[ewee]

Hey guys... Just wanted to pick your brains about keeping an older car like our beloved benz. I buy parts on ebay and it takes about 10 days to arrive. At the moment my benz is my daily driver.
Option 1
Hoard parts and replace them when broken, and there are many parts to hoard
Option 2
Only buy parts when broken which could be inconvenient because you could be left stranded somewhere
Option 3
Replace some high criticality parts just in case eg fuel pump, belt tensioner, distributor cap & rotor perhaps

 

[Josh]

Option 4, which is a healthy balance of options 1 and 3, as time and money allows!

 

[355190E26]

Definitely agree w/ a combo of option 1 and 3. I am do have a good stash of spare parts since a friend and I parted out a W201 a couple years ago.
But I also do a ton of preventative maintenance and do regular inspections to look for any worn parts and replace them before they break.

 

[Dave Kost]

That is a great question.

This is just thinking out loud.

First you need to determine where you are now - meaning what is the condition of the vehicle now.
Do you have any maintenance records from the previous owner?
How many miles on the car?
What have you done to the car since you have owned it?

I would start with the safety items first.- Brakes , steering, suspension. ( Assuming you checked the undercarriage for rust)
Change all the fluids and filters
A tune up - plugs, rotor, distributor, wires.
Next , I would clean all the electrical connections, fuses grounds, relays, etc. Get rid of all the plastic aluminum fuses.
Keeping a spare OVP, relays and looking for a spare ECU, FPR

Smoke test and replace all rubber parts and vacuum lines.
Flush and clean fuel system including the fuel tank filter.
Lets not forget hoses- fuel, radiator, power steering,

Engine mechanical- Compression and leak down test. Depending on mileage. Is it worth putting a lot of money and time into a vehicle with an engine on its last legs?. I would also pull the valve cover to check the condition of the top end on the engine. Don't forget the water pump, belt and tensioner.

The idea is to avoid emergency break downs since this is your daily driver and parts are hard to come by. I would look around for a similar wrecked vehicle that you could strip of good used parts.

 

[Josh]

Things to keep in the trunk:

1) Spare OVP (or two)
2) Spare EZL/ICM
3) Spare cap and rotor
4) Spare CERAMIC (can't stress this enough, the plastic ones from the parts store will melt) fuses
5) Spare fuel pump relay

Those are the most likely electrical things (and really, things in general) to go bad and leave you on the side of the road that are an easy fix.

Anything mechanical, like balljoints, clutch cylinders, etc., make no sense to carry as those aren't things you could easily address on the side of the road (unless you're brave, I've had to replace a ball joint that failed at low speed, and just so happened to have the tools needed to press pieces [it broke in two!] out and the new one back in).

Beyond that, what Dave mentioned in his post already is pretty much anything else I would add.

 

[maranelloboy05]

Go buy one of these 202301009364, its attaches the throttle cable to the linkage and its plastic. Only time my cars ever stranded me, I've got one in the glovebox now.

 

[ewee]

Thx for all the kind feedback. Once upon a time, I drove a different make, citroen zx to be exact. Not the fancy one with hydraulic suspension. One time, the fuel pump died on me when I was about to leave for home. Another time the alternator failed while on holiday.
I like to think my benz is indestructible and all I need is fill up with fuel, pay for insurance and registration and the car will outlive my children. Unfortunately, all good things must end some day. Hence, the plan to put off the inevitable parting of ways.

I recently installed 2 front shocks, new EHA, volt regulator about 2 year ago, serviced the auto tyranny, thermostat replaced,one tired tie rod end.
The power steering pump and steering box might be leaking. Timing chain seems tight. The window regulator doesn't work very well, roof lining is holding up mostly. Apart from that, the car has never caused grief so far. Starts, goes and stops when required. Basically it ticks all the main boxes.
The original (I think) fan belt tensioner is holding up so far, the original (I think) fuel pump as well is good so far.
For now, that thermoswitch might need replacing

 

[dolucasi]

I would advise to have a spare of all the electronic items under the hood as they will fail some day.
As I am saying this, 16 years and 150K miles of ownership the car has never left me stranded. Many many maintenance items to fix but never stranded. Perhaps I'm fortunate so far.

I have spares of the following in the garage, most verified working from Junk Yards:
IACV
FP-Relay
ECU (2-3 extra's)
AC control unit
AC (KLIIMA) relay
High pressure return hose for AC compressor (NLA)
Coil
OVP
Voltage regulator (in the trunk)
AFM pot (new)
Cruise Control amp
Throttle actuator clip (in the trunk)
Fuel pumps (not really verified working)

The one thing that I am missing is the EZL. I need a spare of that one but it is hard to find in junk yards as they disappear the first day a car shows up.

Hope this helps.....

 

[ewee]

Ezl as in ignition module? That's a critical part. It's good insurance to have a spare.
Just have to ask... and out of curiosity, has that part died on anyone?

 

[dolucasi]

Ezl as in ignition module? That's a critical part. It's good insurance to have a spare.
Just have to ask... and out of curiosity, has that part died on anyone?

Yes EZL is the ignition module. Mine is still the original (31 years/200Kmiles) but nothing lasts forever.
They are pretty robust but it is good to have a spare.

 

[Josh]

Mine died on me and left me stranded. 16V parts are even harder to come by. Only time the car ever left me on the side of the road.