what would you do? - 240D costly repairs
 

I bought my 240D a little less than a year ago for $400 not running and it turned out to be a really simple problem (primer pump). I drove it for about 3 months and the clutch failed suddenly (won't disengage, changed out MC and SC already and bled it many times - pretty certain it is something mechanical).

The body is ok with just a cracked tail light in back, and oxidized paint, no rust other than a paint chip here and there. Interior is ok with a couple small rips and the saggy springs of course.

The engine is getting tired I think, but still starts fine in all weather here (northern california). It has an estimated 275k on it and it has sat a lot the last couple of years.

It was drivable and smooth, but was obvious it needed some front end work (upper control arms clunk on some turns), and the rear is sagging a little. I would have had no problem puttering around town in it or even driving it to work daily in the condition it was in, if the clutch worked.

I don't have time or know-how to deal with trying to fix something mechanical with the clutch. I know I could learn, but just don't have the time... so I called some mechanics. I got estimates of between $1k and $1400. Does that price seem normal for the transmission repair? I was quoted $300-$400 just to drop the transmission and look at it, plus parts and reassembly.

I can't see justifying that price when I could buy one in better shape for that amount or just a little more.

I would like to keep this thing running and I really like it, but financially, it just doesn't seem worth it...

Any ideas? Just sell it and see if I can get my $400 back?

IMO, if you can't fix all the things that need fixing yourself, it would be way too costly to have someone else do it. find yourself a nice little Toyota or Sub.

It's never going to be "worth it" financially if you look at it from the perspective of getting all the money you put into it back out of it, but it may make financial sense to keep it going rather than getting something else with any number of unknown problems. If you fix it, that is one less thing to worry about for the future. Good luck!

I have had other mercedes diesels in the past, and generally, I am willing to do most repairs or pay for the ones I can't, but I've never run into such a costly repair on such a cheap car so it is a bit of a psychological bind t ome... it just happens that inner workings of transmissions (which is why I bought this 240d with a manual - because it was supposed to be more dependable/simple) are unknown territory to me and I don't have the time to learn at the moment...

On the other hand, money comes and goes... so maybe I should just suck it up and pay for it and forget about it. I do really enjoy driving the car...

I paid $2200 including the immediate repairs needed on my last benz which was pretty solid after that, so I could look at it as still coming in under that mark :D

Perhaps there is a back yard mechanic in your area. Much cheaper option for a clutch job. This is not rocket science.

Look at it this way. You have recouped your $400 already if you have driven the car for 1 year. Some folks car payment is $400 every month for 60 months or more. Sometime I made the same mistake as you, I wonder whether it is worth paying $80 for a battery or $250 for a set of tires. That would be is 1/5 or 1/2 of the car's value or whatever fraction of the buying price.

When one buys a $400 car to run around, ones has to assume it is a disposal car if you cannot fix it. If you can then you may be able to recoup your money plus more.

Good luck.

I've read your previous posts about your clutch trouble. Have you dropped the transmission yet? It doesn't sound like an internal problem. Dropping the transmission is no trouble at all, as long as you don't depend on the car, have the space, and a floor jack. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=241006 post #9 walks you through it. You can drop it in a day, by yourself. I'm almost positive it's just a simple clutch problem. Don't pay a mechanic to do it, it's not worth it.

Changing a clutch is not that difficult a job. I had the transmission, out of a 240d that was already up on blocks at the junkyard in less than an hour. Installing a new clutch should take another hour.

Throw-out bearing
 

My first best guess that your car needs at least a throw-out bearing...It sounds as if it has collapsed.

When you press in the clutch pedal, this device releases the clutch by placing pressure on the pressure plate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BaECAbapRg

Once you are in there, you may as well replace the disk and pressure plate also along with the throw-out bearing.

The tool you will need other than the standard socket set will be the clutch disk alignment tool...it shouldn't be too expensive.

If there is little rust on the car, I say shop around and find the best price for the job...

Just my opinion, but I just hate to see a Mercedes Benz go to the boneyard....

The Tenor Man

Where in Nor Cal do you live? I live in Alameda and have replaced a clutch on that car as well as an engine swap. I could replace your clutch one of these weekends. If you're interested send me a PM.

the last clutch I did took four hours, start to finish. Without a lift.

Of course, the first one took a couple of weekends.

I'd fix it. even if you have to pay someone a grand, your still into a decent 240D for $1400.

Here is my two cents. It now runs so getting 4-600$ should be easy. You stated the motor is tired so try and find one not as tired. Unless you can do it yourself or a friend will help a new clutch from a mechanic would be pretty expensive. Thanks

I think you could easily recover your initial $400 just buy selling the Engine alone.

I just bought a manual 240D and I think I will be digging into the transmission soon. I've never done the job, but it doesn't sound that terrible (I can say that now). When I depress the clutch I get a terrible squealing noise, which I believe it probably the throw-out bearing. The PO said he replaced the clutch about 20,000 miles ago - should I just replace the throw-out bearing and call it a day?

I know of a 82 240D in Milpitas off Montigue expwy on trade Zone rd. It is at a Pull Your part yard. spedo showed 160,000. don`t know of condition of eng. but car looked fairly clean, looked to have sat for a while. was still there last friday.

It is an automatic. but manuals show from time to time.

where about doyou live in the bay area?

Charlie