|
|
|
#31
|
||||
|
||||
On the E300 140,000 miles - GP relay failed in the Winter and it wouldn't start while at work. I found a wire in the trunk with aligator clips and used it to jumper the GP's, one-at-a-time for about 15 sec each. Jumped back in and got the car to start on a couple cylinders then went back to jumpering the GP's until it ran smoothly.
On the F250 90,000 miles - Camshaft position sensor crapped out - again, at work. (A known recall problem) Replaced it the next day laying on the street in the rain. Took about 10 minutes to replace and get soaked in the process... Neither counts as high-mileage though...
__________________
-Evan Benz Fleet: 1968 UNIMOG 404.114 1998 E300 2008 E63 Non-Benz Fleet: 1992 Aerostar 1993 MR2 2000 F250 |
#32
|
||||
|
||||
stranded
I had a 190D which stranded me once in the beginning from a dropped tensioner pulley, and twice from alternator problems. But I owned the car for 6 years . . . not bad. My prior cars almost got me cancelled by AAA.
My '83 300D had alternator problems, and yes, once the car is running, it will continue to run on very little electricity, especially if you aren't using the lights. Depends on whether or not your model uses an electric fuel pump. I had to replace the alternator twice .. . . usual problems with bad Delco rebuilds. I have also burned up my glow plugs, making it difficult to start. In the meantime, I had driven the crap out of all my Mercedes, and they hold up well, leaving me broken down very few times. Enjoy your new purchase, keep up the maintenance. Torie |
#33
|
||||
|
||||
3 times in 8 years my SD has stranded me.
Ignition switch locked up on me in a convenience store parking lot. Had to have it towed. Glow plug relay fuse opened one cold November day when I was attempting to head home from work. Rolling about 75 mph southbound on I-85 2 years ago (south of Macon about 90 miles from home) and the harmonic balancer bolts sheared off. Limped off the interstate and a couple miles to convenience store parking lot. Wife had to come get me (she was not happy). Returned the next day with car dolly.
__________________
Joe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Former Family Members 95 C280 73 280SEL 90 300D 87 300SDL (X2) 86 560SEL 84 300D 80 300SD |
#34
|
||||
|
||||
I left work to get a sandwich and on the short trip back a rear caliper froze. I immediately stopped, but the heat was enough to burst a (probably already weakened) metal brake line. Left a nice lake in the parking lot.
I ended up replacing pretty much everything from the master cylinder back.... Other than that she's been rock solid
__________________
Rich 83 300D 98 E320 Wagon |
#35
|
|||
|
|||
I've been stuck once. 6 miles from home, 4 miles to my indy in the opp direction.
my slave cyl went, thus no use of clutch. other than that... i sprayed a bit too much belt dressing on one night, shortly after I purchased the car, it didn't mess with me until the drive home && i was in rochester ny, had to go to pepboys for the belt, then get it over to sears for them to put it on... $100 boo boo on my part, oh well
__________________
Matthew McIvor 2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black 2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black 1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray 1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour 1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray 1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k |
#36
|
||||
|
||||
None of my three ever have. Part of that is because with help from the members of this forum I can do repairs on the road if necessary. Part is because I try to have the car in good condition before leaving home. Part is luck, I suppose.
Jeremy
__________________
"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#37
|
|||
|
|||
Neither my E300D nor my 2000 Passat 1.8t have left me stranded. When I bought my E300D it wasnt running so I had it towed to an Indy and that doesnt count. The Passat right now has 287,000 miles, and the E300 has 277,000. Even with the recent alternator failure I was able to make it home.
__________________
Dennis 2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles. 2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner 1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010 3rd owner SOLD |
#38
|
||||
|
||||
None of the old MB diesels have an electric fuel pump. I don't even know if the Cdi's do....
__________________
-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) |
#39
|
||||
|
||||
Only when I converted it to veggie once. I guess it was telling me it didn't like it.
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#40
|
||||
|
||||
I was driving home from work, on the interstate and the engine started making a funny humming noise. Next thing I knew, it threw a rod. Coasted to the side of the road.... ..... Then I woke up in a cold sweat! :-) LOL But seriously, the old SD hasnt left me stranded. (knock on wood)
__________________
1984 300SD aka "Sweat and Tears" 2002 Honda CBR F4i "Rising Sun" 2005 Yamaha V-Star Custom "Badass Cruiser"
|
#41
|
||||
|
||||
I drove my SDL 45k miles for 5 years all over New England and it was perfectly reliable. We actualy took the SDL once on a road trip over my moms car because hers broke.
It always started the first try every time, and never skipped a beat. The SD failed to start twice but both times were my fault. The first one was because I ran it to low on fuel, and the way the car was sitting in the driveway the pickup was out. The second was because it was to cold, and I let it sit at work all day. I should have gone out and started it every 3 hours or so, but I didn't. If you go through these cars they can be as reliable as any modern car. They are very simple, only a few things will strand you. If your cooling system is in good shape, your filters clean, and your belts tight chances are they won't stop running. You have to commit the money to proactively replace stuff, like oil cooler lines so you don't get stuck. A lot of the break down posts on these boards can be prevented with some proactive maintenance. For example there is no reason an engine mount should be allowed to collapse to the point where the V belt cuts an oil cooler line. Stuff like that isn't the cars fault.
__________________
1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#42
|
||||
|
||||
I guess being in business and using my SD,I fixed stuff before hand.
Never had a problem with any German or Japanese cars,and trucks.
__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran |
#43
|
|||
|
|||
Forgot one... my alternator went (long after the pulley incident), and I needed a jump to get it started. Also, my starter failed once but I cannot for the life of me remember where it happened.
__________________
1987 W201 190D |
#44
|
|||
|
|||
300D (well maintained by me and by PO's)-hasn't left me stranded (yet).
240D (well maintained by me, not so much by PO's): Doing about 60 down a dirt road on the way home from work and somehow a rock of just the right size got kicked into the engine compartment and wedged into a pulley. This caused a belt to be tossed, which in turn caught the other belt and tossed it as well. Got a ride home. Returned with new belts and some tools, after which all was well. More my fault due to improper operation. Doing about 70 on the way to work. Applied brakes very hard to slow down for turn onto dirt road. Left front rotor broke into several pieces. I returned later with a rotor, limped it in to work and changed it in the shop there. Examination of the failed rotor revealed considerable corrosion and cracks that had propagated for some time. This and the above failure occured shortly after I bought the car. Starter began showing signs of iminent failure. I replaced it with a Malaysian reman shortly before leaving the country. After getting the car out of storage over a year later, the reman starter began showing signs of failure. Since the starter was so new (less than 2000 miles), I mistakenly thought the problem must be something else. After my unsuccessful attempts to diagnose the "something else" the starter went out completely at the motel I was staying at while looking for a place to live. Had it towed to a shop which replaced the starter. Luckily, I was able to get my money back for the bad reman, but I was still out quite a few bucks.
__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar. 83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles 08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles 88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress. |
#45
|
||||
|
||||
Fuel pumps
The 190D which egan in '84 uses an electric pump.
|
Bookmarks |
|
|