Maybe the saying should go "there is nothing more of a PITA than a cheap Mercedes" rather than "there is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes."

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1985 MBZ 300DT
1969 MBZ 220d
1984 MBZ 300TDT
1981 VW Vanagon

Right there is the cause of your frustration.
We love them because.....well they are addictive.
We know that when we do have to a major job like a front end rebuild, that we will never have to do it again to that car.
We love them because when the work is done, we can go anywhere without question
the sense of security is second to none
We love them cause they fill our weekends with tinkering....weekends that would otherwise be spent with the wife.
We love them because they have become part of us....family so to speak.
I have sold a few and it hurts bad if you let them get too close.
But mostly we just love them because...............



well, I said enough

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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

Nice looking coupe!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The one big complaint I have with MB and high end cars is that if they expect you to pay 50K 60K for a new car diesel or gasser or even over 100K that car should not have any trouble ever. Especially electrical you should not be nickled and dimed. What are you paying for anyway?

IMHO its all hype Im just glad MB and VW have kept up the battle to keep Diesel engines in our US markets in passenger cars. This is why I drive a MB.

The CRD jeep liberty Italian made diesel engine can out tow any jeep gasser even the 5.7...

Your paying for disc brakes and independent suspension all around in the late 70's, you are paying for aluminum insted of plastic backed interior parts. You are paying for advanced(for the day) safety features. You are paying for very expensive R&D, and materials. You are paying for expensive tropical wood that is built on an aluminum sandwich so you don't split your head on it in a crash, ect, ect.

Nothing mechanical is perfect, things break.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Well, the puller from AutoZone didn't work, but a pickle fork did. After a crude string-based alignment and short drive, it's evident that the guide rod mounts need to be replaced... the saga continues.

Thanks

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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

My CD needed a similar long list of repairs, but with each one I noticed the parts are so heavy duty that I won't be facing that repair again for at least 120K miles. With my car I went over the repair "hump" about 3 months ago and ever since its only needed oil changes.

With all my past old cars I found that once they're straightened out you can expect to enjoy many years of relatively trouble-free service.

Hang in there, and you will be rewarded.

Bert

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'81 300CD - 180K, cannot be killed by any conventional means
'99 Ford Escort - good MPG

Its the waking up and knowing you have a new greasy project to tackle ,its gets in your blood like a sickness .
I really had my second thoughts on buying my first MB ,THE CAR HAD 3 YEARS OF LEAF soot all over her,it was a pitiful site.I was surprised after reving it up after initial start that the motor was strong ,looks can be decieving with these cars.Washed down the windshield and took down the road for a test drive ,sold.For $600. I had a decent 78 300td .The front end was in desperate need of repair , not to hard.The seats were fun to change out ,what a difference a good set makes, a window fix here and their, Even the paint cleaned up nicely .5 cars later ,Im still hooked.Tackle the maintenece issues first ,drivability is a must ,keep it simple and cheap by doing most repairs yourself ,the ones you feel leary of doing , price out through 4 or 5 shops.The labor of love is sometimes mixed with hate ,but Im an MB MASACIST.

well- now you can buy all the special tools to fix everything, and keep buying MBZ's!

it's always easier to fix the second time around, you already know exactly what needs to be done.

I did rear wheel bearings- the first time it took all day plus some. and I still screwed up one- had to replace it after 12K. that only took an hour and a half. so there is a curve.

At least the front bearings will get fresh grease every-time the rotors need service.

I am confounded by the sway bar's on these- I replaced the entire bar on the TD. it was not so bad as some made it out to be-at least its not a 126- completed the job+ my first valve adjustment (regular wrenches,too) in a day. still, it could be easier to access.


but- how many wagons can you load 1000lbs into and drive down the road w/ out even a squat!? these cars are awesome. mine is my work truck. I have a receiver hitch, and tow a few different trailers. with the SLS, tongue weight barely matters. rock solid towing.

but, they still can get you down.

the ACC systems are #@.

vacuum locks?? WTF!

cruise control-HA!

air conditioning-nope.

what's a rear wiper??

but, when I get frustrated, I will just walk away, it will still be sitting there, waiting to be fixed tomorrow.


now take some time to drive the thing, and enjoy it. especially that rear wiper

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

Most of what you've listed sounds pretty typical. As others have said, any 20 year old car is going to require a few $1000 and/or plenty of work to get it sorted out. If you buy a well maintained car it will be easier, but there will still be plenty of things that need attention. After a couple/few years you will get to the point where you are "caught up" and you can start dealing with new things as they come up. At that point, there is significantly less time/money required.

These cars are about as easy to work on as anything I know of (except maybe an air-cooled VW or a 50/60s vintage domestic).

I can not disagree with anything you posted. And its the reason why ive dumped about $3K in a suspension rebuild by my mechanic. It was such a PITA for me to get anything done without special tools.

Luckily the W124 has a better brake setup that makes it easier to swap rotors. Only one alen bolt holds it in, none of this bearing removal nonsense.

I dont think youve gotten a neglected car as some have said, at 300K miles you should need a suspension rebuild. Shoot i think you should start at 200K, the suspension on my W124 collapsed at around 260K. And the car wasnt neglected what so ever. The bushings just wear out.

I bet you alot of other forum members have suspensions in the same condition as yours but just leave it as it is. I know my dad's W123 is in need of a suspension rebuild BAD (he is nearing 500K) But he is to stubborn to fix it. Although he should know better from seeing my W124 suspension basically falling out from under itself.

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

21) While rebuilding the suspension as per #20 above, I discovered the outer tie rods were bad. I obtained the tie rods earlier this week and just this evening played shuffle-the-cars to get the 300td in the garage so I could get them in. I have a tie rod popper that works on my ’57 Chevy, both my BMWs, and worked on my Porsche 914, Chevy G30-based motorhome, AMC Eagle, an ex’s Honda Accord, and a neighbor’s Nissan truck. Well, surprise, surprise – it doesn’t work on a W123! PITA #18! Why, why, why do so many things have to be PITAs and/or require specialized tools?

The straw is just about to hit the camel’s back. I’ve given this car more TLC than it’s had in the last fifteen years, but I’ve just about had it. I’m sick of the specialized tools and R&Ring things that shouldn’t be R&Red to get to other things. I’m sick of the leaks which have made my driveway look like a Dalmatian and keep popping up like I’m playing Whack-A-Leak. Too bad for me that I’m a picky engineer-gearhead who wants to fix everything, but good for the next owner who’s going to get a car that’s pretty much been wrung out. By itself, this tie rod issue would not be a big deal, but this is the proverbial straw. I’m torn by frustration and the desire not to let a mechanical object “beat” me.


The tie rods are the last bit of decorative icing on a sooty cake recipe. Maybe I can stir the batter with the new-CV-joint style axle I have to install to match the other. Yay!

I just don't get it -- why do Y'all love these cars so much? Are the benefits really worth the cost in frustration? Thanks in advance for explaining to me why these cars are loved so much!



-Shawn[/QUOTE]

Lol just use a pickle fork man. I got one to borrow if you want.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I can't do most of what you did, but I have to agree that these cars are not easy to work on. Can't get a socket wrench anywhere, hardly any room to actually turn the box end wrench, blah blah blah.
The only thing I've enjoyed doing since I've had it are the oil changes since I'm done in two minutes.

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1984 300TD

Hey Shawn,
Curious if you have any photos available of your TD, I'd love to see them.
After being such a devotee of the BMW e28 for so many years, I think it is neat that you chose to take on a w123 diesel wagon. Kudos!