Well I have an 86 560 SEC and right now it is close to dead, IMO. It's coming up on 300k miles and has not been taken care of too much. The Power steering just went out, cracked winshield, oil leak, air and heater do not work, interior looks worn, sunroof does not work, needs new shocksa nd springs, and the list goes on and on. So my father who is wanting to help me out tells me I have one of 2 options.

First, he will give me $3000 to put into my car. Which I do not think will get no where near half of what I need done to the car. I guess some of that can go to rebuilding the top end of the engine, maybe springs and shocks, and windshield. There's so much to be done I don't knoww hat needs to be done first and everything that needs to be done. It's kind of frustrating.

Second, he has a 88 380SE that is the same color and all. This car has 280,000 but the engine has just been rebuilt, and is running perfect. Only thing that it needs is a muffler, spring in the front seat, and the sunroof needs to be fixed. The car looks so good, it has chrome trim around the door handles, windows, and wheel fenders. It has some nice 16 chrome rims but they are going to be taken off and replaced with 16" chrome rims from the W140 later this week. My dad said he will trade me cars and I will have to give him $1000 on top of the trade. I am thinking this is the better options especially since I'm off to college next year and need something reliable and dependable. This car is very slow which drives me nuts. But if I were to get this I guess I would mainly keep it looking good, nice audio system and keep it running good.

I have to have an asnwer for him by Wed. So what do you guys think? Is $3000 enough to get my 560 up and running or should I just go with the 380 SE. To be honest I'm leaning more toward the SE.

__________________
1986 560 SEC *Sold* < Big Mistake I miss my baby!
1988 300SE *Sold*
1989 300CE - current car, but not for too long

I'd put $3k into the SEC. It's a classic and a wonderful car.

If you already find the 300SE underpowered, you'll just grow to hate it.

$3k can go a long way into fixing the car up. It's not as expensive, say to replace an evaporator on a W126, because they are more easily accessible than on other models.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Spend the 3k and you'll be spending more. First of all, are you going to be doing most of the work yourself? Think about that one.

Are you willing to put up with the frustration with having to get it all done? Countless trips to the parts counter, returns, exchanges, out of stock parts, special tools, bloody Haynes manual...

After all is said and done, and assuming you got everything on that list fixed, are you confident that nothing else is going to fail? Of course, the car which DOES run properly might decide to fall apart as well.

Take the 3k and lease a KIA. Work 4 hours a week to pay for it.

Kuan

You can't go from a Benz to a Kia. That is the last thing I would do.
Ugh

But no I would not be doing the work myself.

__________________
1986 560 SEC *Sold* < Big Mistake I miss my baby!
1988 300SE *Sold*
1989 300CE - current car, but not for too long

I say the gang is right on. My vote goes to a larger sedan with a 4cyl like a camry, accord etc which can be had for 3 to 5K. In me grad schl days had a camry, I gifted it to another when I was done at transfer it had 167K only maint was plugs, oil changes, light bulbs, tires, belts and a batt. I put about 100K on it, bought it off an ole proff after he had put the timing belt on, I never had to or shall we say did due to Mula issues. The next owner took it to 226K and then traded in on a new isuzu van!

Yep when in school you will be busy, may not have a chick magnet car in the 3-5K cheapie but hey you can attract the chicks under your own power eh!

The chicks flocking to the MB would be high exp/maint any ways!!

Have your dad keep the car and use it till you get out and keep sending him info on what you would fix next.... that way in 4 years or less you will be ready to reclaim a fully rebuilt car. Dads love to do that kinda stuff for their kids.

Good Luck

Go for a 2000 Impreza WRX (5-speed) with low miles (if you can find it). You will NEVER go back. AND you can pretend you are Tommy Makkinen or Peter Solberg



Any one knows who am I talking about?

But do not take either if you do not plan working on them yourself. I save an average of 75% of costs by DIY'ing it. Example- to replace front struts would cost me $600-$700, I did it myself in 3 hrs (never have done that before) and pay $200 in parts. for either of your Dad's cars you are looking way more.

__________________
1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"