atleast he is a honest guy. My mechanic wanted 7K to pull my motor and replace the rear rope seal. I then found out that my oil leak was from a plastic oil return line that cost me 48 bucks at the dealer that I replaced. I haven't added oil for 3 months.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Unfortunatly all too typical for todays service outlets. On older cars generally I see no practical way of servicing them today than doing it yourself or with the help of a friend. On your model this approach is still practical.

My problem is the awareness that everyone has to make a buck. Some services we consume just tend to be too lopsided for the equation to work properly. This may very well be partially the reason for north americas current situation.

This problem as well as others where not as pronounced in past years. The funny thing is you probably got away pretty reasonably compared to what others garages would have charged today.

To illistrate how much has fundementally changed over the years. At the boat yard I used to keep my sailboat in during the winter months years ago. The owner of the yard an older gentleman told me he rebuilt ford four cylinder engines for fifteen dollars during the great depression to keep the yard. This included the required parts I imagine.

Or back when I was in my late teens in the fifties a good solid older car with lots of life left in it was about 100.00 or so. Remember regular gas was 5 gallons for a dollar or less in the states for a long time. . Nice new three bedroom house about ten thousand or resale house for about 5-6 thousand.

The almost continuious spiral has and is going to continue to be seriously problematic in my opinion. Learning to repair what you own may be more benificial in the long haul than ever now. History really tends to repeat itself for many reasons. Give it some thought and enjoy your car.