1) Just buy a new one.

I think the list of a person who doesn't truely love their car is a list with nothing on it. Ours is a love affair with our cars. always trying to make them better and more personalized. I don't think my list will ever be empty, there is always going to be something to do to it. If I drove a car that didn't need any customizations, or tweaks or any maintainance, I think I would get bored of it very quickly.

I love my 300SD :D

ineon, that's a pretty neat banner!

Why thank you! I made it all by my lonesome:)

I was mad at my car because the list had lengthened since it's been sitting in the driveway undrivable because of:

1) an alternator that is loose on its bracket and doesn't charge correctly
2) a front wheel that is loose, but that my Father says is 'normal'
3) fuel return lines(betwixt injectors) that began leaking at some point in the night that lost 3/4 tank of fuel by the time my Mother reminded me that my Father told her was leaking at 4:30am.

the full list:

1) repair front-end, full rebuild
2) repair power braking, they're manual ATM
3) repair vacuum related everything
4) repair cockeyed bumper
5) repair dented passengers door
6) repair rusted battery tray, inner-fender and firewall
7) repair fuel hoses
8) repair charging system, the alternator being loose is not why it doesn't charge
9) re-repair drivers seat
10) Repair cooling system
11) repair coolant temperature gauge

I can't afford to do any of this, and it is just the "it REALLY needs it" list-- there is a completly different list that is just as long that is populated with less urgent things like trim, dash cracks and missing pieces-- This is on the back burner whilever I try to find employment that will pay me well enough to keep the car-- otherwise he's getting dumped on some poor unsuspecting shlub like he was on me. :P

Here's mine:

1. Fix the dash cracks




Yeah, kinda short! I pretty much accomplished everything I intend to do now that the A/C works and the windows are tinted. It just runs like a champ right now!!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...d/IMG_1055.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...d/IMG_1056.jpg

That's a damn fine looking car, salty...I like the contrast between the bright silver wheels and the blue :)

Mine is short. I'm not short on love, just needs right now.

1. Replace driver side rear half axle.
2. Someday, have rust around wheelwells repaired and have the whole car repainted.

Olsaltybastard, that is one sharp looking Benz:cool:

My list (in no particular order):

Valve adjustment
Timing chain stretch measurement
Full paint job (original color of course)
Replace missing trim strip on back bumper
Repair sun visors
Replace dash pad
Fix the power antenna
Fix broken LCD on stereo, or replace stereo
Fix AC
Tint windows
Fix tachometer
Fix/replace passenger front door weather strip
Repair/recover cracked driver's seat
Fix the locks
Paint or powdercoat wheels
Replace old nasty headlight bezels
Thoroughly clean interior carpets and mats
Refinish interior wood trim
Fix (ie remove) EGR system
Repair left rear power window

I figure on about two grand for a proper paint job and probably another thousand or two and a summer's worth of weekends for the rest. At that point I should be into it about eight or nine thousand dollars, not really bad considering what a new E320 CDI would cost.

-just give her a good bath.;)

That's one fine vehicle salty! I hope mine looks that good when I repaint it in a few years.

I didn't get any work on my list done today, I went out and drove it instead. :D

I'm bracing my self for around 3k. :bigcry: Hopefully I can get the price down by removing all of the trim and preping my self.

I don't keep track to closely of what I spend on the SDL. Next year if everything goes according to plan I will paint her, and I want a good job. I am willing to pay over $5k for body work. I want to be 6in away and not see any imperfections, I want the gloss to be deeper then any new car, in short perfection.:cool:

I found a decent sounding resto shop that I want to get an estimate from. I talked to someone who worked their and he was frank, $5k-$10k for a quality paint job done right.

the most important things are: learn how to and then perform rebuild on 81 300td engine.I got the turbo glowing orange now wont star and makes valvy sound:( on a brighter note i need to find a taller rear end for the recent 240d turbo conversion still waiting for the driveline but everything going pretty smoothe:)

ALready spent 1100 on repairs that i would NEVER have done to my old Altima. but i just love spending money and making my 240D euro even better. But on to the list!!!

1. check out bearings, they start to sqeek after being driven for a while
2. Drivers seat replacment
3. radiator flush
4.rear brakes
5. manual sunroof problems
6. front brake hoses
7. upper controll arms
8. tie rods replacment
9. alignment
10. new floor mats
11. exaust leak
12. car cover


im sure there is more, but thats a good list for now :freak: :freak: :freak:

The 79 300d euro:

1.Finish cleaning/polishing/waxing paint
2.Install door panels
3.Install all piliar moldings
4.Cut and install carpet
5.Bolt in all seats
6.Clean air controls, new defrost knob
7.Find/install drivers side trim.
8.Have rust cut and patched in left rear fender
9.Have 5 spots sealed so paint doesn't get any worse
10.New shocks all around (w126 shocks)
11.Brakes all around and front rotors
12.Oil change
13.Coolant flush/refill and new thermometer
14.Air Filter mounts, new airfilter
15.Fuel filters
16.Find euro bumper and cut off old one to install new
17.Euro headlights
18.Reinstall taillights
Estimated Completion: Late August, early September
19.install turbo 617 and intercooler (dreaming)

81 300d euro:
1.shampoo floor mats
2.Change oil
3.Install new blinkers
Estimated Completion: Later this week
4.Painted right rear fender, stains professionally removed, as well as dents (to be completed in several years when I have the money)
5.Install tachometer and tach guage

83 300d turbo:
1.Clean fuel sender
2.Inspect/re-roll front fenders
3.Trace vacuum leak for doors, replace actuators as needed
4.New foam pad for drivers seat
Estimated Completion: Hopefully by the end of the year but nothing is really necessary.