Topic: Biggest mistake ever?

[ptashek]

Gotta put myself out for public flogging, LOL

Before tossing them to the bin, I was going through the docs for my long-scrapped parts 350SE today. The car was in super bad shape for the most part, and I really only bought it out of pity, to save the glass and chrome. I've never really checked any of the service history. The car has never seen the road under my ownership. I should've paid more attention! Found this super-faded fax copy of an MB invoice from 1999 for a brand new replacement W3A 040 gearbox, supplied and fitted at just under 80k miles. No idea how much it cost though, half the page was illegible. The car went to the scrap heap at 112k...

Please don't hate me 

Turns out the bumpers, which are now (re-chromed) on my 450SE, were also replaced with brand new ones in 1993.
I knew they looked too good!

[floyd111]

Who'd expect it! Not a small thing to drop the gearbox for a lab-check every time you dump a car! (but you should have checked the paperwork, haha! Ah well. You can't take it with you anyways..

[daantjie]

Yup it's a fine line between hoarding a bunch of crap you'll likely never use and letting go of that one very useful part

[3l33ter]

Hindsight...

I once bought a red 944 only for its engine - the entire car was clean and intact. After taking the engine and some other bits, I gave the car away for free. A few months later, my other car got rear-ended, and I decided to retub it. I started looking for a clean red 944 body for a reasonable price, and I've been looking for 7 years. Doh!

[floyd111]

I once bought 3 W116's in Taiwan, planning to do a 0-mile rebuilt.

[ptashek]

I once bought 3 W116's in Taiwan, planning to do a 0-mile rebuilt.

How's that going? Any news?

[rumb]

Not buying a w108 250S about 5 years ago for $1500, Not buying a 300SEL for $2500 about 3 years ago.

[UTn_boy]

Not buying a w108 250S about 5 years ago for $1500, Not buying a 300SEL for $2500 about 3 years ago.

I'm not sure what prices are like where you live, but W108 6 cylinder carbureted cars are still really inexpensive to buy....at least where I live.  As an example, a few months ago there was a 250S on Craigslist.  It was cosmetically tired inside and out, needed a gas tank (but ran well), and had zero rust on it. The seller started out at $800, so I offered $500 and he accepted.  W109 cars.......unless it's a 6.3 they're not all that valuable/desirable either.  Even though I own three W109 cars (not by choice) I avoid them like the plague.  A little secret.....a well sorted W108 will always drive, ride, and handle better than the best W109 in the world.  I'm not kidding.  I drive both regularly.  The W109 is horribly overrated.  Trust me.....your W108 is the better car.  Granted, a W109 has extra chrome and wood with choices of different wood veneers, but that's cosmetic.  With the exception of the 6.3, you could get the same engines in a W108 that you could in a W109....even the weak, short lived M189. 

[marku]

Many years ago did pass up an R107 it even had would you believe my initials as its registration. It was in a small rural garage I happened to pass. Didn't have time then and never went back.

[daantjie]

Many years ago did pass up an R107 it even had would you believe my initials as its registration. It was in a small rural garage I happened to pass. Didn't have time then and never went back.

Here in North America you can pick up nice 107's all day long for walking around money now, there were so many made and shipped here, you really would not be crying in your beer here if you don't pull the trigger on any given one.

[Inshan]

Yup it's a fine line between hoarding a bunch of crap you'll likely never use and letting go of that one very useful part

My garage and shed are proof that I am unable to balance this fine line.

[nathan]

ha ha. no hoarders here, only keepers of the past!

ive moved into a new house, and now have the task of moving the remnants of probably 10 116s I stored at dads.  I am not looking forward to this part of the move.
it includes 3 6.9 engines, a spare 6.9 and 280te (at least they drive!), a 560 and 2x 500 engines, and about 3 million parts.

the good news is, I needed the trim for a drivers side of a 116, piece of cake - just go through the baskets and pull out what you need! told you id need them!!

[floyd111]

I once bought 3 W116's in Taiwan, planning to do a 0-mile rebuilt.

How's that going? Any news?

Pretty much focusing on the Museum/workshop for now. My mechanic is stuck in the UK, can't fly back here, so that's that for now. The old workshop has moved AGAIN, 4th time in as many years, and now told me they have no room for my NOS parts anymore. So, this week we'll probably setup some transport, and have the imported W116 and my NOS parts shipped here first. Then a second shipment with my refurbished chassis . Let's see. Nothing seems to be what it was globally, and here's things aint too different.. All is on hold.