First long freeway drive in 20 years - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JordaanDMC-12 · #1 05-20-2009, 01:37 AM

Well, after getting my last 30 year old tire replaced, I could finally commence with the trip i've been wanting to do ever since I found out where my car was purchased from.

I was lucky enough to still have the original window sticker with the owners manual and saw "Walter's Mercedes-Benz of Riverside" which happens to be 50 minutes away from me. So I thought it be cool driving the 220 over there and getting license plate frames that had the original dealership, only thing that stopped me was the 30 year old tire I was running on.

Well I left this morning and she was doing great, she started heating up on the incline exiting the desert to higher elevation ground. She was smooth the entire trip, no play in the steering which made it so much easier (my 240D had horrible play). Everything was going well until I stayed too long on the California 60 West and then had to turn around and get back on the 91 which was not that bad. Once I got there no one seemed to care which sucked lol and I went inside. Walter's is a HUGE dealership. I felt like I was in a Hospital with signs telling you where to go.

I finally talked to someone about license plate frames and just my luck they said they had run out, of course without even looking. He asked my why I wanted just those and I told him my whole spiel. He told me to come back wednesday and asked me where I was coming from. When I told him Palm Springs, which is an hour away he was like "let me re-check" and wouldn't you know it, he found some

The dealership had like little danishes and stuff so I thought i'd grab some and chill lol after that I walked back and someone else with what looked like a 1985 500 SDL had parked next to the 220 which I thought was pretty cool. I got in the 220 and the owner of the SDL came up and started talking to me.

We discussed the cars and he ended up being really cool, He wanted to know where I got my parts from and I told him all about peachparts.com and ebay lol so hopefully maybe we'll see him on here soon

He said his son really wanted a 220D but they were hard to come by. After we finished talking I left Walter's, went to a gas station and put on the frames. Drove to In N Out Burger and then headed home. It was cool driving on the freeway, passing the signs and stuff, it was really chill. Can't wait to go to L.A. in it. That will be so much fun, cruising Sunset and Melrose

Lycoming-8 · #2 05-20-2009, 02:28 AM

Great story, and you can really be proud of your 220D. Sure is pretty. Wish I could revive our '68, but considering the rust and the sad state of the interior, I doubt that it will happen. Would really be cool though, as it is the last one in town of the three or four that used to run around back in the 70's an early 80's.

michakaveli · #3 05-20-2009, 09:29 AM

Cool story. Only thing I have for mine is the dealership salesman's business card in my leather manual pouch.

TX76513 · #4 05-20-2009, 09:36 AM

I thought the story was going to end with something like - after talking with the salesman I traded the 220D on a new S55.

Oddly enough my SDL was originally delivered to MB of Palm Springs and was a dealer re-consignment to Rasmussen's of Portland, OR

nhdoc · #5 05-20-2009, 09:38 AM

Personally, if they treated me the way they treated you the last thing I'd do is use their license plate frames. I mean, you drive all the way there and request something which they will readily admit is free advertising and they claim they don't have any? I'm sure there are dozens of them just sitting there on the lot full of cars they can't sell. Even if they didn't have any on hand, they could always pull a set off the lot and replace it later...what would that have cost them?

Don't get me started though on my rant about providing dealers with free advertising. The first thing I do when I buy a car is make them remove any decals, plate frames or other things which identify the dealer I bought it from. If they want me to ride around with their name on my trunk they darn well ought to pay me for it, and even then they can't pay enough to compensate for the tacky look most of them add to the car.

KarTek · #6 05-20-2009, 10:33 AM

I haven't seen too often where new car dealer is much interested in an older car. They're more interested in the bottom line - especially now. DIY'ers don't represent any money to them whatsoever...

Now the people in the parts department sometimes have an interest but not often...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JordaanDMC-12

I walked back and someone else with what looked like a 1985 500 SDL had parked next to the 220 which I thought was pretty cool.

500SDL... Legendary biggest Mercedes diesel car engine ever...

Dana B. · #7 05-20-2009, 10:59 AM

When I was a lot boy at V.I.P Motors in Palm Springs from 1975 through '77, I'm sure I washed yours, as we washed every vehicle we serviced. I would spend extra time on the older ones, getting the grunge off the interior chrome trim, out of love for the cars. My boss complained I spent too much time on them. I was also a chauffer, and drove all the customers to their homes or work (many of them celebrities) in everything from new 300Ds to 6.3s. I even drove a 300SL roadster on the street.

Skid Row Joe · #8 05-20-2009, 11:38 AM

Chill story!

I like license plate frames. Need to get some for my diesel morocoach. Got nice one's on my MB already.

And for the guy that resents being told no on free stuff from a dealer? Get a clue; dealers are entitled to do with their merchandise exactly what they want to do with it. If anyone objects to it, fine, go on the Internet and BUY the damm things if they're so cheap they are demanding a dealer give them out FREE......

mplafleur · #9 05-20-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dana B.

When I was a lot boy at V.I.P Motors in Palm Springs from 1975 through '77, I'm sure I washed yours, as we washed every vehicle we serviced. I would spend extra time on the older ones, getting the grunge off the interior chrome trim, out of love for the cars. My boss complained I spent too much time on them. I was also a chauffer, and drove all the customers to their homes or work (many of them celebrities) in everything from new 300Ds to 6.3s. I even drove a 300SL roadster on the street.

Come on, let's here some names!

Skid Row Joe · #10 05-20-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

I haven't seen too often where new car dealer is much interested in an older car. They're more interested in the bottom line - especially now. DIY'ers don't represent any money to them whatsoever...

Correct.

lietuviai · #11 05-20-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

I thought the story was going to end with something like - after talking with the salesman I traded the 220D on a new S55.

Oddly enough my SDL was originally delivered to MB of Palm Springs and was a dealer re-consignment to Rasmussen's of Portland, OR

My 300D was originally sold by Rasmussen's as well. I still have the plate frames.

JordaanDMC-12 · #12 05-20-2009, 12:41 PM

It's funny too, cause when I first decided to go couple of months back, I called them up and the guy that I talked to was really cool and told me I should just bring it up to the service department and they would put them on for me. So I was all excited. Guess that blew right out the window lol

Since they treated me like that, I had some of their danishes and water

JordaanDMC-12 · #13 05-20-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dana B.

When I was a lot boy at V.I.P Motors in Palm Springs from 1975 through '77, I'm sure I washed yours, as we washed every vehicle we serviced. I would spend extra time on the older ones, getting the grunge off the interior chrome trim, out of love for the cars. My boss complained I spent too much time on them. I was also a chauffer, and drove all the customers to their homes or work (many of them celebrities) in everything from new 300Ds to 6.3s. I even drove a 300SL roadster on the street.

You had to of, my original owner lived in Mecca, which is a ghost town now, can't imagine it back in 1970 :S Right next to the Salton Sea too.

When he first bought the car, he had to bring it back because the clock didn't work, hazards didn't work and something with the seatbelt. He did all routine services at Walter's though up until like 50,000 miles.

When you worked at V.I.P. where was it at in Palm Springs? Because they just opened up VIP Motors in between the BMW dealership and Mercedes.

MBeige · #14 05-20-2009, 02:35 PM

My 300D came from Walter's Mercedes too, as the previous owners - my grandparents - lived in Ridgecrest. I guess the closest dealer was that one.

And what's funny is I still have an original license plate frame, that I removed and placed aside (all original parts I don't need, that can be useful, I save them). Just for kicks I'd like to visit the place and request for old service records. The maintenance manual has stamps up until the time I got it. Since the dealer is far away from me (and another dealer is closer), I did not bother...so far.

toomany MBZ · #15 05-20-2009, 05:52 PM

Interesting finds in the glove box.
Sorry, it's sideways.