Originally Posted by
yura
All V6 Mercedes' from 2006 to 2008 are ticking time bombs - Google the infamous "balance shaft" issue. In the US, a class-action lawsuit recently ruled that MB has the cover all (or most) of the repair. In Canada we're not so lucky, and it's an $8000 bill at the dealer, or $3000 at the cheapest, shadiest Indy I could find. I did have Lubrico's private warranty remaining, but no guarantee that they would cover this repair, and even then, they have a max-payout of $2000. That, and upcoming maintenance (brakes were just about done - $1000 job; needed brake/tranny/diff fluids - another $500; front shocks were on their way out - $2000) made me long for a newer vehicle with better reliability and cheaper maintenance costs.
Plus, I do a ton of light off-roading, exploring and camping, and the versatility of a truck really appealed to me. I just ordered a canopy on the weekend (ETA 3-4 weeks) and plan to sleep in the bed when camping.