Auf wiedersehen - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

deafen · #1 05-04-2006, 05:54 PM

Well, folks, I signed over her title today. Big thanks to this forum and the many, many of you who helped me keep her on the road.

She's going to an independent European mechanic who already has a '74 280C, so I know she's in good hands.

So let's see ... the purchase price, the gas cost to drive her home, the various repairs and parts, minus the final sale price ... net loss of about $4000. Not bad to drve a classic headturner for a year.

Anyway, you probably won't see much of me around here anymore, so thanks again, and good luck keeping 'em going!

Hal

Tomguy · #2 05-04-2006, 07:27 PM

You'll regret selling it! Sorry to hear that. How much did you let her go for?

deafen · #3 05-04-2006, 09:50 PM

A song, really -- $3000. Of course, it does need about $1000 in power steering work, plus subframe mounts, and it leaks some tranny fluid, and needs a headliner, and a couple dozen other things ...

Tomguy · #4 05-04-2006, 09:53 PM

Define $1000 in power steering work - I bet all it needs is a pump and maybe gearbox reseal. I cant see that being $1000! Unless it also needs subframe mounts, swaybar mounts, kingpins, control arm bushints, etc... but that's not so much power steering as it is everything!

I'd gladly pay $3k for a 4.5 that looked as nice as yours (if I had 3k to spare)

deafen · #5 05-04-2006, 10:11 PM

Well, I was quoted about $1000 for a new pump, new hoses, and a gear reseal.

And yes, it does probably need all the rubber up front (subframe mounts for sure, sway arm bushings and control arm bushings for maybe). And I've had mixed expert opinions on the left kingpin.

And rear subframe mounts wouldn't hurt.

In any case, I couldn't keep it, and I have a brand new Tundra doublecab scheduled for delivery on the 13th -- I'm going to focus my time, money and energy on getting the VW Thing into a solid streetable machine. $3000 should just about do it ...

Shab · #6 05-04-2006, 11:25 PM

I feel your pain. My 4.5 was a heartbreaker. It was up off the ground on lifts and jack stands so often I considered painting tail numbers on it. Hopefully my 6 cyl 280SE will be just a little kinder.

Happy trails!

300SDog · #7 05-05-2006, 05:51 PM

Long time ago I bought a $750 280/8. The wife bought a brand new Honda. After one year we compared expenses and they were virtually identical. Each equalled approx $250 per month. Car payment for her - parts and repairs for me. And this was with me doing alot of the work myself.

kpb · #8 05-05-2006, 10:32 PM

Dam!! I have not even gotten close to $3000/yr. yet and I have had my 108 2.5 yrs. Total investment, after purchase price, is probably $1000-1100, and that's accounting for the $300 for euro headlights. Guess I'm lucky...

Tomguy · #9 05-05-2006, 11:47 PM

The 4.5 is a very reliable engine and very durable. The 108 chassis doesn't have much crap that can go wrong with it. Basically, if you take care of your 4.5 and you keep it well-tuned, it will not cost any more than a new/modern car - in fact it'll probably cost less in the long run with less electronic crap to go wrong! I think I might have spent $1500 on my 4.5 - including the 3.5 heads/cams - over 3 years.

300SDog · #10 05-06-2006, 01:29 AM

Nah, i think you guys are low-balling. No tires, muffler, alternator, brakes or electronic ignition upgrade? And what about fiddly bits like wheel bearings, center support bearing, engine mounts, suspension rubbers and shocks? Tomguy, you rebuilt your kingpins too - had to be $350 in parts there. Hell, I've just shelled out $70 for wheel bearing kits and $60 for rotors to go on the 240D.

Biggie for me was outsourcing cyl head work with the 280/8 - new valves, self-torquing valve adjust nuts, guides, timing chain, rails, tensioner and gasket kit...... easily $500 in parts alone. Cheapest thing was junkyard camshafts and carrier for the twincam.

$2,000+ first year of ownership in restoration/maintenance is probly the norm. But thats just me, generally buying cars at/near 130k miles when alot of this stuff comes due.

Tomguy · #11 05-06-2006, 01:35 AM

I got 2 sets of kingpins for $100 with shipping, and I only used one! Most expensive single item was the header pipe - $225 I think. I spent maybe $200 on parts at the junkyard but made that back by selling "Extras" on eBay - like the ps pump and distributor I grabbed from a 420, heads from a 450 that I never used but were like new, etc.

kpb · #12 05-06-2006, 10:11 AM

[QUOTE=240DieselDog]Nah, i think you guys are low-balling.

Maybe you are right dog. Most of the things you mention I have done, so I'm gonna sit down soon and start ciphern' to see wut the outlay really has been. However, i have had no major mechnical work -- mostly just replacing 30+ yr old parts.

Shab · #13 05-06-2006, 09:54 PM

I wish I'd kept all the receipts for the work and misc nickels & dimes spent on my 4.5 but I didn't have the room at my new house. For the receipts I mean. They all went with the new owner. I believe he had them palletized and shipped.

djd · #14 05-06-2006, 11:54 PM

To help track time and expenses, I started keeping a log book. I bought a spiral notebook ("The Mercedes Diary") and make a simple entry after working on the car. It helps my feeble mind remember what was done last month (..or last week...or yesterday). I also jot down the approximate time spent and the cost for parts. Every once in a while I flip through the pages and update the totals.

Inside the front cover is a great place to jot down all those phone numbers and e-mail addresses you wish you could find for suppliers.
Wish I'd done it on all my cars from day one.

Now if only I could remember where I put the notebook........
Dennis

meltedpanda · #15 05-07-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafen

Anyway, you probably won't see much of me around here anymore, so thanks again, and good luck keeping 'em going!

Hal

Betcha you will be back, what do you think guys