[W126 Coupe] RE: MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 5, Issue 34

Tue Mar 29 14:38:42 EST 2005

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-----Original Message-----
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Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 12:00 PM
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Subject: MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 5, Issue 34

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Cost of Ownership (Chris)
   2. RE: Re:IDLE AIR VALVE (Mike Ramay)
   3. RE: Cost of Ownership (Mark Reimers)
   4. Re: Cost of Ownership (eharder)

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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 09:21:03 -0500
From: "Chris" <cjschafer at voyager.net>
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Cost of Ownership
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID: <001101c5346a$8b0670c0$d6597c04 at computer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

"I would think part of the reason the value will go up is because so many of
the uncared for examples go to the junkyard, leaving the nice ones?"
Well that is a shame because there aren't that many to begin with.

"Operational costs for the last 15000 miles ran about $0.50 per mile
(maintenance and fuel, regular things)"
That would be $7500 to operate!

"$0.78 per mile (regular+repairs and major services)"
That would be $11,700!

Chris.
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 06:32:22 -0800
From: "Mike Ramay" <mramay at attglobal.net>
Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] Re:IDLE AIR VALVE
To: "Dan Gardner" <cruftsk9 at tpg.com.au>,	"Mercedes Coupes Mailing
	Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID: <NOEEKEAIEFIDJMGPFCNAIELKFLAA.mramay at attglobal.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

Also, after Gary's suggestion, use an ohmmeter to read the resistance of the
coil in the Idle Air Valve (IAV). The resistance should be under ten ohms.
If it's infinity, then the IAV has a bad coil but give me a call and I'll
give you the details on how to open it up and, hopefully, fix it. If it is
about the right resistance, then put the tubing back on it and apply 12
volts to the pins. That should slow the idle from 1200/1500 rpm down to
around 700.

You could have an electrical problem with the car in that is not supplying
the IAV with the proper voltage, the IAV could have a broken wire internally
rendering it inoperable, or the shuttle valve inside the IAV could be jammed
and not floating free in there.

Later,
Mike Ramay
(702) 494-8056

-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]On Behalf Of Dan Gardner
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 4:04 AM
To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
Subject: [W126 Coupe] Re:IDLE AIR VALVE

I have been running my SEC with the 45o bypass tube removed and the holes
plugged this has brought the idle down to an acceptable 750 RPM.(from
1200RPM)
    I was thinking of fitting an adjustable valve but it needed to be
blocked of totally to acheive the desired result.
I priced a new one at the MB dealership @$1475 AUD but they offered me a
club discount of $70AUD(How generous!).Aftermarket suppliers quoted me
$375AUD for the same original VDO part.I would estimate it costing $10 to
manufacture.
    Question is how do I test the existing one to make sure it is definitely
out of specification,(the problem occurred after I cleaned it with carb
cleaner) before I buy a new one.
    I cannot find a vacuum leak anywhere,resistance is to spec.(as per CD
ROM)
    All suggestions most welcome.

                                            Kind Regards  Dan Gardner  1986
560 SEC (Euro 220KW)

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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 08:32:58 -0800
From: "Mark Reimers" <mark at reimers.com>
Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] Cost of Ownership
To: "'Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists'" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID: <200503291633.j2TGX8025916 at westhost48.westhost.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Chris,

I put 47,000 miles on my 560SEC in 3 years (03/02 through 03-05). I averaged
about $1,200 per year in maintenance and repair/upgrades. Gas is just a
necessity which if it were $5 per gallon I would still have to purchase it.
I did most of the mechanical work myself or traded it out for consulting
time. The $1,200 per year figure is based on repairs, tires, alignments,
tune-ups and consumable's. So based on input and fixes from MBCOUPES I was
able to maintain the car in fine fettle for what a domestic might have cost
me. Now perhaps I was lucky but my experience has been that most cars that
have been correctly maintained are less costly than ones you need to fix up
just to get them where they should already have been. The wear and tear of
an improperly maintained vehicle is equivalent to years and miles of aging
compared to a properly maintained vehicle.

My opinions

Mark Reimers

90 560SEC and soon to be 91 560SEC

  _____

From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of Eddie
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 11:50 PM
To: 'Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists'
Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] Cost of Ownership

I would think part of the reason the value will go up is because so many of
the uncared for examples go to the junkyard, leaving the nice ones?

Operational costs for the last 15000 miles ran about $0.50 per mile
(maintenance and fuel, regular things), $0.78 per mile (regular+repairs and
major services), not including upgrades.

Eddie

-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of Chris
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 11:39 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Cost of Ownership

Well in my case I guess I am talking about an aggressive maintenance program
as I fettle the car back into shape.

It would be nice though to have an idea of the average operating costs of
these cars past the 100,000 mile mark. This might be a discouragement to
people who can afford to buy the car but cannot afford to keep the car
running.

These cars might be at the lowest purchase price in their lifetimes right
now. Good for us as the value will go back up but bad for many cars as they
will end up in junk yards.

Chris

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Message: 4
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 11:53:53 -0500
From: eharder <eharder at woh.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Cost of Ownership
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID: <42498821.30005 at woh.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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End of MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 5, Issue 34
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