New member here - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bill Ladd · #1 09-23-2006, 09:34 AM

Hello. I've been registered and lurked for a while now. Thanks so much for the invaluable information here. You all have helped me so much already and I haven't even asked a question yet!

I actually came to Mercedes through my interest in Bio and WVO. I'm an actor with representation in NC/SC, Atlanta and New Orleans, so wind up traveling quite a bit for auditions and -- with less frequency -- work. I started looking at old VWs, but the anemic little 1.5 and 1.6 litre engines just aren't what I needed for getting anywhere on the highway.

After doing a ton of research, in my estimation, the venerable 617 clearly stood out from everything else. So I began looking. When I found one I liked that met a bunch of criteria you all had layed out here, I bought it. Almost everything works. Starts and runs well with minimal blow-by; new oil cooler hoses; all windows, sunroof and seats work; cruise works; AC works; interior pretty decent; new paint (yeah, I know they sprayed the lower trim white -- I think it looks pretty cool); new tires and he upgraded me to the later 15-hole wheels; 4-wheel brake job with new front calipers.

Some might say I'm crazy, but I decided to give her a true acid test. I bought the car a number of weeks ago from Lloyd's in High Point, and beyond the initial couple hours of test driving, hadn't driven the car until I picked it up last Tuesday.

I rented a one-way to High Point, gave Lloyd the rest of the money, got my tags and put her in the wind for a 16 hour there-and-back trip to Atlanta! There's not many 24-year-old cars I'd be willing to do that with, but after looking at all the areas you all told me to look for, I was pretty confident about her.

She didn't dissapoint me, either. With the cruise set between 75 and 80 mph on the highway, we were in the wind! Make no mistake, this is definately a 24-year old car, but what a luxurious 24-year-old ride she is.

Alas, she's not perfect. I found that I had no dashlights, so I wound up checking my guages by flashlight the first night.

When I got to my hotel in Atlanta, out came the laptop and shopforum reveled to me the problems with the dimmer rheostat. Mine responded with a good bit of turning back an forth. I now have about 70% light which will do until I pull the gauge cluster out for some other reason.

Then, the second day, the diesel fumes in the cabin were killing me. Sure enough -- injector return lines weeping fuel everywhere. There was so much fuel on that side of the block and the driver's side motor mount that I thought my IP was leaking.

Anyway, I didn't have time to deal with that in Atlanta, so I suffered through it 'till my return trip. Stopped at the stealership in Columbia, SC and payed $26 for two meters of hose. I then pulled in to a restaurant parking lot, got something to eat (to allow time for the fuel to drain back down and to cool somewhat -- all stuff I'd read about here!), and then spent about 10 minutes installing the new hose.

No more fumes. Awesome.

So far, the things that I'm pertty sure she could use are; motor and tranny mounts; some vacuum attention to the tranny; flex joints; diff and rear subframe mounts; left trailing arm bushing; new door lock vaccum pump (ugh); new passenger side and trunk tumbler assemblies; and get that crap 134 out of my AC and get some freon or Freeze 12 in there.

So thanks all, glad to be here, love my car, and the search function is your friend!

Bill

edit -- Also mad props to DieselGiant as well!

andersbenz · #2 09-23-2006, 09:52 AM

Great story and good looking car

captainchris · #3 09-23-2006, 10:46 AM

Your story is similar to mine. I was initially interested in a WVO conversion car and started reading about 123s. The more I read, the more I fell in love with the MB diesels. Now that I have one, I don't know if I can go through with the conversion. I love my diesel!

Oh yeah, and I need injector return lines too...

Brian Carlton · #4 09-23-2006, 10:58 AM

Welcome to the forum.

That's a fine looking SD you've got there...........enjoy it!

TheDon · #5 09-23-2006, 11:14 AM

yes, very nice SD.. needs some euro lights to be complete ^_^

Bill Ladd · #6 09-23-2006, 12:08 PM

Thanks guys and gals, in case any of y'all are gals.

Not sure if I'm going to do a veggie conversion or not. I'm a member of the local bio co-op and we're in the process of building our own reactor -- out in the country, away from any residences and certainly not in the middle of a trailer park.

If we're able to get our per gallon cost low enough, I don't see the need for the veggie switch. And, frankly, with as friggen' busy as I am chasing my dream and still doing a day job to make a living, there's not a whole lot of time to collect, filter, dewater, etc.

For now it's either bio or dino -- if bio's not available. We'll see how things go.

Anyway, thanks again for the wealth of information -- from the descriptions and pictures I'd seen here, I was familiar with the 617/126 before I ever got my hands on one in earnest.

About the Euro's -- definitely on the list, but there's a few mechanicals further up that list!

JimmyL · #7 09-23-2006, 04:10 PM

Welcome Lux. You have a diesel MB, and a story already to go along with it. Can't beat that!
Car looks excellent. The search forum isn't just your friend, but it's facinating reading too.
Enjoy both.......

Bill Ladd · #8 09-23-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

...The search forum isn't just your friend, but it's facinating reading too.
Enjoy both.......

Absolutely. It's not like I hope for problems, but when I find something, I'm kinda stoked that I get to do a search and read what y'all have to say. Although some thread titles leave a bit to be desired...

riethoven · #9 09-23-2006, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux

and get that crap 134 out of my AC and get some freon or Freeze 12 in there.

So thanks all, glad to be here, love my car, and the search function is your friend!

Bill

Freeze 12 is 134 and something else, it is not R12. Best of luck with your new ride. I like the monochrome look with the white lower panels and bumpers.