Swap 1993 Mercedes 190e - MOT Win

[michael1703]

The current engine is financially fucked, I wouldn't run that again without taking the head off, sump off to get debris out,oil passages flushed through,oil and filter,cams,tensioner,crank pulley etc

 

A merc with a shagged engine isn't going to be worth much less if you leave it under a tarp for a month or two while you find a suitable engine, I'd forget about it, enjoy the Sierra and keep an eBay search for an engine, once you have found an engine, come on here and ask for a working party to help you change it, jobsagoodun.

[danthecapriman]

That's a right pisser. I know how you feel having bought a car from the US with a screwed engine and that's cost me big time to sort it, so I understand totally why you want to write this off as a lost cause.

It's a shame as the body looks so nice.

 

I think I'd do as others have suggested and store it while you look for a replacement engine then get it swapped, of course that might not repair your confidence in the car so maybe it's better to move on?

Might be worth giving it a few days thought before rushing into anything then make your decision though.

[stripped fred]

As above, chalk it down to experience. It's only money. The law of chance should mean you have some luck coming soon! I've been relatively lucky but have had an engine failure and some big bills before. It hurts for a bit but it gets easier.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Sad news. I would also store the car if I could, rather than sell it right now - and possibly repair it with a new engine when one comes up at a good price. I can well understand why you're as miserable as hell, but you haven't done anything ridiculous - you have been very unlucky. Be kinder to yourself and stop beating yourself up!.

[richardmorris]

Bad news. Is a straight engine transplant financially viable? Many years ago I spent a month's salary on new barrels and Pistons etc on my 2cv only for the crankshaft to snap the month after. I should have walked away, but bought a new engine for it. And I mean new-nouveau exchange £600 from Belgium. They're a lot more twenty five years later!

[Parky]

There's lots of Merc specialist breakers around, I am sure a decent secondhand replacement can be found. But in the meantime, have a couple of days off from it, let the emotions die down and you'll have a clearer strategy of what to do next after the weekend.

[Bren]

Console yourself with this - you could have spent £7k on a high performance 10 year old eurobox that shit itelf and needed a £3.5k repair.

 

I'd look for a cheap secondhand engine rather than paying somebody to rebuild the existing engine.

[chaseracer]

And a crowd of us WILL come round and help* you fit it!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I certainly would do now for a week then see how I felt about it all.

[BorniteIdentity]

Before I chuck this away or send it to Mozambique...

 

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331833055245

 

How much of a PITA will it be to fit an 86 engine to a 93 car? The 230 variant of the M102 is apparently a drop in replacement... but I have literally no knowledge. Ie is it a ball ache with things like k-jet and stuff to make it all go.

 

Also... do I need the other bit too? He has the short engine listed separately.

 

Any help gratefully received

[Jim Bell]

Jeez I thought I had problems. Sorry to hear about this whole cluster fuck dude. Grim reading.

[smellypoo]

I haven't the knowledge or the experience to say how difficult or wise it'd be, but my uneducated guess is that buying that head won't be an economical approach when you consider all the other replacement parts you'll need - valves to replace the bent ones for starters. My gut feeling is that buying a running car with a duff body might be a better bet - you'll get all the parts you need for a transplant and can have the engine examined and any preventative maintenance done before install. 

 

Someone more learned will come along soon, but I hope you can/will save her as she looks great in the pics.

[hauserplenty]

If it was a US car, I would say it's an apples-to-oranges comparison. The 80's cars are K-jet; by the 90's they'd gone to KE-jet. You'd have to buy and install sensors, etc. which could get ugly.

I'm voting KEEP, as a stick shift 190 is rarer than hen's teeth 'round these parts.

[Jim Bell]

The optimist in me thinks:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182134306560

 

 

The Chinese word for crisis is the same as the word for opportunity.

[chaseracer]

Will the M119 5.0 V8 fit?

 

#justathoughtlike

 

[michael1703]

£150'for a head with no valves from one of the most overpriced eBay sellers of shite?

 

They've been trying to sell a rusty cooling fan for a scimitar for the last 6 years at about £60, their parts don't ever look great quality.

 

What's the engine code for your model of engine? I'll ask about for one

[Braddon81]

You've had terribly bad luck with this. Personally I'd stick the car in the corner give it a week or twos stay of execution and potentially broker a a very favourable deal with your mechanic for sticking in another engine...even if it means you have to strip and reassemble all the ancillaries before and afterhand.

[forddeliveryboy]

If you're even going to think about lobbing another engine in, do all the maths carefully given what you have already lost. Would you be better off if you had an engine fitted than not? It wouldn't even be worth considering if it was a break-even scenario because there's the slight risk that everything could go badly wrong. So if it's worth £200 now and an engine fitted was going to cost £800 then I'd want to be sure as sure the car was capable of selling for £1600 or so.

 

Have a look at the corrosion as mentioned on the MoTs and think hard - most Mercedes I've known post '92 have had corrosion problems, the steel quality seemed to deteriorate quite a lot at that point. When I stripped my '89 300TD with nearly 400k on the clock (scrapped because little more than the engine, box and brakes was working) the shell turned out to be virtually rot-free, the only bit was at the base of a rear side window - behind the rear bumper was like new. Whereas a '95 version of the same car was utterly nasty, deep corrosion appearing all over the place.

 

Anyway. https://www.gumtree.com/p/car-replacement-parts/1992-1996-mercedes-e200-w124-breaking-spares-no-e280-e220-e300-320-230-parts-cheapest-bargain/1168084171

[BorniteIdentity]

I'm properly across the 'grot'.

 

What was needed to get it through the MOT was welded last year.  The front end needs two small patches and then it's good - also at some stage a new panel in the boot above the fuel tank would be a good idea.  I reckon there's about £100 to spend there.

 

I'm still torn on what to do.  The car owes me about £3k. I bought it for £1200 last year, spent a good £700 immediately... then another £800 on Head Gasket etc.  It had a full and complete service and I've bought a few other bits along the way.

 

I'll probably list it up on eBay and see what happens - "spears/reapers and extort"

[BorniteIdentity]

Chucking in the towel.  I've had time to calm down (properly) and take everything in.

 

A) I'm a DJ - not a mechanic.  I play Olly Murs - and my entire mechanical knowledge begins and ends with a starter set of Meccanoâ„¢

2) I think the car gave me enough warning signs along the way - and I decided to keep ploughing money into it, refusing to be beaten.  I lost.

D) Trying to run a fleet of 6 is really fucking hard - especially if you want them to all "just work".

 

I've put it on eBay to start at 2000 - bids starting at £99.

 

Gutted.  But ultimately the right thing to do.  

 

Fuck it all.

[forddeliveryboy]

You learn little if mistakes are never made...  prob the right decision, no matter how hard to make. 

 

Are these 4-pot Mercs prone to OMGHGF or is it the 190s which are iffy? 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-e190-H-Reg-Auto-for-breaking-spares-or-repair-80k-miles-/112008837673?hash=item1a143f3a29:g:2pcAAOSwIzNXPIa1

[BorniteIdentity]

4 pots are prone. Always the rearmost cylinder and you end up with oil in the coolant, rather than the other way around.

[carlo]

I tend to think working out what a car owes us pretty pointless actually.  Most of us on here are on here because we like buying, playing with and fixing old cars.  It's a hobby.  Some people who enjoy going on holiday spend heir money that way; they certainly ain't going to see any of it back that's for sure.  Also (presumably) most cars in the Autoshite category are gently appreciating or staying pretty static in value so there's not too much depreciation to worry about.  It's just a real pisser that you've had such bad luck with a car you've sunk so much into.  Which means you should be due some better luck next time.

[DeeJay]

 

 

 I play Olly Murs 

 

 

I was fully sympathetic up until I read that, serves you right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Only joking)

[richardmorris]

Chucking in the towel.  I've had time to calm down (properly) and take everything in.

 

A) I'm a DJ - not a mechanic.  I play Olly Murs - and my entire mechanical knowledge begins and ends with a starter set of Meccanoâ„¢

2) I think the car gave me enough warning signs along the way - and I decided to keep ploughing money into it, refusing to be beaten.  I lost.

D) Trying to run a fleet of 6 is really fucking hard - especially if you want them to all "just work".

 

I've put it on eBay to start at 2000 - bids starting at £99.

 

Gutted.  But ultimately the right thing to do.  

 

Fuck it all.

 

 

I understand your difficulty. I have pains trying to keep three cars running.

 

Remember Shakespeare- tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

 

Onwards and upwards!

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

Sad to see this, but I can fully understand the decision. Rationally and dispassionately, maybe it is the right one.

[BorniteIdentity]

Currently £99 on eBay.

 

It's here if anyone fancies it... or friends etc.

 

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122000383705

[Captain Furious]

Sad news, I know where you're coming from, trying to keep multiple cars on the road is a mission even if they're all working, there hardly ever seems to be a time when none of them need anything, even if it's just MOT, Tax, Insurance etc. Add breakages in to the mix and it can really get you down financially and emotionally

 

It's easy for me to say I'd carry on and put a new engine in it, but you're probably right to bail out before you're in past the point of no return. Sounds like it would make a good project for someone.

[jonathan_dyane]

It looks good in the ad; you might not do too terribly out of it!

[BorniteIdentity]

One last shout for this before the final insult tonight when the auction closes.

 

Anyone ?

 

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122000383705