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-   -   Proud new owner and grease bound (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/196961-proud-new-owner-grease-bound.html)

Bcollia 08-13-2007 12:23 AM

Proud new owner and grease bound
 
Hello fellow MB owners. I feel very privileged to finally be able to say that. I just bought my first MB last week from a family in West Bloomfield Hills, MI. He told me that this site is a requirement for all MB owners. I had been researching my purchase for quite sometime and this place came up in google searches quite a bit. We'll get to that story later, first I'll keep it to the one thing we all have in common, Mercedes Benz.

1981 300SD with 164k
http://bcollia.com/MB/front342.jpg

http://bcollia.com/MB/back2.jpg
http://bcollia.com/MB/engine.jpg
http://bcollia.com/MB/turbodiesel.jpg



Until last week I didn't know the body style code of the car I have wanted since childhood was a W126. Thankfully this site exists with answers to every possible question I could ever have. This is my first MB but after owning it for a week, I am positive it will not be my last.

Now a little personal history on what made me go the route of a diesel MB. This goes a bit beyond MB ownership so quit reading if you want to stay on the surface. Almost 2 years ago I was the passenger of an automobile accident. I fractured 12 bones and was in a coma for a month.

Http://bcollia.com/crash.jpg

I had quite a long inpatient stay for rehabilitation and still continue to this day as an outpatient. A few months later once I began to think straight, I told everyone that I had lost my love of cars and I was buying the biggest, safest thing I could and only driving when absolutely necessary. Although I was the passenger, something like that kinda leaves a mark and makes you not enjoy the source of the mark anymore. So I began my research. The first thing that came to mind was of course the H1 Hummer. But with gas prices rising above and beyond the $3.00 mark 12MPG just wasn't an option. So I started looking for ways to be able to compensate for that. One thing I have learned through the whole rehabilitation ordeal is that all it takes is a good compensation strategy for any obstacle you face. One of the therapist turned me on to veggie oil and turned the research into a task of writing up a report on the whole concept. Wow! I not only learned about how it's done, but also about the lifestyle and other advantages besides reduced fuel cost. I had found my way to afford driving the closest thing to a tank that I had deemed necessary for transportation. So I began on my quest to find a diesel 6.5L turbo H1. Well I quickly learned you can't touch on for less than 30k. A little to rich for my blood, pardon the pun. I went and test rode in a 1987 Military HUMVEE that someone had given the royal overhaul. I was in love, but the lowest he would go was $27k. So I started looking at more affordable options with safety being my primary objective, turbo diesel being the second. Volkswagen and Mercedes were really the only two options that met the criteria. Now I have wanted a "flag ship" Mercedes since the moment I set eyes on one many years ago. So the choice was obvious. I just realized that I have been typing for quite some time. If you are still reading this far, I apologize for the mile long post. I won't go into my obsession with cars. I was heading that way, but let's just leave it at the word caraholic. To hear the words "I lost my love of cars" come out of my mouth made some very close friends take extreme measures, but again that is a long story for another time. I should probably go get some rest. Ok now I'm rambling. I'll rap this up. Long story short, found a turbo diesel W126 in great condition. The previous owner showed this car the love and care it deserves. I plan to continue that. I am glad this place is here to make doing that job properly a little easier.

ForcedInduction 08-13-2007 12:37 AM

If you really do plan to love it. Greasing it should be the last thing you do.

TMAllison 08-13-2007 12:38 AM

Thats a nice lookin SD.

If you go veggie make certain to give it a good second heated tank system so it will be around for as many miles in the future as it gave it PO in the past.

pawoSD 08-13-2007 12:48 AM

Nice car! I commute to and from Lansing a few times a week, so maybe I'll see you sometime! :D What part of the city are you located in? :)

Anyways, welcome to the forum and welcome to the world of Mercedes. You can drive feeling safe and secure, these cars are truly tanks.

As for the veg oil.....I don't know if its such a good idea up here in the Arctic....you can only do it successfully a few months of the year, and the long lasting effects (and potential damage) to the engine by running veg oil remains fairly unknown. I was going to do it too....but decided a $5000 engine isn't worth saving the bit of money on fuel....so I run only normal diesel, and can be sure it will never harm the engine. I'll bet its not all that easy in these parts to find a good source of oil either....I looked before, and here in GR, its pretty much impossible to find, as the city takes it for free to their biodiesel facility....and they run their big trucks off of it. Not sure what the situation is in Lansing...I've never really checked it out. Late May through early September is the only time you'd really be able to run it anyways.

toomany MBZ 08-13-2007 03:56 AM

Welcome! Nice car. You'll find a wealth of info on the site. We like pics too.

LUVMBDiesels 08-13-2007 05:11 AM

Welcome to the obsession
 
Hi Bcollia,

Welcome to the site and to this crazy Diesel obsession we all share.

Make sure that you join the MB club of America (MBCA) as well.

I have to agree with the other guys and ask you to steer away from running straight veg oil. What I would do is to look into local biodiesel co-ops and join one. I would also limit the percentage of bio to no more than 20% for most of the year.

Oh one more thing, if you are running on regular petroleum diesel, get some lubricity additive such as Lucas to put in the tank as the new ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) does not meet MB standards for lubricity.

Use this forum and you will learn all sorts of cool ways to maintain and improve your new pride and joy.




vstech 08-13-2007 09:21 AM

Welcome fellow caraholic!
Now that you are a MB loyalist, prepare for the full gamut of information on these vehicles. first and formost, lets have a nice long thorough description of your new baby. full details from bumper to bumper. how does it run? any smoke? how quickly does it start without glowing? any rust near the jack points? any rust in the floor? have you checked under the back window inside the trunk?
oh, and drop that fear of long posts RIGHT NOW! we enjoy full descriptions, long ramblings and deep background postings. was that former car a prelude? from the pics, it looks like the side you were on was mangled seriously! looks like it took the jaws of life to get you out! glad you are a survivor! what hit you? I was in a major accident, but nothing like that! I was driving an astro van about 50MPH and a senile lady turned left right in front of me, no way to react at all. BARELY had time to tap the brakes before impact. it rolled that full frame front clip up like a sardine tin. I survived with seatbelt related injuries, nothing more. It sure was hard to approach any intersections for a year or so after that one...
anyway, be sure and get your car in perfect tune before you add a second tank and heaters to it.

grindMARC 08-13-2007 09:27 AM

I gotta disagree with these guys. Run it on VO!
While the cold temp presents some challenges, its nothing that you can't engineer around. For instance, a 26 plate flate plate heat exchanger rather than just the typical 16 plate. Add couple of electrical components (veg therm mega and some injector line heaters) to a typical system (tank heat exchanger and heated filter) and you should be fine. Careful with electrical draw, you might need to upgrade the alternator.

You're lucky to be alive. Did the car hit a guardrail? Please tell me you weren't street racing.
That one tire doesn't look like it has alot of tread on it. I guess it could have flat spotted in the crash.

tobybul 08-13-2007 11:41 AM

Welcome
 
As my signature says, if it ain't broke.....

Since I am not a real big fan of conversions, I guess I am for leaving it alone. I know that the car will run on filtered grease oil since I know someone in the area that does that. But probably only in the warm months.

Welcome to the forum...

Bcollia 08-13-2007 11:35 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome!

>how does it run? any smoke? how quickly does it start without glowing?

The car runs great. I'm still getting used to the diesel idle. :) Not anymore smoke than a typical diesel car. Second day I had the car I forgot to wait for the glow plug light and just started it and it started right up. About a one second delay.

>any rust near the jack points? any rust in the floor? have you checked under the back window inside the trunk?

I am so happy to say this. There is NO rust on the car. Zilch. The PO bought it from Arizona and immediately had it undercoated. I was wondering about where to get covers for the jack points to keep water out and maintain that rust free status.

>oh, and drop that fear of long posts RIGHT NOW! we enjoy full descriptions, long ramblings and deep background postings. was that former car a prelude? from the pics, it looks like the side you were on was mangled seriously! looks like it took the jaws of life to get you out! glad you are a survivor! what hit you?

Noted :) I'll try no to be a rambler though. That car was an Eclipse GST and yes it was severely mangled. They did use the jaws of life. I have a whole new respect for EMT's and the entire medical industry. I really do owe my life to many people. My buddy was driving like a dumbass and we ended up hitting a stopped car. I don't remember quite sometime before and seriously foggy about the year after.

Quote:

get some lubricity additive such as Lucas
I gave it the full Lucas treatment the second it got in my garage. ATF, Oil additive and gas treatment. Lucas is some awesome stuff. Goes in all my cars as soon as I get em.

Quote:

Make sure that you join the MB club of America (MBCA) as well.
Looked into it. What are the advantages? Is it worth the $45 a year? The site didn't really say much, let alone sell me on it.

Quote:

As my signature says, if it ain't broke.....
That is one of my favorite sayings. Right along with "If it's broke don't fix it, modify it." With the Mercedes I'm surprised that I want to keep everything all original. It is just down right classy.

Again I have to get some sleep, but I plan to be back with more info and future plans for the car tomorrow.

ForcedInduction 08-13-2007 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bcollia (Post 1591520)
Looked into it. What are the advantages? Is it worth the $45 a year? The site didn't really say much, let alone sell me on it.

Not really. You get the Star magazine and a few other minor things.

There is no need for lubricity additives. The whole ULSD "issue" is a marketing scare tactic to sell unneeded things.

bgkast 08-13-2007 11:54 PM

Looks like a nice one. If worst comes to worst it should hold up better than a ricer too. :D

Bcollia 08-14-2007 04:46 AM

Quote:

marketing scare tactic to sell unneeded things
Gotta love those, God bless America. I see you'll be celebrating the holiday. I have a cake all lined up. That's honestly one of the main reasons I'm so pumped about WVO. My way of flipping the bird.

Quote:

Looks like a nice one. If worst comes to worst it should hold up better than a ricer too.
Amen to that.

toomany MBZ 08-14-2007 05:02 AM

On the MBCA front, you're experience will depend on many variables. The mag is nice, some sections have tech sessions, other types of GTG's. Meet other folks interested in MB's, that sort of thing.

RichC 08-14-2007 06:45 AM

Hello, and welcome to the forum...
 
.

Hello Bcollia :)

Welcome to the forum.
Nice looking car.
I really think these are some of the safest cars on the road.

Your picture of the wrecked car reminds me of mine. (1977 Camaro)
I was standing in the junkyard for the first time looking at it,
after getting out of the hospital.
The person next to me said "poor guy"
I told him I was the guy in the car.
He actually took two steps back, jaw dropped, eyes opened wide.
He said "dam your lucky"
I said "yep" and just stood there.
I was a heavy drinker at the time and passed out at the wheel.
Hit a concrete embankment head on.
Soooo, very glad, and lucky I did not hit someone else!!!!!

I see you have met some of the veggie oil nay sayers.
Pay no mind to them, seriously.

I have yet had any of them come up with any hard evidence,
that veggie oil destroys anything about these cars.
I am thinking about putting up a $100.00 reward for proof of harm done to an engine.

The guys that seem to protest the most against veggie oil,
are the ones that have no experience running it at all.

And I think some may be more interested in the number of posts they have,
rather than their content.

I have been running veggie for a while now.
No problems, other than putting up with the nay sayers !!!
Lots of opinions with little facts with some of the folks here.

And please guys if we are going to have another veggie oil war,
lets do it in private, not in this guys post.
PM me, don't post it here, OK !!!

Check out,
http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/eve/forums
I am RichC there also.
Lots of good people, and good information about veggie oil.

Have Fun with the car.
Never mind the Bullocks!!
RichC
:joker:


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