I'm still driving the '93 245 I've had since '95 or '96. It's got 197k miles on it and I'm wondering if, perhaps, it's time for us to part ways. It's been dealer maintained, including a new tranny 2 years ago. The A/C finally croaked AGAIN after being fixed 2 years ago with the same damn problem: leaky high pressure hose. So I have a couple of questions:

1) How much is this thing REALLY worth private party? Kelly Blue Book is absurdly optimistic.

2) How long do struts usually last? I'm pretty sure they've never been done during the time I've owned it.

3) Is fixing the A/C something I can get done cheaper elsewhere? It's just a hose and recharge. Last time I took it to a non-dealer to have a rusted exhaust component replaced, they screwed it up royally. The tailpipe was too bulky, stuck out too far, didn't hang right. Melted the valence.

4) What does the 50k service interval include?

5) How long does the fuel pump usually last?

Otherwise, the car's in good shape. Up to date on all its factory services up through the 195k. But I'm at the point where I'm wondering if even regular service intervals are enough to guarantee reliability. The suspension is getting increasingly rougher and having it be underpowered is starting to wear on me.

.cpj