My E300 (1996) has a leak in the dep dark nether regions of the dash but small enough to allow a recharge or 2 a summer to be operable. Last month I had the recharge done and it worked for 2 days then nada. I pulled the code and got the electromagnetic clutch (compressor right?) So a mechanic looked at it tried to reset with no avail then he tried jumping the compressor and found it was toast (confirmation of my findings for $65). Here's the crappy part unless someone else can steer me to a better solution - Compressor ~$600 , receiver/drier ~ $90, oil, labor and a recharge will come to ~$1000!
Not bad buttttttttttt - the car has 288K miles on it and I drive 40-50K miles per year. Had it been $600 or so I would have gone ahead. Can I get a remanafactured compressor?

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks
Hot as hell

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1991 190E 311K [Brilliant Silver/Black MBTEx] -retired
1996 E300 315K [Black/Grey MBTex]

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