Sub Zero 3211RFD - advice? - The Kitchen Appliance Repair Forum - Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help - ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums

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Moderated by: RegUS_PatOff, Pegi

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GM
Apprentice Appliantologist, First Class

Joined:	Mon Mar 9th, 2009
Location:
Posts:	7
Flavorite Brew:	Becks
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I'm interested in advice/opinions from all you appliance masters out there.

I just purchased a house that came with a Sub Zero 3211RFD side by side. The house was built in 1980 so I'm guessing that's the SZ's age. It needs some work and I'm trying to decide if the smart thing to do is just sell it and get a replacement or deal with the issues and keep it.

The negatives (that I'm already aware of):

hideous door panels have to be replaced with stainless
Door gaskets are shot
ice maker is MIA. I found a water line in the basement that had fed it but it was cut off. Inside the freezer there's just a copper stub sticking out of the back where the icemaker used to reside
a few drawers and interior pieces need to be replaced
doors aren't aligned but I'm hoping that's just an adjustment and not a bent hinge
From the data I've seen this thing uses more electricity than many small towns

The pluses:

Previous owner sank $1900 into it in late 2007 and replaced both compressors, freezer cold & defrost controls, cond & evap motors
From the research I've done on the Internet, it seems to be a well built model that could theoretically run forever as long parts supply holds out
If I keep it I don't have to move it
If I keep it I don't have to blow $5K+ on something to replace it. Just keep feeding it electricity

To fix the above I can see about $800 or so for parts if I do all the work myself. Not sure of what other issue I might find associated with the icemaker once I get into that. If I were to sell it as-is, I save not only the $800 and time, but I can also take whatever I might get for it and put that towards its replacement.

So what do you think? Also, is anyone aware of a Boston-area shop that specializes in refurbishing Sub Zero? I found a place in NY that does this type of work and that would be appealing as it's simple and could save a lot of time.

Thanks in advance.

Glenn

himeros
Sublime Master of Appliantology

Joined:	Wed Nov 7th, 2007
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Posts:	306
Flavorite Brew:	beer
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New ice maker probably is a standard one. You should check to see if the parts you need can be found then decide on what to do. You need more info.

H.

GM
Apprentice Appliantologist, First Class

Joined:	Mon Mar 9th, 2009
Location:
Posts:	7
Flavorite Brew:	Becks
Status:	Offline

Thanks for the reply himeros. I've run through the obvious parts needed and all seem available with the exception of the lower front kickplate (which I can live without). The rest are fairly standard; door seals, missing interior bits, etc. I had one SZ dealer tell me I can get a set of stainless door panels for about $500, so call it $1K for all the parts.

On the icemaker it looks like the original pn of 3-14-007-0 has been replaced by 4200520.

So if I was just to pay someone to do it all for me, I'm guessing $1500-$2000.

Dealer also gave me the new model replacement price; $9K :burning:

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