When it rains.. it pours (Sh** Happens).

[Jackd]

The car: 1989 260E with almost 300K on the clock. I bought the car Sept. 22nd 1991, exactly 12 years ago today.
This morning, strange noise on start-up.... I shut it down, and re-start it again: Obviously, the starter/bendix is going south.....
The normal drive to the office, getting at my usual exit of the highway, strange sound coming from under the car (Flat tire), Spare tire is flat... (stupid me) I did not needed a spare tire for at least 6 or 7 years.)
Called AAA and they came to my rescue. Once the flat tire is temporarily fixed (a metal strip through the side of the treads.),
I try to start the car, starter makes a weird sound, turn the engine over about 1/8 turn and then quits. No problem the AAA tow truck is still there. He jumps the starter/bendix and the car starts OK with a starter sounding like a 1950 Chrysler . I'm on my way to my garage. 10 miles down the road, a very strong smell of cooland invades the cockpit. Engine temperature still normal, I only have about an other 6 or 7 miles to my garage. But, I can't make it. The engine starts to overheat and I shut it down, about 3 miles from my destination. The radiator top plastic outlet is broken and the radiator emptied itself all over the engine. Second tow-truck of the day.We get the car on the flat-bed tow-truck and dump it at my beloved garage. We put it up on the hoist to have a look at the starter..... a fairly major oil leak is found....rear crankshaft oil seal.
I already had a rear suspension rebuilt job scheduled for next week, as well as a fall tune-up as winter is coming. Eveything will be done within the next 2 days. Just imagine the bill:
Roughly:
radiator $350
Starter $250
Rear oil seal: $400.
Suspension $1,500.
Tune-up: $250.
1 tire: $125.
Towing$75.
Other Surprises: $250.
Total: $3,200+
But, I still like my old Benz. What kind of a car can I have for the value of the broken car and the amount of repair? A 1997 Honda??. No thanks.
What a day.........
Jackd

[slowmoe]

Have you ever considered doing some of the work yourself?

I am only a novice home mechanic and I replaced a ton a my mercedes that I never thought I could. These things are built to be worked on...

1) A radiator is about $225 and requires removing a few easily accessed bolts and two very simple trans lines. The first radiator I ever replaced was on my 124.602 and it took just over an hour

2) I am not sure how much a starter is... $250 sounds high.

3) I am not sure what you are including in your tune up. If you DIY... oil ($15) filter ($10), air filter ($15), trans fluid and filter ($35), rear axel fluid ($5), spark plugs ($12), brake and PS fluid ($10)... well I am at $107. I guess you can get to $250 if you are replacing your cap, rotor and spark plug wires.

4) Rear shocks are $100 ea and have a bolt below and one in the truck - 1 hour job. If you are doing all the links it can get messy - but I think it is pretty straight forward. Again, I needed it to the rear sway bar links on my 124 and there was not much to it.

-justy a thought

[manny]

Jackd

Am I correct in assuming that you're talking in canadian dollars ?

[Jackd]

Slowmoe: DIY is obviously a solution, but right now, I do not have the time, the interest and the guts to do it myself.
Manny: Yes, $$CANADIAN (I have a pile of Canadian Tire $$$$) lol
The car will be ready wednesday. It's only money
Jackd

[manny]

Originally posted by Jackd

It's only money
Jackd

That's the spirit !
We have enough whiners here already.

[G-Benz]

Agreed..especially after reading the latest posts in the "too unreliable" Mercedes thread.

We joined this forum, so we obviously would like to keep our cars.

Part of what I like about having a few MBs is due to just what Jackd stated...not enough time. So when the W124 breaks (which is usually the one that does), I can tool around in one of the other vehicles until I get the chance to approach the repair (or wait for parts to arrive).

Didn't have time to replace the coolant level sensor a few months ago, but when the W124 ruptured the heater hose (what a spectacular show of coolant and smoke!) it emptied the coolant tank. So when I got around to replacing the heater hose, the coolant sensor got installed as well...

...sometimes I have to get to related repairs at the same time.