How much you are willing to spend to fix the A/C on a 20+ year MBZ - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ah-kay · #1 05-03-2009, 01:08 AM

There is a thread on A/C repair and the member who posted it does not want to be taken to the cleaners. It has been degenerated into a personal attack by all sides. It is really not in the spirit of this forum.

Members claim mustard gas, pilot light, nicked flame, legality of venting R134a, just about anything under the sun can happen under the MBZ hood. Why don't we just move on.

Members is under no obligation to listen to anyone. It is one's prerogative to read the post and evaluation the answers.

How much is too much?

leathermang · #2 05-03-2009, 02:14 AM

Check out this guy's posts in these threads and you will see why he gets attacked... and he is one of the worst about posting procedures which violate all the accepted industry standards and the physics of the situation.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=250991

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=217845

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=251628

I have already said HE VIOLATES the spirit of a DIY forum by his attempts to get others to do things to their cars which anyone who has researched the situation will see to have harmful and expensive results... always leaving off any warnings which should be raised. Just like the Duracool dealers like Redfox and DieselGiant. But this guy does not even seem to have a profit motive like they did... he is either trying to cost others money just for the fun of it.. or just trolling to start arguments...

::matthew · #3 05-03-2009, 07:43 AM

I spent 8-900 when I first got mine to get it working. A car is useless to me as a DD without it. This was having an indie doing all the work.

daw_two · #4 05-03-2009, 08:05 AM

Back in Spring, 2007, the first time I tackled AC on a w123 --- rebuilt compressor, new expansion valve, new dryer, flushed, new o-rings, coversion kit to R134 --- Seems like I spent just under $430. It doesn't help to flush, vacuum, fill......and then the compressor go out.

The plan ......back then.....was the car was going to be my wife's daily driver. I won't be trying that again.

Scott98 · #5 05-03-2009, 09:26 AM

If you plan on keeping the car, I would probably spend up to $2,000 to fix the A/C. If you got at least 2 more years out of your car (and you would probably get much, much more) you would begin to get an acceptable return on your investment. You'll lose a lot more than that on depreciation on a newer car.

Scott

Dee8go · #6 05-03-2009, 09:38 AM

My attitude about spending money on cars has completely changed since I bought the first Mercedes. I'm more pragmatic about my work car, a Lincoln. I have to weight the benefits vs costs of everything when it comes to that car. My wagon and SEC are fun cars. If I have the money, I'll spend it to fix them when they break. If I don't, I'll make do with stuff like broken ACs etc until I do have the $$.

They are kind of like boats, air planes, houses at the beach, etc. It's highly unlikely that you'll ever get back the money you spend on them in any way other than enjoyment and pride of ownership.

Ramblin · #7 05-03-2009, 10:10 AM

I just spent $1184.00 on my 83 300CD last week but it included replacement of all the O Rings and new condenser and new compressor converted to 134. The poor mechanic had a tough time because the first compressor was defective and seized after 10 minutes and I was not charged a premium for the foul up on the parts supplier side. It is very cold and I was assured the system is very tight as he let the system sit over night and the vacuum was fine. Note that this car came from a Mercedes Recycling yard and has had a lot of work over the last 3 years but at this time is a very reliable car and now my wife will ride in it during the summer..I have done all the work on the car til now and this is actually the first time I had a mechanic work on the car. I feel this was a very good expenditure by me and am very happy with it...

Matt L · #8 05-03-2009, 10:40 AM

I am not willing to drive a 20 year old M-B that has a non-functioning air-conditioning system. So you can be sure that I would put money into it.

How much? Well, let's just say that if you're trying to sell a M-B that "just needs a shot of freon," that either it will be very cheap or you won't sell it to me. Then the money I save can go into the AC. Otherwise it won't, and some other sucker can ride around in the heat (after he follows hill-billy AC advice; I've seen ALL of this stuff done too, you know).

ah-kay · #9 05-03-2009, 11:33 AM

I am very surprised to hear members here spent upward of $1000 on their cars on A/C. I have the impression that members here to be most DIYers, resourceful and creative. I always read posts like 'Can I delay the car repair without doing any damages', requesting schematics, 'what is this parts for', 'what is this picture part' etc etc. A/C is not rocket science and it is well within the realm of an average DIY to have it repair to save some money in this hard economic time. I am on a shoe string budget and I will always inprovise and read this forum for ideas.

BTW, there is one member here who just don't get what is 'move on' mean.

Jerry Cohen · #10 05-03-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

Check out this guy's posts in these threads and you will see why he gets attacked... and he is one of the worst about posting procedures which violate all the accepted industry standards and the physics of the situation.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=250991

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=217845

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=251628

I have already said HE VIOLATES the spirit of a DIY forum by his attempts to get others to do things to their cars which anyone who has researched the situation will see to have harmful and expensive results... always leaving off any warnings which should be raised. Just like the Duracool dealers like Redfox and DieselGiant. But this guy does not even seem to have a profit motive like they did... he is either trying to cost others money just for the fun of it.. or just trolling to start arguments...

Yup, that's my point on the other thread. I sure would hate to see someone get hurt or create an $$$ situation in order to save some money.

This is exactly why and how people get hurt working on automobiles. Sure, we all had to start somewhere, but buying a $7.00 can of R134a and a charging hose does no make one qualified to make concise statements about a/c repair.

No mention is made about superheat, use of safety goggles, guages, et al.

Just dump R134 in on one side and vent only God knows what out the high side, because I'm sure the poster in question has never heard of a freon sniffer or a recycle machine. Both of which shops must have to work on a.c systems, that's why it costs money to have a professional work on your car. Duh.

Imagine if the same mindset is used to work on brakes, suspension, or steering. Using .99 p/s fluid in a MB is just plain wrong, for example.

A/C is a luxury, and costs money to fix. Do without, imho, if all your equipment consists of a Wal-Fart charging hose and grenade can.

Yeah, times are tough, but that's no excuse for posting dangerous advice under the guise of being frugal.

Jerry Cohen · #11 05-03-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

BTW, there is one member here who just don't get what is 'move on' mean.

Well, buddy, you are welcome to put me on ignore. Instead of trolling.

tangofox007 · #12 05-03-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

BTW, there is one member here who just don't get what is 'move on' mean.

Perhaps you should lead by example!!!

nhdoc · #13 05-03-2009, 11:45 AM

I have repaired the A/C systems on most every Mercedes I have ever owned. Even in NH a car without working A/C is worthless to me in the summer so I like to have it working. Most of the time it needs only something minor...several have only had leaky components (hoses, condensor, etc). One had a clogged expansion valve (R107 SL which has it located in the dash - a real pain). I have been able to repair every one myself without resorting to paying anyone for labor. On my latest purchase, the '81 300TD, the seller claimed the A/C worked but of course it had a pretty serious leak so to him working meant adding R12 to it weekly apparently. A $120 hose plus a couple of hours labor and it is now fixed and tight. The nice thing about the A/C system is once you invest in the gauges and vacuum pump you really don't need any more special tools and those pay for themselves the first time you repair a system.

And, one more thing, NEVER convert an old R12 system to R134a, period. If you buy a car that has been converted and live anywhere it gets above 90 in the summer you should strongly consider converting it back to R12. Get your 609 certification and buy some R12 while it is still plentiful and you will be cool and comfy in your Mercedes well into the future.

I don't think I have spent more than about $300 on parts to restore any old A/C system. Parts are cheap...it is the labor that will kill you and frankly there is no great skill involved in fixing them so to pay some so-called professional $100 an hour to do what any of us can do ourselves is wasted money.

ah-kay · #14 05-03-2009, 11:51 AM

I run my cars on the cheap but they are all in tip top conditions relative to their ages.

Facts:

1) I use 99c power steering fluid from 99 cents store. So what wrong with that.
2) I use 99c engine oil from 99cents store, So what wrong with that.
3) I recharge R134a for $7 a can with a hose, so what wrong with that.
4) R134a is discharged to the atmosphere everyday some time some where by some body. It does not make venting right and one should avoid that.
5) Safety is always my main concern and I always wear safety google and gloves when I work on my cars.

I will read and seek ideas from members to maintain my fleets of MBZ, good or bad.

Jerry Cohen · #15 05-03-2009, 11:52 AM

The tools do pay for themselves in the long term.

I bought a charging scale last year and a 30lb cylinder of R134a. Much cheaper than buying the cans and way more accurate than guestimating how much you have put in. The 30lb cylinder was around $60.00.

If I need to evacuate what in the system, my indie will gladly reclaim what's there, as long as it's pure R134a, for free. He gets some free gas, and I don't vent into the atmosphere.