Whether to put more $$ into my '86 300E or....? I've owned it since '89, now with 182,000 miles and I've never regretted keeping it "nice". Within the last three years I've done front struts, rear shocks, a/c col, compressor with conversion to new "freon", rear suspension work, yada yada yada, all in all, spent more money than the car was worth at that time.

Now, I'm looking at two front springs (one broken), engine belt tensioner, rear control arms, .....and other work totaling about $1,500. None of this addresses an engine using 1 qt per 1000, and a tranny that leaks a bit. Have I reached the point of no return? I would love to be able to rationalize keeping it.

Your thoughts/comments/opinions? Help!
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62 220sb
67 250S
72 280SE 4.5
74 280C
77 300D
82 240D
85 190E 2.3
86 300E RIP 12/28/09
85 300SD
92 300D 2.5
00 E320 Current
Over 1,000,000 miles in Benzes, Since66

....and a whole passel of BMW 2002 and Tii

Car payment: $350/ mo. or $4200/ year

Which is cheaper? The repairs, or a years worth of car payments?

Not sure what kind of insurance you have...if it's just liability, that is saving you some more $ right there.

Those are my two cents.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

What Larry said, and I'll add a downtime consideration. How frequently does your car interrupt your life to go in for service? How inconvenient is it?

With 180K miles you're at the point that a transmission rebuild ($2000) and valve job ($2000) will be due in within 50K miles. You might be able to stave off the valve job with new seals ($400) every couple of years. In fact new seals might pay for themselves now if oil consumption is a quart per thousand miles.

Consider something like a 95 E320 with 100K miles in exchange for your car and $5000. It might be a more rewarding way to spend the amount you'll probably spend over the next 5 years.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Thanks for all your replies and advice. I've pretty much decided to do the repairs and hope that the $$ I've will have sunk into it in the last 3 years does not evaporate in a traffic accident, as no fault insurance will not reimburse me for all the hours and parts that have made the car well again.


I appreciate all your answers. It's been.....emotional.

__________________
62 220sb
67 250S
72 280SE 4.5
74 280C
77 300D
82 240D
85 190E 2.3
86 300E RIP 12/28/09
85 300SD
92 300D 2.5
00 E320 Current
Over 1,000,000 miles in Benzes, Since66

....and a whole passel of BMW 2002 and Tii