wheelz

So my DD 2002 C230 check engine light came on. Took it to the dealer and the cylinder head is shot. $5500 to get it replace. The car itself is not worth $5500. I have 77,000 miles on it. Most likely if I do I will go else where to get the work done but the part itself is $2300 from MBPARTSONLINE. I don't want to get a used one from the junk yard because who knows how long that one would last. Worth fixing?

Plutoe

Depends on your economics-----right now your car has very limited value and regardless can't be driven------then you spend 2300 plus 750 to put on the road-----vs what you could buy with the car in a trade as is plus 3000----!!


What can you buy(any car)???

VVF

Send a pm to cintoman - he got a used engine installed for about 3500 i think, a couple years ago.

wheelz

Thanks.

Kenneth Nelson

A little off topic here but what are those selling for in your area. I see your in SoCal and its a completely different than here in OK, but here your car with that mileage would bring around 6 to 7 assuming its in good condition, maybe a little a more if its perfect and your willing to wait.

For an example my car C320 with 126K in above average condition (not fair not quite good but close) are selling on the low side for around mid 4 thousand dollar range average anywhere between 5 and 6 thousand.

I know the repair at Dealer is very close to the value of the car but at a private shop i think it would be worth it.

Its also very very hard (again in my area that is) to sell a broken MB of any kind for more than parts car prices.

VVF

Hmm... So if/when there comes a time to sell the car it might pay to "reverse shop-around" then, and sell in a state that has higher going prices... Good to know! Looks like in Texas anything older than 2006 will not get you more than ~5k, and that's asking prices.

Kenneth Nelson

Thats pretty much exactly what dealership do. Mine for example has a number of diffrent auctions we will send a car to depending on what it is and condition. Over ten years old hurts allot because they are almost impossible to get financed here.

As far as TX and CA go, both have emission testing, which makes not very old cars worth very little cause of the constant hassle involve in keeping them legal. Here in OK all you need is a title, insurance and a tag. Keeps used car prices a little higher than average. Which is double edged sword kind of.

wheelz

I think it could get a good price above book value, but if I was trading it in I would not get much for it. Can't sell it with a bad head. Picked the car up today and drove it home. Going to independent shop this week, probably just a rebuild.

Kenneth Nelson

Ha ha well you can take this advice with as much or as little seriousness as you would like but never ever ever trade a car to dealer that is out of warranty or over 5 years old. You will get, for lack of a better term, raped and hard. I really probably should not post this, but there is reason i never stated me dealers name or what exact manufacture i work for and its a great example of this, I paid 1200 bucks for my C320. Our policy when it comes to trade in's is that employees purchase is 500 over what the dealer paid for the car. There is nothing wrong my car either, all i have done is change oil and slap some cheap brake pads on the front. I did that cause this week i will be swapping brakes with a C230 sport we got in on trade.

VVF

Wow... someone got $700 for a 2001 w203 at trade-in... Insane
Before that, the owner probably went to an MB dealer and got quoted something like $900 for front brakes.

(Thanks for info on used car price composition.)

Kenneth Nelson

Ha Ha it would not surprise me at all. No problem either. I have always found the way prices differ on cars from place to place to be kind of interesting.

Kenneth Nelson

They paid about the same for the 07 C230 sport I am kind of cannibalizing. It is a little rough though which is why i dont feel bad for robbing its good stuff.

wheelz

Well at a independent shop, just going to get it rebuilt and save about $2k.

stella

I was also quoted about the same amount for the cylinder head replacement!! I have 2009 c300 sports about 70k miles and got the estimate in Cali. I couldn't believe that I got an engine problem which even dealer couldn't explain the cause!!! I always went to the dealer for maintenance and transmission services, and for minor issues to avoid these kind of major problems!!! A few years back, I noticed engine sounds got bit louder, so I told my adviser to check it out, and they said its all good. And then several months ago, engine started running rough and shaking really bad... engine lights started to come and go....
I no longer drive this car for long distance..maybe for 5 miles or less distance once every other week. I really dont wanna spend $5000 for repair that I didnt cause.... but I'd like to try other shops rather than mb dealer.... If you find any shop in oc, la, inland empire for this job, plz, let me know!

C230 Sport Coup

Yeah, thats insane.
Are you sure you really need a head? What codes? What symptoms?
Is it already being repaired?

I've had a small leak at the #4 cylinder for quite some time.
Was quoted $2500+ (the plus being what ever else is needed that they won't know till it's torn apart) to repair at around 150K miles. Car runs fine just needs a little coolant occasionally it seems to mostly leak outward.
Never got a CEL for it.
I didn't repair it just figured I'd drive it till it blows up and put a newer lower mileage engine in. After all anything can happen at that mileage, and cause the car to be toast. Amazingly I'm at 232K miles now, and running fine despite the leak. Tranny is starting to slip, and beginning to think maybe it's time to just get another car, so in the end, I may never do anything. 232K is pretty good run for any car. Or I could pick up a trans and engine, and swap it, but how much will that cost? I could just find another car with lower miles, and it will hold it's value more than a car with 232K and a newer engine.
You have a low mileage car, and 2002 is the best year generally, the M111 engine is very reliable compared to the it's M271 brethren, though not as good a mileage.

You with your low mileage C230 could get at least 5 grand or more...these little cars seem to command a premium in good shape. They're fairly rare to find well cared for.
Let me know if you decide to sell yours.
I'm keeping my eyes open for a car just like mine with lower miles,
blue with leather etc.

Honestly, just grab an engine and put it in. But I really can't imagine what could be wrong with the head at 77K miles. They are so bulletproof.