Am I being ripped off?

[ms500]

I took my W124 estate to a local garage today that I have used before and asked them to sort out the leaking fuel tank

A few hours later, they rang me back and said they could send the tank off to a specialist who could repair it for £230. I told them to go ahead with it but now I'm not so sure.

Will the repair hold?, or would I have been better off taking the car to an MB dealer and had a brand new tank fitted? This is a car I want to keep and look after and I don't want to have to replace the tank again in 5 years time.

 

[jaymanek]

A brand new tank is £600 from MB. The only option would be to source a second hand one.

Whats actually wrong with it?

 

[ms500]

A brand new tank is £600 from MB. The only option would be to source a second hand one.

I heard someone say it was about £450 for a new one including fitting, though I have not got a quote from the dealer yet.

Whats actually wrong with it?

The area around the filler inlet has corroded causing the tank to leak. It seemed particularly bad today, the driveway smelled like a BP forecourt.

 

[jaymanek]

there may well be suppliers out there of tanks, but hadrian, one of the biggest uk suppliers doesnt list one..


It all depends how much welding there is to do... Im hoping £230 includes all the removal and refitting?

 

[bolide]

Pray you don't have a towbar...

Leaking fuel tanks are common on older W124 estates. It always seems to be the filler neck that corrodes where it meets the tank. The problem may not show up till the tank is over 1/4 full so exercise care when buying!

Some you can repair with JB Weld, Some you can get a (careful) welder to weld or braze up

I believe one of the bigger breakers sells "refurbished" tanks

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[ms500]

there may well be suppliers out there of tanks, but hadrian, one of the biggest uk suppliers doesnt list one..

I take it MB could source a new one though?

It all depends how much welding there is to do... Im hoping £230 includes all the removal and refitting?

Yes, it's all included.

 

[jaymanek]

Yes as I say, MB's list price is pushing on for £500

If its going to be welded properly, just get it done...

 

[ms500]

Pray you don't have a towbar...

No tow bar

Some you can repair with JB Weld, Some you can get a (careful) welder to weld or braze up

How long-lasting would such a repair be?

Would it be a good idea for me to waxoyl the tank after the repair to prevent future corrosion?

 

[jaymanek]

Definately waxoyl the tank... i waxoyl all my cars...

JB weld would last approximately three tank fulls... when you insert a pump nozzle into the neck, you put a lot of strain on the part where it meets the tank due to weight of the nozzle and the force of you pushing down on it.. JB weld is a cosmetic repair only in this case, has many other uses however.

 

[ms500]

Definately waxoyl the tank... i waxoyl all my cars...

I did use a spray can to treat the problem areas, though I may get a tin of the paint-on stuff to treat the underside.

 

[jaymanek]

yes, get the spray applicator, its a messy job, but allows you to get in where a brush cant..

 

[glojo]

Please be very careful, if you can smell petrol fumes then you are running a risk of things going poooof!

I'm no scientist but hopefully some of the more intellectual among us will post just how flammable petrol vapour is.

Good luck with getting this issue resolved

Regards
John

 

[ms500]

Please be very careful, if you can smell petrol fumes then you are running a risk of things going poooof!

Yes, I know that. It is only coming from the tank right at the back though and dripping onto the road, out of the way of any potential ignition. I did drive it over 300 miles home on Friday after I bought it without any trouble.

 

[Howard]

No 'Back to the Future' trails behind you then ?

 

[Dieselman]

No 'Back to the Future' trails behind you then ?

Only up to 88mph.

 

[xpc316e]

Any welded repair is a job for a well-qualified welder. The rust needs to be cut out and new metal welded in. This cannot be done in situ - the tank must come out and be filled with water, then emptied, before any welding can take place. Various tank sealants can be found on the classic restoration market, but they too need the tank to be removed as they must be sloshed around to coat the whole interior of the tank. They are good for pinhole corrosion, but you'll still need to treat the exterior corrosion that caused the problem. I reckon the price doesn't sound too steep for what is involved - most welders will not even bother with welding a petrol tank so bad is the risk of explosion.