PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

RobertFini · #7 05-20-2010, 11:36 AM

If you love the car, then how much money you "should" put into it becomes a very subjective matter.

I love my C36, which is essentially the same car but with a lot more horsepower and a much stiffer suspension. I got it when it was almost new with 4,600 miles on it and now it has 181k; it needs a TON of work, but no matter how much work it needs it's still way cheaper than buying a new one, and the new one might have just as many problems.

I also have a W210 E320 and a W124 E320, and neither of them has the same character as the W202 - they are much larger and heavier, and they make a much different statement when you pull into a parking garage.

The question for you is how perfect do you want your car to be.

Minor fluid leaks are nothing - an old friend of mine once said "Cars are supposed to be wet on the bottom." Just make sure you check the levels every time you gas up and keep the levels within operating norms.

An inoperable passenger window isn't the end of the world either, but the A/C fix will need to be done and it's going to be more expensive than you expect - depending on how long that hole has been in the system, there could be collateral damage to other parts. I'd budget $1,500.

My advice is to lower your standards a bit and keep the car.