Wow my car is really shaping up. It runs so smooth and makes good power now. We’ve gone through the transition point where neighbors and family are no longer laughing with ridicule and they’re saying “hey this thing is a nice car.”

I found out that one side of the parking brake shoes was steel on steel. The other side was fine. ?? Whatever. I got new shoes and it no longer rolls away.

I got a bunch of things from lkq Anaheim. Sun visors, c pillar covers, window switches. And a good mirror among other odds and ends.

Today I took the shift lever console apart and cleaned out more dried food and hair. Yuck. I disassembled the switches for the windows and cleaned out all the milkshake. Now the switches work. I also found a loose bushing in the shifter that had fallen out of the socket. That was my loose shifter...groan, but I bought all new bushings from Pelican. The story of my life.

Only a few more things left before I call it a daily driver. I need to fix the AC. I’ve left this till last R12 and has a small amount of gas left in the system. The PO cut the belt probably because the clutch is noisy.

I also would like to change the front window gasket. It is really hardened and cracking.

Finally I need to deal with the OE oil cooler lines. They may be weeping...or it is a power steering leak. They are still the wrapped style hoses. Perhaps I’ll take. Them off and go to a hydraulic hose shop.

Anyhow, things are working out. I was really worried I had bought a car with engine problems. Turns out the engine is tight and I got a rebuilt tranny as a bonus that the PO didn’t know about (he didnt know what R&R Transmission meant on his PO’s repair bill). The car has just had a ton of broken little things. I think I’ve racked up $400 at Pelican, $200 and Pick a Part and $400 elsewhere. Lotsa labor. My labor.

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79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD)
82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD)
82 300SD 300k miles
85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
97 C280 147k miles