premium), Lower Rad Hose, Rad cap, Power Steering Filters $228 $228
Nov 11 - Purchase 4 winter tires, install, have balanced $300 $300
Nov 22 - Send $100 to kijiji guy - 4 OEM rims, sunroof parts, brake booster, eletrical clip $100 $100
Nov 23 - Replace radiator, lower rad hose, water pump, MB antifreeze, replace boost cable (Prestige Auto) $391.68 $391.68
Month Total: $1,019.68

Dec-17
Dec 13 - Purchase Battery - MotoMaster Eliminator Ultra - AGM, install battery bracket (OEM) $271.19 $271.19
Month Total: $271.19

2018
Jan-18
Jan 6 - Oil Change - MB Oakville $129.63 $129.63
Jan 10 - pelicanparts.com - monovalve, brake booster line, 1 hella headlights with conversion kit, sunroof seal front $251.04 $251.04
Jan 17 - German Auto - Transmission Service - Filter + Fluid + Torque Converter $300.63
Month Total $681.30

Feb-18
February 16 - Oil Change - Victoria Star Motors $149.09 $149.09
Month Total $149.09

Mar-18
March 15 - pelicanparts.com - headlight cover, hella headlight kit, engine shocks/mount, mount kitx2, oil drain tube set, valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, 2 oil cooler lines $544.76 $862.93
Month Total $862.93

__________________
1976 Mercedes 240D (Sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel: 500,000KM
1986 Mercedes 300E (Sold)
1988 Mercedes 300E (Sold)
2002 Mercedes C240 (Sold)
2008 Mercedes C350 4matic

A great site for purchasing industrial rubber products!

Industrial Rubber