My SDL is on notice, I'm thinking about selling. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 10-22-2004, 12:08 AM

This thing is just costing me way way to much money. Every time I fix something, something else needs to be fixed! It seems like every few weeks I am dumping a few hundred dollars into this thing! This week alone I have another set of injectors on order, I'm hoping to get a good set out of 12! But Phil will give me my money back for the 6 bad ones at least so I am really only out the $120 to get them all tested. I also am changing the vac pump and need a few other little things so thats $400!

So a $520 week!

This thing just doesn't stop costing me money! I don't see an end to it! I think I just hit the wall today, I hit another car in the parking garage at SCSU. The girl was illegaly parked but I still cut the corner a little close. It was both of ours fault but still now I have $6k in a W126 that looks like s$%$ with a big dent in the door!

And a nice dent in the rear rocker and some nasty scratches, cha ching more body work. I think I hit the wall with this car, I love driving the thing but now while I'm driving I just keep thinking "what is next?" The trans? The head? Will some jerk hit me and total it? I am seriosly looking into getting something newer with less miles, I don't mind working on the thing and if I had to put $1-2k a year into something fine, I can live with that. I just don't know if I can do this anymore I am just plain tired of working on this thing every weekend or day I have off. I am going to college and working 25 hours a week so time is at a premium.

My problem is I like the car so much, I don't want to sell it but I am sick of dumping every penny I make into it!

I am about to look through the paper for a nice clean late model Camry.

But I would really like to stay with Mercedes so I am hoping to find a real nice 1994-95 W124 say a E320/420, or a late 90's C280. I really like Mercedes and enjoy working on them but this thing is just to much, for someone with a good job and another car it would be perfect. You could tinker and fix things cheaper, but I need it to get around. Maybe I should just buy a Camry and get a 240D this summer for a few bucks and play with it.

I think I just hit the wall today the spark is gone!

I want out!

Thanks for listening to my rant.

turbodiesel · #2 10-22-2004, 12:23 AM

I think you are just being a perfectionist with it. Many people drive these things into the ground with little to no maintience.. I see them all the time. Injectors are a little noisy.. leave them be. Vacuum pump is fine.. leave it alone. It grenading on you isn't a big issue. Just change the oil and trans fluid and keep it.

ISmellDiesel · #3 10-22-2004, 01:36 AM

Cool down. All the things you mention seem very much familliar, but an accident in a parking garage you cannot blame on your Diesel. I get the feeling that your problems may be located elsewhere, think about it. Get the door fixed, stay on the bulletin board and give the 'money pit' the maintenance it deserves. Also, I read, you may want to locate different mechanic for the jobs you do. Where you are, there is competition and it pays to shop around. Think about the payments you would do on a gasser and the total lack of joy you would have otherwise.

MBDFahrer · #4 10-22-2004, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbodiesel

I think you are just being a perfectionist with it. Many people drive these things into the ground with little to no maintience.. I see them all the time. Injectors are a little noisy.. leave them be. Vacuum pump is fine.. leave it alone. It grenading on you isn't a big issue. Just change the oil and trans fluid and keep it.

Hi, my name is Jason and i'm a member of MNA (Mercedes Neglegence Anonymous

). Just kidding, I do the basic maintenance, and usually save up for a rainy day in which something horrible goes wrong. Right now, thinking about the vacuum pump as i've been warned that at 180,000, it should be retired for a newer unit. Lifters noisy, Pretty sure injectors are noisy, needs new hoses and what not (cooling and fuel), my hood is a black generic one that hasn't been repainted to match, sunroof still a mechanical mess as i'm too lazy to put it back together fully. Rear window switch that doesn't work, fader switch that bugs me, no A/C, no Cruise Control, antenna is going south and

I think i'll stop cause even i didn't know my car had this many faults just off the top of my head.

bill murrow · #5 10-22-2004, 06:23 AM

Aw, c'mon Hattie. We all have problems or we wouldn't be on this forum.

you're just p-oed 'cause you got in a little fender-bender.

There is an eb and flow to everything and you're just in a little eb right now.

Hang in there

Cheers,

Bill

tomm9298 · #6 10-22-2004, 06:55 AM

Hattie, I read many of your posts, you are a natural!! You love diesels !! You can't go to a MB GTG in a Camry !! How bad is the dent? Is the paint ruined in the dent? Down here we have Dent Wizard, it's a chain of guys that go to car lots and fix dents cheap!!! If you don't have one, call the local MB dealer ask for used car manager. He will know who to call. They fixed a 4 inch crease in a door for $35.00 !!! No paint was needed and it took about 30 minutes. Good as new. If it is a giant wrinkle or crushed, it is beyond their means. They will also know of someone that does on-lot touch up paint for scratches etc. Never quit. Don't fight all your battles at once. Fix the things that can totally disable your car or make it unsafe first. Then the rest when you have time/money. Anyway, that's the way I do it. Good luck.

Pete Burton · #7 10-22-2004, 08:15 AM

Make a conscious effort to let some of the things go, it's an older car - let it wait until summer. Really, if you are burned out with it give it some space. Having a nearly perfect car and driving it everyday can be quite a chore if you try to keep on top of everything - I was there with a Corvair convertible when I was about your age. Spend less on the car, keep it and broaden your horizons some. Has that huge backseat been put to the ultimate test yet?