Wow I've seen you have a lot of German cars in some of the darker years of German reliability and that was some time ago.......................... Fortunately some progress was made since then.

 

I didn't say that it's MB corporate advertising -- that'd be as dumb as Oldsmobile's "This is not your father's Oldsmobile" campaign -- manage to alienate BOTH your core customer base and your targeted future customer base all with one ill-conceived effort. LOL

I'm talking about the MB dealers (when you're shopping/test driving and inquire about warranty, etc.) and MB internet defenders who are always claiming that things have suddenly turned the corner, reliability wise. Funny thing is it's ALWAYS this "latest generation" that has suddenly gotten better. I'm just stating what I've seen for the past many years -- if they have actually gotten better, that's great -- I might try owning one again in the future once there's some convincing evidence. I have several friends and family with MB's, so I have a good opportunity to keep up with their progress via that route. Frankly, the only MB that really interests me to actually own (in my personal vehicle/family situation) is the S550 Sport as a potential replacement for the LS. I've driven the GL450 thinking of trading my GX for it but very surprisingly to me found that it was rough-riding and noisy compared even to the Lexus GX, and forget about comparing with the LX.

 

I see, now that you clarified who's saying this hype. I haven't heard it from the 2 dealers here, I guess they don't want to alienate their core base here. But I've noticed difference/change in the last 2 Benz's owned (C-classes my2001 vs my2008).

 

According to an article written two or three years ago by Gordon Murray (McLaren), the MB board more or less showed MB management an open grave and charged them with bringing reliability in line with modern standards before they went off on any other SLR type escapades or any other specialty car pursuits. Assuming that was the truth -- or something otherwise caused them to wake up and realize what they were squandering by not having the reputation for reliabilty -- maybe they are now on the right track. I hope so -- I am not an MB hater, but just a believer that a manufacturer shouldn't "push their envelope" for mainstream vehicles beyond what they can make reliable.

 

Must have been a good article. I share your opinion that a premium car should have at least decent reliability, even if they can't quite get to Lexus/Toyota reliability-levels overnight.

 

Hmm, I'm not going by other people opinions or a magazine. My first Mb 02CL500 was a nightmare in maintenance. At times I was afraid to even drive the car. But when she was working right man she excuse fellas a (Harlot puller). I traded in my CL for a CLS over 9 months ago and let me tell their reliability has gotten better. My CLS has every option in the book. Mercedes is no Lexus or Acura but they have gotten better.

 

they are definitely getting better. the unlucky CL was on the list of having most problems, it's just horrible. but in recent yrs it's gone way better

 

What year is the CLS, and best of luck with that one.

 

Yeah, but it was a stupid mistake.
Should've drove it more so when the parts broke, it would've been covered under warranty