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  #1  
Old 12-13-2006, 01:16 AM
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HELP Grandmas going to trade in her MB Diesel for a Honda!

First off, my grandma has been driving a MB Diesel for the past 25+ years. First a 300D then a 300SD (now my car) and today she drives around in a 96 E300 Diesel. If I can't help her get the problems solved with her E300 she’s going to buy a Honda on the advice of my aunt.

She has had a lot of problems with her car, but most recently her water was going low on a daily basis. So she took it to the shop (independent shop that works on all kinds of diesels, and has always maintained her diesels for the past 25 years) the mechanic (same guy for the past 25 years) told her that it was her head gasket. He cut her a pretty god deal on the head gasket job, $1300. That was about a week ago. Then about a day later the car just died on her in the middle of the road. She got scared (86 year old grandmas don't like cars dieing in the middle of the road) after about 5 cranks the car starts. She drove it back to the shop. They had it the rest of the day. They drove it all day trying to get it to recreate the problem. But after burning 1/4 of a tank they gave up and told her it must have been an air bubble in the fuel system.

3 days later she is driving home from the Country Club with 3 other grandmas. And the car dies again. (4 ladies in their 80s are now stuck in the middle of the road.) This time she crakes it and it starts and dies, starts and dies, starts and dies. And on the 5th time it staid running. She drove her friends home and back to the house. At this point the check engine light comes on and stays on. Today my dad calls me and asks me to see what I can come up with to help her out.

So I’m turning to you guys. What could it be?
I’m pretty good with my car. But I know nothing about the newer diesels. I asked my dad if the mechanic checked the pump timing… and he replied “does it have and injection pump??” and I said, good question.

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  #2  
Old 12-13-2006, 01:17 AM
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For her I think it would be better if she did buy the Honda. A whole lot more reliable, which is what a grandma needs.
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Old 12-13-2006, 01:18 AM
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What does the Check engine light say? (what error codes)
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Old 12-13-2006, 01:20 AM
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The car is going to the mechanic tomorrow. I'll know more then.

I agree that the Honda is a better car for her needs. but i would like her to keep the MB around, just because that is all i've know her to drive. I'm 22 and she was driving the 300D the first day she met me. and all my memories with her are in one of the MBs. I remember her telling me her car ran on "Tractor Gas" I must have been 5 at the time.
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Old 12-13-2006, 01:25 AM
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hey if she decides to go for a honda pass that puppy my way
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Old 12-13-2006, 01:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SirNik84 View Post
I remember her telling me her car ran on "Tractor Gas" I must have been 5 at the time.
Ok forget my last post, thats enough to have her keep that car.
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  #7  
Old 12-13-2006, 01:34 AM
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YOu will always have your memories no matter what she is currently driving. My sainted mother is going to be 86 next week, and we just got her a new Altima last month. She absolutely loves buzzing around in that car.
What you don't want an older person to have to deal with is problems. It bothers them far more than it does you and me. Trust me on that one please!
Get her something that she can just drive and not worry about, and sadly a Mercedes in not that type of vehicle......
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'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
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  #8  
Old 12-13-2006, 01:43 AM
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Yeah, I think maybe she might be better off in the honda too.
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  #9  
Old 12-13-2006, 01:43 AM
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A new Mercedes is that type of vehicle, a 10yo one may not be.

Honda.
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  #10  
Old 12-13-2006, 01:48 AM
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greasybenz,
it might be up for grabs here soon. i think no matter how the Meredes goes shes getting something new, it just a metter of what she does with the car. If i were 10 years older i'd buy it off her. but its out of my price range. and I only get to have one car at my apartment...

keep an eye out. i'd rather sell it to a Mercedes lover then someone who is just going to hate it because of quality issues.
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  #11  
Old 12-13-2006, 02:05 AM
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A low mileage MkIV TDI or even a MkV Jetta TDI would be low maintenance. They cost around the same as a new Honda, but would allow grandma to still drive on that tractor gas

But yeah, 10 year old car that needs to be maintained, not good for an 86 year old.
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  #12  
Old 12-13-2006, 02:31 AM
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Grandma might like the Honda for its reliability but she will sorely miss the rugged MB sooner than expected, plus the ride quality of the MB can't be equalled by Honda.
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  #13  
Old 12-13-2006, 07:38 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gurkha View Post
Grandma might like the Honda for its reliability but she will sorely miss the rugged MB sooner than expected, plus the ride quality of the MB can't be equalled by Honda.
I don't know what kind of cars Honda is selling in India but the models available in the USA are pretty damn nice - and about 5X more reliable than a contemporary Benz. If Honda brings their CDI engines to the USA my 25+ years of driving Mercedes Diesel powered cars will come to an abrupt end.

The K40 relay is a common cause of intermittent engine shut-downs, it powers the IFI Diesel control computer and if it fails power to the engine management system is dropped and the car will immediately shut down. Your grandmas car is displaying the classic symptoms of a flakey K40 relay. Do a search on "K40 relay" for more info.
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  #14  
Old 12-13-2006, 09:02 AM
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I sorta agree with Tim above...check it out and fix the problem. Even if it costs another 1300 bucks, which would make 2600 bucks into a 10 year old car...that amounts to 217 bucks a month to drive a MB....that would be cheaper than a new Honda payment. To me it makes sense to fix it (and boy am I glad my old 83 does not have all that computer crap on it!).

Having said all that, she's 86! Let her get what SHE wants....she's earned that right. Oh, and give her a big ole hug from me! I lost both of Grandmothers years ago and still miss them both.
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  #15  
Old 12-13-2006, 09:04 AM
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K40 or Shutoff Valve or Air Leak in Fuel System. Any of these can cause the problems described.

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