I reference to this thread, I hit my local MD dealer for 603 rings and one new piston.

"That'll be $1,200 before tax for the rings and piston only, Mr. Ladd."

"Nevermind," said I.

I then left feeling dejected, about ready to consign my engine to the scrap heap. I mean, C'mon, $180 for rings for one piston?

"Well hell, I wonder if maybe Phil can help me?," I says to myself.

So $998 later, Phil is overnighting (on his dime, he called me back to say he rush shipped it!!) a piston, rings, 6 cylinder sleeves, overhaul gasket set and a few other needed engine rebuild sundries.

Thanks Phil!!!

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1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

LOL! The thread title got me ... although I do agree that Phil rocks much harder than most. I've always been a very happy customer when dealing with Fastlane.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

is what you call customer service.

I'll be down in Port City before too long, we have to meet for a coffee and Krispy Kreem.

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

Right on. Might get you to bring me five injector nozzles!

'Course you might have to visit me in debtor's prison by the time I'm through with the SDL.

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1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

will save on shipping. Dad lives on Oak Isl. and we have some friends in the music scene (now more in the special effects business) and are looking for any excuse to come back. When they turned "Hell's Kitchen" from Dawson's Creek into a real bar, did it stay in business?

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

Hell's Kitchen is still open. Think they do pretty well.

Half price wings on Sundays.

Lux- Do you know of any decent mechanics in town?

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'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

I am feeling a GTG is coming sooooooooon. We are due for another one in NC. We had one in Cary last summer. Twist my arm to hit the beach with a bunch of Benzs. Ft Fischer anyone?

Perhaps I should just change my name to Thread Highjacker.........

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NC Benz
Fuquay-Varina, NC
1979 300D
1983 300D Turbo 260,000 Miles
1984 300D Turbo 345,000 Miles (sons car)
OBK #31
1998 Ford Expedition 5.4l (fer Haulin'!) 145,000
1973 19' SeaRay with 115 Mercury TOWER OF POWER!
Club Car Golf Cart 36V
Ex toys:
1967 Mustang 289 (First Car)
Fiat 124TC
1975 Honda CVCC
1980 Audi 5000 Turbo

I use David Counts for a lot of mechanical stuff. I do wiring at his shop and buildings his family owns, so he lets me use his lift and tools from time-to-time.

He's a great mechanic and works on old Mercedes a lot. Not sure if he's savvy to the particulars of the 617, but I have seen him reseal a VW pickup IP on his bench and have it running like a top an hour or so later.

He's on Wrightsville behind the Smudged Pot. Not Dave's VW service, which is in the same building. Dave has a immaculate 300SD that he's done all the work on, so he's probably another good source. I hear he's a VW ace also.

People tell me Smitty's a great mechanic and has been wrenching on these things for 30 plus years. I've never had him work on anything, though, just get used parts from him.

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1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

Who? I'm part of that scene, too!

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1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

Fastlane Phil rocks rough and tuff with his afro puffs.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

Sounds good to me, now that I'm at college I might actually be able to grab a free weekend and go to one of these things.

To keep this from being a hijack, I'll give some extra credit points to Phil as well.... a few weeks ago he put up with quite a lot of confusing and counterproductive emails from my dad and me (as we tried to decide what we were asking him for) and ended up getting us precisely the special sunroof parts to get it working again!

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

My parts are here already!!

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1998 E300 +310,000K
1996 E300 +460,000K

Phil is the best and consistently provides amazing customer service, thanks again Phil!