reply to "$2500+ in parts and still rough idle"
 

I was replying in my original thread, but somehow started a new one :(

Guys,

Thanks for the responses. Let me tell what led to my "shotgun approach" - I took the car to 2 dealers in my area (HBL, Inc and Euro Motorcars) - they've told me to replace the harness. After I did that I went back to them - the list of "needed replacement parts" grew. Good thing I was ordering and replacing myself - otherwise I would be looking at $5k+ bill by now. And couldn't find any competent independents in the area as well. So - wanna do something right, do it yourself. As for the chain and timing, I doubt its thats - about a year and a half ago I had the chain and guides replaced by a mechanic, the car was fine for about a year after that...

Shops are in the business to make money...not saying that all of them are trying to put the wool over your eyes...

...I've had techs look over my W124 and do a laundry list of faults and necessary replacements...the bill of course would total in the thousands if I approved the work.

I would later take the car home and inspect the "suspect" components. Some would be indeed needing replacement (for far less $$$ if I did the repairs myself), and others were a result of lazy or just plain wrong diagnosis...like a leak from a solenoid cover spraying grime on the power steering pump, and the tech identifying the need for a pump rebuild!