[W126 Coupe] 560SEC cracked engine block - how??

[Dawid Loubser]

Hi Kirk,

It was actually closer to R25,000 - but this included all labour,   
replacement of any bits that would need replacing
(I'll get a full list on monday), and basically a complete 180,000km  
service. I drove the car today, and am quite happy -
the motor is very smooth, and no smoke at all, not even after standing  
at a traffic light in our December 30ºC temperatures,
and then doing a hard start (flooring it all the way until high RPM).  
My previous motor seemed to have a wee bit more actual
power, but the difference is quite minor. And it's been 12 months  
since I drove it, so I might be imagining things.

Colin, from Carcol Executive (he is the closest and most capable MB  
specialist to me) found and fitted the motor. He is quite picky -
this was the second one, after he rejected an earlier one he found.

I didn't actually use any of the contacts you so graciously provided,  
as the car was at Carcol at the time already, and I kept your list
as a set of "Plan B" options if he couldn't find a motor. It appears  
as if he found an excellent motor, but of course, only time will tell.

all the best!
Dawid


On 10 Dec 2010, at 12:37 AM, kirk erichsen wrote:


> Dawid,

>

> I'm glad that worked out for you, though I have a few questions.  

> With the current exchange rate, R20,700 for just the motor, or  

> labour as well? I hope that including checking and replacing any  

> bits before the motor went in (for example, those blasted rear main  

> seals always seem to leak).

>

> Did you use any of the local MB specialists and parts suppliers I  

> pointed you to? How was your experience if so? Could you please  

> identify the shop you actually settled on so I can make a note of it?

>

> With warm regard,

>

> -K

>

>

> ------------------------- Kirk R. Erichsen -------------------------

>

>

>

> > From: dawidl at solms.co.za

> > To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> > Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2010 23:59:16 +0200

> > Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 560SEC cracked engine block - how??

> >

> > Hi All,

> >

> > Just to give an update, I have finally found a second-hand  

> replacement

> > motor which has been fitted by my mechanic, after doing all  

> necessary

> > preventative maintenance, and he is very happy with how it runs (I  

> pick

> > my car up tomorrow).

> >

> > Took a while to find one, but at about $3000 for an (excellent)  

> motor,

> > this

> > turned out a lot cheaper than a full rebuild (I hope the day when I

> > have to fund

> > one of those doesn't come too soon!)

> >

> > Thank you all for the help and kind words on this list, you are all

> > stars.

> > I hope to be a happy SEC driver from tomorrow onwards, and if  

> there is

> > one

> > lesson I have learned from this experience, it's this:

> >

> > With a 560SEC, when you suspect something is wrong, stop  

> IMMEDIATELY and

> > tow your car to safety, do not even drive it one block, or "hope for

> > the best".

> > When these magnificent engines go, they go badly.

> >

> > kind regards,

> > Dawid

> >

> >

> > On 04 Nov 2010, at 6:34 PM, Dawid Loubser wrote:

> >

> > > Well, it's happened -

> > >

> > > Without any particular overheating, or other problems, my  

> regularly-

> > > maintained

> > > 1990 560SEC Euro has developed a crack in the engine block (my

> > > mechanic just showed

> > > it to me today) and thus needs to be replaced (at immense cost,

> > > obviously). He will

> > > present the options to me tomorrow. Basically, my car did start to

> > > overheat, and steamed

> > > out of the exhaust, but I immediately stopped driving the car, and

> > > towed it to my local

> > > specialist. I can't believe it overheated for long enough to cause

> > > this sort of damage,

> > > I barely expected a ruptured head gasket.

> > >

> > > This all comes as a bit of a shock to me, I know this is going  

> to be

> > > incredibly expensive

> > > to sort out. I would like some opinion from the experts around  

> here

> > > - has this happened to

> > > you? Why would this happen?

> > >

> > > I am looking at other options, such as simply finding a good other

> > > engine (which I might

> > > have a good lead on) - but honestly speaking, I am still in a  

> bit of

> > > shock.

> > >

> > > kind regards to you all (I've been a lurker on this wonderful list

> > > for a *long* time - too long,

> > > in fact)

> > >

> > > Dawid

> > > 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.

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

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


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