Looking into the Possibilities

[thebenstenator]

Alright guys, I've got a 1992 300D 2.5 Turbo. On another thread I posted I was talking about some head problems that it has been having and worse has come to worse. The head does have a crack in it.
So, as the title says I'm looking into the possibilities of:
1) finding a new head and fixing the car
2) parting it out, or even
3) finding a head, fixing it, and then selling the car

So I'm posting this to get some opinions. Right now, I'm not sure where to look for a head. I've called some local junk yard to no avail. Nobody has any diesel benz stuff. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OR SUGGESTION OF WHERE I COULD LOOK, DO TELL!
Also, my worry with parting the car out is the demand for parts. I'm just not sure what the demand is, so if you're looking for parts, know of someone who is, or have any other suggestion. Post that.
Lastly, if you would be interested in buying it once it's in good condition, lemme know.

Thanks so far.

[Zacharias]

I've been in your shoes before with a car so I think I understand how you feel. However, we can't tell you what to do. We can show you the various doors, and you must choose which you are most comfortable stepping through....

Your car is very desirable model and year. But if you've had it up to THERE with it (and I suspect that from your post) then none of that really matters.

First off, parting the car won't net you more than $1000, absolute best case, and will take up a lot of time and effort. The motor is the most valuable thing and no one will pay much for yours in its present condition. (If by parting you mean, sell it to a recycler, the bad news there is I would guess you might get $450 for the car on a good day.)

You will find a used or rebuilt head eventually, but asking around locally usually isn't sufficient. They turn up on eBay from time to time, or you can try a bigger, specialist dismantler like Potomac German Auto.

If you are considering fixing the car and then selling it, that cannot be relied on to be a winning proposition (assuming you are paying shop rates to do the work). Nothing ever turns out to be as simple as it looks before the job starts (not in my experience anyway).

It comes down to this: if you love/like/something positiive the car, and the rest of it is in good shape (no other major work waiting to be done), then in my opinion the most effective long-term strategy is to fix it and enjoy it for years to come. The repair costs will eventually be amortized out.

If you have reached the end of the road with the car, however, then that is that and you would be best to put it up for sale for whatever it will bring, and move on.

Good luck whatever you choose.

[sixto]

Talk to Phil through the Buy Parts link at the top of the page. Try pgauto.com and mercedesengines.net. Try also car-part.com.

Sixto
87 300D