One of the main reasons for wanting the 300D was for long distance trips. Fairly quiet, smooth and comfortable. Reliability was my main interest and I have spent many hours trying to get it to the point where there are few major things left to do. Yes I am indeed burnt out. I have far too many irons in the fire and the MB keeps me from enjoying my time off. I would rather be doing other things than lying on my back on cold concrete in the middle of winter trying to keep her alive. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

And that is the crux of the issue. No matter how much work we do to these vehicles, they remain 20 years old. So, until every little mechanical device, seal, tube, actuator, hose, connector, valve, etc. is replaced, the pain must continue.

The only difference between all of us is our tolerance for driving with a "to do" list. The vehicles will go almost forever and won't bother you too badly if you don't mind having a lengthy "list". But, if you really want to whittle that list down to nothing, and keep it there, you are looking at a significant investment of time and money.

me too, which is why I'm letting the "to do" list grow unencumbered until May or June.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

While I understand the to do list and I can live with certain issues indefinitely the loose axle issue must be solved to make the car safe and prevent damage from occuring. Secondly having just drove quite some distance with no heat to the feet I can speak from experience that it is quite uncomfortable for anything more than a few minutes so that will have to be fixed too. The heater core I can live with for a while unless it starts getting worse. I certainly don't want coolant leaking in the car. And lastly the oil lines seep has gotten worse. Since I have heard nothing but bad about lines failing, engine damage, etc. it seems that these really need to be done as well. So the combination of things would seem to make the car "unusable" except for the shortest of trips or emergencies until they are sorted out. Likely it will sit for a month or two or I may just get an indy to look at it. Even if the repair bill is huge it will still be cheaper than a new car payments and I would have the car up and running much sooner. Or it sits and I pick away at it. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Damn, what did you have to go and remind me of that for???

Both of these have "no heat for the feet".

Grrrr. Another item on their lists.

Driving my 91 Seville around 6 months ago, saw a 89 Honda Accord with 70,000 miles on it. Bought it, great running, everything works, even the cruise and power antenna. Almost got a florida license plate, "Go-Cart". Go tired of bouncing around on bad roads around here, and got 2 months ago 84 300SD, 204,000 miles (that's my 5th mercedes). Fixed a few things, much more to go. Problem is, I can only keep one.

Your breaking my heart....How about $950...

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)

One........

Keep the SD.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

I was the original owner of an 94 accord which had an oil balancer shaft seal fail last year. Found out after the failure, prior to repair, that there was a TSB to fix this defect. However, there were time constraints. Honduhh of America failed to honor their TSB due to the fact that the TSB "valid" timeframe was over. Was never notified of the defect/recall and had the car serviced by Honduhh before the recall began. I fought with them for 2 weeks whilst the car sat in my driveway, a battle which I lost.

It was the 2nd timing belt for this car, with only 110k miles. This was my third, and final Honduh.

what's our "forum lawyer's" verdict on this one?

sorry!

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

OK so but for how long can you expect it to be relaible? Did CR say how long they test for relaibilty? Any car nowadays can be reliable for a certain period of time.

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DJ


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

Honda's, Toyota's and Lexus's are great cars no doubt, but I can assure anyone who thinks they are near perfect, that those in the dealers service parking lots are NOT there for ONLY dealer maintenance. Not to mention that when compared to a Mercedes, the maintenance costs and parts are as much or more.

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Mercedes Fleet:
2004 CL600 Designo Espresso SPORT
2004 S600 Designo Espresso SPORT/Lorinser Pkg.
1999 S320
1988 300TE
1972 280SEL 4.5
Diesel Fleet:
2014 GL350 Blutec
1987 300SDL Blk/Blk 4 place seating #18 head
1987 300SDL Smk Slv/Burgangy #17 head
1986 300SDL Blk Pearl/Palomino #14 head w/ 280K
1984 Lincoln Mark VII Fact BMW Turbo Diesel

One thing though, they are better cars than what MB makes today and they don't need as much maintenance as an MB.

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DJ


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

I think you could make quite a good case for purchasing a five year old Honda Accord or Toyota Camry for about $10K and driving it for five additional years, when it would then be worth about $4K.

Depreciation: $1,250 per year.

Repairs: $1,000 per year (estimated maximum).

You probably would not want to keep it past 10 years for the same reasons that we now have difficulty with the 20 year old vehicles.