- Joined
- Jan 31, 2016
- Messages
- 978
- Location
- Fleet, Hampshire
- Car
- 2008 CLK 350 Sport Cab and 2021 BMW 520i M Sport Saloon
My CLK 350 Sport Cab is now 10 years old. 50k miles, perfect history, tonne of optional extras.
Passage of time and a recent unfortunate incident involving bird lime and subsequent damage to paint lacquer mean that the old girl is not looking quite 100%.
The car is still very smart and presentable as it has been well looked after by me and with a bit of effort would be "mint" once again.
I've no intention to sell the car for the foreseeable future (I would say ever, but I'm sure at some point it will be moved on), but it's definitely a keeper for the next 5 - 10 years.
So I'm looking to bring it back up to A1 cosmetic standard. Mecahnically it wants for nothing as everything is done on the button.
I appreciate the car has limited value and I am going to do this "for me" as it doesn't make much sense financially.
If someone offered me a newer E-Class cab as a swap i wouldn't take it. I adore the 209 cab in Sport trim as it is just such a good looking car, I just don't want to change it.
So my plan is as follows:
- full bonnet respray to repair damaged lacquer and two large stone dents. With blending into wings. Budget £350.
- alloy wheels refurb. They're not really damaged at all but starting to bubble here and there and flake causing small pressure losses over time. Budget £300.
- repair tiny scrape to bumper corner. Budget £100.
- full machine polish and total detail by trusted mobile valeter. Budget £150.
That will bring the car back to 99.9% concourse. I reckon it will cost around £900 - £1,000 to do, but to me it's worth it.
What say you chaps? Is this fastidiousness on an old Merc justified, or am I being OCD?!
Passage of time and a recent unfortunate incident involving bird lime and subsequent damage to paint lacquer mean that the old girl is not looking quite 100%.
The car is still very smart and presentable as it has been well looked after by me and with a bit of effort would be "mint" once again.
I've no intention to sell the car for the foreseeable future (I would say ever, but I'm sure at some point it will be moved on), but it's definitely a keeper for the next 5 - 10 years.
So I'm looking to bring it back up to A1 cosmetic standard. Mecahnically it wants for nothing as everything is done on the button.
I appreciate the car has limited value and I am going to do this "for me" as it doesn't make much sense financially.
If someone offered me a newer E-Class cab as a swap i wouldn't take it. I adore the 209 cab in Sport trim as it is just such a good looking car, I just don't want to change it.
So my plan is as follows:
- full bonnet respray to repair damaged lacquer and two large stone dents. With blending into wings. Budget £350.
- alloy wheels refurb. They're not really damaged at all but starting to bubble here and there and flake causing small pressure losses over time. Budget £300.
- repair tiny scrape to bumper corner. Budget £100.
- full machine polish and total detail by trusted mobile valeter. Budget £150.
That will bring the car back to 99.9% concourse. I reckon it will cost around £900 - £1,000 to do, but to me it's worth it.
What say you chaps? Is this fastidiousness on an old Merc justified, or am I being OCD?!