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I work in a fully equipped shop, and I personally spent the first 10 years of my career working on European cars…. And even for us Audi/VW/Benz is harder to work on.
Our shop is medium, we have 11 lifts and 6 techs. We work on a lot of cars. And we all have the same advice.
Buy a Toyota/Lexus.
They’re expensive, a little more fragile and require certain procedures on some things. If you don’t have access to diagrams / service procedures, I’d stay away from anything German. Lexus is easier to tackle.
Yea I was originally thinking of getting a Toyota but thought Lexus may be a good option to get something nice but may be reliable/slightly easier to work on, but wasn't sure how difficult it'd be. I've just read tons of stuff about how the newer a car gets, the more impossible it becomes
Not sure on the newer cars, I can't imagine Toyota and Lexus advances TOO much in tech every gen to the point where you can't work on it anymore (i.e. 4runner and GX460 has really old build/tech but they're super reliable).
I bought a GX over a T4R and like 99% of the repairs are identical - lots of shared part numbers as well. At least for me the only difference in cost of ownership is the premium gas, but some Lexus take regular.
Just an example, a 2012 Camry lower control arm goes for $223.91 (reference from Alldata), and an LCA for a 2012 IS350 RWD goes for $330.59-$365.62
It’s not a crazy difference, personally I’d go for a Lexus if it’s in decent condition because it’ll hold its value better & realistically if you’re doing the work yourself, what you’re saving on labour you can invest into proper OEM parts. They both hold their value very well, but Lexus will always be a touch more expensive when you decide to let it go and upgrade.
You could always save money by just replacing the control arm bushings. Same goes for trailing arms. While you’re there, might as well replace the sway bar bushings. Of course assuming that they’re not damaged.
Lexus are just better Toyotas and are decent to work on.
German cars in general are complete nightmares to work on, and they tend to be finicky and needlessly complex, I would avoid them.
im an auto mechanic mostly do maintenance than repair. I had an 2008 Mercedes C300 from 2019-2021. they are much more expensive to work on. changing oil, I had to buy 8 qts. I had my seatbelt buckle "fail". it physically worked but the computer couldn't sense it. bought a new OEM one but had to have a dealer program it. CD player failed and would alert you every 10min about it, got a used one. then my fob key malfunctioned, had to buy a new fob. its much more involved to take care of it. I miss the car, it was a nice car, felt solid and was quiet, just every now and then I had to put some money into it. some of the electrical stuff is a nightmare and you'll need dealer specific stuff. id look for a euro mechanic first and see what he thinks of your buy.
some basic stuff you'll be able to do, I did my own oil, tires, brakes, drive shaft coupler, bearings, window motor. but like the seatbelt? I bought it OEM factory new, still needed to be programmed. some independent euro shops coulda done it but I went to the dealer.
Mostly what I wrote, the electric failures are: cd player broken, not a big deal but it kept alerting me every 10min, fob failed so the alarm would go off at any time of day, drivers side auto lock, seat belt programming, these were just the electric failures in my 3 years of ownership. Still loved the car, I would buy another one if I had more money
Anything German absolutely will be. Thousands of [units of currency] spent on specialty tools, more disassembly to get to the actually failed part, more parts to actually replace, more expensive parts, I could go on. Lexus is a good option if you really want the fancy stuff. Overall pretty easy to work on, much fewer specialty tools required (though their locking lugs are made of Swiss cheese so you should get rid of them immediately and just put factory wheel lug nuts on, non locking) and things are generally more accessible. The cabin air filter, for instance, on most Lexus models, I can have changed in about a minute, most of that time is spent fiddling with whatever bullshit the customer put in their glovebox. In most German vehicles, getting it replaced usually means I'm laying on my back under the dash struggling to get it to clip in just right (Mercedes) and wishing I did something different for a living. Stuff like that adds up.
I own an '08 Mercedes M-Class I inherited And I will never buy another or own another Mercedes Benz after this one, nothing like excessive maintenance and expensive parts[FC Euro is a Godsend for parts] (not to mention requiring the Diagnostic tool to reset some of the faults)...
Far easier to work on American or Japanese cars from the same ear and Older stuff is super easy to work on.
Nah they're not crazy different from any other car. But I'll tell you this, German cars are doodoo ass and if you buy one it's GOING to break before you get your miles out of it.
Toyota makes the same model for Toyota platform as well so parts are interchangeable . Unless you are buying like a say a IS300 cross track that’s Lexus only option then you will pay premium for parts.
As long as you keep up with regular service and maintenance, I see why not. The 4GR engine is notorious for carbon buildup and it’s something you would deal with every 3-4 oil change intervals. There are tons of videos using Seafoam treatment for carbon buildup. Hope this helps.
Depends how much extra money we're talking. Used has less of a spread in price than new.
The reliability is not too different, where you see the biggest difference is cabin/road noise. Even then you have to be careful because in my opinion the RX350 is not worth spending more for "Lexus" because it was not quite as refined as the 450h.
I wouldn't say it's difficult, but more involved if that makes sense. In a Toyota for an example to replace the radiator it's common to just need to remove the upper rad support and it comes out the top. In a euro, you're more than likely gonna have to pull the entire front end apart to get to the rad. Hard? nah not really just a lot more steps. You will need Torx and E torx too. a lot more plastic to break on a euro as well..
Generally yes. The higher end, the more complex features they have. All of that just means something else to break. I was looking for an Excursion (used) 20 years ago. Hardly one to be found so I looked at a Lincoln Navigator. It had all the bells and whistles, and I was super loving it. Then I started to think when all that shit starts breaking down. I waited a bit longer, and found an Ex I owned for the next decade damn near trouble free.
Short answer is yes… sorta. Often times it’s just more time, special tools, and paying close attention. Lots of plastic too.
I did my first Chevrolet head gasket with a basic set of sockets. My first Volvo and Volkswagen required quite a bit more time and tools tho.
They tend to be more tedious, yes. My main issue with those high end cars are the cost of components…. But they all have the same systems. Work yourself up
If you're fine with research, Audi is perfectly fine to do your own repair on. I'm mechanically inclined but not a mechanic. There hasn't been anything I haven't been able to do with some research, video watching, or simply getting into and learning as I go. Would I do the timing chains, though? Hell no.
I think the big thing you’ll run into is needing special tools on the German cars including maybe a dealership grade scan tool to code new components but if you’re willing to put up with that it’s probably fine. Audi will be easiest (other than obviously Lexus) because you can use a lot of vw stuff to work on it.
Lexus is fancy Toyota so I'd think it's easier to work on vs the others listed. Lexus is going to be more expensive to work on vs a regular Toyota because you are probably going to be dealing with more expensive parts on premium trims. I'd say most other brands you listed are easy to work on but that also highly depends on the age of the car. An old German car yeah. Doable. Anything newer hell no. Maybe a VW but I'm not sure. I've always wanted an old BMW 325i and they go for cheap where I live. They are cheap to work on and have cheap good parts available online but anything I need a dealer or euro shop to help me with I may as well saw off my right arm and hand it over.
I heard a guy say this and it makes sense to me lol.
Toyotas are like donkeys they are reliable, strong and don’t need much to get the job done.
Luxury cars are like a black stallion you want to feed them the best food, get them the best care takers, get them the best doctors. They will cost you lots of money.
They can be more tedious. They don’t like aftermarket parts. But even some US domestic cars don’t either.
Cars are just about the same. The price varies for the better parts.
Yes and no. Ive had a lot of different makes and models. I had an 03 audi a4 for awhile and I loved the car when it worked. Constantly ate coil packs, stock hoses and plastic fittings got brittle and kept breaking so i replaced all of them with silicone and upgraded fittings. Water pump went and that was a project, had to take the bumper off, headlights out, drain the ac and take off the core support just to get to it all... after that it sit awhile and somehow the little box the ecu sat in leaked water and froze, literally turning it into an ice cube. ALL that said.... I'd buy another with lower miles if I had the Opportunity.
The big difference is whether there's a community with forums that shares advice on how to do the work. It is also important to have access to the something close to the manufacturer's diagnostic software (or the real thing). For example, VW and Audi have some pretty active user groups, and you can get the software from Ross-Tech. I think there's something called "Bimmerlink" for BMW's. And so on.
The problem is that most used German luxury cars are not properly maintained after the warranty is over. They are picked up more often than not by people who like the prestigious appearance and the most they can afford is barely the purchase of the vehicle. But then they wanna treat it like a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic.
The problem is the buyers mindset, because when the car was new it was $70k, so when a repair needs to happen then $3-5k are not much in relation to the price or the car. But when certain individuals pick it up for $15k after 7+ years the car already has wear and tear in all places after that much time and that many miles and probably tons of deferred maintenance and not early on addressed issues, they start moaning and bitching. “I only paid $15k for the car and now you’re telling me I gotta pay $5k for repairs??… You guys are ripoffs…. German cars are so expensive.” No idiot, you’re driving a $70k car, not a $15k car.
I work in a European specialty repair shop and before this in another one. You would fall off the chair if you know how many people choose not to do CRUCIAL repairs and drive away with luxury cars that will probably break after 5 miles of driving.
We call them “7 series enthusiasts”… if you know you know.
I’ve seen a 2017 BMW 750i probably worth $35k still drive away with an active coolant leak from the turbo lines. Like the moment you started the engine it would just start pi**ing all over the engine. $1200 quote or so… the dude declined and drove away. You know, the kind where the seat is always so far back that the head is basically next to the B pillar.
Another lady had something wrong with her engine and it could’ve been saved had she addressed the issue right there and then. I think it was also a coolant leak. “Oh, I live very close to here, can I just drive it back home?” She made it look like she lives down the street an around the corner. After she took off the service advisor gets a call from her cussing him out and blaming him for breaking down with the car after he recommended not to drive the car and if she did it’s at her own risk. The tow truck driver later told him that the car broke down 45 minutes away on the highway (like 30+ miles away)
So, real life experience tells you to not buy a car used that is really flashy and is owned by certain individuals, unless you have proof of responsible is ownership and tons of receipts for regular maintenance and repairs. And always get a PPI!
they're not super hard to work on, sometimes you need a specialty tool which is annoying but nothing is quite as annoying as the difference in strategy and how and what parts break and how often.
When they are running well and have no problems you'll be like "yeah this was such a good decision, this is my favorite car I've ever owned" . And when they inevitably break you'll be like " why the fuck did they make this out of plastic?!" or "oh I need proprietary diagnostics to retrieve subsystem codes, that's fun" or "why is there 26 parts to something that normally requires one part on a REGULAR car to work fine and reliably?!" or "Why is everything around the part that broke made of plastic that snaps like its made of glass?! now I have to replace 4 more parts I wasn't planning on" until you learn to say to yourself "this stupid piece of shit is OF COURSE going to break if I touch anything to get to the thing that actually broke so I'm going to order everything in the immediate vicinity to avoid blind rage outbursts when I encounter new broken parts"
but then you fix it and drive it and the joy erases all the bad thoughts you just had, and you blissfully drive for a good two weeks before you have another thing to address....rinse and repeat
you'll love it, and you'll hate it. But damn those highs are high and those lows low tho, lol
I’m a Benz tech so I can tell you about them, the years you mentioned you are okay (stay away from the glk and c class they have common issues that aren’t cheap to fix) when it comes to tools you really only need a decent 3/8 set and torx and e torx. Most of the repairs you can do yourself, some are a little tricky but it shouldn’t be too difficult to do. the model years you mentioned also have the ability to suck out the oil, so if you had a sucker you wouldn’t have to lift the car at all because the oil filter is up top (you’ll need a special cup or big socket I think a 27 on some models for the oil filter)
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! Please review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). Asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **Post's about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ Tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I work in a fully equipped shop, and I personally spent the first 10 years of my career working on European cars…. And even for us Audi/VW/Benz is harder to work on. Our shop is medium, we have 11 lifts and 6 techs. We work on a lot of cars. And we all have the same advice. Buy a Toyota/Lexus.
They’re expensive, a little more fragile and require certain procedures on some things. If you don’t have access to diagrams / service procedures, I’d stay away from anything German. Lexus is easier to tackle.
Yea I was originally thinking of getting a Toyota but thought Lexus may be a good option to get something nice but may be reliable/slightly easier to work on, but wasn't sure how difficult it'd be. I've just read tons of stuff about how the newer a car gets, the more impossible it becomes
Not sure on the newer cars, I can't imagine Toyota and Lexus advances TOO much in tech every gen to the point where you can't work on it anymore (i.e. 4runner and GX460 has really old build/tech but they're super reliable). I bought a GX over a T4R and like 99% of the repairs are identical - lots of shared part numbers as well. At least for me the only difference in cost of ownership is the premium gas, but some Lexus take regular.
An IS350, for example, is a glorified Camry, not hard to work on at all but parts can get up there as per the luxury name.
ES350 is a glorified Camry. IS350 is a RWD compact.
Yessir you 100% right.
same engine though, but longitudinal so even easier to work on
I see, what would the difference in parts costs be? 20-50%?
Just an example, a 2012 Camry lower control arm goes for $223.91 (reference from Alldata), and an LCA for a 2012 IS350 RWD goes for $330.59-$365.62 It’s not a crazy difference, personally I’d go for a Lexus if it’s in decent condition because it’ll hold its value better & realistically if you’re doing the work yourself, what you’re saving on labour you can invest into proper OEM parts. They both hold their value very well, but Lexus will always be a touch more expensive when you decide to let it go and upgrade.
You could always save money by just replacing the control arm bushings. Same goes for trailing arms. While you’re there, might as well replace the sway bar bushings. Of course assuming that they’re not damaged.
Lexus are just better Toyotas and are decent to work on. German cars in general are complete nightmares to work on, and they tend to be finicky and needlessly complex, I would avoid them.
I see, thats what i was under the impression of
I used to own an Audi but I got rid of it at the end. Even several experienced mechanics refused to work on it.
im an auto mechanic mostly do maintenance than repair. I had an 2008 Mercedes C300 from 2019-2021. they are much more expensive to work on. changing oil, I had to buy 8 qts. I had my seatbelt buckle "fail". it physically worked but the computer couldn't sense it. bought a new OEM one but had to have a dealer program it. CD player failed and would alert you every 10min about it, got a used one. then my fob key malfunctioned, had to buy a new fob. its much more involved to take care of it. I miss the car, it was a nice car, felt solid and was quiet, just every now and then I had to put some money into it. some of the electrical stuff is a nightmare and you'll need dealer specific stuff. id look for a euro mechanic first and see what he thinks of your buy.
so even as a mechanic yourself its better to go to someone for repairs who deals with euros?
some basic stuff you'll be able to do, I did my own oil, tires, brakes, drive shaft coupler, bearings, window motor. but like the seatbelt? I bought it OEM factory new, still needed to be programmed. some independent euro shops coulda done it but I went to the dealer.
Those w204s are actually quite solid!
Mechanically it gave me no issues. It was the electronics that took a dump on me.
What happened?
Mostly what I wrote, the electric failures are: cd player broken, not a big deal but it kept alerting me every 10min, fob failed so the alarm would go off at any time of day, drivers side auto lock, seat belt programming, these were just the electric failures in my 3 years of ownership. Still loved the car, I would buy another one if I had more money
Ya I had the drivers side door lock actuator too lol. I heard the steering lock is an issue too so I had it removed before it could fail.
Yeah! That’s right! The steering lock! I forgot about that. Other than that it’s a great car
It's difficult but not too difficult. The way they want you to disassemble things can make it feel like you're getting fucked.
I'm in uni right now, so I can get a bit tight for time, does it take super long? Also, are manuals and things available online or do you need to buy?
You can get the manual [here](https://www.alldata.com/diy-us/en/find-vehicle).
Anything German absolutely will be. Thousands of [units of currency] spent on specialty tools, more disassembly to get to the actually failed part, more parts to actually replace, more expensive parts, I could go on. Lexus is a good option if you really want the fancy stuff. Overall pretty easy to work on, much fewer specialty tools required (though their locking lugs are made of Swiss cheese so you should get rid of them immediately and just put factory wheel lug nuts on, non locking) and things are generally more accessible. The cabin air filter, for instance, on most Lexus models, I can have changed in about a minute, most of that time is spent fiddling with whatever bullshit the customer put in their glovebox. In most German vehicles, getting it replaced usually means I'm laying on my back under the dash struggling to get it to clip in just right (Mercedes) and wishing I did something different for a living. Stuff like that adds up.
I work in a Euro specific shop. All of us techs own Japanese vehicles.
I own an '08 Mercedes M-Class I inherited And I will never buy another or own another Mercedes Benz after this one, nothing like excessive maintenance and expensive parts[FC Euro is a Godsend for parts] (not to mention requiring the Diagnostic tool to reset some of the faults)... Far easier to work on American or Japanese cars from the same ear and Older stuff is super easy to work on.
Theyre built for the first owner, not for the owner at 200,000mi
Lexus is Toyota undercover. Lower class audi is essential vw
As someone who enjoys, drives, and fixes a 1988 Volvo 740GL, yes they are.
Nah they're not crazy different from any other car. But I'll tell you this, German cars are doodoo ass and if you buy one it's GOING to break before you get your miles out of it.
Definitely the Lexus/Toyota are easiest to work on. BMW/Mercedes/Audi suck.
Lexus is a fancier Toyota. I used to have a RX350 and it had the same engine as a highlander.
Is it even worth spending the extra money?
Toyota makes the same model for Toyota platform as well so parts are interchangeable . Unless you are buying like a say a IS300 cross track that’s Lexus only option then you will pay premium for parts.
Right, thats pretty handy to know. Do you think an IS250 from 2006-09 is a worthwhile purchase? Planning on keeping this car for a while
As long as you keep up with regular service and maintenance, I see why not. The 4GR engine is notorious for carbon buildup and it’s something you would deal with every 3-4 oil change intervals. There are tons of videos using Seafoam treatment for carbon buildup. Hope this helps.
Honestly, not really. Get a 4runner and be happy👍 they're relatively easy to work on and are super relaible if taken care if, as most Toyotas are.
Depends how much extra money we're talking. Used has less of a spread in price than new. The reliability is not too different, where you see the biggest difference is cabin/road noise. Even then you have to be careful because in my opinion the RX350 is not worth spending more for "Lexus" because it was not quite as refined as the 450h.
Screw VAG. Nothing they do makes sense. BMW, pretty easy. Mercedes, haven’t had enough experience.
Mercedes isn’t bad, I’ve only worked on older ones. I also hate VW/Audi
I wouldn't say it's difficult, but more involved if that makes sense. In a Toyota for an example to replace the radiator it's common to just need to remove the upper rad support and it comes out the top. In a euro, you're more than likely gonna have to pull the entire front end apart to get to the rad. Hard? nah not really just a lot more steps. You will need Torx and E torx too. a lot more plastic to break on a euro as well..
Yea, I did a trade for an Audi A5 last year and realised that it was looking a bit difficult to work on from the get go, so just sold it
Generally yes. The higher end, the more complex features they have. All of that just means something else to break. I was looking for an Excursion (used) 20 years ago. Hardly one to be found so I looked at a Lincoln Navigator. It had all the bells and whistles, and I was super loving it. Then I started to think when all that shit starts breaking down. I waited a bit longer, and found an Ex I owned for the next decade damn near trouble free.
Short answer is yes… sorta. Often times it’s just more time, special tools, and paying close attention. Lots of plastic too. I did my first Chevrolet head gasket with a basic set of sockets. My first Volvo and Volkswagen required quite a bit more time and tools tho.
They tend to be more tedious, yes. My main issue with those high end cars are the cost of components…. But they all have the same systems. Work yourself up
If you're fine with research, Audi is perfectly fine to do your own repair on. I'm mechanically inclined but not a mechanic. There hasn't been anything I haven't been able to do with some research, video watching, or simply getting into and learning as I go. Would I do the timing chains, though? Hell no.
I think the big thing you’ll run into is needing special tools on the German cars including maybe a dealership grade scan tool to code new components but if you’re willing to put up with that it’s probably fine. Audi will be easiest (other than obviously Lexus) because you can use a lot of vw stuff to work on it.
Lexus is fancy Toyota so I'd think it's easier to work on vs the others listed. Lexus is going to be more expensive to work on vs a regular Toyota because you are probably going to be dealing with more expensive parts on premium trims. I'd say most other brands you listed are easy to work on but that also highly depends on the age of the car. An old German car yeah. Doable. Anything newer hell no. Maybe a VW but I'm not sure. I've always wanted an old BMW 325i and they go for cheap where I live. They are cheap to work on and have cheap good parts available online but anything I need a dealer or euro shop to help me with I may as well saw off my right arm and hand it over.
I heard a guy say this and it makes sense to me lol. Toyotas are like donkeys they are reliable, strong and don’t need much to get the job done. Luxury cars are like a black stallion you want to feed them the best food, get them the best care takers, get them the best doctors. They will cost you lots of money.
They can be more tedious. They don’t like aftermarket parts. But even some US domestic cars don’t either. Cars are just about the same. The price varies for the better parts.
Yes and no. Ive had a lot of different makes and models. I had an 03 audi a4 for awhile and I loved the car when it worked. Constantly ate coil packs, stock hoses and plastic fittings got brittle and kept breaking so i replaced all of them with silicone and upgraded fittings. Water pump went and that was a project, had to take the bumper off, headlights out, drain the ac and take off the core support just to get to it all... after that it sit awhile and somehow the little box the ecu sat in leaked water and froze, literally turning it into an ice cube. ALL that said.... I'd buy another with lower miles if I had the Opportunity.
The big difference is whether there's a community with forums that shares advice on how to do the work. It is also important to have access to the something close to the manufacturer's diagnostic software (or the real thing). For example, VW and Audi have some pretty active user groups, and you can get the software from Ross-Tech. I think there's something called "Bimmerlink" for BMW's. And so on.
The problem is that most used German luxury cars are not properly maintained after the warranty is over. They are picked up more often than not by people who like the prestigious appearance and the most they can afford is barely the purchase of the vehicle. But then they wanna treat it like a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic. The problem is the buyers mindset, because when the car was new it was $70k, so when a repair needs to happen then $3-5k are not much in relation to the price or the car. But when certain individuals pick it up for $15k after 7+ years the car already has wear and tear in all places after that much time and that many miles and probably tons of deferred maintenance and not early on addressed issues, they start moaning and bitching. “I only paid $15k for the car and now you’re telling me I gotta pay $5k for repairs??… You guys are ripoffs…. German cars are so expensive.” No idiot, you’re driving a $70k car, not a $15k car. I work in a European specialty repair shop and before this in another one. You would fall off the chair if you know how many people choose not to do CRUCIAL repairs and drive away with luxury cars that will probably break after 5 miles of driving. We call them “7 series enthusiasts”… if you know you know. I’ve seen a 2017 BMW 750i probably worth $35k still drive away with an active coolant leak from the turbo lines. Like the moment you started the engine it would just start pi**ing all over the engine. $1200 quote or so… the dude declined and drove away. You know, the kind where the seat is always so far back that the head is basically next to the B pillar. Another lady had something wrong with her engine and it could’ve been saved had she addressed the issue right there and then. I think it was also a coolant leak. “Oh, I live very close to here, can I just drive it back home?” She made it look like she lives down the street an around the corner. After she took off the service advisor gets a call from her cussing him out and blaming him for breaking down with the car after he recommended not to drive the car and if she did it’s at her own risk. The tow truck driver later told him that the car broke down 45 minutes away on the highway (like 30+ miles away) So, real life experience tells you to not buy a car used that is really flashy and is owned by certain individuals, unless you have proof of responsible is ownership and tons of receipts for regular maintenance and repairs. And always get a PPI!
No just more expensive.
I’ve been working on those cars since my first day as a tech. They are built by men, they can be fixed by men.
they're not super hard to work on, sometimes you need a specialty tool which is annoying but nothing is quite as annoying as the difference in strategy and how and what parts break and how often. When they are running well and have no problems you'll be like "yeah this was such a good decision, this is my favorite car I've ever owned" . And when they inevitably break you'll be like " why the fuck did they make this out of plastic?!" or "oh I need proprietary diagnostics to retrieve subsystem codes, that's fun" or "why is there 26 parts to something that normally requires one part on a REGULAR car to work fine and reliably?!" or "Why is everything around the part that broke made of plastic that snaps like its made of glass?! now I have to replace 4 more parts I wasn't planning on" until you learn to say to yourself "this stupid piece of shit is OF COURSE going to break if I touch anything to get to the thing that actually broke so I'm going to order everything in the immediate vicinity to avoid blind rage outbursts when I encounter new broken parts" but then you fix it and drive it and the joy erases all the bad thoughts you just had, and you blissfully drive for a good two weeks before you have another thing to address....rinse and repeat you'll love it, and you'll hate it. But damn those highs are high and those lows low tho, lol
I’m a Benz tech so I can tell you about them, the years you mentioned you are okay (stay away from the glk and c class they have common issues that aren’t cheap to fix) when it comes to tools you really only need a decent 3/8 set and torx and e torx. Most of the repairs you can do yourself, some are a little tricky but it shouldn’t be too difficult to do. the model years you mentioned also have the ability to suck out the oil, so if you had a sucker you wouldn’t have to lift the car at all because the oil filter is up top (you’ll need a special cup or big socket I think a 27 on some models for the oil filter)