Mercedes-Benz, just like Rolex, Gucci, and Armani, is a brand that conveys a sense of prestige and exclusivity. Precision engineering, luxury, and performance are perhaps the most suitable adjectives that best describe a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.
Updated March 2021: We've updated this list to make it more accurate for those looking to purchase a used Mercedes-Benz car. There are certain pitfalls to watch out for, but if you do your research beforehand, there are some good deals to be had.
The build quality, design, and high-end materials are indicators that a Mercedes-Benz, in whatever shape or model, is an exclusive vehicle, built to stand head and shoulders above the competition, in regard to both form and function.
However, despite the beauty, elegance, and other great features one might expect as a Mercedes owner, there are certain problems and challenges that come with this ownership as well. Let's take a look at why you shouldn't purchase a Mercedes-Benz as a used car.
10 Immediate Drop In Value
Sure, every car will depreciate the moment it leaves the showroom, however, owning a Mercedes also means accepting that the depreciation will be larger than many other brands.
We have seen several examples online of people advertising their 5-6-year-old Mercedes-Benz cars at more than 40% below the new price. Now, factor in that the car may not sell for the advertised price, and the value loss is even steeper. In fact, Mercedes makes some of the fastest depreciating cars on the market. Even purchasing a 1-2-year-old used Benz means taking a severe financial hit.
9 Specialized Servicing And Maintenance
There are certain challenges when it comes to servicing a Mercedes. Certain models require specialized tools and technicians specifically trained to work on said models.
However, even with a regular Mercedes-Benz, you don't really want to take it to just any auto repair shop or servicing garage. We've already mentioned the poor resale value for these cars, so we can only imagine what happens to its value when the services haven't been done at an expensive Mercedes dealership.
8 Out Of Warranty Costs
The thing about owning an exclusive luxury car is that even if it's a cheap, used model, the actual ownership costs will still be expensive. Buying a used Mercedes, even one that's still covered by the warranty, is a risky proposition, as not everything that can go wrong with the car will be covered.
Buying a Mercedes where the warranty has expired is even riskier, as any repair costs will be on the owner.
7 Parts Availability
Exclusive cars come with exclusive problems. Trying to find parts for a late model Mercedes can sometimes be a nightmare. If you live in a small town without a dealership, chances are your local garage won't have these parts in stock.
Luckily, there's always the option of purchasing parts online, but depending on the parts needed, there might be model variations between them, so you really need to know what you're doing.
6 Costly Maintenance
Owning a Mercedes will eventually mean you'll accumulate high maintenance and repair costs. Unfortunately, these costs aren't something that can be added to the price when selling the car.
Spending thousands of dollars on repairs wouldn't add to its resale value, in fact, it may even negatively impact the car's appeal to potential buyers who may think it's a lemon.
5 Overengineered And Complicated Systems
When driving a Mercedes, one of the first things we'll notice is how the ride quality is much better than entry-level brands, this is because of its overengineered mechanicals, sophisticated engine, and fancy tech.
However, there's a downside to this. The advanced engineering makes diagnosing, dismantling, and assembling a Mercedes vehicle a complicated exercise. Which in turn makes it more expensive when something does go wrong.
4 Brand Specific Parts
It is reasonable, that given its precise engineering, Mercedes-Benz would recommend that only OEM or official MB parts be used for its cars during maintenance or repairs, however, this same restriction is sometimes more of a pain given the costs associated with adhering to the recommended parts use.
3 Hi-Tech, High Cost To Repair
The amount of tech and gadgets in today's modern Mercedes-Benz cars is amazing, from their driving aids, infotainment, and system monitoring software, their cars are fully computerized and integrated.
However, all this tech is also it's Achilles heel, as an increased number of fancy tech, makes for more potential problems, and more headaches down the line.
2 There Are More Reliable Alternatives
Mercedes-Benz has earned a reputation for solid German engineering, but one could make the argument that it only applies to older Mercedes-Benz cars.
In more recent years, the brand has been known to produce cars that are prone to breakdowns or problems. This is in stark contrast to cars from other brands in the same model category that are more reliable and less prone to engine or systems failures.
1 There Are Cheaper Alternatives
While the exclusivity given by the Mercedes brand is undeniable, there are alternatives, that carry the same level of prestige and luxury. These rivals (Lexus, Infinity etc.), through their own excellent level of engineering and build quality, have sometimes even surpassed Mercedes, yet they are priced much lower.