What challenges have you faced when bringing home an old diesel Mercedes? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chasinthesun · #31 03-10-2009, 11:16 AM

Keeping the driveway clean.While on the road though Im putting preservative down to keep the counties asphalt conditioned.

texasnative46 · #32 03-10-2009, 11:38 AM

to all:

don't even ask me about the day that i "unloaded" a sedan off a flatbed trailer out on Interstate 30E, just outside of Dallas. = trailer RAILING came loose at the welds.

was NOT a fun morning!!! (luckily nobody got hurt/killed.) - best laid plans of mice/men.

yours, tn46

milner351 · #33 03-10-2009, 01:09 PM

I got off lucky- but didn't buy a car as old as some have stories about here....
my '95 started and drove fine during the test drive - only thing obviously wrong was no cruise and the headlight wiper / washers tended to run forever when started....

I drove it from central Ohio up to the Detroit area with little drama....
It was only after I pulled the intake manifold to replace the glow plugs that all the fun started!

funola · #34 03-10-2009, 01:16 PM

Was it registered and insured? If not, and AAA knew, they would not tow it. Ask me how I know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

....snip

The interesting take away was the SDL. I bought it about 80 miles from home. I did not know if I was goung to buy him so I did not hitch a triler to the truck. Instead I took one plate from the 300SD and put it on the back of the SDL (they are the same color) and called AAA. I said the car was leaking and needed a tow home. They came with a flatbed and I followed him home.
Nice free delivery!

If you are taking a car home within 100 miles use AAA as a delivery service, farther out than that or if you have a buddy to spot you, get a trailer from U-Haul...
I know I would really hate to be the one you crashed a parts car with no insurance into.

TylerH860 · #35 03-10-2009, 04:09 PM

Agreed on the insurance deal. The only 1 I didn't have insurance on was the wagon, and I was nervous driving home.

It helps when your uncle is an insurance agent.

pawoSD · #36 03-10-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Agreed on the insurance deal. The only 1 I didn't have insurance on was the wagon, and I was nervous driving home.

It helps when your uncle is an insurance agent.

Why did you (illegally) drive the wagon home without insurance? You can call and get it in like 1-2 hours tops from most providers....

oldsinner111 · #37 03-10-2009, 05:21 PM

I was lucky ran good.It has saved me thousands on fuel.

KAdams4458 · #38 03-10-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

Please don't think I was being specific about you in regards to insurance. There have been others here who have put a 'fake' plate on their new purchase and just taken her home. My warning was to the general audience.

I am glad you got her home. Now that the car is yours, are you still going to part it out or turn it into a daily driver? If it made the 100 mile trip without failing, she mght be a keeper

Understood. I was just generally declaring myself to be smart and cautious to the masses.

The car is kind of a heap, but rust isn't an issue. As for fixing it up, well, it's pretty far gone for that. It's been punched in the nose at some point, the left rear corner is crunched a bit from an incident involving a failed parking brake, a hill in Seattle, and a truck at the bottom of the hill, and something actually pierced the driver door at some point and opened it up like a can opener. I can't even describe the interior, which is pinkomino to the extreme, and has holes and rips everywhere. Even the dashboard is cut open.

No, I'm afraid that the trip last night was the very last one that this car will ever make. My '77 could use the better drivetrain, and already has a fairly straight body and a much nicer interior lined up for it.

KAdams4458 · #39 03-10-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The $750 car.

Hopefully someday I can find one like this for myself.... mine is starting to fall victim to the MI salt.....though this summer I am going to make a good effort to slow/stop the horror.

Can't find 'em that nice around these parts for so little, and it sucks. My wife is pretty much going to take over our '77 300D once I get it running and looking like a three-year-old car, and I've decided at some point that I need to get a W126 for myself. My excuse is that I need more legroom, but in reality I think it is due to having contracted the MB diesel disease. (Still waiting on the blood tests for confirmation.)

JimFreeh · #40 03-10-2009, 07:50 PM

Most, if not all, insurance policies allow for an automatic 30 day inclusion for any new car....

Jim

KAdams4458 · #41 03-10-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Most, if not all, insurance policies allow for an automatic 30 day inclusion for any new car....

Jim

That seems to vary from state to state, and can even vary depending on whether the car is purchased from a dealer or private individual. Always best to consult your insurance agent, I say.

I've called mine every time, even though my policy covers me on any car, but that's just me being particular. A five minute phone call is always good "insurance."

cmbdiesel · #42 03-11-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KAdams4458

Can't find 'em that nice around these parts for so little, and it sucks. My wife is pretty much going to take over our '77 300D once I get it running and looking like a three-year-old car, and I've decided at some point that I need to get a W126 for myself. My excuse is that I need more legroom, but in reality I think it is due to having contracted the MB diesel disease. (Still waiting on the blood tests for confirmation.)

Oh you'll be doing plenty of blood tests during the drivetrain swap, I'm sure