Unemployed diesel owners?
 

How many are unemployed, and/or cutting back/not repairing your car?.

Which defered repair is bugging you the most?

Rear axles and swapping the entire front end from the 85 parts car to the CD

Under-employed, here. I don't have money to spend on car repairs right now, unless absolutely necessary. Time is also an issue since most of my time right now goes to taking care of my dad and grandfather, both of whom have Alzheimer's, and in the case of my Father, Cancer. My Mercedes mostly sits idle, while I use my Camry Hybrid for long trips and when I need cold A/C. That's #1 on my wish list for my Mercedes, fixing the A/C system. Since I don't know how extensive the job will be, I haven't dug into it yet.

I have a box full of parts waiting to be installed, that I have accumulated over the last 2 years. #2 on my wish list is sealing the body leaks. I have a full set of door, sunroof, trunk and window seals waiting to go on; a hood pad, shocks and a headliner panel for the sunroof.

Probably the only parts I'll be buying soon are brake pads and brake hoses. I'd forgotten about that since brakes aren't a real high priority on a 240D.;)

not unemployed just dont make enough. Either its a shifter bushing issue or a NSS because I have to jump the starter to start it everytime.

just recently laid off.... even contemplating the idea of selling my beloved 300sd to pay the bills... anyone interested?

unemployed yes but Im not driving my diesel but currently driving my toyota and attending toyota t ten

unemployed, but not stopping work on the diesel!

After 30 years, my ex-company closed its plants in the So. Cal. In October of 2007 – so, I was unemployed for the rest of that year; I was unemployed for the entire 2008 calendar year and a couple of months into 2009.
Fortunately, I was given a very generous severance package; in addition to 10 weeks of vacation time they owed me - all this augmented by unemployment benefits.
I was doing just fine until the petrol companies got greedy in 2008 and raised their diesel fuel prices to five bucks a gallon. That really put a dent in my budget. Had to cut back in a lot of things, including my trusted Indy mechanic – I’ve been doing all the repairs myself…thanks to you folks and this great forum. :)

Unemployed, keeping them maintained tho. Nothing to put off.

Employed, but too busy to work on the SD....

Repairs that have been waiting, with parts already purchased - RF Upper control arm, Oil Cooler lines, Fuel line replacement (both send and return, rotted, patched, rotted again...have 50' spool of line...

Tomorrow - at the crack of 10AM, the SD goes in the air, and it might not come down again until Monday morning. All three of those jobs are on the docket, and with a little luck, some air tools, and the help of my brother, they WILL ALL BE DONE!!!!

I'll post an update later this weekend...;)

Unemployed since feb of this year. Watching the chilluns keeps me from getting under the hood too much. A friend finished work on our geo, but now I can't get him on the phone. Once it's in the driveway and reliable, work on the 240 can start:
Mad oil use w/ good compression: swap or pull head and go from there. Donor engine on stand.
R&R leaky heater core- parts on bench.
Rear body & paint work. Rear clip in garage.
Trim repair
Glove box repair
get the radio to work.
Reinstall window squirts
LF wheel bearing

Besides that, great car, fun to drive.

May The Force be with you! ;)

Unemployed, but doing more vehicular work than ever.... :eek: 300E is all set for now (though it could use new front struts/mounts...)....my diesel needs a transmission, which I am doing this coming week. Once that is complete, my dad's SD needs a timing chain, my brother's car needs an upper control arm, and possibly ball joints.....the list goes on. At least some of the stuff I get paid to do.

overemployed
 

I have the opposite problem, and just complaining a little. Just went through a re-org, layoff, and managed to stay. Now I have 6 days a week work ( on a 5 day salary). No time to work on the car and considering getting rid of it, cause no time available in the foreseeable future. Need something that does 750 + miles a week with little upkeep. 8(

Good luck to everyone on finding new employment. Times are tough out there.

Well the bank of canada our equivelant to your federal reserve. Has announced the recession was over today in canada. Their credibility is highly suspect as the basis of this optimisim was not clarified enough.

Seeing is believing as far as I am concerned. I am just not seeing any particular resurgence in any important sector. Maybe I am missing something?

If it turns out to be just more government BS any credibility even if there is any left will be lost. The worse may yet be ahead as the real estate prices are dropping back quickly now and credit is getting even tighter.

Really how can a pile of new jobs really take place with the import of goods problem always growing? It still looks like a potential growing and continuing mess to me. I really feel badly about the amount of average people that have really suffered during this period.

I just wonder how well we can actually recover since so many jobs simply disappeared from this continent. Manufacturing and such (and even outsourced or entirely eliminated office jobs) made up a big part of the middle class income/economic sector....those jobs are just gone....thanks to sending them overseas....it will be interesting to see if the economy ever recovers. When it gets really bad is when people who've been unemployed a real long time lose their unemployment benefits, then what do they do? Crime? It should be an interesting future.

Unemployed for six months now after lay off. Been DIYing every regular upkeep thing I can on the car since then with much help from this forum! Car needs a new exhaust though :(

Barely employed and need to put in new accumulators in the wagon along with new paint before winter. The Sd just got trans replaced with a used "rebuilt" Peter Schmid unit -saved about 1,000.00 on that. Hoping for a day job to augment my night job so I can get this stuff done -cars are running great however, just did valve adjustment on both. I get lazy when I have money and go to my indie more often then not. This time period has me realigned with my priorities, diesel and otherwise

I'm recently re-employed, but was out of work for 8 months. To support my cars while I was unemployed I started rebuilding injectors and bought a wagon for cheap to repair and sell. :D With the new job I now don't have much free time to work on them now. :(

I am employed and have just enough money to buy parts and repair my self, but i work too much and my job dose not like greasy hands or black oil stained hands/fingernail's (hospital regulations :eek:).

Here's an advice if you need a job fast i would suggest to get a CNA certification and apply at an hospital, they are never enough of tech nurse at an hospital, avoid nursing homes though.

not unemployed, but with the bad economy i'm definitely cutting back on repairs i'd normally have had done--would rather pad my savings at this point than dumping more money into the diesel.

I was unemployed from 10/08 through 3/09, since then I've had some work, but it's been, well, a little less money.

Haven't really deferred any maintenance on the wagon. It's up to date on everything and has been since before I bought it. So maintenance isn't a big money spending item on this car for me. I've done smaller repairs, i.e. an SLS resevoir, blower motor, hood cable, and numerous interior trim upgrades (not broke, just found better parts) have been done over the past six months.

I figured that I've got all the time to do some repairs, don't need the car to get to work, and save some money by DIY work, not to mention keeping busy, was worth the expense during times when money was uncertain.

That said, the steering box and some front end component repairs are looming in the near future. These aren't things that I could do in my driveway, so I'll probably pay good money to get these things sorted.

I'm employed, but have other living expenses to take care of and I only work part time.

I was saving up to have my AC fixed, but then my master cylinder went bad so I had that replaced. Oh well, maybe by next summer I'll have cold air again.

Other then that there really isn't a whole lot wrong with Norm, but at $1100 for the repair it makes affording it hard. Once that is out of the way my body repair and repaint fund will go in to effect, but that will also take a long time to afford.

So pretty much if my cars are safe, then I'm satisfied.

Well, fuel lines are new, oil cooler lines are new (thank whomever that they came off without all the aluminum threads from the cooler!!!!) and the upper control arm waits for another day.... At least I can now park in the preferred spots in my driveway, without leaving spots in my driveway:eek:

My thoughts exactly. What a load of #%@^!

Honestly though, I have seen little change in this area so far. More people back from Alberta due to work stoppage from the oil fields there.
My friend was out there for 4 years, says there is a place where they call it 6 miles of Iron...he says 6 miles of heavy equipment parked along side of the road, not being used for months due to the lack of work. If so...Wow!

Not unemployed, but my workload has tripled (pretty much not an exaggeration) with my salary frozen ... I'm giving up a lot more hours and am a lot more wiped out as a result, so it's kind of eating into my wrench time. I've also been trying to keep costs under control due to the fact that I very much want to leave my job, and want to feel like I can afford to do so. I volunteered for severance earlier this month and was turned down, watching my friends get laid off instead. On top of that I'm living with my parents, which is not the best situation, and I'm hoping to invest in a house soon. So I'm not skimping on the vital stuff, but I'm trying to hold off on some biggies ... especially on the 240D, which is well beyond its golden year. I try to focus on cheap-but-challenging repairs ... right now I'm doing some low-budget bodywork after taking care of the vitals: brakes, steering linkage and maintenance. Most of it hasn't cost me that much, but the 240D is going to need a new exhaust and new tires, both going to be $$$. If things keep going the way they are, I may end up shelving the project altogether ... employment or no employment ...

better than my situation, a broke student lackling skills for jobmarket so Im going to toyota t ten program so at least you have marketable skils and something to go everyday. Not to add I have bill collectors calling multiple times everyday. alots of people out there who have it much worse than you

Definitely ... I wasn't making the case that I was the worst-off person in the world. I'm pretty lucky. All I was saying was that, like most people here and elsewhere, the economic situation has affected the way I approach my car hobby.

If you're a student, even a broke one, at least you're doing something in the right direction, i.e., acquiring a skill. That's way ahead of a lot of people, who are just waiting for someone to save them.

I'm well employed (Dept of Navy), but my wife's business - art school for kids - has been down for the last two years.

Putting off - Replace Rear Window - probable water leak, fogged edges, defroster lines only work on upper half of window.

Next thing to fix - Driver's seat completely collapsed. have the springs from the 300D passenger side, but will have to take the daily driver completely down to remove seat and rebuild. That's the hard part to schedule.

Been unemployed since Feb. '08 - thanks to my former boss's insight into this economy crash. Picked up a P/T job this Feb. which lasted until a couple of weeks ago. Unemployment rules!

On the other hand, I have started receiving SS benefits, which will barely pay the bills. So we keep on trying for the job...........

Edit: Smacked someone in the rear end the other day, messed up the radiator, aux. fan, AC condenser among who knows what. So far, looking at $500 in parts to get running again & who knows what else after the smashed stuff is pulled out & replaced. Just what I needed.........

That's rough ...:( ... do you get any help from insurance? If you're doing it yourself make sure to hit up the parts forum ... you could save a lot, or at least a little, hopefully, on parts $$$.

Somewhere here in the forum there is a discussion about fixing the seat with pool noodles. No really!! Lots of positive response. Might be the quick easy temporary fix. And as we all know, there is nothing so permanent as a temporary repair.:D

Check the oil cooler, keep an eye on it.

No insurance other than liability. Can't afford collision (unemployed). Been looking on this forum & elsewhere for parts prices. It's really amazing the range of prices out there for the same item.

Moon161- I gotcha! That is very high on my list of suspects. Thanks!

I am unemployed now. There is $250 worth of engine, tranny, and diff mounts sitting in my garage. As soon as I start receiving unemployment benefits (just got laid off a couple weeks ago) I will buy a jack and jackstands and install those.

I also found out today while I was watching the dudes at Discount rotate my wheels that I have a torn CV boot and my brakes are just about done. :-(

Pretty much unemployed with the lack of hours....

....Flex disks, I've been meaning to do these for ages. I saw a pic the other day of what can happen when they fail. It did some major damage, even broke some of the tranny. Hopefully they'll get done soon.

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...9e888ae27e.jpg
:eek: ... my 240D survived major damage, fortunately we were going nice and slow when this happened. Hope you have a chance to get them done soon. I need to do them on my 300D, even though they don't look cracked yet.

Recycled
 

for new members

Yeah, definately not my favorite subject. Laid-off 2 years ago. 150 year old company I had been with for 10 years closed its doors. I can tell you with all certainty that you don't want to be over 50 and looking for work.

I had a very nice 560SL that was a casualty of my unemployment. I had a company car which of course is gone. I've been driving my daughter's car, but she is now back at her home in Iowa. I really don't need all the crap with my 350SD, but at least when it's done I'll sell off the extra parts.

I know of what you speak. Not long ago, I went through this situation of getting calls and phone interviews and once the personal interview came around, and they see how old you are, never getting a call back. There definitely is age discrimination out there. Look at it this way, in a few years you may be their boss and many interviewers are subliminally hesitant about that fact.

I finally decided that doing it on my own may be a better route to take. Working part time, sub-contract, for two different outfits and starting another business of my own may be a roller coaster but it sure beats the depression of the alternative unemployment and waiting for an answer. Take your time and add only what you can handle easily. I like finding things that I can work my own schedule because I loathe "punching a clock". Some days I work early, some late and some, not at all if I feel like going fishing. Sure money is tight at times and you'll probably have the IRS breathing down your neck (nearly every small business out there is/has dealt with them. As the commercials say "they are not your friend")

If you like wrenching, there are always folks here on the forum looking for parts for these old MB's. Do it honest and always cover your costs in the price and be sure to pay yourself, whatever you do.

There was always age discrimination in the Work Place.

Security Guard companies do not mind hiring older Folks like myself.

But, the job is boring, pay is low, Coworkers unreliable,the supervisors are not very good either.
They almost always have a lot of overtime because people just do not come to work when they are supposed to.
I have tried it 3 times. Stayed 3months at one place, 1 year at another and almost 2 at one place.

There is a big shortage of Supervisors in the Security Industry. The Pay is low and the Employees are not reliable when it comes to showing up to work. Supervisors get blamed for what the Employees do.

If you have the funds, time and interest and can learn something serious like being an Nurse, X-ray Tech, Respiratory Therapist, Physical Therapist and so on you may find the age issue

Well it is two and a half years since this thread originated. I do not really know if the employment scene is better or worse now. I do not take the pulse of it. If better I assume only marginally so.

The noticiable thing to me is the price increases since then up here in Canada. On many things they seem quite pronounced. . Everyone has to make a living. Yet with many prices that are now current and I expect to still inflate further. It is no joke for many families.

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. For some people they will have to invent a way to make a living if the present senario continues. There is little doubt that more and more general manufacturing is still increasing outside north american borders.

All I am pretty certain of is that it took a lot of years to arrive at this point. It will take a lot of years I suspect to climb back out even if it is possible.

I would tell any young person starting out to get whatever mainstream career education they want, but to learn some sort of trade as well. Something always needed and that can be done for cash: tow truck driver, barber, roofer, basic plumbing, even being decent at putting paint on walls.

Something one can turn to when the wolf is in the front yard.

Better statistically, which is to say the jobs aren't what we used to refer to as good jobs.

Absolutely. The price of food has only begun its rise, from what I can tell. I am single but overextended due to my own stupidity. I cannot imagine what working people with a family are having to do to get by, between the price of food and the ridiculous property and rental markets in some part of the country.

Possible but it will take so much time. We have become accustomed to having piles of personal possessions, the ownership of which is only possible at Chinese-labour prices. But then we get Chinese quality, which means the whole exercise is a dog eating its tail as the stuff isn't remotely durable or repairable.

I heard an interesting reflection the other day: the 'personal storage facility' industry didn't exist 20 years ago in Canada. Now they're springing up everywhere.

We're drowning in our cr@p.

Sorry I guess I took this even further off topic. I had never actually seen this thread before and it's very sobering.

Yes developing misc skills that are always markatable is a good ideal. Too many young people do not bother now. They seem to be almost totally involved with developing social skills alone. A lot of my generation did develop various skills for many reasons as well at the same time.

What I have noticed is two things. Everytime I go to town that is four miles away . So it is pretty well daily. The money I expend is much more than it was in the 2008-2009 period.

The other item is we are fortunate to have surplus income. The surplus is now somewhat smaller each year. It is not our buying and spending habits as at our age they are pretty static. It has to be the higher average overall costs.

An example that is perhaps not typical. I needed some brushed nickle trim today for a granite tile countertop. The last time I purchased some it was twelve dollars a length. Perhaps two to three years ago but no longer since I last purchased.

It was twenty one dollars and some change a length today. So eight lengths were not 96.00 but 170.00. Gas was also 5.89 an imperial gallon in town today. Or 4.97 per american gallon.

Wages are definatly not on the increase yet. So it has to be hurting many. You are right in that we have become by and large a more materialistic society as well.

Perhaps about the most noticeable change in our buying habits is I source a lot of items off ebay and the web now on a very frequent basis. Usually after mailing costs I pay approxamatly 50 percent or less of the average local retail prices. Also save the 15 percent sales tax as well on most transactions. The savings on one item may not seem signifigant but over the year it really adds up. We are talking many thousands of dollars here alone. Primarily since I always seem to have a house build or rehab job of some sort going on.

Also the low return on investments that are fairly safe is now far lower than inflation. This is a concern. I understand low interest for borrowers will persist for many more years unless it stimulates too much inflation. Even then the current policies may stay in effect. The whole mess is still far from sound at this time. There is still not a lot of room left to absorb any form of major hit or even moderate one on the current economy.

I am well aware of how fortunate we are as a household at this time. We do not take it for granted either. We also feel badly about the amount of families in distress. The amount of bankrupcies and other forms of insolvency no longer indicate a healthy enviroment for a growing percentage of the population.

What I have noticed is two things. Everytime I go to town that is four miles away. The money I expend is much more than it was in the 2008-2009 period.

The other item is we are fortunate to have surplus income. The surplus is now somewhat smaller each year. It is not our buying and spending habits as at our age they are pretty static.

An example that is perhaps not typical. I needed some brushed nickle trim today for a granite tile countertop. The last time I purchased some it was twelve dollars a length. Perhaps two to three years ago but no longer.

It was twenty one dollars and some change a length today. So eight lengths were not 96.00 but 170.00. Gas was also 5.89 an imperial gallon in town today. Or 4.97 per american gallon.

Wages are definatly not on the increase yet. So it has to be hurting many. You are right in that we have become by and large a more materialistic society as well.

Perhaps about the most noticeable change in our buying habits is I source a lot of items off ebay and the web now on a very frequent basis. Usually after mailing costs I pay approxamatly 50 percent or less of the average local retail prices. Also save the 15 percent sales tax as well on most transactions.

I also expect the job market to shrink further for young people just starting out. There was an expression coined years ago about the lost generation. I hope it is not going to be that one as well that is seriously impacted by circumstances.

x2

I lost my position in mid 2003 ( okay I did not lose my job but when I went there someone else was doing it) I started a company with a friend and by 2006 they had cleaned out our accounts and disappeared. I started another company with another friend and he disappeared 1 year later. So after spending my retirement money trying to live on and keep my home. While all this was going on my wife was completing her degree in nursing ( while still working her job of 23 years with an airline) Through all this I did more and more of my own maintenance ( I had gotten out of that habit somewhat when I was working a lot) During this time period I made a few late mortgage payments but kept them up. The lender sent a letter stating that if I was having trouble making my payments I should contact them and see what we could work out. What a load !
I tried for almost 5 years as we slowly increased our income they kept losing paperwork etc. They finally foreclosed in January of 2011, apparently in the state of Virginia it is extremely easy for a lender to foreclose without so much as an appearance before a judge. So for the last 12 months we have spent almost $20,000. on an attorney to fight the foreclosure. Anyway through it all I have a few bits of sunshine:
1. My wife's work ethic
2. My kids are fantastic , no problems & straight A's
3. I can work on the benz with help when needed from this site and have not been let down
4. My extended family
Thats my rant now I need to go bleed the brakes on the 85 :musicbooh:musicbooh

I don't make much at work, but it's a blessing in disguise, in a way. If I was some loaded trust fund baby, I'd probably have some brand new car that I just dropped at the dealer every time it needed anything in the line of maintenance or repair. I think that necessity has been the cause for me learning auto repair, which I think has taught me good moral character when it comes to fixing anything in my own life...

But money can be nice.