There’s something about a Mercedes-Benz that draws everyone in. Over the past 100 years, the brand has become synonymous with luxury, and many might want a Mercedes-Benz so bad that they’ll buy one used. The price might be right for your budget, but your new-to-you Mercedes-Benz might be harder on your wallet than you planned.

It’s no secret that repairs on Mercedes-Benz models can get rather expensive quickly, and the C250 is no exception. In fact, some owners were shocked at how much it actually ended up costing. Car Complaints has all the details about why you might be better off buying the poster rather than getting a used Mercedes-Benz C250.

The Mercedes-Benz C250 really is a beautiful car

There’s nothing original about the name, but the Mercedes-Benz C250 is a gorgeous car. Cars Direct stated, “The compact luxury coupe from Mercedes-Benz, the C250 continues to impress buyers with its head-turning style and abundance of standard features. Although it’s the least expensive route to a Mercedes coupe, the C250 delivers enough presence and prestige to draw admiring attention wherever you take it.”

The price for a used 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 might even seem affordable. According to Edmunds, you’ll pay about $6,875 – $10,313 for a used C250. That’s pretty much within almost everyone’s price range.

Even if you can’t pay cash, the majority of consumers might be able to work out financing. The real question you need to be asking is how much you’ll pay in repairs. The answer will probably scare you.

The repairs cost how much?

Car Complaints ranks the 2012 model as one of the worst Mercedes-Benz C250 models you can buy and with good reason. The 2012 C250’s biggest problem has to do with the engine. It makes a rattling noise, which is what no owner wants to hear.

Six owners reported this issue, and it wasn’t a cheap fix by any means. On average, it costs around $3,930 to fix. That’s almost as much as the C250 costs used. The owners ended up replacing the camshaft adjusters, the timing chain and tensioner, and, in one case, the entire engine to fix this problem.

One distressed owner even reported that the engine caught on fire. While visiting his daughter, she told him that the car’s hood was getting hot. They got out of the car to check, and then the engine went up in flames. The fire department had to come put the fire out, and by the time they were done, her Mercedes-Benz C250 was totaled. 

Granted, that was the only case reported of a fire, but given the other engine problems, it makes one a little leery of the 2012 C250. Other problems plaguing the 2012 C250 include peeling paint and rattling noises.

Is the Mercedes-Benz C250 actually worth it?

With cars from automakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, it’s easy to justify the costs because of the brand. It comes with a certain amount of prestige even if it’s not new. Still, is it really worth it?

There are some vehicles that you’d be better off buying used, and the Mercedes-Benz C250 is one of them, but only if you do your homework first.

We recently reported that over a 10 year period, a used Mercedes-Benz can cost owners up to $12,900. Part of that estimate includes unexpected repairs, but a large chunk of it revolves around basic maintenance. Unless you’ve got the money set aside to pay for those costs, you might be better off going with a used Chrysler. It might not have the same brand appeal, but you won’t feel like crying every time you visit the mechanic.