this will make you cringe... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dynamitejacket · #1 05-26-2007, 08:46 PM

After a month of stalking a soon-to-be-mine 300SD, i got up the berries to knock on the door and ask if it was for sale. Turns out it was, and at a decent price. The seller, a german guy named Klaus (had an accent and everything) went on and on about how great Mercedes are, and how you can't mickey mouse on the maintenance, blah blah etc etc.

Flash forward 1 week. I was in the middle of making the new Benz mine: new fluids, filters, detail, you know the routine. somehow i misplaced my 13mm open end wrench. Remembering a little bag in the trunk and Klaus' parting words: "ALWAYS keep some tools with you" i figured there must be a 13mm in there. I dump the contents of Klaus' road kit...

1 half inch box end
1 9/16 box end
a broken screwdriver
some rusted channelocks

yes, all my hopes that this guy took good care of the SD instantly vanished

Hatterasguy · #2 05-26-2007, 08:51 PM

One would think that he took all the good tools with him...

But yeah I know what you mean, most sellers are full of crap.

Matt L · #3 05-26-2007, 11:35 PM

I keep a cell phone and the number of my friendly local towing company. So far, I haven't needed it.

pawoSD · #4 05-27-2007, 09:59 AM

I'm pretty sure thats all that was there because Klaus didn't feel like giving away all his nice tools.

I sure wouldn't have.

dynamitejacket · #5 05-27-2007, 10:36 AM

i might have thought the same until i drained the maple syrup out of the trans, the 4 (yes 4) quarts of oil and reconnected the trans vac to the proper ports ( anyone ever seen it connected to the VCV vent?!!)

its not nice to bash old Klaus, im sure he meant well. Still, im quite sure i saves this old car's life!

Coming from the TDI planet, and after spending some time at mercedesshop, i must say: diesel drivers are good people. you all have helped me get the SD back on the road without breaking anything else

Stevo · #6 05-27-2007, 12:14 PM

I never give away my tools and I wouldn't expect anyone else too would either, but I do put a set of fuel filters in a zip lock in the trunk and remind the buyer to have tools "just in case"

Knightrider966 · #7 05-27-2007, 12:19 PM

Well I can tell you I would NOT give away any of my tools with a auto sale unless they were specifically for that auto and I would have no use for them once the auto was gone!

dynamitejacket · #8 05-27-2007, 01:05 PM

i wouldnt give any tools away either. Nor would i expect anyone else to. i think what bothers me is the fact that there were english tools in the trunk. yes, i know a 1/2 is equivalent (sort of) to a 13, but its the principle of the thing. most of my tools are english, having grown up driving chevys. buying a new metric tool whenever i want to work on the MB or the VW is a PITA, but i wouldnt let an english wrench near either of them. I got the warm fuzzies about buying a Benz from a real life German, but it appears that it didnt count for anything in this case.

Hatterasguy · #9 05-27-2007, 01:07 PM

Yeah I hear you, a lot of these cars are just driven and not taken care of. But when the owner is selling it that changes, it was detailed once a week and had the oil changed once a month.

vstech · #10 05-27-2007, 01:36 PM

when one of my well cared for cars goes up for sale, I can guarantee you will not be getting any of the standard tools that I keep in the trunk, but I also guarantee you won't be getting SAE tools sitting in the trunk either! the channel locks are forgiven because the O.E. tool kit also has a set in it. rusty tools are a sign of trunk leakage... look over the spare tire hold down nut for rust as well. look for signs of standing water in there.
John

bustedbenz · #11 05-27-2007, 01:49 PM

There's a chart with all the converstions into milimeters or something for all the metric and sae standard tools and a lot of them are close enough that it's really not necessary. For example, an 11/16 is so close to the requisite 17mm tire tools that I haven't found it necessary yet to get a 17mm tool... in fact I have some metric equipment, but if it happens to be a similar enough size, a metric car doesn't automatically send you running to the tool shop.

vstech · #12 05-27-2007, 02:08 PM

true, 13mm is a bit larger than 1/2, and 14 mm and 9/16" are pretty close 17mm and 11/16" are as well. but I would not be using them on my car, cause I am a tool guy.
my full set of 1/4" gear wrachets, 3/8" gear wrachets, and metric reversable gear wrenches will NOT be sold with the car!
John

tobybul · #13 05-27-2007, 04:42 PM

IMHO, the OE MBZ tools that came with the car ought to stay with the car. I know I would be asking for it during the deal. To me, its part of what gives the car its originality and value.

dynamitejacket · #14 05-27-2007, 05:20 PM

bummer the OE toolkit was missing from my SD. Although the OE first aid kit is still in the rear deck, its turned into a sort of yellow plastic brick.

all in all, the car has been pretty well maintained, or at least not abused. there were factory service records in the glovebox up until 168k, old Klaus was the second owner and it doesnt appear he drove it much, likely do to the mis-connected trans vac. when i bought it, he sez: "i think you're gonna need a new transmission, it doesnt shift out of first since i bought it"

some time on the forum, a fluid/filter change and a properly adjusted vacuum system and it shifts like a dream. i kinda feel bad for the PO, as he lives near me, and he has to see me cruising past his place all the time

Rashakor · #15 05-27-2007, 10:20 PM

i would not allowed any SAE tool near a Mercedes with the exception of a 3/8 wrench for the mounting bolt of the bloody Chrysler ACC unit (yes you need a 3/8 to unmount them, i fought enough of them to actually know that a 10mm wrench wont do it).

On the matter of the conversion only 11mm-7/16" and multiples (24mm and 36mm) are close enough to be used interchangeably to remove soft head bolt or rusted assemblies. You will fatally round a 17mm bolt with that 11/16" of yours, and this will happen in the worst location possible!!!
Now don't even try to pull that gambit with an Allen wrench. you will be sorely sorry...(when you have to pull out an engine to remove the starter!!!