I have the suspicion that the other board has many younger members with vehicles that are significantly newer and much more complex than the folks on this board.

Accordingly, the knowledge base for repairing those vehicles is simply not there and the capability of the individuals on the board is far less than the folks over here.

Furthermore, when you have the capability of spending 15-20K on a M/B, you have the capability of paying someone to fix it when it breaks. You can therefore spend your time on more important matters such as the size of the new wheels or the color of the brake calipers.

There is no satisfaction in the actual repair of such a vehicle by these individuals. Remember, when you get done with the repair, the vehicle looks exactly the same as it did before you started the repair.

We get a lot of personal satisfaction in keeping a 20 year old vehicle in good running and good looking condition. They don't.

This the best Tech board hands down.
Any time im working on thr car the laptop is next to me.
I type in the subject if i have a question ... .and guess what....Theres the answer!!

__________________
2003 SLK 230 (85000)
1999 E300 Turbo Diesel (388,000)
1991 350SD Turbo Diesel (185,000)

[QUOTE=Brian Carlton]I have the suspicion that the other board has many younger members with vehicles that are significantly newer and much more complex than the folks on this board.

Actually the other board has members that are younger but their cars are as old as ours. They are just hand-me-downs from mommy and daddy. Not that I care, just that they look at them more as status than good, reliable, easy to work on transportation.

THIS IS THE BEST DISCUSSION BOARD....EVER.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

This begs the question of how do they maintain them? Who does the front suspension work? Who does the valves? Who does the rear springs and diff mount? Who tackles the climate control issues? Wheel bearings? Brake rotors? Front bearings................................?????????????

The certainly can't afford to have a mechanic do all of this work?

Do they just turn up the stereo and ignore the "issues"????

I do not even know what other board you are talking about, But I certainly understand the issues about which you speak.

I am an older guy, and I have never posted my fleet, in my signature at least, not that I recall.

2000 Mercedes Benz ML320
1995 Plymouth Voyager SE
1988 Suzuki Samurai
1982 Mercedes Benz 240D
1977 Dodge M880 4x4 Military Pickup
1975 Travco Motorhome
1973 Land Rover
1971 VW Bus

1973 22' South Coast Sailboat
1979 26' South Coast Sailboat
1975 Sea Ray Ski Boat
1989 Suncruiser Party Barge
19?? SkeeterHawk Bass boat

2004 Century 35 hp Diesel Tractor

All currently registered and insured.

All have their own special needs.

Not that I always do all of my own work, but I feel that one should at least be able to converse about the repairs needed intelligently with the person who may be performing the job.

That has been my biggest complaint with any dealer. Convincing them that I might actually know what I am talking about.


george d

the other discussion board is pathetic..........seriously...it realy is pathetic.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I for one am happy there are people here to answer my dumb-ass questions. I grew up in the city and didnt get my first car until I was 23 and didnt get my second car until I was 31. I dint have a father around growing up and the only tools we had in the house were a little ***** hammer for hanging pictures and a multi-bit screwdriver for god-knows-what. We lived in apartment buildings, and when something broke, the landlord hired someone to fix it.
I am learning as I go here. A haynes manual came with the car and it taught me to change oil and filters. I just finished converting my 300D to veggie oil and man, did I learn a lot. I am glad I could come here and find out how to take the centre console out to install new switches. Silly stuff like that. I'm installing new mufflers tomorrow, and I posted here about a dozen times before figuring out how to do it...I'd still be taking the bus if it werent for forums like this...
the 300SD needs injector cleaning, glowplug replacement, window motor replacement, tie rod ends, the calipers are dragging I'm told and I have no friggin idea what that means but I hope I dont need to replace them. They're 250+ dollars. I'll figure it out. The A/C can stay broken.

__________________
1980 300D (Luna)
1980 300SD (Sunny)

Do you provide the mechanic with room and board?

Do you give him time for meals?

Does he get health benefits?

VWBUGE,

1.I've developed this theory,that there are 5 different stages of homo-sapiens co-existing concurrently on planet earth.
2. number 1's and 2's we never are able to differentiate from the rest of the
population (they are so intelligent, they realize the path of least resistance
is to blend in with the "Hoi Poloi")
3. The number 3's can: do their own taxes , refuel their own vehicles,clean
fish without a diagram, AND sucessfully enrich others lives to boot!
4. The number 4's and 5's are wal-mart employees and politicians respectively.

6. NO ONE GETS OFF EARTH ALIVE (for long).
WHY NOT BE AS NICE TO THE OTHER POOR EARTHLINGS AS WE CAN??
7. at the same time on of the hardest VIRTUES to learn is PATIENCE.

8. On a very good day I might be on the bottom rung of number 3.

helloTo All!,
hy I made not be able to do many major repairs, I certainly want to make sure the mechanic involvbes does it right and exactly What I am expecting. Recently, AC ork as done on my 240D and the damn mechanic converted my system to R34, I was pisses and informed hin this aws not my intention and upset about the conversion. R34 is an inferior refrigerant in series123 cars, mo I must get sytem dicharede, evacuated and rechareged ith Freon

I am not much of a poster but I read quite a bit. Most of the time these people want confirmation from those who have been there or done that, that way they can have peace of mind sending their car to this mechanic or simply doing it themselves given all the advise is taken. Sometimes they also don't want to try simply because they fear they might mess things up all the more. Not everybody is handy with tools, let alone the computer. That's the least they can do--ask. You have every right to worry about them, and you should, for their lack of knowledge. But in time they will learn, and that's where both sides will benefit.

Of course it's unavoidable to come across someone who just sends the car to a shop just because he/she has the money, or lacks the time, skills and resources to fix it him/herself.

When I was a new MB owner, I kept asking. That's how I got information, aside from searching. Then I tried things out. That's how I learned.

Everyone has to start somewhere. If these are young kids then they more than likely know squat about cars.
I know for me when I try doing something that I have never done before it get a little intimidating. That's why I do a lot of research and ask questions before I attempt any repairs. This is even though I have confidence in my mechanical abilities.
This type of discipline has to be LEARNED!! You learn from a teacher or by doing.
I think everyone here at some point has decided to be the teacher. I think if we recognize the point that an individual is in his "training" that we can be a little more objective and coach that person along to the next level.

I don't know what board your all talking about but I know one thing. If even a few of the regulars from here started posting over there some people would mature into some very good mechanics.

Just my 2c

Danny

__________________
1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

VWBUGE,

"I'll give someone one of my cars if they can guess how much I pay in car insurance a year."

$3,852 for just the cars is my guess.

Is the Imp registered and street legal? Ha Ha

__________________
85' 300D No inspection, No registration fees, Cheap insurance
"If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious %$&^."

As a matter of fact it is registered and it is street legal.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

I've been coming to this forum for 3 years now. I have a beater wagon and It wouldn't be running if it weren't for these guys. I enjoy dropping by just to read the latest thread and catch up on what's new. I ask stupid questions(or shall I say, unexperienced questions) and some that most don't even want to touch this a 10 foot pole, but someone always ends up giving some help. Much appreciated help! As far as I'm concerned I don't even go to other sites because all the answers to my questions have been here. Shiney rims, huh, mine are etched in break dust !