I have Guilt over excessive Diesel Parts Spending..do you too? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BobK · #16 05-30-2006, 12:24 PM

I don't feel too bad about spending $$$ on my cars. I just dropped about $1k in wife's SL. and believe me, I could do that every year, forever and still not have the car the way I think it should be. Big think is getting the parts and courage to do some of the less fun jobs. I have a new timing chain sitting in the box just waiting to go into that motor. Gonna pull the front cover and replace the lower rails while I'm at it. It will make me feel a lot better when the job is done, but gonna take a bit of time to get up the nerve to do that job. Can't wait to see what else I will need to fix/replace while I'm working on that job. Found a busted upper rail when I had the covers off recently. Replaced all the upper rails, but still not comfortable. Chain had 10 degrees of stretch, so it has to go. Maybe I'll get by for another $500 or so...

Strife · #17 08-29-2006, 01:27 AM

Yes and no. But put in perspective (car payments), it's reasonable and keeps me out of trouble. Recently I've been acquiring spares for this car and also another SL I'll get as a true daily driver (hopefully if the CFO permits). I've looked at this as an investment, because I've shopped carefully and there is no where for parts to go but UP.

pawoSD · #18 08-29-2006, 01:44 AM

My car has cost me thousands in parts over the past 3.2 years of ownership, and I stopped "tallying" my costs after the first few months. I figure not knowing/thinking about it is better than dwelling on it.

I'll keep right on getting those ebay and WorldPac Boxes on the doorstep, and nothing can stop me!

(Well....unless I run out of money.....

)

Next week: Steering Damper, Oil change to OEM filter and Mobil1 Synthetic Oil....POR15 the underside after a good dremeling with a wirebrush, monovalve replacement, inline fuse for aux pump........the list goes on.

Strife · #19 08-29-2006, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrameow

I was at MIDAS once and i saw them quote someone like $770 for new brakes and rotors.
Wow! For a BENZ 300D 85 that would be $150 for parts only with new ROTORS.

I think that DIY'ers over time (myself included) lose track of what "the others" pay for things that we consider fairly simple to do, and, contrary to what the goverment says, inflation does march on.

The OEM prices for parts on recent (<5 years old) cars is astounding, even on s$@#boxes. I'll bet the rotors on a 2005 Elantra cost more than I can get good European mfr rotors for on my ($50000+, 1986 dollars) car. Until the aftermarket kicked in, the puny front rotors on a PT cruiser were fabulously expensive.

Carrameow · #20 08-29-2006, 03:51 AM

and saved almost 2k in parts -radiators, interior, alternators, water pump, for my 300d and saab.............