Guys, I got my 85 300SD inspected today at a working full-service station near the San Antonio suburb in which I live. I'd always noticed the station because they actually have a mechanic there and they also fix tires and the like. It's quite busy on weekends.

Anyway, I pulled in around lunch time today and an early 20s dude comes to greet me with, "Wow, what year's this Benz...is it a diesel?" Soon, an older mid-40s guy who looks like he owns the place comes out with a big grin looking at my car which was idling happily in front of the service bay. "Those things are darned close to bulletproof," he said, still not even looking at me. "How long you had it?" He went on to explain that his uncle (now deceased) had been in the Army in Germany and had later owned two Mercedes diesels. One, he said, was what believed to be a late 70s 300SD. Seems he got the old SD after the uncle's death, had it for a few years but had to sell it cause of problems "like this one" pointing to the kid who it turns out was his son.

I've been here now 10 minutes and no one has even asked me to hit the headlights. About that time, some pulls in driven a well-worn Dodge pickup with a Cummins badge and a hearty clatter. He wants to look under the hood. "Hey...go ahead and turn off your engine," the owner says, "your wastin' fuel!"

The pickup guy was impressed. He had a thousand questions about the car. Everything from mpg to motor oil used to parts prices.

Then, after the pickup driver dropped a large tire for repair, the owner hopped into the driver seat of my car. Effortlessly scraped off the old sticker in what seemed like one quick motion. "If you ever wanna sell it, I'd be very interested," he said. He then told me to give the kid my insurance paperwork and in about 60 seconds I had a new sticker in the window.

They never checked anything!!! But it was fun to see all the attention a good looking, strong running SD can draw.

nice!!

__________________
have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

Nice, I just pay for the stickers for my rides too... no questions asked.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

State inspections? What are those? hehe...

After I was in the local newspaper I started getting a lot of looks from people around town. The cars draw attention and its cool to see something that you don't ever day...ie an old diesel passenger car.

I've been driving the 240D lately and in portland it gets about the same few and far between looks as the SD does.

The cops sure don't look at it...I was really revving it up in the gears trying to get going off of a traffic light (its a stickshift) and was so occupied I didn't see the cop sitting on his bike watching traffic. Didn't even glance at me...and I was about 5mph over ths speed limit when I saw him/let off.

Lots of noise and lots of lookin old

Insurance paperwork? You have to show proof of insurance to obtain a state inspection?

Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Funny, I did my inspection yesterday as well. Texas does not require emission inspections on Diesels. Just a safety inspection. Usually they can tell if its a POS and will find something wrong with it.

If its a well oiled good running clunker like my rag doll is, they usually let her on thru.

Yes, in Texas, you need proof of insurance to renew your registration, your state inspection and sometimes your drivers license!

__________________
91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500