If it wasn't for bad luck you would have no luck at all. Speaking of bad luck hows the benz, have you touched it sence the fire?

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82 Rabbit diesel (first d), 84 Jetta turbo d (300k when sold), 83 240d (305k when sold), 84 F250 6.9d w/Banks turbo(parts truck), 86 F250 6 cyl.gasser(waiting for 6.9d), 84 300d ( 347k Sold 8/04), Y2k New Bettle TDI (185k miles), 95 740IL (wifes), 87 300TD (206k Sold 7/05), 05 Passat TDI Wagon

and actually doing very well....the odor is all gone now and I pulled the Dash

Good going Rich, I'll be waiting to see pics when it's done. Looks like you are making a pretty strong comeback.

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

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

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

I guess you have to get back to the basics...no matter how much u are burned out, you still arent going to lose your urge to be resourceful and to overcome a challenge..after all all of us made a significant departure from the norm when we decide to do something difficult ourselves vice have other people do it for us--others decided, yes it was too difficulr but everyone here decided, "no its not, I'll bet I can do that..."

Rich, your comments are really helpful today. For the first time in many years (6-8), today I left my car at a shop for them to look at and I'm just sick about it. I've been so conflicted about whether or not I should fix it myself or farm it out. For some reason I decided to let someone else test drive my car and propose a solution. It's not shifting from 2nd to 3rd, and it's been getting progressively worse. Somehow through self doubt and hearing my wife rant about how I should get a new car, I decided to try this. I just have a bad feeling about it, almost like I've betrayed an old friend.

How to do the right thing and balance work, family and hobby? Maybe I should go to the self-help section of my local library.............

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

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

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

in the end only you will be the one who can fix it right. I know you don't want to be $30K for a new car, plus $20 K in hidden questionable charges and interest and finance tricks, and wait in line for hours for a dealer who might not be able to fix it when it does break..it might be simpler to replace the tranny..the way I worked myself out of burn out was to get another used car that turned out to be very reliable--my SAAB 9000--sometimes you need a fresh car to get the interest going again, and with the pressure off, you can take your time and fix your Benz--ha ha--even a second or third used car is much cheaper than a new car!!!
Like my Dad said (in another language) "Let it all flow" Time solves everything. I had a lot of things on my mind that burned me out besides the car--my daughter is growing up so quickly. I guess these cars we work on are just like recalcitant teenagers who finally give up the ghost and behave and even become better behaved than their parents--time solves everything-

And yes taking a Break and a vacation helps..........
Have a nice weekend...

Carrameow...you are the king!!! That is an unbelievable story!

Good Work,

T

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Tom in AZ

1985 300SD, smoke silver, blue interior, 146K
1973 280, 85K (sold)