R129 500sl - Repair or Sell as Spares????

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Muzzy

New Member
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Jun 18, 2013
Messages
2
Car
500SL
Hi All,

Following on from my earlier post regarding the throttle valve actuator needing to be replaced I finally sourced one (£365!) and had the garage fit it.

I've just been informed it doesn't work. Irritating to say the least. The real problem I'm having is that I need the car gone, hence throwing cash at getting it repaired.

Now this part has failed it's going to have to be moved back to my folks house where I need to either attempt to repair it again (time consuming) or just get shot of it. I don't fancy paying merc the £1k + for a new actuator which means hunting for another one.

Obviously I don't want to lose lots of money but at the same time it can't be sat around awaiting repairs. I have a daily driver and no space at mine for it and to be honest I've hardly used it this past year, I just couldn't face getting rid of it. I'm afraid though that the head must finally rule the heart.

I suppose what I am asking is what would it be worth as spares?

It's a 93 reg 500sl, about 110k, blue/grey/black in colour, 18" AMG wheels, engine is all good apart from this actuator, I think. Just passed it's mot.

I'm guessing it's worth a lot more fixed (about £4k???) but how much would you guess it's worth broken? Are these parts selling or will I be in a similar position but with half a car I can't store for weeks while bits are sold here and there?

Thanks in advance.
 
I suppose if you take the repair cost away from what it would be worth repaired , then look at a value slightly lower than that figure , you won't be far off .

You reckon it is perhaps worth £4K fixed ( I've been looking at 129's lately and they seem to start from about there for ones that look outwardly reasonable ) with what might be the faulty part at £1K + ; then fitting to maybe have it fixed . Are you sure it is the actuator or could the fault be something else ?

Supposing it costs £2 K to fix , you might be lucky to get £2K for it ; more likely a prospective buyer is going to want it for less with the uncertainty that is all that is needed to fix , so maybe £1K to £1.5K ?

Or is my reasoning flawed ?

For myself , I would rather go out and spend £4K on a car that is working than buy a non runner for £2K then hope I can fix it for no more than another £2K .

Especially when there are lots of R129's out there .
 
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I suppose if you take the repair cost away from what it would be worth repaired , then look at a value slightly lower than that figure , you won't be far off .

You reckon it is perhaps worth £4K fixed ( I've been looking at 129's lately and they seem to start from about there for ones that look outwardly reasonable ) with what might be the faulty part at £1K + ; then fitting to maybe have it fixed . Are you sure it is the actuator or could the fault be something else ?

Supposing it costs £2 K to fix , you might be lucky to get £2K for it ; more likely a prospective buyer is going to want it for less with the uncertainty that is all that is needed to fix , so maybe £1K to £1.5K ?

Or is my reasoning flawed ?

For myself , I would rather go out and spend £4K on a car that is working than buy a non runner for £2K then hope I can fix it for no more than another £2K .

Especially when there are lots of R129's out there .

£2k was what I was thinking if I was to buy such a car. Depends where it is located also as there would be cost to flatbed it back home..
 
agreed, I would also say £1 - 1.5k in the current market...

I suppose if you take the repair cost away from what it would be worth repaired , then look at a value slightly lower than that figure , you won't be far off .

You reckon it is perhaps worth £4K fixed ( I've been looking at 129's lately and they seem to start from about there for ones that look outwardly reasonable ) with what might be the faulty part at £1K + ; then fitting to maybe have it fixed . Are you sure it is the actuator or could the fault be something else ?

Supposing it costs £2 K to fix , you might be lucky to get £2K for it ; more likely a prospective buyer is going to want it for less with the uncertainty that is all that is needed to fix , so maybe £1K to £1.5K ?

Or is my reasoning flawed ?

For myself , I would rather go out and spend £4K on a car that is working than buy a non runner for £2K then hope I can fix it for no more than another £2K .

Especially when there are lots of R129's out there .
 
What did you decide in the end, if breaking please let me know as few parts I may be able to buy from you.

cheers Rob
 

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