I can buy a really nice, solid, cared-for car for $8500. Needs A/C repair, according to dealer: evap, hoses, compressor. Ballpark figure to repair A/C right? What else to watch out for on this model? Has 150K miles. No apparent blowby from oil filler, also, clean inside as far as I can see. Runs/drives beautifully (I drove a new 420 a couple hundred miles, back in the late '80s, and I remember the joy..)
Thanks

A/C work can be VERY expensive. I have seen bills in the 3k dollar range before if all is faulty.

If you invest a little up front, though, you may have a nice car when all of the repairs are done.

Last time I looked, the shop time alone for an A/C evaporator was 21 hours. Multiply that by your dealers hourly rate. New/used/rebuilt A/C compressor I suspect is in the $400-$800 range, plus hoses, new receiver drier and labor. How about the condensor? You may need that too. Then you need to decide if you want to salvage this R-12 system(presumption) or go with R-134a - more $$$$.

Then we get into the infamous valve guide/seal problem the early M103 motors were known for. In a previous post, MB Doc indicated guides/seals were updated in '89...forget the month.

My guess is your wallet will be lightened a bit.

Regards.

'89 300 SE Air conditioning
 

Thanks, guys. This car is nice enough to be worth a quality repair and, if I buy it, I want to know what I should do. Assuming the system maintains integrity [doesn't leak materially] for a number of years, I would be inclined to leave the R-12 in place. At least the controls seem to work: blower speed, etc. I read once that this design may be the finest M-B has ever built, and, after driving this car: 11 years and 150K miles old, and comparing it to my previous experience with a nearly-new car, I know this is possibly a true statement. thanks again; I will let you know if I make the deal.