When things don't go my way, i tend to beat the car for a while, and then usally they work because I taught the car a lesson...

Yeah, I've gotten a bit red in the face, but I find that I prefer to look at it as a challange to get my temper under control and figure things out.

Getting angry almost never solves problems (there are occasions when it's useful, but very rarely).

Patience is a virtue, and I've had to learn mine the hard way, not being very patient by nature. Works a whole lot better.

Always figure it's gonna take a lot longer than it's supposed to AND that something will break, get or be stuck, or you will leave something out. Read the instructions several times, and use notes or a check list to help you get everything back in correctly (I had to put my AC compressor together three times because I got in a hurry....).

Most importantly, DO NOT swear at people because some mechanical thing is frustrating you and NEVER throw things (execpt footballs, etc). Throwing tools is dangerous, a VERY bad habit, and sends the message that you are seriously immature (not something any of us want to project).

Yeah, it can make for a bad day to screw something up, but there is no need to get al torqued about it.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I never get pissed off when working on the Benz.........but my American made gassers are a different story.

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Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

It seems like it's so much easier / more relaxing when you aren't in a hurry to finish or under any "deadlines." Like when you need to fix the car before you can use it because you don't have a backup car, etc. When I can just take my time with it, that's when I enjoy it.

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1980 300D
1977 450SEL

Yeah I get frustrated working on cars...but not on the Benz. Actually, it has been one of the easiest vehicles for me to have worked on. The simple openness of the engine bay and lack of electronic and environmental gizmo's is a welcome relief from my wifes Acura Legend.

That Acura Legend is the biggest POS I have ever f@@@@in worked on. When you drop a tool in thet G&@ D@(( POS expect to spend an hour trying to find it and another f%56!!g hour retrieving it. See there I go again getting all worked up.

Answer; Appreciate these old Benz's for not being new!

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Whoever dies with the most toys......Wins!

1984 300d
165k miles

If you have the nerve to attempt to work on an Acura, my hat is off to you.
Just the available work area..........hell, my hand is nearly as big as the valve cover.

What pisses me off is getting older.........to the point of my eyesight starting to fade. When you are used to perfect vision and then start to lose it, that sucks. It really shows up when working on cars, boats, etc. Bad light, trying to read things, find the new reading glasses..........lose them, break them, forget them.

Well, at least I have not lost my..........what was that again?........oh yea, my mind.

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

I guess I should take advice from you old guys and start working on my patience.

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Audi TT

Hmmm, well this thread is the perfect one for me to join in on. I used to get so frustrated when something didn't go right when trying to fix it. I had times where I ended up breaking other things that were not broken in a fit of rage.
I'm sure some of you remember my impatient frustration I had with my 300D not all that long ago. Luckily nothing else got broken in the process. My patience is improving....

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

When I was 17 I ran a small repair garage specialising in rear wheel drive GM cars (around 1987) I got pi$$ed at something and flung an impact socket. It bounced off the floor and cracked the windshield on a customers car. I had just finally found a rare tinted at the top with windsheild antenna for my 79 cuttlass. It ended up going in this 80 regal. I never did find another one like it. Now I learned to walk away.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Couldn't have said it better myself. However, I've suffered with 20/1000 uncorrected for years. Never had a problem with the correction..........until now. Cannot see far. Cannot see near. Getting old sucks.

I don't know who MTUpower is yet I must say (s)he said it correctly. After reading the original posting and each response word-by-word, I recognized myself at various stages of my life. Nearing 50, I find the MB is not only a form of relaxation (nearly always) but more importantly to me, a way to work at regaining some of the focus and mental clarity I seem to have misplaced. So when MTUpower wrote about thinking ahead, that is part of what I am trying to regain with these wonderful four-wheeled friends (inanimate objects . . . shhh).

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Steve
'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
'84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving
'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
'08 250EX Ninja
English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms.

If you ever get mad,remember how much you could be spending at the "stealership"- I look at it as a learning experience(like how in the heck could a vacuum leak under the dash cause your auto transmission to shift funny).

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

That's part of working on your own vehicle. Just imagine all the funds you save by doing the operating yourself.

I guess my greated satisfaction comes from actually FIXING something! I'm a nasty freak when it comes to fixing something right. I did the timing belt on my Mazda THREE times this summer because I neglected my own mantra and bought cheap parts. I've learned to only buy MB or highly respected aftermarket parts for my 300D's, yes D's. That alone makes them fun to work on, always have a few. And yes, getting old and blind is a real PIA. Rented a borescope just to look at the timing marks on the Mazda. Pretty sad :-(