Realistic expectations

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Tezz

Active Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2020
Messages
388
Location
loughton essex
Car
A180 w169 2006 2.0 cdi
So car is now at 89,000 miles and had a fair few issues, but as parts are so cheap for car and a few non standard repairs, its not really cost me too much in terms of money, yet if I had to have taken it to MB almost certainly would have scrapped car after first visit, but a lot of hours messing with car, I've serviced it changed all filters fluids and fixed most of water leaks to inside, with exception of gear box that will have to wait till after xmas but it was done at 40,000.

Im still shocked when I read cost of pair of disc on some mercs some and basic cost of service items

Not a fan of car as its just a car to me, but body work and inside are in very good condition no rust I can see even to bottom of doors, and it suites me as can fold rear seats and got a big load area in small car.

So have 3 choices, run as is till Feb 2021 and replace, wait see what breaks next, get a low millage engine seen for about £200 60,000, replace all parts known to fail over next year and just pay garage to drop in next time it fails. but then there's the big can of worms that are the electrics :-(

Most jobs on car are fairly easy until you get to the Renault engine and almost all seam to involve engine out or hours of frustrating work.

issues im sort of aware of but not experience, drive shaft, glow plugs, injectors, water pump , belt and all bearing, tensioners ect ect,, egr cleaning, thermostat, gearbox , im sure are many more

I don't mind changing parts if I can see them and get to them, car just passed MOT so that's done for year, even though a front spring broke 3 days later

as they say is it better the devil ya know.

Looking around, I think I need an older car, now of all the cars iv owned never had any issues with a Honda, so that's a possibly, loved my old Rover 620 that was basically a Honda

So fair few indys on hear what im looking for is a car I can repair easily with out removing engine or sub frame, don't need a full strip down at 100,000 like a Mini, don't mind petrol or diesel but has to be an Auto

At moment, excluding front spring car drives great, but I always have that nagging feeling of whats next :-(

Mechanically sooner or later I work it out, rust and body work are a big no no for me

so I got car thinking MB Badge would get me some degree of quality so was less enthusiastic in my inspection Lesson learned, thinking minor issue no problem as fabric of car would be upto MB quality like im lead to believe is the case, had I realised its just another Lego kit car put together by a manufacture I would have probably passed on car.

Ps on inspection before changing spring I noticed on top mount the weld has cracked all along its seam, like the top mount never fully welded to body properly, this considering its location worries me as what rest of welds are like

Tezz
 
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You are obviously losing confidence in your car. I think you have two options. First, sell it on while you have a long MoT on it. Second, run it on until you face a large bill for repairs and then scrap it.
 
You are obviously losing confidence in your car. I think you have two options. First, sell it on while you have a long MoT on it. Second, run it on until you face a large bill for repairs and then scrap it.

Thanks, selling it on I don't think I could live with as car would be in price bracket of some one looking for a cheap reliable car and the MB badge may lead them into a false sense of security, sooner take the £250 scrap value on car, but there lies the issue as inside and out its very good, its the parts that make it run that worry me, so continue down the path of replacing parts as break with Patten parts and keep cost as low as possible and run for as long as it goes, so far iv no issue with Patten parts, ok they may not last 80,000 miles, but seriously doubt the life expectancy of this car is above 140,00-, if it had been a classic or limited issue maybe could see spending money, but an Aclass only has 2 things going for it parts are sooo cheap and its adaptable load area
 
Thanks, selling it on I don't think I could live with as car would be in price bracket of some one looking for a cheap reliable car and the MB badge may lead them into a false sense of security, sooner take the £250 scrap value on car, but there lies the issue as inside and out its very good, its the parts that make it run that worry me, so continue down the path of replacing parts as break with Patten parts and keep cost as low as possible and run for as long as it goes, so far iv no issue with Patten parts, ok they may not last 80,000 miles, but seriously doubt the life expectancy of this car is above 140,00-, if it had been a classic or limited issue maybe could see spending money, but an Aclass only has 2 things going for it parts are sooo cheap and its adaptable load area
You're an honourable man Tezz. Also, nothing wrong with pattern parts. They are often OEM quality anyway.
 
Apologies if I’ve missed it but which Mercedes do you have?
 
so ive clamed down a bit, got new MOT, fixed other issues ect so it boils down to devil ya know

Plus side, no dpf, parts compared to most other Mercs are comparable to a ford escort, I like load area, most jobs mechanically are DIY, inside is emaculate with real leather, gearbox is so smooth no issues so far, most of issues iv had are from poor execution of repairs, looking for issue with no knowledge of car or very poor attention to detail on maintenance, even thou service book fully upto date.

I have fixed most issues, just got to pop in new heater regulator and thermostat.

If I fix all issues, normal servicing is easy and cheap.

down side if I keep any issues with engine and gear box means its scrap.

points that worry me are g/box all the stuff on back of the Renault engine like, injectors, glow plugs, egr, starter and complete serpentine belt assembly and at 89,000 I get feeling they become due soon

Mechanical parts im cool with drive shafts, breaks, suspension ect parts are cheap and seams only basic knowledge to change

Due to lack of knowledge on owners of past 30,000 they seam to have maintained as a truck but lacked any knowledge of car when it came to complicated issues, most of which I inherited and have fixed. but seams the basics they did do

so come Feb I have choice, replace car or send to specialist Indi for gear box service about £250, buy in some spares to service, plus rear disks, pads, tyres, springs shox ect max £700 or just cut losses and get new car

Issue is why car is a pain in **** for this year, most of issues seam to be parts wearing out, but then cost of parts is so cheap.

The one issue I have is the electrics, expensive and non diy
 
so ive clamed down a bit, got new MOT, fixed other issues ect so it boils down to devil ya know

Plus side, no dpf, parts compared to most other Mercs are comparable to a ford escort, I like load area, most jobs mechanically are DIY, inside is emaculate with real leather, gearbox is so smooth no issues so far, most of issues iv had are from poor execution of repairs, looking for issue with no knowledge of car or very poor attention to detail on maintenance, even thou service book fully upto date.

I have fixed most issues, just got to pop in new heater regulator and thermostat.

If I fix all issues, normal servicing is easy and cheap.

down side if I keep any issues with engine and gear box means its scrap.

points that worry me are g/box all the stuff on back of the Renault engine like, injectors, glow plugs, egr, starter and complete serpentine belt assembly and at 89,000 I get feeling they become due soon

Mechanical parts im cool with drive shafts, breaks, suspension ect parts are cheap and seams only basic knowledge to change

Due to lack of knowledge on owners of past 30,000 they seam to have maintained as a truck but lacked any knowledge of car when it came to complicated issues, most of which I inherited and have fixed. but seams the basics they did do

so come Feb I have choice, replace car or send to specialist Indi for gear box service about £250, buy in some spares to service, plus rear disks, pads, tyres, springs shox ect max £700 or just cut losses and get new car

Issue is why car is a pain in **** for this year, most of issues seam to be parts wearing out, but then cost of parts is so cheap.

The one issue I have is the electrics, expensive and non diy
Why is February of such significance?

It sounds like you like the car, and enjoy maintaining it, but are worried about a big expensive repair. Run it until that happens ...it could be years away!
 
Why is February of such significance?

It sounds like you like the car, and enjoy maintaining it, but are worried about a big expensive repair. Run it until that happens ...it could be years away!yes

Must say I do like the mechanics, looked at later A class cost of parts and tec is silly, why mine has issues it dose have the advantage its simple, early A class why innovative the materials and executions let them down

Yes I like car, but I cant get rid of nagging feeling no matter what I do it will break
 
so ive clamed down a bit, got new MOT, fixed other issues ect so it boils down to devil ya know

Plus side, no dpf, parts compared to most other Mercs are comparable to a ford escort, I like load area, most jobs mechanically are DIY, inside is emaculate with real leather, gearbox is so smooth no issues so far, most of issues iv had are from poor execution of repairs, looking for issue with no knowledge of car or very poor attention to detail on maintenance, even thou service book fully upto date.

I have fixed most issues, just got to pop in new heater regulator and thermostat.

If I fix all issues, normal servicing is easy and cheap.

down side if I keep any issues with engine and gear box means its scrap.

points that worry me are g/box all the stuff on back of the Renault engine like, injectors, glow plugs, egr, starter and complete serpentine belt assembly and at 89,000 I get feeling they become due soon

Mechanical parts im cool with drive shafts, breaks, suspension ect parts are cheap and seams only basic knowledge to change

Due to lack of knowledge on owners of past 30,000 they seam to have maintained as a truck but lacked any knowledge of car when it came to complicated issues, most of which I inherited and have fixed. but seams the basics they did do

so come Feb I have choice, replace car or send to specialist Indi for gear box service about £250, buy in some spares to service, plus rear disks, pads, tyres, springs shox ect max £700 or just cut losses and get new car

Issue is why car is a pain in **** for this year, most of issues seam to be parts wearing out, but then cost of parts is so cheap.

The one issue I have is the electrics, expensive and non diy
PS Are you sure that it’s a Renault engine? I believe your car pre-dates the relations(op between Daimler and Renault. I believe that later A-classes were available with 1.5/1.6 litre engines shared with Renault.
 
PS Are you sure that it’s a Renault engine? I believe your car pre-dates the relations(op between Daimler and Renault. I believe that later A-classes were available with 1.5/1.6 litre engines shared with Renault.
I was told it was Renault, I really have no idea other than that every thing that could be an issue in long run is at back of engine and most inaccessible for a home mechanic, sound French to me LOL
 
If I had not inherited so many issues with car, and looked at it from just point of view well its worn out and part was cheap to replace and well within realms of most I may have a different view, as far as car goes, its a car, its too good to scrap, but cost if I cant fix means it is scrap, yet still with all issues I get 50 plus MPG up and down from Essex to March and never misses a beat
 
It sounds like you've got a car that just had a load of consumable items that reached end of life at about the same time.

Odds are the previous owner did the sums and worked out it was better for them to move on.
 
Couldn't agree more. So unlike those ghastly oiks who bodge in a heap of Febi/Meyle/Uro rubbish and then sell it on. B@st@rds.

R
Febi are an OE supplier, and generally OK. Meyle I've only heard of for filters. URO I've never heard of at all. I assume you got stung by one of said B@st@rds...?
 
Couldn't agree more. So unlike those ghastly oiks who bodge in a heap of Febi/Meyle/Uro rubbish and then sell it on. B@st@rds.

R
What is wrong with Febi and Meyle? They make OE parts for MB and other cars.
 
Febi just repackage. Sometime you get lucky and find an OEM part in the box, sometimes it’s a naff unknown. I think they must be confused with Bilstein.

Meyle are usually rubbish other than the HD suspension arms.
 
What is wrong with Febi and Meyle? They make OE parts for MB and other cars.

I think not. They MAKE little but rebox lots. Sometimes you can get lucky with Febi but I've never tried Meyle. Maybe you mean Mahle?

R
 

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