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

[Mike Taylor]

Hi Ronny,
The prices include UK VAT/tax at 17.5%, and also in many cases labour at
up to $100 per hour (but they are good !).  So it's not just the parts
prices, includes fitting.
Cheers,
Mike Taylor

 Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:50:09 -0700
From: "Ronny Geenen" <ronny.geenen at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Cost of running a garage-maintained 560 SEC
To: "Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists" <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
Message-ID: <002c01c8012e$d9502210$7002a8c0 at SP112>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Mike,
Are these plain cost or included VAT?
And how high is that tax?
I know in Holland it is 19% and they are increasing it to 20%

Ronny Geenen
1987 560 SEC
Glendora, California

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	 $47,584.00	
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