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How much have you spent on your W116?

Started by thysonsacclaim, 11 August 2010, 04:16 AM

thysonsacclaim

As you all may well know, I am new to the W116 world. I have toyed with a few other vehicles in the past, but never a W116. I have also looked at the prices for everything from trim pieces, window motors, hoods, doors, TPS, MPS, injectors... you name it. Trying to assess the situation.

I'm not looking to make a profit, but I'm not looking to go into the poor house either  ;D

So how much have you spent on your W116? For those with more than one, perhaps your favorite(s) 116. I'll start off...

Model: 1974 450SEL
When bought: 08/03/2010
Amount paid for car: $900
Amount spent on car thus far: $68 for oil and filter
What still needs to be done: New grille, new sway bars, some new hoses, D-Jet adjustments
(hopefully no parts), new timing chain, fix some rust issues, clean fuel tank, new fuel filter, new shocks, new speedo cable, new/clean master cylinder, new pads, new trunk emblem, new AC hose, perhaps some other things I haven't found yet.
Other comments: Staying in the realm of my student budget will require me to learn a lot about things which I have never done.

Total: $968 and counting...

And a picture:


TJ 450

On my 450SEL, far too much money, but not enough;

Car was purchased for $1800AUD, then I have spent a subsequent 5-6k on parts and servicing.

I replaced, or had replaced;

Timing chain, guides, tensioner.
Tie rod ends.
New dist cap and rotor.
Rebuilt heads.
Tailshaft refurb.
All intake rubber parts replaced.
Front brake calipers.
Rear brake pads.
Engine mounts and all that jazz.

Standard service items are incl. in the above figure.

On my 6.9, well cosmetically it lookes like a POS and it doesn't run too well at the moment, but;

I have spent upwards of 10k on it after purchase, but with the exception of the CIS and front end, i reckon it is nearly up to scratch.

Lots of money can be spent on these cars, and I'm usually broke, but I love it. 8)

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

Big_Richard

easily well over 50k and its still and always will be a 10k car  8)

I dont care, its a hobby.

flutes

I couldn't list from memory all the things that have been done to mine, and haven't summed it all for some time. Probably around the 6 or 7k mark.  actually if I thought about it it's probably much higher.  I don't do much of the mechanical work myself though.

The thing is, I could easily spend another 40k on it and the car would never be worth more than 10k.

I budget for about 3k per year spend...
Matt
1977 450SEL

TJ 450

Quote from: Major Tom 6.9 on 11 August 2010, 04:59 AM
easily well over 50k and its still and always will be a 10k car  8)

I dont care, its a hobby.

Indeed, it's about the fun, and the amusement. Life without such hobbies would be rather boring.

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

Big_Richard

You can go blow 60k on a used w220 which will probably start to fall to pieces in another 5 years tops, or have something that's built to last  - clearly because they're still around..

Cars for the majority are never good investments so you might as well get something you enjoy ;)


flutes

Cars = bad investment. Unless you're Jay Leno. Or Nathan.
Matt
1977 450SEL

Big_Richard

I for some reason couldnt help thinking of Nathan when there was a discussion about "10cm"

for some reason, he came to mind instantly  ::)

thysonsacclaim

Quoteeasily well over 50k and its still and always will be a 10k car

I dont care, its a hobby.

I like this train of thought. My purpose was never to have an investment. I've only had the car for a little more than a week and I think I could easily become obsessed with it, to some degree.

I enjoy working on it and, while I don't like it when things go wrong, I do enjoy solving problems. What concerns me more than money is time  ;D

Karu

thysonsacclaim, I know what you should spend some money on. Get rid of that horrible American bumper and replace it with one that it was designed with. Those big things are extremely vile.

TJ 450

"Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man." ;)

Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

motec6.9

Hi guys no car is an investment this time around with my 6.9 i have spent so far this year $1500 to fit motor from Goldie 2 $3800 for extractors and exhaust $7400 fitting injectors and tunning with other parts that over the previous 5 years had gone walkies >:( plus another $2000 on parts ps motec computer i allready had $3500 plus $3200 to buy goldie 2 ohyeah still not on the road ;D
Euro 6.9 255.6hp at the wheels. Watch this space.

wbrian63

Quotethysonsacclaim, I know what you should spend some money on. Get rid of that horrible American bumper and replace it with one that it was designed with. Those big things are extremely vile.

I find it refreshing when a new member waits until their 2nd post before posting something caustic like this...

If I remember correctly, the OP asked a question - "How much have you spent on your W116", not "tell me what you don't like about my car and how to spend my money"

/rant
W. Brian Fogarty

'12 S550 (W221)
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #521
'02 S55 AMG (W220) - sold
'76 450SEL 6.9 Euro #1164 - parted out

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people, and most of them seemed to come from Texas..." Casino Royale, Chapter V

another sad 280s

i would have to agree that the only way to remotely justify the  money spent is as a hobby. 10k and counting. not yet on the road. rec. ret. 2-3k

nathan

Geez, give me some time to settle back in. Just landed in wa after 6 months in melbourne. 4000km plus in the 230e w123 in 4 days. Took some pics on the slur I'll post when my home broadband I'd setup.

As for the original question. I reckon I'm upwards of 20-30k over the last decade of ownership. Locally, major Tom leads by example with a ferocious dedication to factory parts. If it weren't for their own abilities to do most work, members like web and mt would be closer to 6 figures I reckon!

Regards
Nathan
Ps major Tom, I shall refrain from commenting on the other statement until we meet next when I punch u in the gonads! ;D
1979 116 6.9 #6436
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1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
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