Why I prefer MB diesels - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JackG · #1 02-09-2008, 09:22 AM

Mercedes
are maintained..........american are repaired
are broken in @ 200k............american are broken down @ 200k
become part of the family.........american are like a redheaded step child
become classic.................american get old
are theraputic.................american become a PITA
are retored................american are trashed
are loved.............american are tolerated till lease is up
are impressive..........amercan are depressive

feel free to add to this list
now I gotta go "repair" the jeep

LilTimmy · #2 02-09-2008, 11:30 AM

Though I do admit that if MB made a pickup I'd probably have one, I am very fond of my Chev 1 ton turbodiesel. After learning to get around its quirks it has been very reliable and takes all the abuse I throw at her and asks for more. 220k and it runs and drives more like it has 50k. Ugly as sin but I wouldn't have it any other way.

JimmyL · #3 02-09-2008, 11:58 AM

I certainly haven't named my American cars, or my Japanese though.
Oh, and reading back over your list, you very first listing couldn't be more wrong. You don't think these idiot cars are "repaired"????

I'd say often!

zeke · #4 02-09-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackG

now I gotta go "repair" the jeep

My wife's cherokee took a week for the professionals at Brake Check to "repair" - cost us $1000 and 2 weeks in brakes in a single year.

Both my Jeep loving neighbor and one of the technicians at BC said "Oh that 4.0L I6 was the best engine they ever made - it'll last 400,000 miles!" I said maybe, but the problem is everything around it will fall apart well before 200,000 miles.

We sold the jeep last month and replaced it with a 300TD

bgkast · #5 02-09-2008, 01:50 PM

I have to say I am impressed with my '86 F250 Diesel. It has held up as well as the Mercedes of the era and is just as easy (if not eaiser) to work on. (And parts are DIRT cheap).

Hatterasguy · #6 02-09-2008, 02:43 PM

Adjusted for inflation my SDL cost $80k new, and it has probably needed an average of $2k a year through its 21 year life to stay on the road. So keeping a 300SDL for 21 years will cost you $122k.

My dad paid about $18k for his F150 back in 1994, did hardly anything to it, and sold it for $2k. So the totaly cost to drive it for 14 years was probably $20k+/-.

His new truck had a sticker of $19k, and a new S550 is about $100k-$105k.

My point is that they cost 5-6 times as much to own so they had better be better!

JackG · #7 02-09-2008, 03:10 PM

I cannot believe you duys are actually comparing a
fine car, such as a w123.........with a FORD P/U

OH THE PAIN

Hatterasguy · #8 02-09-2008, 04:07 PM

Just cents per mile.

94mgm · #9 02-09-2008, 04:28 PM

What a load of BS. Americans often love to hate American for no reason. Mercedes build good cars AND crap cars, so does the american manufacturers. Keep it real.

JackG · #10 02-09-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94mgm

What a load of BS. Americans often love to hate American for no reason. Mercedes build good cars AND crap cars, so does the american manufacturers. Keep it real.

I can tell by your lack of signature that you are real proud of your stable

lutzTD · #11 02-09-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

Care to elaborate on which "crap cars" MB produced?

I love my american cars, I currently have an Excursion Diesel, an 01 Jeep TJ with a hemi and a 70 mustang. Ive had a 98 explorer, a 74 camaro, a 69 mustang a 70 maverick. I currently have done more work to the mercedes than any of these cars except the Jeep which I did the motor swap. Lumping all of anything together in a broad statement is inherently inaccurate. BTW, isnt there a MB diesel with the loving nickname of "rodbender"

I conside simple design to be the mark of a truely well engineered product. I think MB overdesigns things to the point of being ludicrous. Why would anyone design a car that will shift terrible because a vacuum dashpot ruptures in a seat back lock that could have just as easily been a simple mechanical catch. (82 300cd vacuum seatback latch

) same goes for the fuel door the trunk latch the door locks and the ACC actuators.

lutzTD · #12 02-09-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

Yes the 3.5 is called the rodbender- but most do not do this. I was asking which model "you" would call a "crap car".

actually I think the guy i quoted said that, I was just pointing out that no marque is flawless, if the american cars of the 80's were 40-50K then it would be a fair comparison, but I think they were almost an order of magnitude less expensive so I would expect to see this reflected in longevity and any other measuring point. To be honest for a 40K car mine has some pretty cheap plastic parts too.

t walgamuth · #13 02-09-2008, 07:36 PM

Although the 3.5 is a rodbender it is nothing in the junk department like such GM classics as:
1. The vega aluminum motor which eventually was replaced with the ancient design Iron Duke.
2. The poorly executed porsche/ vw clone corvair motor which would blow oil fumes into the passenger compartment even when less than one year old.
3. Various Mouse motors which periodically get batches of cams which round off lobes prematurely.
4. Bottom ends on chevy motors which rattle at 100k miles.
5. the Buick V6 which cracked heads back in the seventies.
6. don't even get me started on the CRAP diesels GM built.

Mercedes has had only one bad engine in the last fifty years.

Other mfgrs:
1. BMW cracked heads for no reason on the early sixes in the seventies.
2. Hondas cracked heads in the seventies.
3. Mazdas cracked heads in the eighties.
4. Nissans cracked heads in the eighties.
5. Ford diesels cracked main bearings on 6.9 and 7.4 engines.

Mercedes built an excellent car. I believe they still do from a mechanical and safety standpoint. Unfortunately they are nothing special when it comes to electronic gizmos and modern cars have more than their share of that CRAP.

Tom W

lutzTD · #14 02-09-2008, 07:44 PM

food for thought, my Excursion had 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty. didnt have to use it. I was at Mercedes today buying a primer pump and next to the service counter was a sign saying 25,000 warranty for transmissions and 50,000 warranty on engine. also, the waiting room was far from empty.

granted mercedes are nice cars, but they are expensive. they are getting better with the c class offerings, but the cars we drive were 5-10x more expensive than their contemporaries. I just think we should reflect on this when comparisons are made.