Need Some Work Done
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2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
Need Some Work Done
I have a 2012 E550 with 102K miles and have put about $5K in the car over the past year. It looks like I am needing another round of maintenance, as I have a slow coolant and oil leak. The shop is recommending resealing the upper front timing covers and replacing the turbo coolant lines and water pump. With labor and assorted seals/gaskets it comes to $3800. I love the car, but am having an issue justifying putting more money into a car that is only valued at $8K tops. Thoughts?
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It really depends on what is being done. You can get to $5,000 easy with say 4 new tires, pads and rotors all around, changing all fluids and filters and spark plugs assuming you do. It do anything yourself.
It also depends on what is wear and tear vs things that just break. It also depends on what’s it worth to you. If you spent $3,800 to keep a great car running, compare that to the how much it will cost to go get into a new car. You won’t find a modern E550 that is fire damn sure.
It also depends on what is wear and tear vs things that just break. It also depends on what’s it worth to you. If you spent $3,800 to keep a great car running, compare that to the how much it will cost to go get into a new car. You won’t find a modern E550 that is fire damn sure.
Last edited by C280 Sport; Dec 13, 2025 at 07:22 AM.
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W210
Hi! I’m guessing those are coolant plastic lines from front of the engine to turbos. This slow coolant leak will become instant coolant ejection when they brake off. If you love the car you need to do it. And front covers on M278 and M276 are know to leak on every car. That plastic thermostat housing will most likely fall apart during the work you described, so get ready to add some money on top if they have not quotet you yet.
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Mercedes SL R231
I concur with @C280 Sport . You need to decide what the car is worth to YOU and not what its resale value is. $5k is a sunk cost. So, ask yourself, you would buy your car for $3800 with the current issues fixed from someone else?
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I have a 25 year old Ford F150 with the 4.6 liter engine with 230,000 miles on the engine. That engine is notorious for blowing spark plugs out of the head because of a design flaw. I’ve popped two plugs so far. The repair is to Helicoil the holes. Last one cost me about $300 to repair, which would probably total the truck. But, would I buy the truck for $300? Absolutely! Where else could I get a truck with the long bed that runs, comes pre-dented, and doesn’t give a damn where it parks for $300?
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2023 E 450 Sedan. 2018 GLC 300. 2013 E 350 Coupe (retired)
Difficult decision. You have to fix it if you want a fair price, then trade up to something interesting. Or keep it going with an open checkbook. At some point you will tire of all the leaks, but that would be cheaper than buying something else, at least for awhile. Either way, start looking for your next girlfriend.
Last edited by smiles201; Dec 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM.
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2005 ML500, 2011 E350 4M, 2012 GL550
It really depends on what is being done. You can get to $5,000 easy with say 4 new tires, pads and rotors all around, changing all fluids and filters and spark plugs assuming you do. It do anything yourself.
It also depends on what is wear and tear vs things that just break. It also depends on what’s it worth to you. If you spent $3,800 to keep a great car running, compare that to the how much it will cost to go get into a new car. You won’t find a modern E550 that is fire damn sure.
It also depends on what is wear and tear vs things that just break. It also depends on what’s it worth to you. If you spent $3,800 to keep a great car running, compare that to the how much it will cost to go get into a new car. You won’t find a modern E550 that is fire damn sure.
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From: Denver, CO
2013 E350
Davery, if you truly consider tossing in the towel on the car I'd offer to give it a home and document all the DIY maintenance/repair here on the forum. Would $8k minus $3.8k put it in the $4.2k ballpark?
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2015 mercedes benz e400 4matic
Good points, however, unfortunately with an early M278, issues never end, another 6 months goes by then another $2500 here and another $3000 there. One heck of a car but it’s like installing new accessories in a sinking boat. It’s a shame they have those sh...t engines.
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2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
I have a ‘15 E400 and the motor really isn’t really that ****e. A lot of the easy things you can do yourself. The biggest maintenance cost with these things is labor. You can find YouTube videos and a lot of good information on this site on the tech forum. That’ll save you a lot of money. I change my own oil, filters, added the pigtails for the oil infiltration issue, etc. And I used to change my own brake pads, spark plugs etc. But I’m easily winded nowadays. I still let an independent shop due the hard stuff and that’s been a few thousand but once you get all that taken care of I believe these machines will last.
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2015 mercedes benz e400 4matic
ah yes. Bummer. But when I was younger I didn’t have a garage either. I just did all my work outside. Most jobs can be done with simple tools. Oil changes, for example can be done with a suction pump where you just stick the tube down the dipstick tube. You can get one at harbor freight cheap and you’ll still end up saving a lot compared to the dealership.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
ah yes. Bummer. But when I was younger I didn’t have a garage either. I just did all my work outside. Most jobs can be done with simple tools. Oil changes, for example can be done with a suction pump where you just stick the tube down the dipstick tube. You can get one at harbor freight cheap and you’ll still end up saving a lot compared to the dealership.
Last edited by Davery; Dec 14, 2025 at 01:31 PM.
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2015 mercedes benz e400 4matic
yeah that’s why I hate HOA’s. You’re in a precarious situation. If I were in your situation I would probably sell the car and get a cheap Japanese car. My mom has a 2012 Honda Fit that just keeps going with no maintenance needed.
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From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
When I lived in a condo they complained about me "working on my cars making the neighbourhood look downtrodden". So, I put my 911 Turbo S on jack stands, stacked the tires next to it and went for a 5hr bike ride. Shortly after I picked up a POS Subaru Justy....just to leave it outside looking bad......lol....
Junior Member
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2015 mercedes benz e400 4matic
When I lived in a condo they complained about me "working on my cars making the neighbourhood look downtrodden". So, I put my 911 Turbo S on jack stands, stacked the tires next to it and went for a 5hr bike ride. Shortly after I picked up a POS Subaru Justy....just to leave it outside looking bad......lol....
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From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
Way back then I had a roof issue for over a year. So, the treasuerer of the association had to sell her property. She had an open house. I layed in the front yard next to a case of beer and cans...a tipped over lawn chair. The agreement was that they would fix my roof and I would no longer look like I was in the yard passed out drunk at 11am on a Sunday......
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From: Denver
2005 ML500, 2011 E350 4M, 2012 GL550
I have a ‘15 E400 and the motor really isn’t really that ****e. A lot of the easy things you can do yourself. The biggest maintenance cost with these things is labor. You can find YouTube videos and a lot of good information on this site on the tech forum. That’ll save you a lot of money. I change my own oil, filters, added the pigtails for the oil infiltration issue, etc. And I used to change my own brake pads, spark plugs etc. But I’m easily winded nowadays. I still let an independent shop due the hard stuff and that’s been a few thousand but once you get all that taken care of I believe these machines will last.
15-16 E400s are good, I`m talking about early M278s, 2012-13-14s are really a pain. No matter how good of a DIYer a person is, dealing with scored cylinder walls or other complicated issues on the driveway is out of my skills.
I was going to mention the other challenges like age, physical condition, health issues, available space, investing to tools etc etc but I`ve read the other comments which is exactly reflecting my thoughts. I don`t need to say much after reading the later posts.
I turned 50 a couple of months ago, as much as I love working on my cars, not only saving money but also gives me a piece of mind that the job is done right and the satisfaction feeling, I don`t feel that motivated anymore like I used to 10-15-20 years ago. Even a slight decline in the weather, I became a little pu....sy and easily postpone the project to another weekend. I don`t think I would want to go out there when snowing and change a wheel bearing, that was 20 years ago. My plan is, as painful as it sounds, switching to a Lexus or Acura when I get older lol.
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I don’t think that means you can totally abuse or neglect those cars. You (or a shop) will still need to do the basic maintenance. Then you have nothing to show except a car like 100,000 other people drive.
