Am I insane?
 

Really, I want to look at a 300sd with 371K on the clock. It's selling for $3700, price has already dropped from $4400. That seems kinda nuts to me that I want to even spend two hours driving to go look at it. It's owned by an older gentleman who owns an auto shop. So he's had a lot done to it (who wouldn't in that situation.) 18k on new engine and fuel injector pump (pepiest diesel he has ever driven), new steering box, New turbo, tie rod ends, climate controls, AC compressor (but he said he's replaced it at least twice, and he's only driven it about 17K in last 6-7 years, strange... still old style too, hasn't converted it), Tires good, filters, windshield, blah blah blah. He almost forgot to mention that he had it repainted 3 years ago. All power everything works, it even has heated seats and headrests all the way around. He thinks he's the second owner (need to carfax if I decide I'm not too crazy) and doesn't know if tranny has been worked on. He suspects so because he says it works really well, but the 1-2 shift is kinda hard, and he claims he thinks that's they way they were, his other is like that. Tranny leaks 1/4 of 1 quart every 5-6 months. He has not pinpointed where it is coming from, although he thinks it is in the rear. Cruise does not work. Interior great with one small crack on dash says he. Passenger leather stitching looks like it is getting thin though he says. Who cares.

The real crux of the issue is, am I insane? I probably spend 4-8 hours a day looking for MB's or reading the forum on things I have never seen in real life: ALDA, banjo bolt, EGR... I do it at work, and then sometimes at home. I'm considering buying on the east or west coast or Florida, flying out and driving it back home (I'm convinced there are more and therefore cheaper, plus I want a road trip.) I've even been calling on these. All this because some guy drove his 300d to work with for sale signs in it (see the third car here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/106113-3-choices.html) which he'll sell to me for $3500 buy the way. We talked at work the other day, he knows his car well.

I feel like I'm obsessive compulsive. I don't flip the light switch 4 times and perform a do-si-do every time I leave a room or something. But before this it was lifting about 4 hours a day, then Hobie sailing, then mountain bike research until I sold the Hobie to buy one, then guitar research, then table saws... With the occasional nothing in-between. Now, stupid MB's. I wish I could channel my efforts into something a bit more productive, like my job maybe, or econometrics, or more guitar playing, or write a thesis (who cares if I'm not it school anymore.) But instead it damn diesel MB's. My girlfriend says I'm nuts, "There are other nice cars out there you know. It doesn't have to be a MB, and certainly not diesel. If you just want a nice car that can cruise at 90 or 100, you can get an Accord or Saab or something, even a Saturn would work. Why does it have to be a damn 300sd. And you already have a reliable vehicle, you have your truck." Yeah, but it's not quite the same.

So am I nuts? Is this a place for fellow crazies to gather and feel kinda normal? Should i quit cold turkey? Oh please knowledgeable ones of the Mercedesshop Forum, grace me with your knowledge and advice!

From my padded cube at work,

Brandon

Were all a little crazy! :D

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm a schizophrenic
and so am I :eek:

Kevin & Leroy, Bill, Tom, Frank, Jimmy- Take your pick! :D

we're all a little off-center, that's why we're here. That doesn't have to be a bad thing, just a different one. If you look around, many if not most people focus on certain things only, maybe you just change targets more often. Have you driven one yet? That probably will not cure you. Do you do your own work? That will allow MB ownership to be not expensive, in fact for some it's very cheap. Let us know if you take "the plunge" :D

one more
 

I have one more question since I have a thread open here. When I was a kid we had a 300sd and I remember my mom driving back from Nebraska we we took the sucker up to 125MPH :cool: . It was still pulling but she dicided she should probably let off. Does this sound right? Could these go that fast? It was only a couple of years old at the time.

Yeah, I've driven two 300d's and one 300sd. It only made it worse. And I can do my own work. I personally don't have a garage anymore, but my dad is just 10 miles away with even more tools and a garage I can back his SUV out of anytime. I'm not worried about fixing stuff. I just don't want to fix major stuff. I can, but don't like to. Don't know if anybody does.

I had to respond to this!

I know where you coming from and if you are crazy, commit me as well...

My diesel journey began a year ago. I have always liked cars, mostly expensive german metal! I dabbled with some Italian metal as well, but way too expensive to maintain.

I alway buy purpose vehicles, the best car for the intended use. The MB Diesel was built for longevity, and in my IMHO, the best in the world for this purpose.

So, I bought my first Diesel in '03. A 79 SD in great shape and very low miles, 120K. After a GREAT experience, I had to dig deeper to feed the disease.

I sold this car in seach for the ultimate in simple and tough...the 240d. I passed on a few only to settle on a car with 313K miles on it! What in the heck was I thinking, why am I not happy with a low mileage car? Well, the answer is simple, I am nuts. I want to see just how tough these cars are...I want to set some personal mileage records.

So, for the past 8 months and 9K miles, this has been my daily driver. I love it...my friends and family have warmed up to it. This particular car was a 1 owner car with EVERY record. I have all of the original records bound, yes bound, for protection. Duplicates are 3 hole punched in a binder. I am on my 3rd service book, as 1 and 2 are full of service data! The car is in beautiful condition...

Now that gas is so expensive, I have turned a major corner with my wife. She agreed to drive a 300TD!!!!!!! So, after 2 months of searching at 4-8 hours/day, I found a spectacular car...she like it a lot..

Like you, if I could channed this energy towards work, I could by a diesel factory!

So, I am with you, the diesel fumes must have messed up our ability to reason...stick a fork in me, I am done!

AC

105 maybe closer to 110 is about all their good for.

Yeah, that's what's confusing me. I've never read about one of these going that fast, but there were four of us in the car and we all remember hitting the 125MPH mark. My mom brought it up the other day without me mentioning it, "I remember when we took it to 125," she said. I personally remeber watching the spedometer from the back seat and thinking, "Cool."

Maybe the whole family is crazy... :( :eek:

I don't think a W116 300SD would do 125mph but them I never tried.......

I believe it was a w126. A 1983 or 1985 300sd.

It's good to know I'm not the only one, but your story doesn't show much light at the end of the tunnel... :eek: :eek: :eek:

Just a thought about that car you’re looking at. I see this in car adds all the time and wonder; why would you keep a car forever with that many miles, rebuild the motor and then sell it? Maybe he’s t the end of his life, a great way to get a well cared for car from an enthusiast. Anyway that engine work is worth what he wants for the car – I’d look closely for why he’s selling.

Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing. He bought it right after the new motor was put in. He says he hardley ever drives it. He has too many cars and the "wife says I have to get rid of one." He already has a 79 300sd that he's had for over 20 years, so he's partial to that one, sentimental or something, although he says this one runs much better. He's had 6-7 years and only put maybe 17k on it. And a big chunk of that is when he let his son in law drive it to Wisconsin and back.

As an aside, heated seats and headrests all the way around? I didn't know it was an option.

No...taking long drives to look over "candidates" is one of
 

the most enjoyable parts of the hobby...and doesn't HAVE to cost anything.

Take a pal along for the ride, meet and jaw with the owner, look over the offering and see if it jibes with how it was presented...then either say maybe, buy it on the spot, or go home.


Sometimes the owners turn out to be nice and interesting people, and you can both learn a lot, and perhaps if they like you they'll cut you slack on the price or other negotiable.

...I've looked at a lot of cars, and with MBs have ended up with one VERY GOOD deal and one complete money pit I should have walked away from.

Caveat emptor; caveat vendor