[W126 Coupe] FW: MBCOUPES Digest, Vol 36, Issue 37

[Mike Taylor]

Hi Mark,
You're right I could source the parts cheaper but I can't work on the
car myself because of spare time, not ability, so all the prices below
INCLUDE garage labour cost, e.g. the air filters were not $82 each for
the parts.  I think there are many more US-based SEC's than UK-based
remaining (more to do with out weather I suspect, not our driving !) so
there are less cheap alternative parts suppliers, I guess we could order
direct from the US and pay postage.
I think the fact that most of the members of the forum work on their own
cars is definitely the way to go !  The issue of whether I've been
ripped off on price always worries me, as you say you can't really know
until you've done it yourself.  Thanks for the reply Mark.
Mike Taylor

 Message: 4
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:44:25 -0700
From: "Mark Reimers" <mark at reimers.com>
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Cost of running a garage-maintained 560 SEC
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID:
	
<CC1414B087EEDF4A90EBD129EF8416D301676B at ras-server.Reimers.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Mike,

 

You need to buy parts from Rusty or Jonathan! $82.2 per air filter is
rape and you probably said thank you. The members of this forum have
provided tons of advice on DIY (Do It Yourself) projects such as brakes,
plugs and a variety of other small projects. Admittedly, some things
need to be handled by a professional but most are just maintenance which
with some emails can be handled by you. You don't need a lot of tools
just a willingness to get you hands temporarily dirty. A side benefit of
doing these things yourself is the knowledge of how long/much something
should take/cost.

 

Having a shop do all your work is expensive as you so ably have
demonstrated. My costs are substantially less than yours (in the
$1000-1500 yr range) which makes this beautiful car both fun and
affordable to own.  

 

Mark Reimers

Reimers and Associates, Inc.

775-772-3607

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:13:34 +0100
From: "Mike Taylor" <Mike.Taylor at tracegroup.com>
Subject: [W126 Coupe] Cost of running a garage-maintained 560 SEC
To: <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID:
	
<B22761C52F917F49AA008D5CA16C8AB49D06AA at PLC-EXCH-SRV.tracegroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


Everyone knows that these cars we own (a 560 SEC 1988 in my case) are
expensive to run, so I thought people might find it interesting to know
my own experience with bills.  I don't / can't work on the car myself, I
use 2 garages, one expensive but very good independent dealership, and
one cheaper 2-man outfit useful for niggling problems.  In the 8 years I
have owned the car I have kept a spreadsheet (shown below and attached)
of all bills.  
It has just hit the ?23,000 or $47,000 dollar mark over 8 years.  Sounds
shocking but does include some non-essentials (e.g. $6000 stereo) and
about $12000 completely restoring the bodywork to 'new' condition.
Anyway, if anyone is interested, since 1999 these are my bills on my 560
SEC (I hope it is still readable as it is pasted from an Excel table).
I'm sure if you work on your car yourself it is considerably less !!!
I hope this doesn't scare any potential buyers.  It would be interesting
to know anyone else's experience.  
Best Regards,
Mike Taylor
p.s. I live in the UK, just north of London...for boot read trunk!
 
Work	 Cost $	
ABS Sensor (nearside front)	 $200.22	
6 Air Filters	 $496.00	
Aircon Cooling Fan + Fitting	 $386.00	
Aircon Re-Gassing - twice	 $348.00	
Alarm Cobra 7928 Fitted	 $800.00	
Anti-Freeze	 $50.00	
2 Axle Beam Bushes	 $276.26	
Axle Oil	 $60.00	
2 Ball Joints	 $176.00	
2 Batteries	 $334.00	
Bodywork - 2 Front Wings	 $1,012.42	
Bodywork - bulkhead strip	 $111.76	
Bodywork - Fit 2 new Wings, Lots of Repair and Respraying
$3,857.52	
Bodywork - Front Chrome Bumper	 $585.30	
Bodywork - General Repair & Respraying	 $2,000.00	
Bodywork - outside window rails	 $130.00	
Bodywork - repair body, spray bumpers, skirts, mirrors, etc
$4,058.54	
Bodywork - small repairs, scratches, wiper blades, boot	 $243.00	
Boot Seal Trim - twice	 $200.00	
Brake Calipers (4), Discs (4), Pads (8) + fluid	 $1,910.00	
Brake Light Switch (under pedal) - twice	 $308.00	
Distributor Cap & Rotor	 $364.84	
Electric Aerial	 $260.00	
Engine Complete Re-Bore & Re-Build	 $2,255.14	
Exhaust - Complete System	 $2,685.50	
6 Fanbelts	 $190.00	
2 Fuel Filters	 $190.00	
2 Fuel Pumps	 $846.96	
Fuel Regulator	 $915.02	
Geometry Check - full run out and adjust - twice	 $220.00	
Heating Control Valve	 $595.70	
HT Leads	 $250.00	
Ignition Trigger Box	 $1,947.92	
8 Injectors	 $500.00	
Locking Wheelnuts - twice	 $100.00	
Nozzle for screenwash	 $130.00	
16 Oil Services - approx every 3000 miles	 $2,030.00	
40 Spark Plugs	 $600.00	
Seat Belt Kit (Driver Side)	 $500.00	
Steering Box - fix leak	 $80.00	
Steering Centre Drag Link	 $83.48	
Steering Fluid PAS - twice	 $140.00	
Steering Idler Bush	 $153.30	
Stereo ! Big bad Alpine system, Magnat amps, MB Quart Spkrs
$6,330.00	
Replacement Sump (the old one just fell off)	 $550.00	
Suspension - Gas accumulators/spheres	 $619.06	
Suspension Fluid & Filters - twice	 $190.00	
Suspension Pipes - front to rear under car	 $844.00	
Timing Chain	 $200.00	
Track Rod Control Arm (nearside upper)	 $350.00	
Track Rods (both outer)	 $350.00	
Trans / Gearbox Oil	 $280.00	
Interior Wooden Trim (damaged)	 $774.00	
Full Tune-up and Adjust - twice	 $472.00	
13 Tyres	 $3,578.00	
Wheel Balancing 	 $35.92	
Wheel centre caps	 $50.00	
Wheel Tracking	 $202.00	
Wiper Blades	 $100.00	
Wiring Fault	 $78.14	
TOTAL	 $47,584.00Disclaimer: 
 
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