I've Just About Had It! (LONG, RANT) - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#61 01-07-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

"This can be a very expensive proposition if you wish to return the vehicle to manufacturer's specifications. Do not purchase one of these vehicles if you are looking for trouble free transportation. You will either spend a large pile of cash, many hours, or both.........unless you choose to drive it as a beater..........with many vehicle functions not properly working."

Good point, we can use your version.

#62 01-07-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn D.

When someone pays the bills and does the work for me, then they can call my complaining "whining."

complaining = whining

Really, based on what you've described you little adventure is just beginning. If you are complaining/whining after a couple of months, you will be very unhappy after a couple of years of routinely fixing $500-1000 nits on these cars.

Trust me, it will get worse before it gets better. I though my car was in decent condition when I bought it (and it was), but I probably spent an initial $2 or 3000 over the first year just to get the basics sorted out. At some point you just have to keep up with the new issues, but it never goes away.

Seriously, if you don't want to deal with this stuff, go buy a 3 year old civic.

Shawn D. · #63 01-07-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

complaining = whining

Really, based on what you've described you little adventure is just beginning. If you are complaining/whining after a couple of months...

Seriously, if you don't want to deal with this stuff, go buy a 3 year old civic.

Uhh... 14 months > a couple of months.

A moderate-sized RWD wagon and a FWD econocar ain't the same animal, so I'll toss your Civic suggestion onto the pile with the already-suggested 240d and VW Beetle.

If I hadn't wanted a RWD wagon and hadn't been interested in SVO/WVO, I would have never considered a 300td. Based on my vehicular desires, the choices are limited -- I didn't want an SUV or minivan.

dieselschnell · #64 01-07-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

Before I do any job on the cars I own I take apart a junkyard car for free.

I have to agree here-I learned a ton of stuff parting out the 400e that I bought a ton of parts off of-it's nice when you can break something to find out how not to break it the next time

.

DS

#65 01-07-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn D.

If I hadn't wanted a RWD wagon and hadn't been interested in SVO/WVO, I would have never considered a 300td.

Sorry, I missed the SVO/WVO piece; I would have stayed out of the thread.

Shawn D. · #66 01-07-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

Sorry, I missed the SVO/WVO piece; I would have stayed out of the thread.

Well, that was one of the reasons I got the car, but that idea has fallen by the wayside since then. I've got too much other stuff going on, the effort/benefit ratio isn't worth it right now, and more and more knowledgeable folks have posted some good reasons not to do it. I don't need to get ragged on even more by folks who are in the anti-SVO/WVO camp!

delgadoduvidoso · #67 01-07-2008, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn D.

4) Installed new front sway bar bushings. Thanks to MB’s design, replacing the driver’s side bushing takes hours instead of minutes. PITA #3

20) Not the last, but the lead up to the last PITA – rebuilding the front suspension. In mid-December, I decided to replace the lower control arm bushings, thrust rod-to-control arm bushings, and lower ball joints, since all exhibited signs of serious wear. Of course, to do this, you need an MB factory spring compressor – PITA #14. Thankfully, a local friend lent me one. I pressed in the new bushings with a hydraulic press – no problem. To R&R the lower ball joint, you have to remove the spindle, which is sort of a PITA by itself, but that means you also have to remove the brakes, which makes this PITA #15. Now, to remove the lower ball joint, you can use an impact gun, but the “alcove” the ball joint sits in means that you have to use either a factory or some other specialized tool – PITA #16. I had to wait 18 hours until I could rent a specialized press – PITA #17.

-Shawn

This is what has been kicking my butt lately. I began the rebuild procedure and after six hours and trips to three different stores in Athens to find the proper spring compressor, I ended up with only one UCA changed out. I've knocked out front end rebuilds on E34's and E30's in a day before. , but this car put a hurt on me. I have access to a lift and a lot of specialized tools, but this was a far more difficult procedure than on other cars I've dealt with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn D.

9) Diagnosed and fixed the HVAC system. PITA #8. I will say, though, that once fixed, the system works extremely well. I just wish I could control it manually instead of being at the mercy of what the rudimentary brain decides is the best air flow pattern.

I need to do this as well. So far I've re-soldered the CCU, but with no luck. I'd like to hear about your experience sometime.

#68 01-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn D.

Well, that was one of the reasons I got the car, but that idea has fallen by the wayside since then. I've got too much other stuff going on, the effort/benefit ratio isn't worth it right now, and more and more knowledgeable folks have posted some good reasons not to do it. I don't need to get ragged on even more by folks who are in the anti-SVO/WVO camp!

Nope, I just stay out of the whole debate.

Regarding your car, you just have to decide if it's worth the effort/expense to you. Obviously, most of us here do think it's worthwhile.

Shawn D. · #69 01-07-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delgadoduvidoso

I need to do this as well. So far I've re-soldered the CCU, but with no luck. I'd like to hear about your experience sometime.

I re-soldered the CCU and relay box as well, but most of the effort was spent isolating and testing each solenoid, tube run, and diaphragm. The close quarters in the console didn't help, and as I tested one thing, other circuits would become disconnected. Having a Mityvac is a must.

vahe · #70 01-07-2008, 11:53 AM

I've Just About Had It! (LONG, RANT), that happened to me with my 1981SD, bought that car for my wife, it had about 110k miles when I got the car, what I learned years later despite the fact that I did a pre-purchase mechanical check, was the fact that I had purchased a totally neglected and abused automobile, it was a pain from day one, one thing after another, finally one day I drove the car to a Houston wholesale pace and sold it on the spot for $800, boy what a relief when they drove that **** away, I was reborn.

My 240D 77 manual, which I am driving now for about 24 years is the exact opposite of that sick SD, I do minor repairs on this car but have a specialty shop do lots of preventive maintenance on this car, in the past 6 years I have spent about $10K with no regrets, this includes new motor from dealer, complete rust proofing and paint job etc.

High maintenance is very much part of every MB, even the very basic 240D is pretty darn complicated car with many stupid design flaws that only German engineers can produce, the case in point is the totally hopeless design philosophy of the vacuum system on 123 cars, a system with no redundancy built into it.

Vahe

Hatterasguy · #71 01-07-2008, 12:23 PM

I have just come to the conclusion that if I want to drive a nice Mercedes its going to cost me $2k-$3k a year in repairs. Unless I buy a new one with a warranty, then it will cost me $1,000 a month.

Its really just a question of its it worth it to you? I enjoy these cars very much, and if it takes a few grand a year to do so I am okay with that. When/if it starts to bother me I will purchase an Acura or Lexus.

Like I have posted many times, Mercedes promises many things in there advertising, being cheap to buy and own is not one of them.

Hatterasguy · #72 01-07-2008, 12:35 PM

MB are different from other cars, once you get used to them they are very simple to repair.

Ever work on a Rolls Royce? Talk about shocking they are nothing like any other car on the road. You should see the brake set up on the older ones, they use rods insted of hydrolic lines.

obwielnls · #73 01-07-2008, 12:42 PM

While I agree there are things on a MB that are hard to repair/replace that could have been made easier, There are MANY other things that are easier to do than other cars. I just spend 4 HOURS changing the spark plugs in my wife's expedition. Something I can do on my 300E is a few minutes. Its all a trade off. Out of all of our cars, its the 300TD that we fight over to drive..

MTUpower · #74 01-07-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delgadoduvidoso;

This is what has been kicking my butt lately. I began the rebuild procedure and after six hours and trips to three different stores in Athens to find the proper spring compressor, I ended up with only one UCA changed out. I've knocked out front end rebuilds on E34's and E30's in a day before. , but this car put a hurt on me. I have access to a lift and a lot of specialized tools, but this was a far more difficult procedure than on other cars I've dealt with.
I need to do this as well. So far I've re-soldered the CCU, but with no luck. I'd like to hear about your experience sometime.

I find this funny because I see it in the marine trade. A mechanic works on one steering system, or another steering system, and when they come to a different system with preconceptions about the job, it takes much longer than those that come with no preconceptions and just read the directions. I am a yacht systems mechanic, and a captain. About as similar as you can get to a automotive mechanic without being in the same field. Now here's Hatteras Guy's take on it:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy;

MB are different from other cars, once you get used to them they are very simple to repair.

You are new to MB's- take Hattie's word for it; and listen to BC and others. Sorry you are having PITA's.