Among some car buyers, there’s a persistent myth that Mercedes-Benz vehicles are notoriously tricky and prone to service problems, while genuine Mercedes Benz spare parts are hard to find. One variation of the urban legend extends this problem to all German-made cars, even though that country actually has a reputation for mechanical excellence almost unrivaled anywhere else in the world.
So is it true that Mercedes Benz service and mechanical problems are especially bad? Not at all, and in fact, German cars are prized for their superior engineering. The myth comes from car owners who don’t know very much about how their foreign luxury vehicle actually works. What is true is that many Mercedes-Benz dealers have a reputation for extremely expensive mechanic and Benz service fees. And when you add the extra expenses of procuring foreign Mercedes Benz parts into the mix, it’s easy to see why some Americans mistakenly believe that Benz service is so sketchy.
Just how widespread is this myth? Here’s a fun exercise. Google the phrase “benz service nightmare” and the search engine will return “About 7,580,000 results.” If you instead Google “bmw service nightmare,” you’ll get a mere 642,000 results. Even Toyota only returns 517,000 search results for that term. Of course, this is anecdotal evidence, but it goes to show how many people believe Mercedes Benz service myths today.
It’s also why so many Benz owners are urging each other to skip the official dealer mechanic the next time they require Benz service, and instead handle maintenance on their own or with a mechanic they trust. Thanks to the magic of the Internet, it’s never been easier to find high quality Mercedes parts, and even quality Mercedes Benz used parts, both online and at a brick and mortar Mercedes Benz parts center.
So if you’ve been dreaming about getting behind the wheel of a new Mercedes, go for it. But if you run into a service problem, don’t hesitate to find your own mechanic and buy Mercedes Benz replacement parts online or in person. Ultimately, you’ll avoid the kind of hassles some Benz owners have reported with official dealer mechanics.
