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Take steps to protect your car during service
I blame myself!! Now, while the persons tinting the windows on China today did the actual damage, I simply should have prepared for this. I offer this post for yall to think about prior to having things done to your car.
China's interior is in pretty good shape. The back seat was really clean with no tears and most importantly, NO SPLIT SEAMS!! Now, I knew the padding in the upper back seat was getting crunchy, and I knew the window tinting dudes would be back there, but I didn't know what a dick-hammering it all would take. Sadly, in hindsight, I should have removed the rear seat, upper and lower prior to taking it for tinting. Tough lesson...... Here is what I was left with after tinting. Notice the wrinkles in the seat back, and the now non-straight line the top of the seat back is in: Also, there wasn't a split seam to be found anywhere. Now: Also, you can't really tell from this pic as I had it tucked in briefly, but they broke off the forward most tip of the inner C-pillar cover. The fabric doesn't stay on, and also it doesn't stay flat against the side of the car. And I'm guessing this will clean off, but tint guys just firehose the inside of the car to lube up the glass, and the medical kit cover was perfectly clean and even-colored before today. I called the owner and let him know what happened, that I wasn't pleased, and that they should be more careful before ruining the next old car. He was a bit defensive and mentioned the reason I was having the windows tinted was the years of baking the car interior, especially the rear shelf and seat. He also was not an A-hole in any way. He is also an '85 mile round trip away. So, like I said, I mostly blame myself. I could have prevented this. I'm not gonna waste time blaming others. Actually, they did a great job tinting the windows, and I would actually use them again if needed. But I would take steps to prepare "for the worst"..... In the meantime I will keep my eyes open for a rear seat back in I think it's called Sand Pebble, or some-such....
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Jimmy L. '05 Acura TL 6MT 2001 ML430 My Spare Gone: '95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black '85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White '80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed '81 300TD 240K "Smash" '80 240D 230K "The Squash" '81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John |
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What's the story with the ring? Are you the Boss Hogg of Sunnyvale, Tx or something? No bull horn plans for China as of yet?
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k 1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k 1980 240D Stick China 188k 2001 CLK55 AMG 101k 2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!! |
#3
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I wouldn't know what a pair of boots even felt like, but I do have 2 roosters and 2 very nervous hens...... Just say "No" to the Texan stereo-type. And Boss Hogg was far from Texan. Wrong part of the South..... Yall telling me somebody doesn't have a Cali or Florida ring?
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Jimmy L. '05 Acura TL 6MT 2001 ML430 My Spare Gone: '95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black '85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White '80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed '81 300TD 240K "Smash" '80 240D 230K "The Squash" '81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John |
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That stinks. I think I would complain to the manager. RichC .
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When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. Jimi Hendrix |
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Don't forget Kansas Sterotypes. Yeah, Hazzard county, Ga, right? Just kidding around. I'll be driving through Dallas in the 300d March 18 and 22. I would love see your fleet and buy a lunch to thankyou for the help these past months.
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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k 1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k 1980 240D Stick China 188k 2001 CLK55 AMG 101k 2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!! Last edited by TylerH860; 03-02-2008 at 01:26 AM. |
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I have certainly been lucky to meet so many of the Texas folks, along with some Okies and a few Louisiana people. Oh, and the Michigan refugee......
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Jimmy L. '05 Acura TL 6MT 2001 ML430 My Spare Gone: '95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black '85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White '80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed '81 300TD 240K "Smash" '80 240D 230K "The Squash" '81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John |
#7
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I know how you feel. I think most of us would rather no one else touch our cars with regards to maintenance or repair. Maybe you feel like you let the old girl down letting those guys manhandle her the way they did. Emotional bond sometimes with these cars, especially if they are really old or you've saved them from oblivion and made them nice again. My 240D is a Texas car and looks exactly like yours except my interior is black. The thing I struggle with is that every time I fix something I find something else that needs attention.
Kevin 1978 300D 1979 240D |
#8
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I always hate when the people at service places (tires, windshield, etc...) are too dumb to start a diesel properly. When I had mine in for a tire rotation they just hop in after its been sitting there an hour, and crank away, no glow....so it rotates 10-12 times, then blasts to life with an enormous-diesel-stereotype-fulfilling cloud of gray/black smoke rather than a clean quick start. Very annoying. I have made an instruction sheet that I put on the steering wheel explaining the glow cycle now. Also, I try to explain it to the person beforehand....usually they " " at me, and then I have to start it for them to demonstrate. Its sad.
As for the seats....that seems to happen to the tex on occasion. My dad's SD had a mint interior when he got it, now the passenger front seat looks like that, the stitching came apart on the base and looks wavy. Used to be perfect. Oh well. Part of the endless maintenance. Personally I am on the hunt for a nice interior out of a later W126 so I can swap in a nicer setup....a cloth euro interior would be the best thing ever, but I doubt I'll ever find one. Both euro cars around here I've seen have had leather.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life- '15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800) '17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k) '09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k) '13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k) '01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km) '16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k) |
#9
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That is really crappy. Specially since they caused so much damage (tint looks nice though). Yea I definitely have an emotional bond with my 240D. Heck i wont even let anyone drive the car. Not my brothers or parents, while i have let them drive my Infiniti before. I just feel that anyone who hasn't owned one of these cars wont relieze the quarks of the car and end up messing something up. My car is also a Texas car, but must have been garaged as there is no oxidation.
Along with the whole "quarks" of the cars, I absolutely hate taking my car into a repair shop (unless there Mercedes specific) as i have had numerous dumb sh!!s do something stupid. Most notable is the parking brake. My car is manual, you can clearly see that when you get in the car. Also i never leave my car in gear because of it being able to crank while in gear (not like new cars were you have to push the clutch in for the starter to engage). Thus i must have a parking brake on right? Well i can't tell you how many time these kids have popped my clutch or tryed driving with it on. I walk over, reach in the window and pull the knob. There are so many other things as well, that i have just screw it and done most of the work myself. Saves money anyways
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1983 Euro 240D 277K 2016 Mazda 6 Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec Formers: 2012- Mazda 3 2007 Outlander- complete pile 1995 E300 Diesel 208K 2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD 2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K 2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000 2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold 1984 300 turbo diesel 222K |
#10
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Jimmy;
Have you tried wrapping your finger tightly with dental floss from the ring outward toward and over the knuckle and then lubricate it with very soapy water? We have removed rings in the operating room using this technique before procedures. Your other option is to buy a ring cutter if you really want to remove it. John
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Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) 2002 F250 powerstroke with Plantdrive WVO conversion 1983 300SD 190K miles ,sold 2006 E320 CDI |
#11
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I love the ring!
Though the diamond definitely doesn't indicate the part of the state most like a precious gem I do have boots and hats, but the only jewelry I wear is my wedding band. and no livestock or oil derricks in my yard
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Current Mercedes 1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed Gone and fondly remembered: 1980 orient red 240D 4-speed Gone and NOT fondly remembered: 1982 Chna Blue 300TD Other car in the stable: 2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT |
#12
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Working on old cars is tough things tend to break.
Thats why I only let the dealer and one local tire shop touch my car. If I have to explain the glow cycle to someone who is supposed to do anything on my car, they don't get to work on it. Last fall I went to Sears to get an estimate for tires on the Jetta, and they guy eyed the SDL and tried to sell me new tires for it. I'm like no you guys don't get to touch that car. Maybe one day when your tire guy gets good enough to work for MB of North Haven he will get to work on it.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#13
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Can you redo the foam?
Jimmy,
I was at the FW PNP today. Was your donor car the maroon one? That was the only 123 today. Looks like good MBtex on the back seat but the same issue with the foam feels crumbly. Those covers don't look too hard to R&R. Couldn't you refoam (use closed cell) in two steps with the first making the ridge pieces and #2 glue them to a solid second layer? Just a thought. BTW went back to the other PNP and found all my blue interior items (assuming a 116 has the same seats - I measured). Gave up on the 190 idea. Charles |
#14
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#15
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I hope the seats fit!
__________________
Jimmy L. '05 Acura TL 6MT 2001 ML430 My Spare Gone: '95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black '85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White '80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed '81 300TD 240K "Smash" '80 240D 230K "The Squash" '81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John |
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