My aunt has a 1995 S500 sedan and she was told that her headgasket was bad and was quoted $2400. for repairs. Does this seem reasonable for this job on this car?

They are thinking about just selling it, as she just recently bought a new Mercedes M-Class SUV.

I have never heard of a headgasket problem on these cars... how common is it? I think it has about 110K on it. They bought it brand new and never had any engine issues and the car has been extremely well maintained.

I guess when the A/C went out a couple of years ago and $3000 repairs were needed and now this, perhaps its time to sell?

I was thinking about buying it, but the last thing I need is another problem MB.

Thanks in advance.

I was thinking about buying it, but

a/c evap leaks are common on those cars and due to the amount of dash dissembly required, lots of labor is required. Head Gasket leaks are not common on m119 motors. I would have it verified first.

Thats what it was with the A/C, now that you mentioned it... it was the evaporator.

There may be more to the story behind the HG leak. I do not know the details, but perhaps she overheated the engine or something. I will try to get more details. Its a shame to sell a $89K ( I think it was close to $90,000) car (when new) for beans only 12 years down the road.

Someone correct me on the price if I am wrong.

errr yeah sell the car. There's a saying: Benz are good for 5 years tops. For cars made between 1991 and 1997 I think that saying is very true.

If my C220 breaks in any shape or form anywhere even near the engine to the junker it goes.

the resale value of old Mercs are down the drain, regardless of how much they are when new.

I can pick one of those up tomorrow without headgasket issues for 20000 Canadian tomorrow if I wanted - that's about 17000US at best. You are repairing a car that's worth beans in the market anyway and it needs huge repair not some petty wire harness change or something like that.

Thanks. @ first my uncle said he may just take it to the junk yard, but that seems like such a waste.

Thanks again for the inputs.

errr yeah sell the car. There's a saying: Benz are good for 5 years tops



Are you from Mars? I'm not sure where you got that from. If that's how you feel, why the **** did you buy one?

97 C230 with the "god-awful" 722.6 tranny and "horrid build quality"........funny, since it went out of CPO warranty 45k ago, at 100k, I've spent all of $300 in repairs on it.

Stop being a woman. If you can't handle what it takes to maintain a car such as a Benz, you should be driving a Honda

If you can't afford a $2400 repair, even if that is the worst-case diagnosis, how the hell did you afford a $90k car new? Something smells funny here

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

I "bow" for the W202

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

W202 is known to be like.....if it still works great, if it breaks don't bother.

and I bought it for beans....coz I bought it used. It's my beater. Why do I care. if it breaks anywhere near the engine this has to be dumped.

the price I quoted for a 1996 Benz is from Vancouver BC - the city in the whole of North America with the highest resale value of cars - try Washington state. 2 hours drive south and you can pick up a nice S500 for $13500US...

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/car/283410544.html

fix it? why bother. Makes no sense to me.

my friend's dad just dumped a S500 at the junker after a water hose blew up on his car and he drove it to the ground with no water.

I don't see why your aunt shouldn't.

Donate it for the tax write off. Its still worth $10k-$12k, thats not a bad write off.

No don't buy it, the last thing you need is a W140.

Which headgasket, or are they just going to yank both heads? Its not very common on the M119 no.

Its probably a really good car, heck where is it give it to me and I'll fix it!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

"W202 is known to be like.....if it still works great, if it breaks don't bother."

Actually, I fix pretty much every little thing on my ride, as it breaks. I also do all of my maintenance and then some, such as fluid changes in the trans every 40k. Nothing tackier than a decade-old Benz, neglected and needing $3k in nickel-and-dime repairs for things that should have been corrected when they failed.

I never would have bought a white, 7 year old, 4cyl Benz if I didn't get a warranty - I was first attracted to an '04 C230 Sport (whew, glad I didn't buy that POS!) The package was a good deal, and the car quickly grew on me. I also was actually QUITE proactive in dealing with the car's issues under Starmark, complaining enough to have all the 722.6 electronics, climate control brain, front suspension pieces, steering gearbox, alternator, and EVERY seal including head gasket replaced under warranty

I did this because I knew I could not stomach benz repairs on my own at that point. At this point, the car is in great shape, but I realize I am due for something big before 200k. Fine, I'll deal with it........point is, if you can't afford to maintain a Benz, don't buy a Benz..........because, as with any precision machine, they live and breathe maintenance and repairs. A 12-year-old Benz is what it is.......so you either spend the $2400 to repair it, or you go out and spend $100k on a new one.

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

What are the symptoms? Whatever they are you should get a second opinion. A head gasket problem on that engine with that mileage would be very unusual.

I just had my headgasket done on my 300CE, it cost about that much , and it can go more because theyre going to find other stuff wrong with it. Is it worth it ? I say if the cars in good shape hell yeah. where else are you going to get a good solid riding car for $2400? I felt like my cars got a few good years left in her so I spent the dough, besides you dont see to many 300CE.

Quit being cheap and fixer up and get back on the road.

Thanks. I will recommend that to them. Yeah, I do not want it. My next MB will be a low mile, well-maintained diesel.... 79-87 S-Class.

Not sure which HG... I just asked dad what was wrong and he said head gasket was blown according to his sister... they had alread bought a new M-Class anyway, so I think they were planning on selling it anyway, but was possibly going to keep it.

It is located in South Carolina.

Unsure... I will tell them to get a second opinion. Thanks.

Are you talking to me?? Seems like part of your reply is directed to someone else and the last part directed to me.....

If so, I do not know what you are talking about. If so, you may have misread my post.

This is NOT MY car! Its my aunts car and no, *I* cannot afford a $90K car. Never said I could. And its not that they cannot afford a $2400 repair..... I just wanted to know if the estimate they got was reasonable.

Nothing smells funny... I have nothing to hide.

If I misread you reply, forgive me, but yours seemed to be made in haste and meant to be degrading.