Where were all the diesels
 

Tuesday I drove from Athens,Ga to Oberlin,OH and then back on Weds and Only saw one Mercedes Diesel. Is it too early to bring them out in the north? The only one I saw was a gray 240? in Cincinnati . She waved and seemed amazed to see me.

My dad isn't taking his summer car out until May....they claim we might get more snow in a few days....I don't believe we will though....they've been wrong all the other times...

I haven't taken my 300SD out in the snow yet (haven't had it on the road much)...BUT...let me tell you I will run for cover at the slight chance of snow/ice. I had one hell of a time getting the car out my yard with just dirt/mud, forget the snow. I actually had to have my father jump in his pathfinder and push it out in 4WD...the yard didn't fare so well. Just curious - anyone use chains on their MBs? Taken them in the snow?

Where I am in NYC, there's 6 year-round W123s on my block.

But I think sightings for these cars is becoming more and more rare if you aren't near a major metropolitan area. When I go out to PA every weekend, it's real unusual that I see a single one for a 250mile round trip.

At least the 123 owners are friendly out there. Out here in California, a wave or nod of recognition will get you a dirty look or cold shoulder.

In Saratoga, NY i drive all year with my 300D but i dont think any one else does. But then again ive only seen 3 w123's including mine so seeing one is unlikly

RWD cars are terrible in the snow let alone ice hence why I dont drive any of the benz's in winter. If I had 4matic then I might be more inclined to entertain the idea.

When I was growing up in northern Wisconsin (1950s-1960s) everyone had RWD cars and drove with few problems in the ice and snow. As I recall, my dad would usually put snow tires on for the winter but almost never chains. Are cars so much different nowadays or is it that we've become spoiled with FWD, AWD, and 4WD? Maybe people need to slow down?

I've driven from CA to UT and back every Christmas for over 30 years, occasionally having to "chain up" for the Sierra. The last 3 years have been in a Mercedes, once in the '85 (123) and twice in the '96 (210). We were lucky and didn't have to use our chains at all, so they are still new in the box.

Jeremy

I drove my 300D all year, including the winter...it was fine. I bought a new set of Nokian WRs, and it handled awesome in the white stuff. No problems, didn't get stuck once.

I'm going to have to get some chains for mine if I keep driving it. We had a 5-6 inch snow this winter and it was enough to leave the road up to my required parking lot slick enough that I could not even get up it. Got about halfway on the paved road and then it just quit pushing forward and started spinning. Made five attempts total over 2 more-and-more frustrating hours. Started going up like a normal person, driving cautiously, tried that twice, had to u-turn in front of a city bus that was waiting to climb the hill one time. That was exciting. Tried the "just make a run for it" approach at great risk of sideways-sliding into something, and didn't get much further than the other ways (This was complicated by the presence of speed bumps; this is the same road I cracked my oil pan on two years ago), tried to go up once in reverse just for the heck of it even though I KNEW that wasn't going to help the weight distribution at all - I was theorizing that maybe the lower gear range would sort of have a "low range" effect... it doesn't. Finally had to park it at the dorm that night, put it in the parking deck when it opened that morning (paying for a pass) and finally got it up the hill at about 3 pm the next day.

And it's not even that impressive a hill. I'm either going to buy snow chains or a Grand Cherokee. If I get a decent-paying job this summer and manage to save up enough, I'm buying a ZJ generation Grand Cherokee to take up here for the winter.

Same here. New england winters are brutal and RWD and fwd cars just slide and are useless in winter

ive been up in the sierras during a blizzard in my 300TD, just put four wheel chains on and you have no handling problems. why are people so afraid of chains.

also, i found this product called tire socks that enhance you traction on ice. you should look into them

I drive my SD all winter in Minnesota. I've never had an issue. I guess growing up in a rural area where blizzards were common taught me how to drive in the snow and ice. I don't even have snow tires, just a good set of all-weather tires.

Back to the OPs remarks, I drive in the Twin Cities area regularly, maybe about 4-600 miles/week. I usually see one or two other diesels per month. They are just few and far between.

There are three w123's in the parking lot at my plant that are used for daily drivers. The production manager (guy next to the mill manager), the finishing and shipping superintendent and myself. I just converted the production managers car back to r12 with a new compressor/dryer and no I did not do it for free;).

Even if being an excellent driver is 90% of the equation, which I am sure is the case, that last 10% is enough to keep my car from moving uphill. There's no substitute for traction. And I can't get it. Running all-year tires doesn't help but I also think the w126 itself must be partly to blame... huge car, very heavy and with a heavy diesel sitting on the front end... it just doesn't stand a chance without chains and stuff. Which I suppose I'll have to look into.

Your problem is your tires. I have driven my SD through six winters with good tires on it, and even with 100" seasonal snowfall and several blizzards, I have yet to get stuck (for long). This winter was the first time I have gotten "stuck" to the point that I had to do some digging around the car.....I was out in a few minutes.....this was on an uphill road with 14" of snow on it....its amazing I made it to the top without getting stuck, but I had to stop at an intersection, and thats where my movement ceased. This was the only time I've really gotten stuck, aside from in the alley behind our house because it was all ice....any car will get stuck on a sheet of ice.

In the winter I put about 250lbs of sand in my trunk....it helps, a lot. :D I rate the W126 a "very good" snow car....and the W124/W123 "very very good"

Next winter I am getting a spare set of Bundt's and throwing a couple heavy duty snow tires in back.

Our 300E does pretty decent in the snow too, probably because its lighter, has less torque in the low end, and does second gear start.

I could get snow tires, chains etc but I dont want the long tedious body work that the road salt causes so Id rather trash another car in the snow that I dont care about so much, hence I have the geo :)

gimmie my sdl anytime for driving in the snow
my dually diesel 4wd is horrible in the snow
If you cant drive an SD or SDL in the snow move

My SDL cruises around all year as long as it is not slushy out. I don't want my rust free SC car developing cancer late in life. Right now we are cruising around Bethesda Md and Charles Town WV...:D
We will be heading up I-81 today going to NY

My 82 123 is driven every day in all weather. Nokia Hak 1's on all four wheels and 200# in the trunk get it through most stuff but it is mud season in Vermont and we live on the toughest, gnarliest hill in town so the Benz and the Jetta sit at the bottom and we commute up and down with the Cummins.
Within 15 miles are a handful of 123's and one in my little town ,a 300TD, is also a DD
My 81 will strictly be a fair weather ride however, rust never sleeps!

To think of it, I have not seen a diesel MB in years around me. Wonder why.

Mine was tucked away in its garage cocoon for the winter. It poked its head out last month and saw its shadow and backed in again. It'll probably emerge this weekend.

It already has some tin worm damage and I don't want to exacerbate it so it'll stay in the garage until I can fix it.

2X on the sand in the trunk and good shoes.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Same here -- back in February, I did a 2 week 2800 mile trip in my 85 SD and only saw 2 other diesels, both of which were 123's.

And I don't think time of year played a role --- I'm in Greensboro, NC went from NC to Orlando, Clearwater, Miami, Key West, back to Orlando, to Atlanta then Charleston, SC, Myrtle Beach and Wilmington, NC ---- So, to my knowledge in the south, folks don't typically park cars for the winter -- maybe a rag top they would....

But gotta tell you -- was traveling a couple of weeks back from Asheville, NC to Greensboro, and I passed a 240D with Alaska tags --- There were 3, younger (mid 20's) looking people in the car --- it was a 240D"H"...meaning loaded heavy, roof rack and all...she was riding in the right lane, doing maybe 60 in a 70 MPH stretch of I-40. Her paint was thin and faded, and missing some trim parts...but exhaust smoke was at a minimum, she was running good.....I was cruising steady, and exceeding the posted speed limit and approached quickly on the left, but slowed as I came upon them ---- the driver had seen me coming, as I could see the passengers turning around and looking -- the gal driving hit her hazard flashers as way of saying hello...I slowed when along side, and they were waving and appeared to be having a great road trip -- they gave a thumbs up with big smiles - I returned the gesture and smile --- but then it was time to move on...I was wondering if they were on a spring break trip somewhere.......

Sorry you missed us.
 

Smoke,

I live just North of you in a tiny little mountain town. There are tons of MB diesels in this ghost town of about 1900 people. Everything from my W115 up to the latest offerings from MB. If you ride around the block to test your ALDA adjustment and don't see another MB diesel....you had your eyes closed!

i drive my 240d 4speed during the winter with $250(all 4) korean tires. The key is to have soe weight at the back(full tank, maybe sand bags), lower your tire pressure and whatever you do do not loose momentum.. you have to learn to anticipate and not be afraid of drifting or flooring it when needed.
I still remember taking on highway entrance ramps uphill with the rear sliding 45 degrees to the left. It was fun, but if wouldn't have made it that was it for me until someone pushed me or towed me.

12 months a year baby!
 

Mine's in it's garage when not being driven 12 months a year here in Texas and surrounding states.

I don't drive my 98 E300 in the winter anymore because I don't want to have to have it painted again.:mad: When I did drive it with 4 snow tires it did fine. By the way I have 4 almost new 16" snow tires for sale.

Seems to be quite a few around CO still ... I see a couple everyday.