Sounds like Enrique is the man for MBZ in the valley. I live in Santa Monica and am going to buying a 99' E300 TD and my question, is Enrique the man for a Mercedes Diesel?

I am also looking to run the vehcile on Biodiesel. Thanks for any input

Yes, he is as much an expert on diesel`s as he is on gasoline engines. I regulary see W123 and W124 diesel`s there everytime I`ve been there.

In fact, he has primarily owned diesel Mercedes himself over the years, if I remember correctly.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

My delightful (and sorta new to me) '85 300CD Turbodiesel is in the very knowlegeable and safe hands of Mr. MB -- Enrique is the best mechanic I've come across in 45 years of enthusiast cars.

I've had 'em all from lightweight mid-50's Alfa Veloces, several Stuttgart aft burners, 1 very tempermental Ferrari and recently Jags (just asking for it). Enrique is the best and I'd be willing to jump back into less durable exotic machines if he worked on them. I am now off-loading any non-MB equipment, I'm just plain exhausted by the constant nit-picking repairs usually done incorrectly.

Biodiesel is sold in 1 location I know of in Pacific Palisades. Look up biodieselcouncil.org on the net and you'll learn about various blends, from 20% bio to 99%. Best of my knowledge is a conventional, unmodified MB diesel will burn biodiesel no problem. Don't know of any issues with a '99 300. However, I have been educated by the vegetable oil and biodiesel marketplace that the best MB candidates for trouble-free biofuel use are the W123 and W124 cars with the bullet-proof 5 cyl. turbo. This is the all-time mileage champ engine and the cars are very easy to adapt. Again, they'll burn biodiesel without mods and a straightforward modification can be made so they'll burn all three: petro, bio or vegetable oil. My 300CD has this conversion and it is acceptable to Mr. MB.

I'd be curious what process you'd use to register a '99 diesel in California, I assume you're purchasing an out of state car. But, I'd be happy for some education -- MB diesels are a new passion.

Recently learned that driving quickly in a modestly-powered classic is more fun than a slinky but invisible 12 cyl. with waaay too much juice.

My last post here erroneously had W124 cars with 5 cyls. Wrong. Meant to write W126 for the big S types with 5-bangers. W124 is the follow-on midsize to the W123s but is the next generation 6 cyl engine. Been told vegetable conversion is not an entirely successful proposition with these alloy jobs. Bio seems okay from all I've read.

Hello everyone, Newby here, thanks to you folks, you can also add me to the list of very impressed, satisfied and darn lucky customers to have connected with Enrique at MR MB.
I just acquired a '95 E300 diesel from eBay (I know, I know, go ahead, flame away, I got my fire suit on...) I had to pick up the car in Glendale, Arizona.
A couple of days later, while showing off the car to a friend, there was a very large puddle of what it seemed to be water under the car.
It was actually diesel fuel; the car had sprung a massive fuel leak.
Well, at that time, because I did not know of any independent shops and it was pretty late, I had no choice but to have the car towed to a dealer.
It was a massacre! After the dealer got through robbing, raping and sodomizing me, I made it my mission in life to find a good independent shop.
I looked around my area and found a couple of shops but I did not get good vibes from these guys - boy, just because they work exclusively on Mercedes automobiles, they can get pretty darn arrogant, especially if you're ignorant about these cars!
Next, I searched the Web and that is how I found this site. The rest is history!
Everything good being said about Enrique (and more...) is true.
At this point, I was pretty paranoid, thinking that I got hosed when I bought this car.
Enrique, took his time and gave the car a good look-over, He found a couple of minor things, fixed them and gave it a thumbs up.
Enrique is very knowledgeable and more important, to me; he's pretty down to earth.

Hello there Ashman,

I like the way Enrique's Mr MB is recommended.

I used take my 82 300D turbodiesel to JR Winkler in 1000 Oaks, but it happened to be he closed down his shop on January 1st this year.
His Dad who was a MB master opened the shop in 1965 or so....

Well, the good thing is my 300D doesn't need a lot, but the news is I just bought a 1995 E320 Wagon. After a long search for a nice one I finally found one with less than 100K.

Funny enough I found this site the same day I bought the E320, last Friday. So far so good. I keep reading the posts and threads. Great!!

The car will be delivered tomorrow or on Thursday and I think I know what to do first.....Have it checked by Enrique.

A good one to All of you, I'll be back!

Thanks,
Guido

Yes the 99 E300 TD is from out of state (NC). All one has to do is take it to the DMV to pay tax, transfer title, register and get new plates.

There is no smog checks on diesels!!!

A friend of mine in SD just bought and did this last month. Mine should be coming in the next couple of weeks, then it is a trip to Enrique to see if I bought a decent one.

Steven

I am coming down to LA to look for help from Enrique tonight. Yes, I mean in the midnight. Wish me luck that I can make it there from Fresno. In the worse case, I will call AAA for towing.

Been working on my 1985 500sel trying to bring it back to life, still, it has a couple of problems even after replacing the failed injection ECU. Running too rich, engine shaking, car stalls if I don't step on it at red light, unable to adjust duty cycle properly, head gasket leak, rear main seal leak, bad motor mount.

I suspect some of the injectors are plugged.

This car probably deserves a head job anyway. It has 180,000 mile on it. I Will ask Enrique to change the timing rails, etc.

I will report back to this forum about the outcome.

I am coming, Mr. MB.

I'm guessing that you made it there, although you probably drove in the rain all the way down. If I remember correctly it's about a 6 hour drive from Fresno.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Good news! I made it. Met with Enrique, very impressed with his effiency. He quickly point out my 8th cylinder has no compression. I believe I saw Carlo as well. I am wondering indeed it is a injector problem or in fact the fuel distributor has gone south. Enrique did imply it might be the distributor. I certainly hope not.

It was a struggle to get through the pass, but not bad. Engine still pull strong enough to make it, transmission is responsive. I was afraid it wouldn't make it. Car drank gas like crazy though, my estimate is 8 MPG! That sucks. It was raining throughout Central and Southern California last night, 33 degree on the mountain top. In my car, it shows 1.5 C. I am glad I did not need AAA. My exaust was leaking badly with loud hissing/ puffing noise at the time I got there, it got shaked loose after 4 hours of endeavor.

In fact I got there too early, 4:30am. Went to 7-11 to pick up a cup of coffee, than just walked/ looked around. The street got busy pretty early there. I looked at Mr. MB's hour, they open at 7:30AM. I eventually sat in my car waiting somebody to show up. 7:30! There you go, a white MB pulled in, I knew that's Enrique right away thanks to the picture posted on this thread. A gentleman out of nowhere grabbed him for Battery problem while I parked my car in the right place, this gentleman's problem was apparently solved and was sent on his way in 5 minutes!

After discussion, we decided the head will be rebuilt. Enrique seems concerned about the cost will exceed my car's current value. To me, I am planing to use it as a daily driver along with my 300ce, it will be worth it. This car otherwise is very solid and well maintained right on schedule.

After all, I am back to Fresno again waiting for Enrique's further inputs. My question here is: I also brought two new rear shocks and two new motor mounts. Is it proper to ask Enrique to use my parts? I don't know the "culture" at Mr. MB. Will it be considered OK?

I don't know if he has a specific policy on this, but I had him install a throttle actuator on my E320 that I had purchased and brought in.

It doesn't hurt to ask.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I'm sure he will, he's done it for me in the past. Just as a policy, though, I always let him buy the parts, his shop rate is low and I want him to do well; half the time he'll charge me his price on parts, anyway, I'm sure he does the same for most of the people here. Just an extraordinary guy.

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81 300SD
08 MDX Tech
93 525i

05 F650GS

After hearing all the great things I had to check him out myself. This man is as great as he sounds. He performed all the needed work on my SEC for a very reasonable price. I came there to get my upper rails replaced and he told me they were perfectly fine. He's a very honest man, and didn't even charge me for small stuff such as installing my K&N filter etc. I brought my own Bilstein shocks, H&R springs, and K&N filter and he happily installed all of my parts.

This thread hasn't been active for 5 months so I am hoping the man, the myth the legend is still in business and doing well...anyone? I bought my first MB, an 82 300SD that has some engine "issues" and I would love for Enrique to check it out. Thanks...

He is very much in business. Go and you will not regret it.

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1992 Pearl Black 500E