I have a question. I am planning on buying a 2005 Mercedes C280 and I have one question. What is the average milage on a mercedes before it dies? I figured that if i am buying a used mercedes i want to know if the mileage is ok.

 

So much of that question depends on your definition of dies, and also how well you take care of the car. Knock on wood, my 1998 has 170k miles on it with the original engine, tranny, alternator, fuel pump, radiator, power steering parts, and ac parts. Now, I change my power steering fluid every year, tranny fluid and filter every year, engine oil and filter with syn mobil 1 every 7500 miles, radiator coolant every year. I know they say you can leave the tranny fluid in forever, and they are right when it dies you put in a new one with new fluid, hence you never change it, but the tranny specialist I have talked to said if everyone changed their fluid and filter once a year he would pretty much be out of a job. He works on BMW's and MB and owns both. He changes his once a year, period. I do all of this myself so no one is making money on it, and he knew that when we talked. Also, I have a voltage stabilizer installed on my benz, and I highly recommend it. Toyotas come with them from the factory, and many studies have found evidence that it greatly decreases the wear and tear on expensive computer parts and sensors. By having a steady flow of juice, they aren't jolted as often. That's the theory anyway. I am not claiming to be an expert on them, but it certainly smoothed out my idle, and reduced engine noise in the radio. They are pretty cheap, and easy to install too. Also I would like to plead to the car gods to forgive me if I jinxed my wonderful car by bragging on it here today.

 

I am not aware of the fact that MB sold 2005 C280 in the US.

Dunno about outside the US.

Body, engine, and transmission usually last 200,000 miles on these cars. Other parts are not as reliable as Toyota. (Some nitpickers will love to argue this.)

 

Will you take care of my car? I like your maintainence plan and your high mileage. I also have a voltage stabilizer on my battery. Mine is Sun's HVS.

 

Where can I get a voltage stabilizer??? Brand name??? Thanks

 

I would go to a local reputable stereo shop, or look on EBAY. There are many brands, and most are pretty good, esp. if it's stock application. I.E. you don't have some huge stereo system installed with big rediculous amps.

I am glad ya'll approve of my maint. schedule. Really it's fun for me. I enjoy it, and it makes owning the car much cheaper. I have always treated all of my cars like this, and funny thing, I don't have repairs too often. I even grease my power seat tracks, and I make sure I move them back and forth every so often to spread the grease and keep corrision from forming. I also lube my weathertripping on my doors, grease the locks, wiper arm, and power window tracks. I forgot about changing the brake fluid every year too. Now, of course my car will eventually die, but no repairs thus far on any car I have ever owned that weren't completely within reason. For that matter, beyond within reason. I fear the day when it dies, oh sad day. Of course, even if I have sell a kidney I will fix it, I love this car.

 

Frank, what kind of tranny oil do you use? Would you shed some light on the procedure if it was DIY? I love my 280 too. I am planning to flush my tranny, I have 90k.

 

I don't flush it. I know some people do and that's their thing. It's really easier than doing some others I have done, because there are drain plugs both for the pan and converter. The hardest part is really getting the drain plug lined up for the converter. But when you get under there you will see how to do it. It's really pretty easy just open the plugs and drain everything. After that pull the pan and change the filter. I am lucky that my dad is a mechanic, though he doesn't work on MB's, but he is learning too. The great part about having him is that I have access to a lift at all times and he has this little tool that pulls the o-ring out where the filter goes. From my understanding you have to be careful when pulling out that o-ring. I let him do that. We are really lucky as MB owners because we can drain the converter. On other models people flush the system so they can change the converter fluid, but we don't have to worry about that. And keep in mind that the converter holds about half of the fluid in the tranny. Many tranny people will tell that flushing a tranny that has say 60k miles or more can actually cause harm because it can dislodge things that can hurt the valve body. If you flush the tranny, you should do it all time from the beginning not on one that has some wear and tear. As for the fluid I still get it from the dealership, and it's expensive, even at wholesale, and it is a "for life fluid." If you have ever pulled a tranny pan then this is really no different. I think from memory there are about 15 pan bolts, and I think they are 10MM, but I really don't remember. I have only done this model once. I am sure sleepwalker could tell you exactly. Also, one other thing is be very careful about how you torque those pan bolts. The threads will strip easily. If you ask sleepwalker I am sure he can tell you how much to torque them. My dad has a software program with most every tranny make and that's where we found it. I would use a torque wrench to get it right. After I drive about 100 miles I then recheck the bolts. Of course, since I have access to a lift it's alot easier for me than other people. Fortunately, I bought this car from my old teacher, whom I am close to. She knew I worked on cars and she followed my advice on service. I know she did because she also followed my advice and saved every receipt, and I have them now. Other small things on the car I did for her because she just lived around the corner from me. Make sure to that you give the pan a good cleaning when you get it off. Also if your tranny doesn't have a magnent I would install one. And as always get a new gasket. We acutally get our filters and gaskets from a tranny store in downtown Birmingham, so I don't know how much they cost at the dealership. You can make your own call on flushing, but I wouldn't do it unless you flush and then flush again in about 3000 miles. That way if any dirt or metal was dislodged you can get out before it kills the tranny. Keep in mind that heat is what kills a tranny. Most trannys run at about 170 degrees. One rule of thumb is that if you live in a hot climate and do alot of stop and go driving it might run at 180 degrees and you should cut your fluid change interval in half. Living in Alabama, which is brutally hot in summer, I change it once a year which is about 12,000 miles, most people say you can do it every 30,000. Many people only change the filter every other time they change the fluid, I don't just because no harm can be caused by changing it. But harm could be caused by not. Also after you break off the cap where dipstick should be and fill the tranny with some fluid you will need to run the tranny and get it up temp and then check the level again. MB is very picky about the fluid level. You should fill exactly to the max line. Also you will need to purchase a new cap to go on the dipstick. Some places have some kind of special tool that can measure the fluid level, but I don't have one. I hope this helps some.

 

I would also check on mercedesshop.com. In their forum section I searched to find some answers on doing this the first time I did it. They have some post that may answer some small questions I overlooked.

 

Very informative.

Is flushing different from draining and refilling the fluid? I thought they are the same.