Money pit thread, read at your own risk!

[truckinik]

Hattie, I never knew you had so much into your car..I thought you were just a kid who picked up a Mercedes, and were here to talk and learn about them, so you can do your own repairs when you need to. I didn't think you were this into them. I thought your money pit was a boat. Usually, that's the case with a shorline guy, with a name like yours. Do you have a "Hatterass" by the way? My father has a huge "Ocean" I don't know the size, but it's about the size of one of my 53' trailers for my trucks, so it's somewhere in the 50 ft area. He had a 40 something foot "CrisCraft" before the one he has now, and before that he had a really nice, 40 something foot Tri-Moran, or however you spell it. Lotta big sports fishing boats over the years, but now he just cruises around in that Huge Bohemouth. Beautiful boat though. I don't know exact specs on it, but he got it last year. I have a 23ft Bayliner, but usually only take it on fresh water. It's more or less a p.o.s., but it's good for doing some fishing, and water skiing off of. The only time it sees any salt water in on my once a year, week vacation to Cape Cod. It gets all bloody, and beat up...We fish for Blues off of it.

[truckinik]

Well, I paid $15,900.oo (USD) for my 88 560,SEC, AMG, Euro. The car is from Calgary, Alberta. I've invested additional money into it, since purchase, and still haven't gotten it home yet. If you include the four new tires, insurance, and registration up dates for Alberta, and my transportation, to Alberta, and return home fuel costs etc. I'll be into the car for something in the neighborhood of $23k total.

[mespe]

I paid $650 for a 1985 300SD with 323K miles on it. I put around $800 in parts (including tires, glow plugs, a few bushings, quite a few fuel filters) burned WVO for 15K miles, sold the parts at 356K for $2400 and got $150 scrap metal. I probably bought 200 gallons of diesel at $2.00/gallon, (or $400) 400 gallons of home made biodiesel @ $.65/gallon ($260) 500 Gallons WVO (with 75 gallons RUG used for thinning) 75 @ $2.50/gallon ($187.50) IN a mathematical formula:

650+800-2400 (less ebay fees of $240) +240 -150 +400 +260 + 187.5 = $-12.50 (credit) / 33K miles = $.000416666666667 (amount car paid me per mile)

[Knightrider966]

Yeah, I don't keep track of all my expenses either just because I don't want to know! But I figured out what the MB stands for in Mercedes Benz.......Mega-Bucks!!!! It seems to that no matter what year you have, You will still pay a mechanic shop $300 just to look at it if you can't do the work your self! Fortunately I was an engineer for the Chrysler Corporation and can rebuild my own engine.

[truckinik]

Originally Posted by mespe

I paid $650 for a 1985 300SD with 323K miles on it. I put around $800 in parts (including tires, glow plugs, a few bushings, quite a few fuel filters) burned WVO for 15K miles, sold the parts at 356K for $2400 and got $150 scrap metal. I probably bought 200 gallons of diesel at $2.00/gallon, (or $400) 400 gallons of home made biodiesel @ $.65/gallon ($260) 500 Gallons WVO (with 75 gallons RUG used for thinning) 75 @ $2.50/gallon ($187.50) IN a mathematical formula:

650+800-2400 (less ebay fees of $240) +240 -150 +400 +260 + 187.5 = $-12.50 (credit) / 33K miles = $.000416666666667 (amount car paid me per mile)

Kay, I'm sending you my mileages, and receipts for all of my cars, and expenses. Maybe you can get me more exact figures...LOL.

[babymog]

Okay, there seem to be three basic camps on this thread:

1) I paid a lot, my car has been constant trouble, and I pay mechanics to do whatever they say it needs = expensive per mile.

2) I was lucky/clever in my purchase, continue to be in my self-maintenance and used parts finds as needed = little or nothing per mile.

3) I just like to type about how much stuff I have (truckinik) or claim to have.


Maybe we can all just post a 1, 2, or 3. ;~)

2

[pawoSD]

Nah, my car hasn't been "constant trouble" at all...I paid a lot for it 4 years ago (3,700 on ebay) it only had 207k on it, needed the timing chain replaced and tranny resealed....2k.....then for a long while it was fine except for a water pump. ($60, did it myself) Most other maintenance has been done by me except for alignments and suspension work. I'm probably fairly close to hatterasguy in costs...but I don't care. I've driven it 50k so far and never had a problem leave me stranded, except when a battery died on me, but mercedes roadside had us on our way in less than 3 hours. My cost per mile (excluding fuel) is roughly 22 cents.....not bad. with fuel probably more like 30 cents. But I don't care. its my hobby, I'm not driving it to save money (thats for sure! ) It never lets me down and is a joy to drive. So I am happy.

[gtmotor]

How about this one... I just bought a 79 300SD from a guy who put over $4000.00 into it in the past year. When I get back to my house (I'm out of town right now) I'll tally up all the receipts he gave me.

It spent 95% of it's time in the shop and he drove it 500 miles since he owned it.

I bought it for $1200.

Therefore... just calculating the repairs he did on it (no clue what he originally paid) it's $4000-1200 = $2800 dollar loss.

$2800/500 miles = $5.60/mile

[pastmaster]

Hattie,

A good thread to re-light, the burning of money!

What has ever happened to Braverichard? I remember his posts on his S class 350 SD's, and the rod-bender discussions that ensued, along with finding the "right", W140 S600 V12. I recall he found the his S600 and was very happy. He also bought a new Hyundai Sonata, for his everyday car.

Just wonder how's he's doing, haven't seen a post for a while.

Pastmaster

[2.5Turbo]

Inherited the car, and haven't had to put much into it except fuel, oil, and filters. Just before my dad drove it home from my grandparents' house in Ohio, they took it to the dealer that it had been serviced at for the car's entire life and said "Fix what needs to be done, it's going on a long trip [to Tacoma, WA]". That service included an inspection, an oil change, A/C fix (can't remember what was fixed, but it included a recharge), all filters changed, I believe the cooling system was flushed and coolant was changed, old hoses were replaced, and new belts were put on...all at the expense of the grandparents Had Michelin MXV4 Plus tires with less than 5k on them too

Other than the usual general service items, here's my list...the records are with the car so these are estimates:

Vacuum transducer for wastegate - $147
Time+parts spent at the indy trying to figure out no boost problem while I was at school - ~$300
Parts for EDS code reader/clearer - $20 at Radio Shack
Headlight knob - $2.50
CC amp - ~$350?
MB battery - ~$110
Misc light bulbs/headlights - ~$40
Used Bosch euro lights - ~$200
Clear corner lights - $40
Right rear window and right front door lock - insurance deductible
Welding and undercoating rear tow hook - can't remember, wasn't too bad

Obviously the headlights and clear corners weren't totally necessary...but they look pretty hot

[truckinik]

Originally Posted by babymog

Okay, there seem to be three basic camps on this thread:

1) I paid a lot, my car has been constant trouble, and I pay mechanics to do whatever they say it needs = expensive per mile.

2) I was lucky/clever in my purchase, continue to be in my self-maintenance and used parts finds as needed = little or nothing per mile.

3) I just like to type about how much stuff I have (truckinik) or claim to have.


Maybe we can all just post a 1, 2, or 3. ;~)

2

PHUQ

[Larry Delor]

My E420 has burned up more of my money than the 300D. I've put 85k miles on the 420 and 96k miles on the 300. 1 single part alone for the 420 cost me more than I have spent on the 300D in the last 5 years.
In the last 5 years the 300D has received:
All tie rod assemblies
New calipers (and pads)
New Radiator
Used trans. (because the int. trans. cooler in the radiator failed)
2 R4 compressors (inc. receiver/dryer)
New rear window seal
2 sets of 4 tires
New Rack dampener pin
And a bunch of oil changes


And just a few days ago, I had to burn up more money on the E420 for the same reason that I bought the expensive part first mentioned .... Because MB doesn't know anything about insulation falling off of their wiring harnesses. (and then they expect customer loyalty - Hah!)

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by pastmaster

Hattie,

A good thread to re-light, the burning of money!

What has ever happened to Braverichard? I remember his posts on his S class 350 SD's, and the rod-bender discussions that ensued, along with finding the "right", W140 S600 V12. I recall he found the his S600 and was very happy. He also bought a new Hyundai Sonata, for his everyday car.

Just wonder how's he's doing, haven't seen a post for a while.

Pastmaster

Thats a good queston, he was a cool guy.

I don't mind, compared to what people spend on boats this is a drop in the bucket. I was down the marina yesterday talking to a friend who had just replaced the shafts in his sportfish, he went to 2in shafts, makes this car hobby look cheap...

[Cephallus]

I'm actually doing ok on mine...

240d - purchased for $3600, and around $3500 in parts so far. that includes full suspension refresh, some interior parts, wvo heating parts, etc. $7500 for a good-running, dependable daily in great cosmetic shape seems like a bargain to me.

190e - eek. this has been my project car for the past few years, so this one's ugly. the last time i added everything up, i was in it around $10k, not including purchase price. it gets painted next week, and there's some more stuff to finish...i'm guessing around $15k when it's "finished." in quotes because we all know these types of projects are never finished.

280 - again, not so bad. of the free mercedes variety. around $2k in parts so far, just to get it driveable. body is straight, though, so i'm ahead of the game.

[iwrock]

Two things...

1. Wheres Nate (Veloce300DT)? Hes the guy with the crazy clean 300D...


2. Do gassers count? I have a BINDER of reciepts for my 300TE. I will total, and get back!