"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
07/05/2015 at 04:00 • Filed to: None
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"AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
07/05/2015 at 04:00 • Filed to: None | 0
| 5 |
Well, I got good news and bad news with the car. The good news is that he was able to get it all running well enough to become street legal, but it cost me $2300, and it still has some issues that he thinks may clear up with some driving. There was also the small issue of the AC compressor being potentially bad, and he knew I was beyond my budget already so he left it alone. (He mentioned trying some Leak Seal for the AC, because he has heard of it working).
The biggest worry from what he told me now is the fuel distributor. He cleaned it, but it might need replaced. Evidently that could run about $2500 at the worst for one from Mercedes.
Once he was done I took it to get some tires put on it, and an alignment. So that’s another $500.
Including the $2000 purchase price, and the $104 for the storage registration I am in it for just under $5000.
The work included (but wasn’t limited to):
-Valve cover gaskets
-tie rod ends
-oil lier kit
-belts
-brake fluid exchange
-radiator
-A/C pressure switches
-Dryer
-Cleaning fuel Distributor & Throttle body
-Fuel filter
-R134a conversion
-electrical drain on battery.
I did try the A/C Stop Leak, and it did nothing so I am going to need to get a new compressor, which will mean another A/C fill. Which the mechanic said he would do for me. I understood that he would just do it for free (at least he said no charge.)
And I was going to get the safety done with the tires, when I realized GEICO listed the VIN wrong on the insurance card which means they wouldn’t do the inspection. And GEICO’s local office was closed for the holiday weekend. &*$#$$#^&*!
It turns out I couldn’t get the car registered for the road because July 3rd was also state holiday so they could have a long weekend. So no driving it yet.
So now I am on to the body and interior issues. My problem now is that I don’t quite know what the car is actually worth. I’ve seen some examples as low as $4000, but the average low I see for one that is not listed as being for parts is $8000. So I don’t know if I am already in the red or if I still have plenty of room.
I know that this is not a grey market 450SL as Mercedes USA read me the build sheet over the phone and the customer service rep said it was not a grey market car. But someone marked the title as mileage is not accurate.
The hard top is in decent shape, the soft top looks brand new, and there is only one problem rust spot on the car which is the top of the fuel neck where it meets the quarter panel. The rubber on the bumpers is looking very old.
The interior needs a stock radio, the wood veneer around the shifter is splitting, a few cracks in the vinyl on the dash, driver’s seat needs new springs, chrome fittings have some pitting, visors need replaced, and the seals could use replacing it looks like.
Oh, and the hardtop needs the bottom piece of steel replaced because it is rotted.
Does anyone have any insight into what the realistic value of the car is?
Berang
> AdverseMartyr
07/05/2015 at 04:13 |
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Are you asking how much it would be worth as-is, or how much it could be worth once you take care of all the concerns? I’d think a nice-ish driver could be had for 8-9K, a really nice one could be much more. But always it depends on finding the right buyer.
Jobjoris
> AdverseMartyr
07/05/2015 at 04:40 |
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it still has some issues that he thinks may clear up with some driving.
We all know this won’t actually happen. Right?
So I don’t know if I am already in the red or if I still have plenty of room.
No offense but if you have to use a mechanic for all these things you’re into the red. Not a bad thing per se if you want to go use this -except for those US-spec bumpers- awesome car but if you bought it to get some sort of a profitable deal out of it I think you went the wrong track. Getting an accurate estimate online will prove to be impossible though.
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AdverseMartyr
> Jobjoris
07/05/2015 at 14:29 |
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Well. generally, I don’t need to use a mechanic for all those things, but I was on a tight timeline to begin with and then my son was born 5 weeks early. I’m a little sick to the stomach that I paid someone an hourly rate of $105 to change two tie rod ends. I also wish I was a licensed mechanic and could get paid $105 for loosening a few bolts and turning something clockwise a few times.
I’ve been looking at the market for a couple of months now, and it seems like I still have room to go before it is actually costing me more than it will eventually sell for when I want to get something different.
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AdverseMartyr
> Berang
07/05/2015 at 14:31 |
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I’m trying to figure out what it is worth currently, and what it will be worth. I’ve been looking at the market and have a rough idea, but I thought maybe one of the crazies on here might be an expert, and know the values a bit more accurately.
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AdverseMartyr
> Jobjoris
07/05/2015 at 14:52 |
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I should also say that the slight miss which was indicative of the fuel distributor/injection problem disappeared yesterday when it was running, but then returned when I shut the car off and restarted so it is sort of clearing up.