1996 C2220, new to board, need advice

[1996C220SDCA]

Dear Mercedes Board,
I have a 1996 C 220 black sedan which I bought used in the summer of 2004. It's now got 115,000 miles on it. I have a good mechanic and take good care of the car, but now things are happening and I wonder if I should bail or dig in.

A neighbor of mine got into a fight with another neighbor and did not know that this car was mine (it's in a carport) and thought it was my other neighbor's. My car got keyed by the angry neighbor, who thought she was keying the car of her arch nemesis. I figured out it was her through a series of probative questions around my (supposedly) nice condo complex in a (supposedly) safe part of San Diego. The police couldn't assist because I didn't have proof. Crazy neighbor is staying wayyyyyyyy clear of me, wisely. She knows she screwed up her plan.

Question 1: she keyed me in a couple of long strokes on the rear right panel, down to the white. I need to have the whole car painted to get it right, I am told. That's $2,000 +/-. Should I do it? Repaint the whole thing, I mean or just the scratches? There are now a couple other scratch areas that could benefit from a paint job. Nothing the average eyes see, just analytical me.

The car had been stalling lately very rarely, but usually backing up and down a driveway. Then it really stalled. My mechanic believes it was dirty fuel injectors, which he cleaned for a very tidy sum three weeks, but it's sort of happening again. I added one of those additives for fuel injection cleaning and it's helping. At lowest RPM when the car is quiet or just on for the first time each day, it sort of wants to stall, but since the cleaner stuff, it's holding its own...but still I can feel it's in there, the gremlin who wants to stall. What should I do next? Take it back to Tony the Mercedes mechanic I use?

The chrome is peeling off my Mercedes wheel covers. No one seems to rechrome! Any ideas? I would send them just about anywhere in the country for re-chroming.

I love my car. She's a beauty. These seem like minor things, but when I add them up and do a Kelly Blue Book for value, even in excellent condition let's say, the value is really dropping. I wonder if I should do some work and then sell it and get something newer -- Mercedes of course, since I am hooked. But I would probably have to spend under $20K. I really want a new C280 but I need to sell a few more houses.

Your answers are greatly appreciated. I am a car-savvy female but am new to Mercedes.

Sincerely,
Kimberly

[sixto]

Stalling problems and the suspect was dirty injectors? You need a new mechanic. Contact a user who goes by carson357. He should be able to direct you to knowlegable MB indpendent in the San Diego area.

Chroming wheels is such a tedious process that it's best to start with wheels in the best possible condition. If you're in love with the chrome finish, try www.************************, www.adsitco.com or www.capitolwest.com. If you'll put up with the original finish, see if the dealers in your area have a set of take-off wheels from cars sold with chrome finish wheels. Check also www.recycler.com and www.craigslist.org for someone selling used wheels.

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0