So I'm sitting here, investigating yet another problem unique to a Mercedes, and I asked myself-What made me say "yes" to this proposition? I mean, had I not traded my motorcycle for Greta, I could be out riding it right now, not elbows-deep in grease and diesel AGAIN as I chase another snickering gremlin from Bavaria out of her innards with a Craftsman tool in hand.

Is it the way a Benz smells after 20 years? That mix of old leather and time? Is it the nods of approval from those in the know? Is it answering the myriad questions about waste oil conversion and how I'm gonna go about it? Is it finally driving the EXACT car I wanted when I was 16?

It's certainly not for the chicks-though Greta has her own MySpace profile, and more female "friends" than male ones. It's not for high performance, because until I can get her to run regularly, or until I meet a Finn with an engineering degree and his own (or, God Willing, HER own! ) tools, I don't see her at the track.

I guess I just like heading out to the garage as the weather gets warmer here in PA, popping open a cheap beer, turning on my ancient stereo in the shop to the Eighties station, and getting dirty for no good reason other than there's an old German girl that needs me to stay alive. I don't have any kids yet, but it feels like someone still depends on me. Am I just nuts?

DS

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Der Dieselschnell
1987 300D Turbo "Greta" 170k
1990 Ford F250 "Marnie" 93k

Pretty much.

Fortunately there is this support group.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Well I appreciate the, er, support...I guess blunt is what I needed, lol, and yeah, a support group helps.

"My name is Mark, and I'm a Mercedes diesel addict..."

DS

__________________
Der Dieselschnell
1987 300D Turbo "Greta" 170k
1990 Ford F250 "Marnie" 93k

thataboy..........thats the first step.
as for me, I look daily for more torment....err.....other MB's for sale

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

We're all in the same boat. (And constantly bailing it out!)

A minor point of geography, though: Stuttgart is in Baden-Wurttemberg, not Bavaria. Some purists on either side of that fence might be offended!

Cheers.

So which is a better support group ... this n.g. or Fight Club??

I mean ... here I am bloodied after this afternoon's battles yet I'm trolling Craigslist again ...

"My name is Steve and I have a problem"

HMPT.... Not me !! I don't look for mo.........oh, look !! That shiny thing......Is that a Benz 'Star'?

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87 300SDL - 215K Miles !!
99 F-350CC Dually PSD - 190K
86 300SDL - 189K
All on B-100

Its a Mercedes thing.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

problem? who? me?
I hear that ebay auction for 30 MB's from the 60's to the late 80's is still going on... the bidding was around 1200 at last count...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=019&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=290111938452&rd=1,1
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Yep. :

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Yep.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Yep.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I think once you get the car to where it should be, then it'll be good to go for a while, but they do need maintenence like other cars. And with an older car, eventually will need a head gasket or this or that. With mine, I always hope to get them to a nice level, then keep them there by repairing anything that goes wrong very quickly.

Enjoy,

jeff 1991 300d

Yeah, I'm hoping to reach that point soon...I realized quickly the formula of your first year's repair costs being equivalent to purchase price was not going to be zero just cause I traded the thing for my bike...what made me think I could beat a nearly natural law? Anyway, I'm glad it ain't just me.

M

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Der Dieselschnell
1987 300D Turbo "Greta" 170k
1990 Ford F250 "Marnie" 93k

There is a kind of MB diesel Nirvana – at least for a while. I’m somewhat there now. The last ‘big’ project was a year ago this past February and that was more PM than repair as the car was still running. About a year ago I replaced a leaking coolant line (heater core to engine return), not a big deal. It’s been about two years since it last did not run – an air and fuel leak fixed by a new primer pump.

About two weeks ago there was some power loss, hesitation – uh oh…

Fortunately it seems a new inline filter fixed that.

Once you get over the ‘400,000 mile hump’ it’s all smooth sailing from there.