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I Have Bad News


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I received an IM today from one of our oldest members, an original founder of the pissbucket when we were no more then a yahoo chat group way back in 2002.

 

It seems at 80k his millenia might have thrown a rod, but is getting s 2nd opinion. No smoke, but barely enough power to even get over a hill

 

I will let him post details

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

As has been mentioned, it is indeed my baby which had the issues.

 

My Millenia began coughing a couple weeks ago...I thought it was strange and that it was perhaps just a random occurrence that could be dealt with at the next doctor's visit, which was planned for shortly anyway. Next time we were together, however, her cough had become far more serious. I knew that there was a big problem imminent, and brought her straight to a doctor's. He gave me bad news, but I and others who cared for her wanted a second opinion, from a specialist.

 

She sat forlornly out in the street, resting up until this week. Perhaps during this time, she was silently planning revenge upon me, for my getting to intimately know Mercedes after she developed these problems. Perhaps she just wanted to force me to move on. Perhaps she thought I wouldn't support her through her time of need.... It wasn't that, it was that medical bills for her would be expensive. I knew that...but I wanted to save her.

 

We drove together to the doctor's - they kept her overnight, trying to figure out what was wrong. Sadly, they could not give her a clean bill of health. Her heart and lungs were failing, and fast. They didn't know how much more time I'd have with her, but they knew it wouldn't be long. They sent us on our way, wishing us the best luck, but with a sad look in their eyes and little hope in their voices. People silently watched as she hobbled and huffed her way slowly past them, knowing without asking that her time was near.

 

I thought that she and I would have at least a few more weeks together, but she couldn't take it anymore. Her heart and lungs gave out this afternoon. She took her last breath and her heart stopped at approximately 3:35PM EST, less than a mile away from the doctor's office. She was only 79,416.

 

She will be missed.

 

---------------------------

 

I was told by my Mazda dealer that the problem is a "spun bearing" - not a term I am familiar with. Nonetheless, they told me the worst, that it required a new engine and supercharger, with a total repair bill of close to $10,000. In the service notes, it mentioned that it "looks due to oil starvation." Those who know me know that while I drive the car hard, I also do take care of my baby. The car has never had a low oil level, so it may have been a block or leak somewhere in the engine which caused catastrophic failure. I seem to remember something slightly similar happening to a member of .org a number of years ago - no low oil warning, then massive engine failure suddenly appearing out of nowhere due to a blockage or poor design of a sensor or something.

 

I declined the repairs, and had planned to drive the car home to sell as-is. About a mile after leaving the dealership, I heard a 'clunk' sound, and immediately, the car lost power steering and a fireworks display of dashboard warning lights instantly appeared including a flashing 'Hold'...this may have been the last time the car may ever move under its own power. She was towed to my grandfather's property, where she is now and will be for a few days, as I remove any last items from her before she goes....

 

I don't have the room to part the car out, which I would love to do if I could...I'd want to see her live on in other people's cars... At this point, unless someone here is interested in picking it up and parting it out or repairing/replacing the engine/supercharger themselves, the car will be going to either a junkyard or being donated. Sad as I am to say this, I will not be repairing the car this time, nor will I be getting another Millenia...

 

I had a great run with the car, and I would have liked to have a much, much longer run than it ended up being... I wish I coulda kept up more with you guys these last few years - life has kept me busy, and I do miss the meets and camaraderie. I come across pictures of meets occasionally and have many fond memories, which will make parting with my baby that much harder...

 

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A sad day indeed..

 

 

Not to sound like a scavenger, but would it be worth attempting to save the exhaust? Also, where are you located? I would at least like to get swap out the sunroof switch..I have a grey one from a 2000 but the greys don't match and drives me crazy..

 

 

This would allow me to pay me final respects as well :bye2:

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Malice, in spite of being a sad story it was a pleasure to read.

 

Before getting too intimate with Mercedes, I'll just point out that you might find yourself further down the street contemplating why you didn't spend a relatively modest 10k on the Milly... Which sounds steep in my book.

 

Why?

1. There is no reason why a spun bearing should kill the supercharger.

2. Nor the tranny.

3. Granted the engine actually HAS a spun bearing, trace a used engine and a trusted mechanic. I'd say 2,5 k estimate. Engine 1,5k, install 0,8k. And some b*e*e*r.

 

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Malice, in spite of being a sad story it was a pleasure to read.

 

Before getting too intimate with Mercedes, I'll just point out that you might find yourself further down the street contemplating why you didn't spend a relatively modest 10k on the Milly... Which sounds steep in my book.

 

Why?

1. There is no reason why a spun bearing should kill the supercharger.

2. Nor the tranny.

3. Granted the engine actually HAS a spun bearing, trace a used engine and a trusted mechanic. I'd say 2,5 k estimate. Engine 1,5k, install 0,8k. And some b*e*e*r.

 

I have to agree, I was also thinking that the Mazda diagnosis seemed a little off. And they have been known to quote supercharger replacements alone in excess of $5,000. It does sound like there is something serious wrong with the car, possibly catastrophic failure like they said, but I think the price quote is significantly inflated.

 

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