keeping an old Merc on the road, it's become a nightmare

[pneumothorax]

Something has changed. I have had fairly old cars maintained by known specialists for most of my adult life. Never had a problem.

In the last two years, nothing but grief. Currently have a W124 Estate and dropped it off at a known specialist a week ago. Asked him to look over it and let me know what needed doing, likely it needs suspension going over and it's likely to be costly and I made it clear that I am (or was) committed to whatever it costs to get it driving right.

No communication in the interim. I attempt to call to give him a heads up on things I know do/do not need to be sorted with the car and his reception staff just tell me he is busy and he is still working out his "estimate" after over a week with the car.

My local mechanic (good and I trust him but he isn't a specialist) is now charging £90 per hour labour.

I am thinking that unless you are handy with tools and able to work on these things, it's going to become increasingly expensive/not practical to keep cars that are at this level and it's going to effect what happens to these more mundane old timers.

[LunarOne]

Basically you're saying that the guy you took your car to has been slower to give you an estimate than you expected, and the guy you trust isn't a specialist and is expensive. Neither of those things have anything to do with the age of your car.

A W124 isn't really so old that it needs specialist attention, especially if you're talking about a suspension refresh. I'd suggest you either chase up the guy you took the car to, or give the car to someone you already know. But someone you trust that is busy is probably a good sign - better than someone who's twiddling their thumbs waiting for business.

[PositronicRay]

I sold my SL R129 a year ago. Needed too much of a spend, a guy from Ireland came for it. Maybe stuff is cheaper thier.

[restoman]

Motoring is expensive
Buy an old car and spend lots on it keeping it right
Buy a new car and watch it's value drop like a stone

[pneumothorax]

LunarOne said:

Basically you're saying that the guy you took your car to has been slower to give you an estimate than you expected, and the guy you trust isn't a specialist and is expensive. Neither of those things have anything to do with the age of your car.

A W124 isn't really so old that it needs specialist attention, especially if you're talking about a suspension refresh. I'd suggest you either chase up the guy you took the car to, or give the car to someone you already know. But someone you trust that is busy is probably a good sign - better than someone who's twiddling their thumbs waiting for business.

Nope, that's not what I am saying. I would expect a specialist to have got back to me after seven days with an idea about (circa) how much it was going to cost. That's why I went there.

[pneumothorax]

PositronicRay said:

I sold my SL R129 a year ago. Needed too much of a spend, a guy from Ireland came for it. Maybe stuff is cheaper thier.

Yep, it's quite possibly where this car is going to be going.

[Lester H]

Yes, these are lovely, strong cars with a sky high reputation for being over engineered. However, Autocar, a few years ago, ran a detailed feature on one of these, and found that all those cliches ( hewn from granite, bank vault, etc) were true up to a point. The car was utterly reliable and then began to throw up huge bills, and they got rid.

[Old Merc]

Lester H said:

Yes, these are lovely, strong cars with a sky high reputation for being over engineered. However, Autocar, a few years ago, ran a detailed feature on one of these, and found that all those cliches ( hewn from granite, bank vault, etc) were true up to a point. The car was utterly reliable and then began to throw up huge bills, and they got rid.

You can say that with any high end well engineered car, when they get older.
I’ve owned my R129 for over 16 years, it’s been very reliable, the only major expense was keeping the body in show condition.
I was able to carry out almost all servicing and mechanical work myself as I used to have my own specialist car repair business, now retired.
Sadly due to my age and poor health I cant do much, so I have to rely on a master technician I know to work on my car, and it’s getting expensive. Reluctantly I’m going to put my pride and joy up for sale.

[Mark A S]

I’m fortunate enough to be able to do most “jobs” on my classic’s and to a degree modern cars. TBH, unless I could, I would not own any of them as there is no way I would pay £90/hour or even approaching that for what is basically a “toy” despite the endless fun they give me.
Also, I agree, no response after a week, is pish poor, I mean come on, how hard is it to send a little email saying “still working on your quote”

Isn’t it fun being over 60, you get to be a grumpy old git and not worry about it

[Sheepshanks]

The last straw with the Merc specialist I used to use (a lot) was him adding £30 "diagnostic" fee to a £500 bill.

Car has gone now.

[mk1coopers]

Good technicians are scarce, not many people want to get their hands dirty these days, hence charges are going up to cover wages. As mentioned, if you can't do a lot of things yourself then costs for looking after cars can be high

[I-am-the-reverend]

I've retired from mechanicking, thank God.

Cars just changed 20 years ago - cars like the W124, 190E, E36, Focus Mark 1 etc were the high point where they were nice to drive and reliable plus they were easy to fix. But they're old now. Everything is rusty and wearing out and whilst they were easy to fix once, now they often aren't. Because they're rusty and worn out. Mercedes 124 Estate rear self levelling, a nightmare of rusty pipes, rounded off unions and you can't quote for one repair because everything around it will be fked as well, because old and rusty.

Just like bodyshops now just want £100 an hour accident repair work on 2017 cars and don't want to get involved in restoring some 35 year old Merc, garages are the same. In the time it takes to resurrect a shagged out old W124, they could have made twicev as much easier money servicing a few 2019 C Classes.

[Old Merc]

[quote=I-am-the-reverend]

I've retired from mechanicking, thank God.
Cars just changed 20 years ago - cars like the W124, 190E, E36, Focus Mark 1 etc were the high point where they were nice to drive and reliable plus they were easy to fix. But they're old now. Everything is rusty and wearing out and whilst they were easy to fix once, now they often aren't. Because they're rusty and worn out. Mercedes 124 Estate rear self levelling, a nightmare of rusty pipes, rounded off unions and you can't quote for one repair because everything around it will be fked as well, because old and rusty.

---

Its not just old classics that go rusty.

I was astonished to be shown this on my 2002 C270. The rear subframe could come away from the body !

It will never pass another MOT, mind you I think it should not have passed the last one, or two?


My 1997 R129 is in very good condition underneath, its even got the original exhaust system!!!

Edited by Old Merc on Thursday 28th September 14:58

[nismocat]

Didn’t Mercedes have big issues with rust, electronics and paint from 98 to 2003?

Something to do with Chrysler, and accountants.

[pneumothorax]

All points above taken on board and I am actively thinking about starting to do more work myself. Used to fiddle about with my cars in the past until my Father pointed out that the hourly rate for my own job was twice what the local garage billed for an hour of their time. So I stopped. Now they charge more.

I think it's probably going to come down to he doesn't want to take it on-it's highly likely the job is a nightmare, I have had a similar thing happen with an old SL and the chap was up front-said it wasn't for him which I understand.

The situation here is that I actually cannot get to speak to the chap.

[MickyveloceClassic]

Old Merc]-am-the-reverend said:

I've retired from mechanicking, thank God.
Cars just changed 20 years ago - cars like the W124, 190E, E36, Focus Mark 1 etc were the high point where they were nice to drive and reliable plus they were easy to fix. But they're old now. Everything is rusty and wearing out and whilst they were easy to fix once, now they often aren't. Because they're rusty and worn out. Mercedes 124 Estate rear self levelling, a nightmare of rusty pipes, rounded off unions and you can't quote for one repair because everything around it will be fked as well, because old and rusty.

---

My 1997 R129 is in very good condition underneath, its even got the original exhaust system!!!

Edited by Old Merc on Thursday 28th September 14:58

My 1990 129 appears to have the original exhaust too - I’ve had it for 12 years and there’s nothing in the (complete) history file to suggest it’s had one in 150,000.

It’s sad when cars become burdensome and costly. Of course you can chuck loads of money at them, but ultimately there’s a point of no return.

I’ve an excellent mechanic who keeps my 129 and C36 in good fettle, but the r129 needs a new hood now, and headliner for the hard top. Luckily, both are rust free and only ever used between April and October.

[Old Merc]

It’s obvious that the guy is not interested in the job. Take it away and find someone who does.

Is it worth a trip to Reading ? https://www.calcotcars.co.uk/ These guys are excellent, not cheep, qualified Mercedes master technicians working in a fully equipped workshop, never are.

You could ask them to inspect the car, give you a report of work needed, and a rough estimate. They would probably charge an hours labour. You could then decide, a : is it worth it, b : could you do some of the jobs yourself, c : get them to do the other work.

[Old Merc]

[quote=MickyveloceClassic

I’ve an excellent mechanic who keeps my 129 and C36 in good fettle, but the r129 needs a new hood now, and headliner for the hard top. Luckily, both are rust free and only ever used between April and October.


[/quote]

———————————————————————————————————-

Where are you Micky?
I found this guy to fit new windows in my R129 hood. https://www.yell.com/biz/autotrim-reading-4074380/
He is a real old school tradesman. Got a small home workshop, first class workmanship.

[pneumothorax]

yep, my current 129 is also spotless (pretty good) underneath, a 124 leads a different life though. In all honesty, I was preparing myself for the call and expecting him to quote circa £5k to get it all back as good as it can be, and then I would keep it. I have just spent the same on a 986 Boxster that drove ok, on a suspension refresh. Dropped it off, chap called me the next morning-told me it needed everything doing, he sent me an email 24 hrs later with likely costs, then called me when it was ready, picked up the car and it drives like it did in 1999. It can be done.

I just think that south of the type of cars that are going to Ian Tyrell, but that are complex (like an S124) that people are going to realize that perfectly usable cars are going to become driving, living cars that are becoming "spares or repairs", I think it's where this one is going.

[MickyveloceClassic]

Old Merc said:

———————————————————————————————————-

Where are you Micky?
I found this guy to fit new windows in my R129 hood. https://www.yell.com/biz/autotrim-reading-4074380/
He is a real old school tradesman. Got a small home workshop, first class workmanship.

That’s kind of you to recommend. I’m in rural North Yorkshire, so wherever I go may be a bit of a kerfuffle.
It’s a job for next spring, so plenty of time to plan.

I need the full hood - it’s still on the original 33 year old top, so while it’s pretty much leak free, it doesn’t look as good as the rest of the car - which annoys me now!