I just returned from a vacation in Florida and if you have read any of my posts recently you will see I had some issues with my '84 300D. I have felt this way before but I think I may be approaching the breaking point. I spent a good deal of money finding a nice clean 123. And I have spent even more money and endless hours trying to keep after the issues but it just won't seem to quit. I keep hoping that the next major issues will be the last but it never seems to be. About two months ago I R&R'd the cylinder head to replace a bad headgasket and did the usual rebuild/valve job, chain guides, tensioner, etc. Just 3 weeks ago I rebuilt the entire suspension, every piece of rubber is new, front to rear. The ride is now excellent. But I digress. I have replaced so many major components that I am wondering why I am bothering. To date:
shocks
2 front calipers
waterpump
aux pump
monovalve
2 sets of axles
rear window gasket
2 trim pieces
rebuilt seats
replaced CC system
rebuilt master cylinder
motor mounts
engine shocks
clean/check injectors
headlight switch
shifter bushings
front wheel bearings
tierods
drag link
upper control arms/balljoints
lower balljoints/bushings
track rod bushings and mounts
rear control arm bushings
rear subframe mounts
differential mount
front swaybar bushings
rear swaybar links
rebuilt power antenna

Still needs doing:
fix leaking heater core
fix possible damage to axles/hubs from loose bolts
fix ACC leak, no heat to floor, vacuum leak-harsh shifts, etc.
fix seeping oil lines
replace exhaust-recently found rear muffler has hole, downpipe is pretty rusty.
rubber brakelines are showing dryrot
radiator

I have not included all the normall wear items, belts, brake pads, adjustments, etc. that have needed to be done. I have and have had other vehicles with more miles and similar age with far fewer issues than the MB. The added complexity of MB designs only exacerbates the issues when the systems get old and fail. I really like the way the car drives, the styling, etc. but it is starting to get me down when every time I drive it another issue pops up. I don't enjoy driving it anymore. Thankfully I can let it sit in the garage untill I feel like working on it. I may even pay a decent indy I know to just fix the problems for me. I do know many people how own Toyotas, Hondas, and dare I say it, even some domestics that don't have these constant issues. Yes the MB is older but it has been babied its whole life, I have the records to prove it. Its just proving to me that the "garage queen" reputation is not undeserved. Its pretty bad when Camrys and Accords start looking good..... I'm just tired of wrenching on this thing. RT

__________________
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

The SDL decided to run all of its brake fluid out of the rear reservoir again; presumably out of a leaking bleeder valve on the LR caliper. This time, it made sure that it was fully emptied before I was able to drive it. No rear brakes, again. 120 mile trip into NY City

I still need to do the bushing for the rt. front stabilizer bar, if the weather would just warm up, so the damn thing doesn't pull one complete lane to the right every time I hit the brakes.

The rear springs, subframe bushings, and diff. mount all need to be replaced.

The head gasket is leaking coolant.

The combination switch needs replacement so that I can get the washers to work.

The windshield is sandblasted.

The cruise control amplifier is intermittent.

The combination relay was recently replaced and it functions properly now. Hopefully the rear window defroster will now work. It won't melt any snow, that's for sure.

There is an exhaust leak in the downpipe somewhere.


I would need another two pages to mention all the items that are on the list for the SD.

Yep, we've all been there. The attention that these vehicles demand in terms of time and parts is significant. My machinist recently purchased a 2001 Lexus LS430 for $40K. I mention the items that continually need work on the M/B and he truly thinks I am an idiot.

hey, its a labor of love.

You'd all think I was mentally retarded if I listed how much $$ I've sunk into my cars, I do get fed up with dealing with each of them from time to time, I typically will just park it for awhile and drive another one untill I start to "miss" it

__________________


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

John,

Do you really keep all seven of them maintained and running?

Doesn't this effectively become your full time job?

the 240D, 82 CD and 87 300D are the only cars I drive.
the 86 560 runs and will be listed for sale soon, I want to install a radio and cd changer in it before I sell it. No tags on it currently. Had new chain, guide rails and valve job done on it.

the 380 has been a long project I keep getting sidetracked from. Started so long ago most of the parts still reside at my parents house
the 83 coupe and 84 wagon will soon become one, my friend blew the engine in the coupe so i bought the wagon for parts.

I miss my 69 280SE still damn tree in a hurricane killed my car

__________________


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

Show me another twenty year old car, except the VW beedle, that is as easy to maintain and as reliable as our old smudgpot diesels. The parts are cheap and easy to find. Problems are fairly easy to diagnose and fix by a competent DIY.

My 84 300D was a gift from a long time friend and I've put about $4,000 in parts into it. Everything works just like it did when it was new and at that time it cost someone around $50k for it.

I've had older and later MBs and none compare to the reliability of these early turbo diesels.

__________________
You can get farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.

1984 300D
1985 300CD
1980 300SD
1993 SL500

You know, it is funny how we romanticize these older MB's, and talk about how the motors last so long. But GM 4.3 liter engines consistantly go 200-300K in vans and such. Hondas, Nissans, Toyotas all consistantly make hundreds of thousands of miles also. Most, not all mind you. What is the big deal if our cars do that? Many others do also.
I just dig the klackity klackity klack I guess. I digress.......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Just for the record, Cadillac cars beat Lexus (and Toyota) cars in quality this year.

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

I've spent oh so much on my car and I don't even care (I may be insane, but oh well) In a couple months I am going to do the oil cooler lines, and the motor mounts....then the parking brake cable, and I'll be replacing all the flex lines to the calipers as well pretty soon. Then I will be looking into the front stabilizer bar bushings at some point as well......then suspension components....then getting my dented door repaired......and maybe a paint job. I'll pour all my $$ into this car forever.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Yeah, but according to Consumer Reports, Hyunday came out on top as the most reliable car. Go figure.

Phil

__________________
'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

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.

__________________
DJ


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

Initial quality is important, but when a car is 30 years old and still runs smooth like a fine Swiss watch. That to me is the definition of quality.

That said, my other car is a Honda and I now exclusively drive it on the weekends. The Mercedes is used almost solely for commuting and for long trips. Since the Benz hit the road I've put less than 150 miles on my Honda.

__________________
This area is typically used to brag about one's current or former automobiles.

There, I fixed it for you

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

Funny, and that is an accurate edit. I've never owned a Swiss watch that flares on a 3-4 shift.

__________________
This area is typically used to brag about one's current or former automobiles.

I can certainly sympathize with your situation. The only advice I can add is take care of as many obvious area you can before putting your "new" car on the road. When I bought my 1980 300TD I had it on the road for about a week to assess its condition then had it off the road for 3 months going through as many areas as possible to head off potential breakdowns. My list of repairs during that time is:

Rebuilt Calipers
New front wheel bearings + seal
New rubber brake lines
New Master Cylinder
New brake rotors, pads
New accumulators
New A/C compressor, expansion valve, drier
New rear links
New Bilstein comfort shocks
Replaced drivers seat
New windshield
New waterpump
New ACC Servo
All new water hoses
All new fuel hoses
New tie rods, drag bar, idler arm bushings
New steering column flex plate
New trans vacuum modulator
New alternator

Tackling all these repairs at one time rather than when they fail makes it easier to stomach and budget. Usually the reason people sell these cars is because large repair bills are on the horizon so you just figure that into the purchase price. I went for a less than cosmetically perfect car that had low mileage (155,000) that I got for cheap ($850). This left me with the funds to do the above. I figure I have about $1,800 into it in total. I lucked out because the engine is very strong and someone had put some recent money into it for a new radiator. For $1,800 I doubt you are ever going to find comparable car that has all this work done. I drive 150 miles a day and have (knock on wood) not had a breakdown yet. But hey let me be the first to offer you $850 for your 300D!!

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