If you’re thinking about buying a new or used Mercedes, you probably have a few concerns about how long you can expect it to last before it needs major (and costly) repairs.
And it’s a valid concern.
While Mercedes has an excellent reputation for Luxury, performance, and innovation, they don’t quite have the same stellar reputation when it comes to reliability and maintenance costs.
In this article, I’ll dive into how long you can expect a Mercedes to last, if buying a high-mileage used Mercedes is a good idea, and what you can do to make your Mercedes last longer.
How Long Can You Expect A Mercedes To Last?
If you treat it right, a Mercedes can easily last 150k miles. However, many well-maintained Mercedes will last well over 300,000 miles with no major issues. How many miles you get from your Mercedes will depend on several factors such as how well-maintained it is, the make and model of the car, and what type of conditions you drive in.
Mercedes will actually reward you with a special high mileage badge when your car reaches 250,000 km (155k miles) and you can get a new badge at 500,000km (310k miles) 750,000km (466k miles) and 1,000,000()621,000 miles. This provides drivers with great motivation to keep their Mercedes in good condition. You can apply for the high-mileage badge here.
How To Make Your Mercedes Last Longer
In order to make your Mercedes Benz last longer, you’ll need to keep up with the Mercedes-recommended servicing schedule. Most modern Mercedes come with a service indicator system, that will alert you when the time comes for your Mercedes to be serviced.
Mercedes has two servicing intervals (service A and Service B). Service A should be performed every 10,000 miles, while service B should be performed every 20,000 miles.
After 10,00 miles (roughly one year) Mercedes recommend the following services:
- Replace your oil
- Replace your oil filter
- Check and correct your fluid levels
- Check and correct your tire alignment and pressure
- Thorough brake inspection
- Reset maintenance counter
And after every 50,000 miles, Mercedes recommends doing the same services again, but they also include:
- Replacing your air/cabin filter
- Replacing your brake fluid
Most basic maintenance is covered by these services. However, if you want your Mercedes to last, you don’t want to wait until the service to check most of these things. For example, you should be checking your car’s tire pressure and oil levels at least once a month.
It’s also vital that you keep your car clean. Washing the underside of your car regularly will prevent dust and grime from building up and blocking important filters. Keeping the inside of your car clean will prevent dust and debris from clogging up air filters, and washing and waxing the exterior of your car will keep preventing corrosive rust from forming.
Are Mercedes Considered Reliable Cars?
Before buying a Mercedes, it’s important to understand that they are built for performance and luxury rather than longevity or long-term reliability. However, most owners will tell you that while their Mercedes is expensive to service and maintain, it’s a very reliable vehicle.
RepairPal rates Mercedes 3/5 stars for reliability and ranks it 27th out of 32 car brands. While that might not seem too great, other luxury German brands such as BMW and Audi are both ranked lower.
In my opinion, Mercedes being unreliable is a bit of a myth. They are no less reliable than other car brands, it’s just that they cost and bit more to maintain, which can make them seem more unreliable.
How Expensive Are Mercedes To Maintain?
One of the major downsides to buying a Mercedes is the expensive cost of maintaining them.
As you might expect, the average cost to maintain a Mercedes each year ($908) is significantly higher than the cost to maintain a Toyota ($441) However, the cost to maintain a Mercedes is still much lower than that of a BMW or Audi.
So unless you’re planning on buying a Mercedes and doing the maintenance yourself, you’ll need to be prepared to spend significantly more than normal for service and repairs.
Is Buying A High-Mileage Mercedes Worth it?
Whether a high-mileage Mercedes is worth buying really comes down to if you can afford it. While you might buy the vehicle at a snip due to its huge depreciation, Mercedes require regular (and expensive) maintenance.
While many people believe that high-mileage Mercedes are endless money pits, you don’t have to look far to find people who have bought high-mileage Mercedes and are happy with them.
The owner in the video below purchased a high-mileage Mercedes C-Class with around 75,000 miles on the clock. He then put 25,000 miles on it and has experienced no major issues at all.
If you plan on buying a high-mileage Mercedes, it’s important you thoroughly check the history of the vehicle first and ask yourself:
- How carefully was the vehicle maintained by the previous owner?
- Has the vehicle ever been involved in an accident?
- How often was it driven?
How Well Do Mercedes Hold Their Value?
Like most luxury cars, Mercedes depreciate faster than the average car. Care edge reports that after 5 years the average Mercedes will have lost up to 36.69% of its value. If you compare that to the average Toyota, which loses only 16.91% of its value, it seems like a lot. However, it’s a significantly better rate of depreciation than BMWs, which lose up to 41% of their value after 5 years.
All things said, buying a Mercedes (especially new) is not great if depreciation is a key factor for you. However, the quick depreciation of Mercedes means that there’s excellent value to be had in the second-hand market.
Related Article: Which Mercedes Models Have Ambient Lighting?
Do Mercedes Last Longer Than BMW?
No matter what the make of a car is, the most important determining factor when it comes to longevity is maintenance. A well-maintained Mercedes with a gasoline engine has been known to last upwards of 250,000 miles with proper maintenance.
Mercedes diesel engines last even longer. According to owners on CarTalk, the odometer could read up to 350,000+ miles before major repairs are needed.
BMW users on CarTalk note that while the vehicles’ engines rarely need replacing, the other components under the hood will likely need to be replaced between 100,000 and 200,000 miles.
The repairs needed at this point in a BMWs life involve the transmission, suspension, radiator, and thermostat. Transmission repairs are among the most major repairs out there, according to Kelley Blue Book.
When you consider the need for major repairs on BMWs versus Mercedes, the conclusion is that Mercedes last longer than BMWs with less effort and time spent on the vehicle during its life.
How Long Do Mercedes Tires Last?
Mercedes Original (MO) tires are the best tires to use on the vehicle. These tires are advertised to be safer, more reliable, and to have increased mobility when compared to other tires. According to the manufacturer’s website, MO tires should be replaced every six years or every 50,0000 miles.
How Long Do Mercedes Batteries Last?
Mercedes cars run on one of four types of batteries: diesel, hybrid, electric, and petrol. Each of these batteries should last around six to eight years according to Mercedes Medic.
Consumer Reports website points out that the weather in your area can impact the life of your battery, too. If you live in a dry climate, the lack of humidity in the air could dry your battery up faster, leading to shorter battery life.
The same goes for those who live in hot, humid climates. The moisture from the humidity in the air can be absorbed by the battery terminals and cause premature failure.
How Long Do Mercedes Engines Last?
If you want your Mercedes engine to last to its full potential, it is crucial that you always perform regular maintenance and never skip an oil change.
Mercedes-Benz owners boast that it is very rare for a properly maintained engine to fail before 400,000 miles. Drive carefully, mind your maintenance, and you may never have a problem with the engine in your Mercedes.