Help me make an expensive decision! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Zerohour3k · #1 05-04-2007, 10:43 PM

Okay folks, here's the big question..

To A/C, or not to A/C? I have an old 84 300D Euro with a leaky compressor. Oh, but that isn't the half of it.. apparently whoever imported it decided to throw on an expensive Volvo compressor, rather than the original York / GM compressor that goes on most W123's. This means that aside from a full R12 charge, I'll need a new drier, custom lines, and a new Volvo compressor installed. OR, I'll need new lines, drier, a mounting bracket, and the original GM compressor installed. The result? A near (or even over) $1000 fee to get my car blowing cold air.

Going through another summer without AC simply isn't an option. It gets way too hot in this black car to bear the heat, sometimes. Here's my thinking:

+ I paid $2400 for the car, it only had 150k miles on it when I bought her. I still got ripped off, I know.. but I needed a new W123 at the time. Had rust
+ Rust has been fixed, and body was resprayed to Black (from original faded and stained Euro White). Paint job was free due to a screw-up at a gas station.. rust repairs cost approx $300-400
- Interior is OK, at best. Rear carpeting is peeling away from the door areas, there's a small rainwater leak in the rear passenger floorboard, and a good deal of rust in that area because of it. Shouldn't be TOO expensive to fix, but eh. Seats are stained pretty badly, since they're blue cloth, and 22+ years old.
- Car gets 24-25 mpg, and diesel keeps going up. Engine has only slight blowby (smoke comes out of cap when off, but cap does not teakettle at all.) Oil leaks from filter housing, and I recently spent $600-800 on a radiator / water pump change.
- Turbo doesn't work too well. This is fine, I suppose.. since the car didn't originally have a turbo anyway, and it was added in Germany before shipping to the US. Probably is contributing to the MPG-hit. Small Euro gas tank, only goes about 300 miles before the idiot light comes on.

I probably spent way too much on an old car with issues, but I kind of fell in love with the whole Euro aspect of it. It's some great bragging rights to tell your friends, when they find out your car is not only a German-made Benz, but CAME from Germany.. complete with triangle and soft plastic medkit.

My other option is buying another W123 or W116. A local dealer is selling a W116 for $2900, ( http://ditmire.com/sys/display.cgi?detail=4453 ), but I don't know whether that's a good deal or not. Really depends whats wrong with the car, I suppose. Help me decide, folks.. is it worth me fixing the AC / eventually restoring my current W123, or should I look at selling her and getting a W116 / a different W123? I'm so torn!

300SD81 · #2 05-04-2007, 11:20 PM

Have a junkyard around? You can probably pull the lines and bracket for like $20.. Drops your costs down to the cost of a expansion valve, drier, and a GM compressor. I did mine for a total of $140 (compressor, drier, and exp valve replaced)

#3 05-04-2007, 11:26 PM

I've been through the whole AC thing on my 300D twice now, for $1000+ each time. The first time it seized, I went to 134a (mistake); the next time I went back to R12 (much better). It looks like about once per 100K miles, so thats about $.01 per mile to have AC (I can live with that).

You just have to decide is you are interested in keeping the car for the long term or if you want to put this $1000 towards something else.

Shorebilly · #4 05-05-2007, 05:51 AM

G'mornin' Folks,
My AC Compressor has seized up (last Fall) and I looked into installing a rebuilt AC Compressor.......I'm gonna quote Performance Products pricing here, but may purchase the compressor and stuff elsewhere......

Compressor $310.00
Receiver/Drier $43.95
Expansion Valve $44.85
All parts total...$398.80....but I should get free shipping

Now my question is.....Performance Products warranties all of their Compressors for 2 years..."if" you purchase the Receiver/Drier from them at the same time that you purchase the compressor......

Although I am a Universal Reefer Tech with an ASE Automotive certification, I checked around the local shops that do AC work and found that Astorg MB in Parkersburg, WV to be very competitive (MB Service Manager quoted me around $400.00)....whey will install a compressor and components supplied by me......but will not guarantee the labor if the compressor quits.... but a receipt for an Official MB installation (flush & charge) should negate any problems that I might have with Perf Prod warranty......vs......me doing the job even though I am a Certified Reefer Tech........so I think it worthwhile to spend the money to have MB install the compressor to assure that Performance Products will honor the warranty on the Compressor.....

Whatcha all think??.....oh yeah, MB wants something like $800.00 for their rebuilt compressor (not including cost of Receiver Drier and Expansion Valve).....but will warranty the whole shebang for 2 years.....

Bottom line.....
Self Install for about $500.00
MB install PP stuff....about $800.00
MB install official stuff....about $1300.00

SB

Mister Byrnzoil · #5 05-05-2007, 10:39 AM

my euro has a sanden compressor, mounted way low on the engine.

Eric Eliel · #6 05-05-2007, 10:40 AM

$310 for a rebuilt? Why on earth would you install a rebuilt when a NEW R4 is about the same price or less?

Check around, do a search. Or send me an email for the source.

I would NOT install used junk yard a/c lines. They are 25 years old and the rubber most likely leaks. However that would be a good way to find the right hoses (correct bends, metal fittings etc.) and then have the rubber part rebuilt.

JimmyL · #7 05-05-2007, 11:05 AM

I would jump all over that W116 after looking it over. Probably a 95% chance the AC/heat have issues on that, but if it isn't rusty it's a much better platform than what you have. {BTW, post a link like that here, expect forum members to go check it out and maybe buy right out from under you.

}
If you keep your car, why not just get another Volvo type AC compressor and redo it that way. It has to be a better compressor than an R4. After all, almost every old MB you see for sale has no working AC, many of the Volvo's do........

TheDon · #8 05-05-2007, 11:40 AM

I need AC... Im dying

Bigdaddybenz · #9 05-05-2007, 11:46 AM

Ebay.........I bought a rebuilt compressor for my 300SD almost 2 years ago for only 100 bucks, thing is still kickin butt, even after I converted to R-134, also got the drier for like 15 bucks and the expansion valve for 24 on ebay.....Total cost with shipping was maybe $165.00 for everything

captainmonk · #10 05-05-2007, 04:45 PM

well over here in lakewood i can just stand the no A/C Before i bought my SDL I went to Dmitri Motors to look at 2 different cars never left with a good feeling I'm all for keeping the devil you know to the one you dont You change cars you just change issues Old MB are gonna have more issues den a magazine rack anyway
The other thing I do is go talk to Mike at Mikes Imports and ask him about all the options mentioned above he is a straight shooter and would look your car over help you decide
Halfway between route 70 and 37 on route 9 is a 86 SDL looks prety good too but I havnt called on it

captainmonk · #11 05-05-2007, 05:32 PM

oh mikes imports is on richmond ave point pleasant beach 732-295-5800

NJ300sdl · #12 05-06-2007, 08:41 AM

Consider the W116 Ditmire has. I had a good buying experience with them. The SDL captainmonk mentions is owned by MB shop in industrial park behind car. Looks good, new exhaust manifold joint.

JackG · #13 05-06-2007, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captainmonk

devil you know to the one you dont

I am a firm believer in that thinking. Forget what you have in it and the value of it. That may be logical thinking for a chevy with 150k but not a MB. Here you know what you have and what you have done to it, what is due, and what is on borrowed time. If you want A/C, suck it up and pay the price. If you have the funds and time, you can always buy another while keeping the one you have for a spell......till you know what is what with the new one.

Stevo · #14 05-06-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Byrnzoil

my euro has a sanden compressor, mounted way low on the engine.

I think the "York" was not used after 1980.

Shorebilly · #15 05-06-2007, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Eliel

$310 for a rebuilt? Why on earth would you install a rebuilt when a NEW R4 is about the same price or less?

Check around, do a search. Or send me an email for the source.

I would NOT install used junk yard a/c lines. They are 25 years old and the rubber most likely leaks. However that would be a good way to find the right hoses (correct bends, metal fittings etc.) and then have the rubber part rebuilt.

I just re-read the Performance Products Catalog....it just says compressor...will phone them tomorrow (Monday) and ask.....I had assumed that the $310.00 was "re manufactured".......most of the stuff that I have purchased from them in the past has either been OE or OEM.....

SB