Merc W203 timing chain

ybot

Hi, looking for some advice on an 07 C180 with W203 petrol engine, about 130k mls. Unsurprisingly the timing chain and sprockets need replacing and cheapest quote I've had is about 1300 which I don't think is worth paying on this car.

So I guess the question is does anyone know if the job can be done cheaper or should I just drive it until the chain goes and scrap it? I only have about a grand to repair or replace it. Trading it in doesn't seem to be an option as I have so little to put with it towards another car.

Thanks in advance for any help.

grogi

ybot wrote: »

Hi, looking for some advice on an 07 C180 with W203 petrol engine, about 130k mls. Unsurprisingly the timing chain and sprockets need replacing and cheapest quote I've had is about 1300 which I don't think is worth paying on this car.

Why? Car maintenance is costly...

So I guess the question is does anyone know if the job can be done cheaper or should I just drive it until the chain goes and scrap it?

And what are you going to drive then? Will you be able to find a fine banger in time?

Nuw

Give Mad Motors a ring, they might be able to help. They do have extensive experience with Mercs and they're part of the very tight circle of trustworthy mechanics around Dublin.

In Fairness though, 1300 euros for this type of job sounds about right.

ybot

grogi wrote: »

Why? Car maintenance is costly...


And what are you going to drive then? Will you be able to find a fine banger in time?

It is costly, and 1300 is a good price for that job but maybe not on a ten year old car. I'm not sure it will add any value to it and the car is not worth much more than that as it is.

I don't do a lot of driving at the moment, but that will hopefully change soon, so I would have some leeway if I was without a car for a short while.

ybot

Nuw wrote: »

Give Mad Motors a ring, they might be able to help. They do have extensive experience with Mercs and they're part of the very tight circle of trustworthy mechanics around Dublin.

In Fairness though, 1300 euros for this type of job sounds about right.

Thanks Nuw, I agree 1300 is good, probably won't get a better price from a reliable garage. I just cant decide if its worth it on this particular car.

grogi

ybot wrote: »

It is costly, and 1300 is a good price for that job but maybe not on a ten year old car. I'm not sure it will add any value to it and the car is not worth much more than that as it is.

You have close to nil changes of selling it as it is... For four reasons - highish tax, insurance concerns (it is 10 now), it is not diesel and it is not working fine...

Thus it is worth close to zero as it stands...



I personally would fix it and keep for a few years more, unless you hate that car...

Nuw

If everything else works fine, it's well worth it in my opinion. It's a good car to drive, it's relatively economic to run, you know the history... etc... With the kind of budget you have, better the devil you know.