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The Reluctant Connoisseur: Why Old Mercedes-Benzes Are Still Worth the Trouble

[Image: A vintage Mercedes-Benz S-Class parked in a scenic location]

When I was a teenager, I dreamed of owning an old Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Maybe it was seeing my friends’ parents pulling up in one curbside, or watching James Bond cruise around in his sleek, black S-Class on the big screen. Whatever the reason, my desire to own an old Benz has always been met with skepticism. "You’ll go broke," they’d say. "It’s a money pit," they’d say. "They’re complicated and not worth fixing," they’d say.

But nothing they said could stop me from wanting one – especially since nowadays, I could live with them at a fraction of their cost when new.

I didn’t find my dream Benz right away

High gas prices at the time forced me to settle for an extraordinarily clean, one-owner late-model W124 coupe for my first car. It was a great learning experience, but I knew I had to have an S-Class.

You don’t need to be a professional mechanic to access the wealth of information online

If you know your way around a toolbox and can follow instruction manuals, read torque specs, and work a torque wrench, you can work on an old Mercedes-Benz. And keeping one running reliably can be livable and affordable. After all, these cars were designed and engineered not just for mechanical excellence but also for ease of servicing. And parts are still very plentiful, what with these being globally mass-produced vehicles, many of which are still on the road today.

Do the research before buying an older Mercedes

As with any older vehicle, research is key to making sure you get the best example. There are rare occasions like mine where you score a diamond in the rough for very cheap. But unless you know what you’re getting into, the wisest approach is to buy the best example you can find within your budget.

It also depends on which model you’re after. Mercedes diesels, which have a reputation for longevity, durability, and low running costs, are some of the easiest cars to own. But the gasoline-powered versions aren’t any less reliable when kept up to specification.

The W126 remains incredibly rewarding to drive and keep on the road

During a trip from Northern New Jersey to Virginia Beach – a nearly 400-mile one-way dash – I arrived at my destinations feeling like I only did 40 miles. And it’s still an absolute joy to drive on long, swoopy country roads as much as they are on the highway, where they were benchmarked according to the standards of the autobahn.

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