Hi, joined up specifically to ask this question. I'm getting a lot of mixed advice, but it's all from people who treat cars as disposable.

I have a 95 E-320 Cab that I rescued from my grandpa and had been using as a daily driver since my previous vehicle had gone terminal and this made sense. I was slowly putting work into it (though sometimes it felt like the trim was falling off faster than I could fix it.) and was hoping to keep it going long enough to be able to afford to really take care of it properly. Then 2 months ago it started spitting coolant through the vents and I realized it was time to garage it until I could really give it the work it deserves so I got a cheap lease on a car as a daily driver. I had hoped to garage it for a year and then treat it as a project car so I could get it back on the road where it belongs. But my housing situation is changing and I wont have a garage soon.

So I think I have to sell it, or maybe get a storage unit, or... well I'm not sure. Obviously I have an emotional connection to this car and its making it really hard for me to consider selling it.

Here's what I know it needs in terms of work:
Wiring harness has not been replaced yet
Coolant is leaking at an alarming rate (and some is getting spat through the vents)
Rear wiring bundle in the trunk needs to be looked at (center tail light and plate lights are inconsistent)
Suspension need replacing.
Interior trim and leather show their age, as well as some of the exterior plastic.

So, with all that in mind. What would you do if you were in my shoes? If I had to sell it, how can I find a seller who's going to appreciate it? What do I even ask for it? If I find a way to store it, is letting it sit going to ruin the engine? How much money is practical to start budgeting to fix it up? Any thoughts or advice is appreciated.
Thanks.

-Darrel J

 

Cabrio's of this age are indeed seeing the trim bits degrade, almost on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the cabrio specific bits are pretty mcuh made of unobtainium.

New wiring harnesses for the later E320s are now NLA, so you are going to have to find a good used one - could be expensive
Sounds like your heater core has failed - a lot of labor for R&R of a heater core
Not too difficult - my cabrio had the same issues - pretty easy fix.
Shocks for the cabrio are NLA (it may be possible to use the Bilstien Coupe shocks, but you will loose some suspensions travel) and LCAs are expensive (the cabrio has the welded ball joint/LCA combo), however, the rear links aren't too bad.
A lot of trim is NLA.

You haven't even mentioned anything about the top. That is a whole discussion unto itself. [/QUOTE]

If I were in your position, I would probably sell the car to someone who can afford to do the work on it as parts will only get more difficult to source as time moves on. As for value, its' hard to say without knowing the complete condition of the car.

 

Post some pics for us. If the repair costs exceed the value of the car, it's time to move on. If a better condition car can be purchased for what your repair costs will be, it's time to move on. You need to make a (smart) financial decision, not an emotional one.

 

Unfortunately just like many marriages go... lust, love, affection may not be enough to keep you financially afloat. This is a very hard questions when you're emotionally attached, but an easy one to answer if you're good at math. I've had my 300CE for 25 years+ and cringe when I hear a new squeak or pop.... Fortunately I've kept mine in decent shape cosmetically and mechanically...My situation is different. No children, an extra garage to park it in as needed, enough finances to fix things, but the WORST thing I ever did or I could have done,,,,,I NAMED IT... (Butch) it's now a member of our family.

For you...the cost to "value" proposition doesn't seem to be there for the normal, everyday drive type. There are a few cabs and coupes that sell for decent dollars, however they do look great under the hood, inside and under chassis. If this is an average condition cab, I'd try to find a decent independent shop that you trust and have them give you a quote on the punch list above. (but that won't be the last of your repairs) I had my heater core R&R at the dealership for $3k+. You can get it done cheaper, but I suspect that repairs from the above list will exceed resale. Then if something goes south on the top, you may find yourself with an even bigger heartache. If you have a place to store it, then clean it up the best you can and post on various website to attract possible buyers. Store these take there toll, but only on trim and rubber bits... the engine doesn't mind if you put it up for a while.. just prep it.

Now for the reality part.. unfortunately this car is probably worth 3 times it's current value if you part it out...That last statement just killed me, but it's true..... Again, if that body and interior are really nice, repairs may prove to be a good option. At best you'd break-even. Again, love and lust can get expensive..... Good luck... send pictures all of us on the board share your passion but be prepared to say goodbye.

Best of luck... don't put yourself in a financial bind...