CL 500; repair or strip for parts?

[Deleted member 37751]

At my local indie, they've just got a CL500 in that needs a new engine.

It's done 220k miles and has LPG fitted.

I'm told the owner thinks it's worth £2,000 as it stands, whereas I would say nearer £1,200-1,500 and he'd be better off stripping it for parts.

What does the panel think?

Here's a picture;

 

[mercedescl500]

Break it ! much more cash in parts. HTH

E.g.

Each suspension leg: £250 (x4)
Each Valve Block: £350
Interior: £400-£500
Glass: £250 average per piece
Gearbox :£300- £400
ECU, SAM Units etc ££££

 

[A210AMG]

How much is a recon engine and fitting?

If you got it for £1500 and spend 2K on an engine / fitting thats a cheap hack.

 

[steve333]

Break it ! much more cash in parts. HTH

As above,just by refurbing the alloys you could make £250+ on them alone.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

How much is a recon engine and fitting?

If you got it for £1500 and spend 2K on an engine / fitting thats a cheap hack.

I'm told that to put a new lump in, including labour, would be about £1200-1400.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Break it ! much more cash in parts. HTH

E.g.

Each suspension leg: £250 (x4)
Each Valve Block: £350
Interior: £400-£500
Glass: £250 average per piece
Gearbox :£300- £400
ECU, SAM Units etc ££££

It pains me to say it but break it is probably the right thing to do based upon the mileage & LPG conversion.

Unleass they come across a reasonable engine from a scrapper and their labour rate is cheap.

CL's are pretty cheap right now anyway, so it should be broken, unless there's more of a reason to save it (e.g. low mileage, spec, condition etc...)

 

[Will]

Break it

What's wrong with the engine out of interest? Related to the LPG conversion I wonder? Normally the M113s are pretty bulletproof

 

[Deleted member 37751]

As above,just by refurbing the alloys you could make £250+ on them alone.

To be fair to the old girl, there's no noticeable *oxidisation* on any of the bodywork.

Would a second hand LPG kit be worth anything, I wonder?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

What's wrong with the engine out of interest? Related to the LPG conversion I wonder?

iirc big head gasket issues and a rather loud knocking on the bottom end.

 

[mercedescl500]

Oh yeah and sell the LPG kit too !

 

[Will]

Unusual for an M113 though? Never heard of one go wrong to be honest although they must do I guess!

 

[andy27168]

That's very unusual for a N/A 113, even with the miles, makes me wonder if the LPG conversion has been instrumental in the engines premature demise.
55 AMG straight in there, possibly more common than the 5litre version too.

 

[lordlee]

A quick trawl of ebay resulted in a few examples that could be butchered for the engine. Surely if its just the HG related failure then the head would need replacing? Mind you it would be quicker and easier to swap the whole lump out. Surely its worth a punt?

 

[corned]

Would a second hand LPG kit be worth anything, I wonder?

Not if it has contributed to the motor's demise...

You could put a line in the advertisement such as "Hey, it lunched this engine, but you never know - you may have more luck with it!"

 

[Deleted member 37751]

He's been offered £1800 from a breaker, I've just heard.

It's got four brand new tyres and it's just had a 'big' service; plugs etc etc

 

[jaymanek]

I sold a car just like that a couple of years ago to a guy who LPG'd it and added 160K miles or so in the space of 18 months or so IIRC... Could be the same car.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I sold a car just like that a couple of years ago to a guy who LPG'd it and added 160K miles or so in the space of 18 months or so IIRC... Could be the same car.

Did he look like Uncle Phil from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?

 

[jaymanek]

No dont think so!

 

[nick mercedes]

He's been offered £1800 from a breaker, I've just heard.

It's got four brand new tyres and it's just had a 'big' service; plugs etc etc

He should snatch their hand off, you can buy a running one for £1500.

They've all got the same issues - suspension legs, and with mint ones worth £3k it's not even worth breaking unless it came for less than £500.