Does anyone know what a fair price range is for a complete 280SL engine rebuild (cylinders/crankshaft/valves). The fuel injection was recently rebuilt so it's fine.

I'm awaiting a quote from my mechanic, and I'd like to be prepared beforehand, as I have no idea what is fair. I know it won't be cheap!

Thanks,
Steve
1969 280SL

Steve,

I just did a 230sl, basically the same engine. Cost $1500.00 to $2,000.

Bob

Hard to say, but I had to say something to the ridiculous price of $1500-2000. Its at least 35 hours by the MB flatrate book. At the corner gas station price of $50/hr that would be 1750 for labor alone.

Now if you want some bozzo to take it all apart and clean it and glue it back together and call it a rebuild maybe 2 grand would do it.

If your refering to me as a "bozo", I will match my experience against yours anyday. Furthermore your so called credentials don't impress me in the least. It's crooks like you that rip good people off by charging by the book. The books are so inflated with labor hours, that in real time you can do most jobs in half the time stated by the books. These books ie; time and management are written for dealers to make money. That's the problem today, everbody wants to get rich quick. Any so called "bozo", can rebuild a 280SL, there about as complcated as a lawnmower engine. Try working on a BMW sometime, then I might consider you as a mechanic! I also am a Master certified Technician, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo & Saab. I have had my own shop for 35 years, specializing in these vehicles, you wouldn't work for me very long if it takes you 35 hours for a rebuild.

Have A Nice Day!

Could you give an idea of what parts you replaced on the $1500-$2000 rebuild? What the machine shop charges were...that sort of thing. I've done a few of those over the years. The last one that came through that cheap was around 1978.
Regards,
Randy D.

Gee, I figured you were a hobbiest and didn't include the labor. I didn't figure you for a fool.

If you work professionally on MBs and did a 230SL out the door for $2000, then you must have a very small oak tree you are working under. Proper shade trees cost more than that.

Credentials don't mean crap in this discussion. Experience does. My shop writes 10,000 invoices a year and I'll bet I worked on more BMWs in the last year than you have worked in your life.

BTW the book I was refering to is the book that MB made to decide how much their technicians would be paid under warrantee. Very few people use it. Most use aftermarket books that are 25 -50% higher. My shop averages around 40 billed hours out of each of our eight techs who each work about 45 hours a week. Books can be used improperly! But what are you using?

I have supervised and/or built hundreds of MB/BMW/Porsche engines and a proper job on a 280SL will take all of 35 hours. If you are doing it faster I challenge your thoroughness and/or your attention to details. Do you replace the valve guides,do you do a three angle valve seat cut to narrow the seat width. Do you, oh hell, I'll be glad give you all the engine overhauls anyway, my people take at least 50 hours whenever they do one of those old guys; painting this, polishing that.

Real techs do driveability work anyway; engine repair is for blacksmiths.

What about the rest of you? Any other techs out there that rebuilt any motor for $2000 lately. Any of you want to do a quality rebuild for less than 35 hours. And I don't mean pulling the head and the pan and throwing some rings on the thing. In my book a rebuild includes boring that block and new pistons. Rebuilding means making new, not just taking it apart and putting it back with new seals.

Are you the guy that works for free for ymsin in Singapore?

[Edited by stevebfl on 06-10-2001 at 09:38 AM]

takes me 35 hours to take the hood off, trim back the leafy branchs on my shade tree ,find the handle to my engine hoist and make enough lemonade for the crew of loafers that seem to sense when a great event like the removal of one of them Marcedes engines is about to take place........
William Rogers.....

The last engine that
 

I rebuit under the shade tree cost between $2500 and $3000. It was a '91 Mazda MPV 4 cylinder - 3 valve/cyl engine (look at the price of parts for one of these babies some day). I removed the engine in the shade and took the block and head to a guy that builds dragster engines. He bored it and installed the new oversize pistons/rings and machined the head, replaced timing chain/sprockets. I don't remember if the the valves were replaced or not. The wife had run the engine hot and "scarred" the cylinder walls and screwed up the rings. It was done over a period of about 4 or 5 weeks.

I think the answer to the original question, is that if it's a DIY job, expect to pay 1,500-2,000 for parts and machinist's labor.

If you're handing the mechanic the keys, expect to pay more.

-CTH