I'm not about to get into parenting debate, having only known the teenage part. What I don't get is the fuel leak at primary mesh filter, does that mean the plastic disposable one. Unless it has something to do with vegoil conversion, then it could be anything. Run vegoil myself, did 5500 mile roadtrip last year no problem, am very careful filtering and carry spare filters, think of it as hobby that saves me money and gives me something to tinker with. Did add half tank of diesel today, its been hard starting with the cold mornings here.

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86 300SDL

PASS on this Frankenstein

If this fool has been running straight WVO with line heaters then the car is already in a slow death sprial and on its way to the junkyard.

Until the Engine gets to temp AND the WVO is at temp you are F'n up the mighty Benz. The nozzles will spray like ketup bottles, the piston rings will have a build up of coke, unburnt WVO sliding down the piston walls has turned the motor oil to maple syurp and reduced lubrication.

Any of the above will leave your daughter standed, or worse have the Benz lose power or quit while she is making a left hand turn thru traffic.

Lots of good used Benz available-this is not one of them

Is the Mesh filter a Lovercrap Sock?

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

I'd pass.

WVO car certainly isnt for non-mechanically advanced drivers. A single tank WVO car isnt a wise choice for anyone. Yes it will run, but problems will creep up with a single tank, or even dual tank conversion if not looked after continuously.

Did they even make a 2.5 diesel in 87? I thought they didnt switch from the 3L till later.

A 123, 124, or 126 is a good 1st car though, in general. Slow tanks, reliable and cheap.

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Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

The 2.5L OM602 was available in the 201 chassis in 1987: 190D 2.5 automatic, 190D 2.5 5-speed, & 190D 2.5Turbo automatic.

The 1987 head was prone to cracking per the FSM.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Your not wrong, these cars are pretty darn sturdy, but when something breaks it will get expensive! I suggested a Honda because these are really reliable and a Saturn would be good too. Replacement parts for these are at much lower cost and you can have it serviced at a garage without having to take out a second mortgage! If there is one thing I have noticed, it's that Mercedes Benz does not care what year it is, it will cost $300 to start just to have them look at it!

However, this car seems to be a problem car the current owner wants to get rid of and I see many red flags with this one. I say pass and keep looking. This one would only make sense to me if I needed a good body and had the right motor and tranny combo for it and could get it at 1/3rd of what he's asking. Something about this one just feels all wrong to me!

I think a Subaru wagon would be a great choice here for kids too and these have a high reliability and are pretty sturdy, not to mention replacement parts and service is just about the lowest in it's class! Go to www.nhtsa.gov and look at their crash test results. My sister in laws kid Nigel had a Subaru he learned to drive in as a run about. This car held up incredibly well (considering my sister in law never taught him much and he played bumper car with it for 2 years and it still ran well) even though he is one that really shouldn't have been on the road either, not at 16.

It is because teenagers are hard on things that I would not recommend a Benz as a beginner car when there are others out there that will hold up and not cost an arm and leg! We all know there is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes!

Couldnt agree more!!!

Honda's dont feel sturdy! i know in my benz and in my gf's as well as friends benzs i feel real safe. Also every owner i know who has a benz loves it and wouldn't dare ruin it on purpose. Honda's may be cheaper but if you love her get her a Mercedes she'll be safer as well as more willing to take care of the car.

I know any child i have will drive a non turbo diesel mercedes til they can buy something better, and by the time they have enough money they will have figured out a diesel mercedes is the best car they can buy and will never let it go.

Get it run it and when or if it gives you too many problems shine that turd like there is no tomorrow and flip it as a fix her upper.

I have got cars before that seemed alot worse on the outside then they really were.

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Wie lange wird Ihr Auto leben?

Buy it and run it on straight diesel. If the engine gives- it gives. Run some injector cleaner, and make it a bobo so to speak.

I went through this exercise a couple of years ago. Being the father of three teenage girls...

My oldest started with an 83 300SD, then graduated into the 71 250C, which she has wanted since she was around ten.

But.... When she left Virgininia for Arizona for college, I realistically didn't want to either A: buy her a much newer Benz ($$$$) or B: send out one of the older cars with potential big dollar repair bills while being fixed by persons unknown.

My solution was to look at some of GM's finest cars, and maybe some of their not so finest...

Daughter was outfitted with a 98 Buick Century, low miles, one owner (old lady). Perfect car.

Nothing runs poorly longer than a GM car....

Car lasted about 6 months, then she blew a red light, and was t-boned at 45 by a Toyota Camry. Very heavy damage to the two left doors and rear quarter. Bent the rear axle. She walked away with a bump on the forehead.

Replaced that car with a 99 Buick Century.

Both we and she are pleased with the robustness of the car. May not be the pinnacle of MB ness, but so far, it's proven to be a reliable, inexpensive car for her to drive remotely.

Daughter #2 is still in HS, and has the 79 280TE, #3, who gets her license in a month, is eyeing the 73 red 450SL in the field....

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

I'd go for a Benz over a Honda.

Personally I know of a guy with a w123 that recently got rear ended by a honda at a light. The honda never hit his brakes. Honda was toasted. The W123 left with broken motor mounts but otherwise unscathed. My .02 cents.

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Current:
'95 E300D 282K
'85 300D - 253K

'11 Subaru Forester


Before:
'97 E420 - 135k
'80 300SD - 269K
'66 200D - ???K

I forgot to mention. My next door neighbor's aunt and uncle were recently killed in a car accident. They were in a honda. Not to say that you can't get killed in a MB product but I'd say the chances are less likely.

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Current:
'95 E300D 282K
'85 300D - 253K

'11 Subaru Forester


Before:
'97 E420 - 135k
'80 300SD - 269K
'66 200D - ???K

I just can't stomach the price of Hounda parts. Once they're used, they're expensive to keep together.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Several of my brother's clients are ER surgeons.
I'm told the surgeons can tell the patients who were in MBs.
My brother also drives an MB.......

Not that I have to be sold on the cars.

Jim

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14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Here that :

When my wife was looking at a her first 85 300D from a independent Mercedes mechanic she asked "does this automobile have airbags?"

The old MB mechanic replied "today with this car-who you tangle with needs the air bags"