Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

True; definitely a 20% badge tax at your local dealer for that.

Still, if you're enjoying it, it doesn't matter...

I imagine every part number also has an ‘AMG’ and associated 200% markup.

Have you not bought one of these yet?

They are £much

Gah. For the first time ever, coming in the same month that I paid for the work on the Porsche, I can't pay for all the work that the garage has flagged on the AMG.

These are the items:
Water pump has slight play, £534.96
Bleed nipples on front calipers - NSF snapped off, OSF heavily corroded, £291.54
NSR spring broken, req 2 new springs, £338.40
OSF ARB link gaitor split, req new link, £86.58
Both torque strut bushes torn, req 2 new bushes £263.28
O/S engine mount has leaked out oil, req 3 x mounts, £572.80
Rear discs corroded, req discs and pads £287.66
All clamps and connections on exhaust corroded, £103.26
NS rocker cover leaking, req new gasket £169.26
Rear main leaking, £666.66
Front door check straps req replacement £281.22

That lot is £3595.62, which is something of a rude surprise given I was expecting "oil and filter, bosh".

I will get everything done, but (and this is shameful to have to admit) I can't afford everything right now.

So, what do I get done now? My list would be:

NSR spring broken, req 2 new springs, £338.40
OSF ARB link gaitor split, req new link, £86.58
Both torque strut bushes torn, req 2 new bushes £263.28
O/S engine mount has leaked out oil, req 3 x mounts, £572.80
Rear discs corroded, req discs and pads £287.66
NS rocker cover leaking, req new gasket £169.26
Total £1,717.98

£666 for the RMS.

I think that’s a sign

Yes, and I'm going to attend to why it's doing that before changing that - I suspect the breather system is partially blocked, and excessive crank-case pressure is the villain, as the rocker cover was resealed in the past 12 months by the PO.

Yeah I was just thinking that - considering it’s both at once is there a breather issue.

I’d get anything essential suspension and braking done this time and the rest as funds allow

Would you put anything else into my list? That looks to me to be the minimum I can do.

That lot is £3595.62

Impressive.

I was idly browsing second hand SLs yesterday. Maybe not.

I think you’ve got it right, from what I can see the rest is non-essential.

The engine stuff needs the root cause solving first - you might change that rocker gasket and it’ll just leak again if another issue is to blame

From some googling the crankcase breathers are known for this. However, so are shot rings.

I'll get them to do a leak-down test, being transparent I'd not counted on an engine rebuild on this car.

£666.66

Silver lining etc

Edit: update fail

The Elan

Looks mint!

If it runs good, doesn't smoke or drink oil and has a recent MOT, it's not likely to be shot rings.

This looks lovely. Panel gaps look spot on too. Get some pics up when it's finished!

I would hope not, it's got a full service history with no gaps, from decent places - and it's under 80,000 miles.

But, the leakdown test seemed like a sensible thing to do.

Although clearly said service history could have been a little bit fuller.

Is there not a specialist that might be able to do the same work at a lower price?

This is a specialist: http://www.ddrsurrey.co.uk/

"Up to 60% cheaper than Main Dealer prices".

Golly.

Bloody hell.

Changing the RMS has got [checks sheet] 7.5 hours of labour in it, so £666.66 is actually very affordable. The entire gearbox has to come out.

They probably set the figure first and then calculated backwards. I would have.

I'd say the broken springs, torn torque tube bushes and engine mounts would be priority.

Everything else can wait. As for the various seals, that many leaks on an 80k engine suggests crankcase pressurisation, so I'd try and find the underlying problem, assuming there is one, rather than simply trying to fix the symptoms.

Broken bleed nipples will need doing eventually, but keeping the current brake fluid for a few months is unlikely to be a problem. The torn gaitor on the ARB isn't a problem now if the ball joint isn't worn, although it'll accelerate wear in the balljoint so it'll need to be done eventually, but you might as well wait until the balljoint goes. As for the corroded pads and discs, it depends how bad it is. If the car brakes OK, I wouldn't say it's a priority.

Ok, that all sounds reasonable. The car brakes fine - strongly, I'd say.

If we follow your advice we get the following:

NSR spring broken, req 2 new springs, £338.40
OSF ARB link gaitor split, req new link, £86.58
Both torque strut bushes torn, req 2 new bushes £263.28
O/S engine mount has leaked out oil, req 3 x mounts, £572.80
Total £1,261.06

Plus whatever cleaning all the breather pipes costs.

(I left the gaitor as why not).