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#1
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maintenance
My 1989 300e has gained most of its 98,000 miles in very short (1,2,3miles) trips. It has had a few problems down through the years, but nothing major besides a/c. It does drink extra oil (about a quart every 500-700 miles) and its steering is losey/goosey.
Would it be a wise investment to have the oil problem corrected (about $1600) and the steering tightened and keep the car or is it probable that other major problems are just down the road and will require more large outlays? Any crystal ball gazing would be appreciated. |
#2
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Your questions are hard to answer because it depends a lot on the individual owner and how he/she feels about their car. It depends on how much "slop" you're willing to tolerate on your car. You can do nothing and drive it into the ground. Or you can wait a bit and have the engine overhauled. A lot depends on the condition of the body.
Steering should be repaired on an as-needed basis. Look for excessively worn components and replace them. Barring leaks, I believe the industry standard for oil consumption is a quart every 500 miles before something MUST be done to bring the engine back into roadworthy condition. It might be that beyond that rate the converter and plugs are adversely affected.
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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K |
#3
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I faced th same dilema with my 1989 a year ago. The car had 235k on it.Should I fix it or trade it?
I decided to throw $3,800. in repair on it. Valve guides,/ job, suspension work, shocks, bushings, full tune up, new battery, new rubber hoses & belts, new radiator, new exhaust system, all fluids, flex-disks, etc. etc. it is the best car investment I could do. Compare that to the price of a new/used car. I'm still driving the MB, drives, and runs like the day I bought it in 1993. For that price, I would have ended-up in a 5 year old ricer. No comparision. JackD |
#4
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It really comes down to the condition of the rest of the vehicle. Is it rusty? Is the loosy/goosy steering indicative of the need to adjust the preload on the steering box, or of more expensive problems?
Most importantly, do you like the car enough to live with it for a few more years? Assuming the car is otherwise sound, I would opt for the repair, although at 98K miles with oil running through the exhaust system, I would wonder about the long-term health of the catalytic converter. You would be hard pressed to find a better (non-Mercedes) car for the cost of your car as it stands, plus the cost of the needed repairs. |
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