Riot Nrrrd

I have a 1989 300E W124 with 210,000+ on the clock.

The A/C compressor was leaking Freon and then started to make a nasty loud noise (that matched the engine RPM speed) after it got refilled with bug juice.

Took it back in and my mechanic says the compressor is in its death throes. Said it would cost (US) $1300 to replace

That's more than the whole car is worth!

I asked why so much, he said the compressor alone is $1080, he can get a deal on it for $780, the rest is other related parts and labor.

I don't really have $1300 handy right now. And of course it's 98°F today here in sunny SoCal.

Starting to feel like I'm throwing good money after bad. Is shelling out this kind of money my only real option (I can't afford to toss the car and have a car payment)? Nothing cheaper?

RHW

part her out, friend.

Riot Nrrrd

How does one do that?

I have visions of this hulk of metal taking up room in my driveway/yard, missing a dozen vital pieces that have been cherry-picked as a result of "parting it out". I would prefer to get rid of it entirely, given that kind of scenario.

spinlps

Used and guaranteed ones go for around $100. Labor should be no more than two hours.

Keep the car, get a new mechanic

Riot Nrrrd

I'd love to find a place within hailing distance of Pasadena that would do it for $100 + 2 hours' labor!

190E 16V

Ask 2phast, he's parting out MB's.

Another guy quoted me $150 for a used, but guaranteed compressor. REPORT your mechanic. Who is he?

spinlps

Drive to Sac

Riot Nrrrd

My mechanic is Corey's Independent Mercedes in Montrose. He's really close to my work (there's one in La Cañada that's closer, but they were a serious rip-off joint and the owner was a grumpy old b@st@rd) so needing service was a lot easier to deal with than going elsewhere (i.e. easy to get to work after dropping the car off).

Might try this guy I found over in NoHo - Benny's Independent on Magnolia.

190E 16V

There ARE good guys out there. Good luck.

CharlestonN

For my E320 coupe a new OEM Denso with clutch was around $375 and labor was around $120/$160

The place i bought the part from is in Costa Mesa OC, called Mesa Performance, i believe they even gave me back like $60/$75 for te core once the new one was installed

funkgab

if your going to noho why not just drive a little more and go to the well known mr.mb? i found a junkyard selling the compressor for 130$
oh and avoid westwood mercedes on pontius near sawtelle.. his work is good but he is senile, and usually charges up the ***..
i used to take my w202 for everything there.. he does a coolant flush, "forgets" to replace the thermostat, and wanted me to pay for another coolant flush.. then i had an ac solenoid problem with the 202.. he apparently printed out a w210 vacuum diagram... and was looking at that the whole time.. -___-

Sherman321

I bought a new compressor for my E320 the other day from autohausaz for $290 (denso) brand new with clutch. I was quoted 1200 at a shop on wednesday to replace the compressor, receiver/drier and a fill. Needless to say I will be doing this myself, despite the 100 degree heat.

Riot Nrrrd

Update: I called Benny and he said "Why not eliminate the middleman, just go straight to Lucas Auto Air in Van Nuys, they're A/C specialists and I usually refer A/C problems to them".

So I went over and they had a look ... the verdict:

A/C system is empty of refrigerant R134A.
Compressor is leaking and noisy.
Evaporator is leaking.
Suction hose is leaking.
Discharge hose is leaking.
Vacuum problem (need to replace the vacuum motors inside dashboard).

Recommended repairs:

Replace compressor (remanufactured Nippon Denso).
Replace drier.
Replace expansion valve.
Replace suction hose.
Replace discharge hose.
Replace evaporator.
Replace high-pressure switch.
Replace vacuum motors.

Estimated cost of repair: $2600

Sherman321

Actually all of that work for $2600 is a steal IMO. The evap alone is usually that much.

Riot Nrrrd

From what I understand, half of this estimate is just because to get at the vacuum motors they have to tear apart the dash and put everything back together (4-5 hours' labor).

Still, when it's 2 1/2 X the value of the car, it seems pretty silly to pour good money after bad at this point

autoworrks320

get used to no A/C or drive 1 if the other rides

pifcat2

Did you do the work? How did you evacuate the fluid?

taughtmepatienc

I would charge the system up and try to push through the heat for the next couple of months. Then drive it through the winter. Part the car out next summer when it gets hot again. A car that old is hardly ever worth that repair amount.

Arnie

4-5 hrs? Try 18-22. I just replaced the evaporator on my '94. It took me about 5 hrs just to take it apart. BTW, dealers charge 20.5 hrs for the dash job, not counting the compresor.

pifcat2

I've taken a dash apart from my parts car and it didn't take more than a couple of hours, but that's without being as careful labeling, thinking of re installation, and taking my time trying not to break anything. Breaking the box loose from the chassis for me was the most difficult and I had the advantage that the engine was out giving me access / leverage from the engine compartment. It will be faster the second and third time around.

book hours are very conservative...

Arnie

Next time I'll do it in much less time too, however, it seems to me that the original poster has never done it, so 4-5 hrs for the entire job? no way.