Today, you can make a pretty good educated decision on a particular car based on expected costs beyond your monthly payments, insurance, and gas costs. Historical data can give us costs on scheduled maintenance as well as known reliability costs for failed parts up to 100,000 miles. Some data even takes us up to 150,000 miles, which proves beyond a doubt that:
*You really do get what you pay for.
*An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
*You can pay me now or you can pay me later.
* It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little.

My guess is that 75% of car owners give little or no thought to preventative maintenance. Regular oil changes are about the extent of their efforts. What I did for my Crossfire today is........I’m compiling an “Expected Costs of Scheduled Maintenance” and “expected reliability issues” on my Crossfire for the first 100,000 Miles.

Going to a mechanic for the Owners Manual’s Scheduled Maintenance has a ballpark price tag........ DIY has huge savings here.

Bringing into the stark reality of an “ounce of prevention”, talking about “expected reliability issues” .......( your pocketbook )..... thinking of the RCM or CPS Preventative Maintenance. How many thousands of dollars have been wasted on just these two undiagnosed items costing less than $75 ????"........ DIY has huge savings here.
An ounce of prevention also has huge savings by noticing small problems before they become big $ problems. Lots of examples of DIY savings to be found here, too !!

Untold thousands of $’s fall through The hands of the 75% who know only oil changes.

The real story here with the Crossfire Is the amazing story of its bulletproof engineering, entry cost, yearly cost, and high satisfaction number.......add to that it’s High reward for just paying attention.

Add your story here

 

The Crankshaft Position Sensor problem is a bit exaggerated, why change a part that is working well for a new part?
Just like those who change the fuel filter for no good reason other than the fact that they want to spend money.
If you want to look after your engine change the oil and filter at around 3,000 miles not 7,000 or whatever the readout says.
The relays in the RCM are a problem so they should be looked at once in a while. Changing the Cam Position Sensor is a waste of money too.
Keep spare CPSs and a spare RCM in the trunk along with the tools to change them. Carrying a code reader is a good idea as well. Buy quality parts, Bosch is best.
Buy Bosch or walk home.

 

A fuel filter is not expensive you can get the OEM for $40 or even less. I have had the crankshaft position sensor go out and it was at the worst time so I do change it every 4 years or so because it was an awful experience. Only change the cam sensor if you get a check engine light for it and I did many years ago.

I agree buy Bosch for any parts it made specifically for the Crossfire/Mercedes. However Bosch brake pads are the loudest and the worst! Stay away.

 

I came across a Crossfire SRT-6 owner at a Cars & Coffee event last year. He had an insulation cover or sleeve or something that protected the CPS. Considering where the CPS is located, the failure mode probably is heat-related. When I asked when he last changed the CPS, he told me he never changed it! Makes me wonder to this day how I could effectively provide an insulation cover for the CPS. Should have paid more attention to how his was made & secured. Got all "googly-eyed" looking at all the cars that attended that event!