When do you call it quits? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

newbenzmom · #1 05-19-2010, 01:06 PM

First I would like to say, I love my car - its a 95 C-280. I have had it since Feb of this year. Its got miles 275,000. Engine sounds fine. but we have a few things that will need repair>
Condensor has a hole in it so -No a/c. Repair will be $460.00
Lower control arm bushings need to be replaced.
Flex discs also look scary
a small oil leak
needs a window regulator for passenger window
and a small coolant leak was detected yesterday.

Is it worth it to put the money into this? How long can this car last.? Honest opinions please.

JohnM. · #2 05-19-2010, 01:16 PM

Honestly, you would probably come out ahead selling the car AS-IS, and saving the money on repairs. That is probably 2K worth of work you listed at a reputable shop. Sell it before any major, catastrophic repairs are needed.

You can get a similar vintage E-Class (W210 96-up) or (W124 95-down) with half the mileage. It is a buyers market. 3-4K tops will get you a very very nice E-Class. Going to an E will make you seriously doubt ever going back to any C-Class! At 275K, that car is pretty well used up. Things will start breaking/failing at an accelerated rate as you get closer to 300K.

Yes, you could fix it and get another 50K out of it. But it's running on borrowed time IMO.

#3 05-19-2010, 01:37 PM

The key to operating an old car is to keep up with it before it has a chance to run down to the point you describe.

Some months this is easy and some months it's hard, but if you let the least little thing go without attending to it, this is where you end up. It's a juggling act. You have to work at keeping all of the balls in the air at the same time.

mbzman · #4 05-19-2010, 03:08 PM

I too would sell the car. With that kind of mileage you are definitely due for some major expenses. I as well would consider an upgrade to a newer E-Class. The W210s from 2000-2002 were and still are very nice cars. Maybe not quite as durable or quite as well finished as the earlier W124, but still a lot of car for not too much money.

Gilly · #5 05-19-2010, 06:56 PM

If the oil and coolant leaks are minor, I'd probably put the money in it in hopes of getting another couple years out of it.
If the leaks are caused by a headgasket, I'd be more inclined to bail on it. Do the leak diagnosis first, then decide.
How do you know the control arm bushings are shot? If the tires aren't wearing too badly and they are "average" condition, you could possibly hold off on those bushings and when it's time for tires, have the front end work and an alignment done all at the same time.
Flex discs can look scary, that's fine, the determining factor is if they are really worn out or not. The front one is probably the only one that's needed.
You can squeeze more miles out it yet if you want to and if you keep up on things. The list doesn't look all that bad, I've worked on newer cars with more than this wrong.
Other things to consider are if there is getting to be a lot of body rust and the general appearance.
Gilly

mlozzi200478 · #6 05-19-2010, 11:10 PM

sell it for parts or hang on to it for a parts car,look for another one,the mileage is getting up there,and with those repairs its not worth fixing,for another $2,000.00 you should be able to find a nice original 300 with lower miles.just my opinion. i found my car in florida with only 65k for under $5,000.00

RobertFini · #7 05-20-2010, 10:36 AM

If you love the car, then how much money you "should" put into it becomes a very subjective matter.

I love my C36, which is essentially the same car but with a lot more horsepower and a much stiffer suspension. I got it when it was almost new with 4,600 miles on it and now it has 181k; it needs a TON of work, but no matter how much work it needs it's still way cheaper than buying a new one, and the new one might have just as many problems.

I also have a W210 E320 and a W124 E320, and neither of them has the same character as the W202 - they are much larger and heavier, and they make a much different statement when you pull into a parking garage.

The question for you is how perfect do you want your car to be.

Minor fluid leaks are nothing - an old friend of mine once said "Cars are supposed to be wet on the bottom." Just make sure you check the levels every time you gas up and keep the levels within operating norms.

An inoperable passenger window isn't the end of the world either, but the A/C fix will need to be done and it's going to be more expensive than you expect - depending on how long that hole has been in the system, there could be collateral damage to other parts. I'd budget $1,500.

My advice is to lower your standards a bit and keep the car.

lee polowczuk · #8 05-20-2010, 11:43 AM

Time to cut it loose.... what if you fix it and the tranny goes in 6 months?

mpolli · #9 05-20-2010, 04:45 PM

You have only had it 3 months. You couldn't be too in love. Any used car will be expensive if you pay someone else to do everything.

locry · #10 05-24-2010, 05:28 AM

here's how i see it. new cars will always be more expensive...and they WILL get old, and WILL exhibit problems. it's just a matter of picking a car that you're willing to keep for the long run. I've picked picked mine and am fine with fixing whatever problems that might arise, even major ones. I know some repairs will seem expensive, but i'm pretty sure whatever that repair is will be a LOT cheaper than getting a newer car that will eventually break down and will need repairs.

cheapest route is to pick a diesel

that you're willing to drive for a loooong time (immortal styling) and deal with it.

my picks: 87 300TD
95 S280... flood damaged...gutting everything and simplifying

Skid Row Joe · #11 05-24-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbenzmom

Its got miles 275,000.

Is it worth it to put the money into this? How long can this car last.? Honest opinions please.

1. It doesn't help you now, but I would have never bought a car like that with that many miles on it in the first place. I would shoot for a car with less than 50K miles on it next time.

2. As long as you keep putting several thousands of dollars into it a year - you can probably keep patching it together for quite a while. I don't know how many miles you drive a year - but 275,000 is already quite a bit on a gas engined car. Most of it's useful life is behind it.

3. I'd have already had ads running to get rid of it were it me.

G-Benz · #12 05-24-2010, 02:45 PM

93 300E. 203K miles. Recent body repair and paint, custom sound system, custom wheels and tires...but needed a tranny swap. Had an extra one in the garage, so I planned on keeping the car forever.

T-boned a Tahoe a few months ago and insurance paid me more than the car was worth to dump it. Took on a new perspective about investing a lot of $$$ on an old vehicle.

From this point forward, I will buy an inexpensive, but well-kept vehicle, and get rid of it when the repairs exceed what I care to spend to keep said vehicle running.

Besides, I pulled all of the goodies off the 300E before it was towed...stereo will find a new home in my daughter's car...