Sadness has visited my w114 " Ruby".

A recent vist to a ski hill, bad roads has resulted in a broken L/F side upper shock support. The really bad / sad news is that when the mount broke off the frame it went through the inner fender wall and damaged hood hinges and fuse box.

As a result I will have to suspend my use of this as a daily driver until the funds and a reasonable body shop can be located. (first estimate was $3700. Ouch!)
My question is should I properly store it away or is it better to start it up weekly and move it arround some. Which would keep it as close to its present condition untill it can repaired. (It could be up to a year untill I am able to have this done.)

Thank you for your suggestions.

Gary

If the electrical system is still safe, I'd remove the offending shock so as to not do further damage and warm it up/drive it slowly around the neighborhood, frequently enough to keep it alive.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

First thing I would do is forget about that wild repair estimate.

Then piece-meal the repair work, attacking the problem to first just get the car roadworthy as daily driver.

Am guessing the hood can still be raised in spite of mangled hinge and that car cosmetic appearance is still reasonably in tact.

1) Locate a junk yard donor car from which you can purchase all the parts you need to have the car fixed.

2) Approach the body shop with inside scoop on say, $150 used parts including sheet metal if necessary..... then ask the repair shop how much it would cost just to make the car raodworthy as daily driver.

Repair estimates generally range from peanuts to perrier-jouet champagne..... that $3,700 estimate sounds based on brand new parts and nuts-to-soup complete repair that includes new parts, paint and polish that can be postponed or avoided.

What the hell did you do..... walk into repair shop in business suit, carrying a briefcase? Its always wise to wear old clothes when seeking repair estimates. Also it helps to locate your own 2nd hand parts ahead of time - then tell the repair shop where they can be found.

If you take the car off the road it will likely just sit and decay but firing up the engine (at least once each month) with air conditioning ON and heater levers ON will help preserve A/C, heater box, engine valve seals and bearing seals..... also preventing moisture condensation that can rust internal engine components, freezing the pistion rings as worst case scenario, if the car is stored outside. Whether the car is driven or not is unimportant, but you should protect the sheetmetal with a car cover if you store it outside, starting it up each month as I've suggested.

Unfortunately:

The piece that is broken appears to be integrated into the inner fender itself. The repair will involve taking the outer fender, the front bumper, header pieces; rad mounts and strip everything from the driver’s side inner fender off. I am told that the inner fender is welded in which will have to be cut out and the replacement is to welded back in place. One part on the body part diagram appeared to follow under the body it self and be integrated in to the area under the door. This may have to be replaced as well.

The odds of finding a whole un-rusty section in my rain forest climate are long. It would also have to be cut out by some one from the auto wreakers, with no guarantee of precession for refit. MB Canada says that the part may be available at $ 1035.00 new however there has been a stock number change and additional items may be required. Hours quoted were 26 for body work and 6 plus for paint. (This include some touch up on other areas.)

At this time it is a moot point as the resourses are not there for the repairs. I will store it in such a way that it can be started and moved to keep everthing working.

So sad, it was such fun to drive with all the mechanical finally done.
Thank you for your suggestions.

Gary

Here's 114 in Seattle that looks pretty good..... It's a decent red body with black interior...... lacking an engine and transmission.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6783&item=2403314624&rd=1

DieselDog has come up with the best scenario for you. Even if you cannot do the engine transplant yourself, its got to be cheaper than the body / repairs. No telling what other suspension damage will be unearthed on your present car.

__________________
Paul Varrieur
1974 280c
1972 Chevrolet El Camino
1987 BMW 325i
1990 BMW 525i
1996 Harley Davidson Road King
1999 Lexus RX 300