Mercedes-Benz Vehicles, Concept Cars, and the Mercedes Lifestyle

One of the best ways to keep your used Mercedes-Benz running smoothly for years to come is to keep up on its preventative maintenance. You may not like how much it costs to perform some of these procedures, but it could cost you thousands more in the long run if your skip these procedures.

Did you know getting your tires rotated on your Mercedes vehicles on a regular schedule helps keep your repair costs down? The same goes for oil changes, tune-ups and other preventative measures. Unfortunately, drivers do not think about it too much.

“We all get in a hurry, we have the tendency to put things off – and your car is something that doesn’t care for itself,” said mechanic Bobby Armstrong in Nashville, Tennessee. He says if you simply follow the recommended maintenance schedule for your used Mercedes-Benz, you can keep repair costs at a minimum over the years.

Other things can cost more in the long run, too. For instance, if you hear a brake squeaking and decide to wait before getting it fixed, an easy $200 job could turn into a $700 bill because more parts will need to be replaces.

Let this be a lesson to you. Bite the bullet and have the scheduled maintenance done on your used Mercedes-Benz and have any unusual noises checked immediately. You’ll put more money in your pocket and enjoy your luxury vehicle for many, many years.

A used Mercedes-Benz is a great investment. These cars will last many, many years if you take care of them. They might even stand up to some abuse. But with any car, repairs are inevitable. It’s up to the driver to minimize repair costs by taking some responsibility in their own hands.

1. Keep an eye on the fluids. You might not think the fluids under the hood are important, but they are vital to the proper operation of your used Mercedes-Benz. Look for leaks underneath the car and unexplained dropping fluid levels. Have it checked at the first sign of a problem to avoid larger repairs.
2. Look for warning signs. Car problems rarely happen suddenly. They usually give you some warning before something happens. Be “in tune” with your used Mercedes-Benz and you’ll be able to notice problems while they are still small and inexpensive.
3. Get a second opinion. Repairs are not like groceries. Prices can differ by tens or even hundreds of dollars between shops. Check a couple mechanics before making your final decision. One mechanic may see dollar signs while the other may be willing to do repairs for a more reasonable price just to get your business.
4. Keep your receipts. This is the best way to remember what you’ve had done to your Mercedes vehicles and when you had it done. If someone tries to say you need new brakes and you just had them replaced six months prior, you can question them with your proof.

AMG cars are a precious possession for anybody. In addition to being expensive, they are also fast and they get a lot of attention. That’s why it’s important to make them last as long as possible. Here are some tips to increase the life of your AMG cars so you can enjoy them for many years to come.

1. Start the car first. Some people like to turn on their accessories like the air conditioner and lights before they start the engine. This slowly wears the engine down, though, causing it to need repairs sooner. Start the engine first and then worry about the accessories.

2. Let your AMG cars warm up properly. Don’t rev the engine on those cold, cold mornings. That only adds stress to it. Instead, let it idle for about 60 seconds when you start it in the morning to allow the oil to flow before putting pressure on the engine.

3. Wait until the car stops before shifting into drive. I’m guilty of this one. I put my car in reverse and shift into drive before it stops moving. Unfortunately, this puts undue stress on the engine and decreases its life. Instead, make sure your car stops moving backwards before shifting into park.

With these and some other tips, your AMG performance cars should give you years and years of enjoyment.

If you own a Benz, Mercedes dealers across the nation are recognizing “Green Checkup” Month…and so should you. Green Checkup Month was created by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) to help local dealers and car owners improve the fuel economy of their vehicles and reduce emissions though proper maintenance. Here is the 10-point list issued by the NADA for Green Checkup month.

1. Motor Oil – Get your oil changed with “energy conserving” motor oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can increase your fuel economy by as much as two percent.

2. Brakes – Make sure your brakes aren’t causing any “unwanted drag.” This can damage your car and kill your fuel economy.

3. Air Filters – Clogged air filters can decrease your fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Have your air filter checked with each oil change.

4. Tire Wear – Proper inflation and tread is essential to maximum performance and fuel efficiency. To increase gas mileage, check into low rolling-resistance tires to replace your current ones.

5. Tire Inflation – Tire inflation affects your gas mileage by about three percent. Make sure you have the right amount of PSI as stated on the side of the tires.

6. Unnecessary Weight – Search your vehicle for items that are weighing it down. Carrying around heavy items can negatively impact your fuel economy.

7. Engine Performance – New spark plugs and a tune-up are essential to keeping your engine running at optimum performance. One misfiring spark plug could decrease your fuel economy by up to four percent. Just think of what two misfiring spark plugs would do.

8. Warning Lights – Get those warning lights checked, folks. In addition to ruining the gas mileage on your Mercedes Benz, Benz dealers also warn that leaving it unchecked could cause harm to your engine.

9. Emission Controls – Make sure your emission controls are operating correctly or you could be releasing harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

10. Transmission – Make sure the fluid is topped off and it’s operating properly to save money on gas and repairs in the future.

Don’t forget to get your Mercedes-Benz vehicles checked before winter. Visit a local dealer this month just to make sure everything is working as it should.