Hello. Recently purchased a '99 E320 4Matic wagon with 158,000 miles. So far, so good, but I am becoming educated as to the cost of potential repairs as well as replacement parts. Just noticed for sale on craigslist the same vehicle with an asking price of $1,000. I am awaiting more information from the seller, but would appreciate your input as to buying and storing one for parts.
I had/have a parts car for my current wagon. My situation was that my first wagon was damaged in a collision and the body shop botched the repairs. I ended up striping most of everything out of it including the removable body parts. I have a complete set of computers, a power train, countless other mechanical and electronic parts, exhaust system just waiting for something to fail. The main body went to the scrap yard but the parts remain.
There are a number of parts you would end up spending more in labor to remove than to just buy from a reputable third party source. Like front axle shafts on a 4 matic. However things like the side and rear view mirrors if they work would alone justify spending $1000 for the parts car. See if the electronics are in working order then I would say go for it. You could even have someone rebuild the parts car's engine or trans when your starts going then just swap out when ready. You can also practice on the parts car as well. Not to mention that you will have an extra set of wheels to mount snow tires if you need them.
I don't have a whole lot to offer, other than to note that if you have the time and inclination to pull the parts off the "donor" car and then transplant them to your DD, it may well be a good idea. But if you're not pulling them off, the labor to have someone else do it eats up your savings, and then it's still a used part. And if you carry a used part into a garage and ask someone to bolt it on, most shops won't do that.
But if it's just your labor both ways, it's a good bet you'll recoup the cost of the parts car pretty easily.
Having a place to strip the donor car would help, as would having storage for the drive train and other parts. For $1000, no doubt you will come out ahead. Maybe just sell the wheels and some unneeded parts and everything else will be free.
I had the ABS pump fail on my 98. About $3000 here in Canada. Got one off eBay for $58. Many other parts that could fail are also expensive from dealer. However, it seems that used parts for W210s are not that expensive - possibly because it is not yet a real DIY car like the 126/123s
It would be a great learning process taking one of the cars apart and finding out just what the parts are! If you do it, take lots of pictures and note all the numbers (only some are part numbers). Then use epc to look up their names.
Others may know, but I imagine a used engine and transmission need special attention when stored. If in good condition, might be best to sell.
Unless you have a farm where storage space is not an issue. Still don't want to convert farm into junk yard.
Years ago I kept VW for spare parts. Had garage on rental property.
After 18 months I calculated that I lost about $1440 in rent. The parts I used would cost me $150 new.
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