[W126 Coupe] A different perspective

[toelsner at comcast.net]

Dick,
You are missing the point. If I buy another one, no matter what the price, that is money I could put into this one. 

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Dick Spellman <spell.yy at verizon.net> 


> Hi Tom: 

> 

> With the repair dollar north of $5k and you'll still have more issues to 

> work on (AC, other suspension components, etc.) I'd say hunt another one 

> down if possible. This comes from having purchased my share of MB's all 

> of which needed my time and parts money. Even with my time I average 

> $5k or more to restore an MB in good condition to start with. 

> 

> Just my 2. Happy hunting for that next SEC! 

> 

> Dick 

> 

> toelsner at comcast.net wrote: 

> > Hi Everybody, 

> > I would like to present a different perspective on a topic raised a 

> > few weeks ago. A person was trying to decide if he should repair his 

> > existing 560SEC or buy another one for $5k with less mileage. The 

> > consensus was either sell his and buy the other one or buy and keep both. 

> > 

> > My '90 560SEC has 177k of HARD miles on it. It is my daily driver and 

> > I have driven it to places and on job sites that would make you cringe 

> > (me too on reflection and I should have told my former employer where 

> > to go). It had finally gotten to the point where I could no longer 

> > hold off on getting my valve guides & seals done and repairing a 

> > broken sunroof rail. So I bit the bullet and drove the car almost 3 

> > hours to a shop somebody on this site recommended in the LA area. They 

> > test drove the car and this is what they came up with in addition to 

> > the valves and sunroof: leaking radiator, 1 fuel pump leaking, idler 

> > control arm bushing (cause of my front end creak) and gas door vacuum 

> > element (what fun when running on empty and your gas door solenoid 

> > won't fully engage). The total cost for all this, including tax, is 

> > around $5,300. I also had to rent a car for 3 weeks (just my luck the 

> > afternoon before I brought it in a Jag was towed in needing the heads 

> > done so I lost a few d ays). fyi...Alternator was replaced 2 months 

> > ago and the timing belt and tensioner have around 30k on them. 

> > 

> > Now, should I have bagged the car and bought another one that might 

> > have all the maintenance records etc. or am I better off making the 

> > repairs to a car that once the repairs are made I know what I have 

> > got. I still need to figure out why the AC belt keeps shredding but 

> > once this is done, all I have left is some body work and a new paint 

> > job and some leather repair. Frankly, I think the wiser choice is to 

> > go with what I have and know. Comments? 

> > 

> > I know this is a MB site, but if there are any fans of the old Volvo 

> > P1800 out there, the new C30 is awesome..not available in the US yet. 

> > I drove a Turbo Diesel 5 speed (all nomenclature and digital readouts 

> > were in Swedish)..great pickup, solid suspension and this thing was 

> > getting 62mpg hwy driving. It didn't meet CA emissions so Volvo won't 

> > sell it in the US yet. Gas version should be out first. I'm 6'2" 245 

> > pounds and the seat felt good with enough legroom. 

> > 

> > Tom Oelsner 

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

> > 

> > The MB Coupes Website! 

> > W126 SEC Mailing List 

> > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C. 

> 

> The MB Coupes Website! 

> W126 SEC Mailing List 

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C. 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20070515/4360dd9c/attachment.html>