I'm flying out to AZ on July 6 to buy a 300SD. This car is in near-mint condition and everything checks out. I even called the repair place listed on carfax thats worked on it since it was new, they said that the car would have no problems making the trip. But, just in case, is anyone around willing to help out if I run into trouble? I'm taking I-10 from Phoenix until I-20 splits off and following I-20 all the way back to Atlanta.

__________________
Ich liebe meine Autos!

1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL | Megasquirt MS3-Pro | 722.6 transmission w/ AMG paddles | Feind Motorsports Sway Bar | Stinger VIP Radar | AntiLaser Priority | PLX Wideband O2 | 150A Alternator | Cat Delete
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Blown engine, rebuilding someday...
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Rear ended, retired in garage.
2009 Yamaha AR230HO | Das Boot

Excessive speeding? It ain't excessive till I redline!

If you go thru Houston, there are lots of us here.

__________________
91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

Yeah, just take I-10 to Houston and hit US 59 north to I-20 in Longview. Might be a little longer, but you'll go through San Antonio and Houston, where you're more likely to get assistance from forum members if needed.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

I'll probably decide after getting a feel for the car, will be carrying the basics, socket set, screwdrivers, couple extra fuel filters and a cb radio... Anyone know if I can bring all that as carry-on? doubt it, but I'd rather not have to deal with checked bags...


Also, wheres that 80mph stretch of road in TX that I've heard so much about? Would be nice to cruise 80-90 without worrying about cops for once..

__________________
Ich liebe meine Autos!

1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL | Megasquirt MS3-Pro | 722.6 transmission w/ AMG paddles | Feind Motorsports Sway Bar | Stinger VIP Radar | AntiLaser Priority | PLX Wideband O2 | 150A Alternator | Cat Delete
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Blown engine, rebuilding someday...
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Rear ended, retired in garage.
2009 Yamaha AR230HO | Das Boot

Excessive speeding? It ain't excessive till I redline!

I am posting your "Line " at the bottom of your post...Excessive speeding? It ain't excessive till I redline!
That is one thing I wouldn't do driving cross-country. Why push a car looking for that 80-90 mph stretch? Alot of people on this site think that the Mercedes diesel is indestructable that you can just go and wring them out all day long with no consequences. People think that the 5.9 Cummins 6 cyl diesel would run that way also. Driven sensably, they too will go 500,000 miles. At UPS we had that engine in UPS package cars and I saw several destroyed in as little as 100,000miles from running them balls out! My $0.02 is drive them easy on trips and don't worry then about breaking down. Do your redline stuff close to home and the GARAGE.

__________________
My Truck.. 2007 DODGE, 5.9 Cummins, 6spd stick, 4X4. My car..1977 240D, OTHER WHEELS...1955 VW Oval window bug, European Delivery (Holland) with a 1700cc, 2 barrel, Porsche drum brakes. 1939 WILLYS Pick-up. 1967 Triumph 200cc Tiger Cub. 1976 Honda 550F 4cyl Motor Cycle.

The 80mph sections of Interstate are out on I-10 between El Paso and San Antonio, and I-20 between the I-10 interchange and the Midland/Odessa area I believe.

__________________
'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

You will see bull-haulers in semis doing 95mph all over Texas. CB radio is good idea, the chatter will keep you awake driving all night. Decent opportunity to flush radiator cooling system too. Dump coolant, refill with water, add 8-10hr valvoline radiator flush additive. Do this coupla times en route and you'll arrive with TOTALLY flushed out coolant system. Rest stops have hose hookups.

I'm in Arizona in the far east valley if have to do anything to the car before you go.

__________________
Save and enlarge for explanation of financial crisis!

http://www.mobile-phone-solutions.com Advice on cell phone signal antennas and amplifiers.

I couldn't agree more, but then again, most people drive like the brake and gas pedals are on and off switches.

A fellow down the street has an early Fiat 124 Spyder, he drives it a few times a week. It runs like a top, although he really babies it when it's cold and he doesn't rev it up too much. He has had it for close to twenty years.

Another fellow dowm the street still has a 1974 VW beetle that he bought new, it's his only car. Again he babies it, and doesn't rev it up too high. It's still on the first motor, though he told it's had a couple of valve jobs.

I hope this is a joke of some kind.

Yeah, that's also a great way to find any leaks in the cooling system.

Dumping coolant? Running with water? Driving from Texas to Atlanta?

The rest stops don't allow people to drain cooling systems on the ground, do they?

Straight water in the system causes the engine to operate at lower temperatures better than coolant. At Florida rest stops do they also forbid you from working on cars? Nobody's ever complained about radiator flush operations at any states I've driven through. Trick is to NOT add water until the engine's entirely cooled off.

For me every Summertime cross-country trip includes radiator flush with water and additives, flushed again and again, been doing this for years. Add anti-freeze coolant in October.

I'm not going to discuss thermodynamics here.

You are wrong on all counts.

It's horrible to suggest that people dump coolant without proper disposal.

Thats okay, its not an emotional issue to me - just fact: Water absorbs engine heat, enabling lower operating temps, better than coolant. And if it makes ye feel any better, do the first flush purging coolant at two-bit car wash equipped with drainage systems designed to handle chemical soaps and junk..... And then flush again and again en route STRAIGHT WATER w/ 8 oz. 8-10hr radiator flush additive - no better opportunity than cross country trip for this.

BTW, love the quote you're using as your signature. Lemme guess, it was adressed to you?

socket sets' gotta be checked in. . .If I were you Id check in a whole bag of road side stuff, ya know a small assortment of tools cables, a 12 volt air compressor and some tire plugs (the Caribbean island people always are taking this kinda stuff and car parts back with them, its permissible). . ya know, the basics. Keep it under 50lbs and it should just cost the nominal $10-15 dollars (depending on the airline) bag check fee. .small price to pay for piece of mind. . .

__________________
". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel

If you say so, take the quote however you want.

I guess you know more about thermodynamics than the people that made your car, huh? I guess that coolant is some sort of evil conspiracy to get us to waste money on repairs and products we don't really need.

You probably aren't old enough to remember how cars used to boil over because water alone boils at a much lower temp than a coolant/water mix in a pressurized cooling system. Once a car boils over, that's it, you are overheated and steam doesn't cool very well.

People, the Dog has spoken, drain out that evil coolant.