One of the select times I respond with some information that might help someone...... I retract all of my information I typed in.

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1985 300SD - 167k miles
1992 F350 7.3 (Soon to be converted to 2 tank Veggy/WMO)

It seems towing is the largest concern.
Many insurance companies offer towing coverage quite cheaply.
I pay $1.00 a month per car.

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83 SD

84 CD

I think I actually have that, but I've never used it. I have no idea if I'm paying extra. I'm sure there are limits on the distance and/or cost.

I've used it twice, not a bad idea when driving old cars.

As I understand it, the mileage limit varies by state. Years ago, they told me Va. has no mileage limit.

But, master cylinders no longer come with those little plastic pieces so you can bench bleed it, either. The local auto parts store special ordered a kit, it only comes with one fitting the right size. Got the last two, had to drive around to find another kit.

When was the last time a master cylinder had only one line? The sixties? Back when master cylinders came with said fittings?

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83 SD

84 CD

We have emergency road service as part of our car insurance. It covers
- lockouts
- towing
- pull car out of ditch
- start car
- bring fuel
- install spare tire
We pay $4.50 per car per 6 months or $18 per year for two cars. AAA was up to $80 a year for the two of us when we dropped it as we weren't using it. As we have never used the emergency road service, I can't comment on how well it works.

Jeremy

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"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

Haven't gotten my letter yet....

It's a moot point in my book anyways. "Free Towing" is anything but free considering the $50/hour premium you'll pay at the dealer.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

Wow, good info. I was not aware of the possibility of getting roadside from my car insurance company ( thanks Bob) I need to give them a call. The only reason I would have any roadside assist program is for my wife who drives 60-120 miles a day and although she is brilliant in so many areas, directions and changing tires are skills that elude her.

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92 500E Silver 66k
82 Porsche 911SC 84K
68 Cadillac ( Gone Now )
03 Suburban Z71 200K
85 300SD 217k From Original Owner ( Dad )

The free roadside service from Mercedes-Benz, would have been of no help to your wife in the scenario above. Mercedes-Benz free roadside service has nothing to do with an alternator going bad on one of their cars when out of warranty period.

It was only free roadside service for these three items:
1) Battery jump start.
2) Changing out a flat tire with the car's spare tire.
3) A few gallons of fuel if your car runs out of fuel.

X 2!

Not all, but many of the people driving the old MBs are cheapskates. MB dealers are smart enough to realize there's just not a profit center dealing with the lead time hassle necessary replacing parts on cars and the people that drive them. Most of us realize that indys are the better place for our aging MBs.

Whats with the attitude towards towing services and people who have them? As far as im concerned, to each his own, don't see how the issue requires so much sarcasm. Like you said, location is a big factor on rates.

I share a plan with my sister and other family members, so its pretty cheap. Saves me a bunch of money with local tow rates, and especially when down in NYC area, where everything is super expensive.

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This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.

How about a gray market R 107 SL?

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Huh? That's what I was referring to.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

The last time I needed a tow, the hook-up alone was $95. I was towed ten miles, and had to pay a bit more than $250 to be unhooked in my own driveway. They would have used a little more lube if I had let them take me to one of their affiliate repair shops by not charging me to unhook. What a deal that would have been, eh? Still, I drove that car for five years and only needed that one tow, so I did spend less than if I had been paying for AAA membership.

Does roadside assistance of some sort cost more in the long haul? You betcha. Will it keep my wife from freaking out when she pops a tire 40 miles from home? Yes! To me, that is worth the bit of extra cost. Besides, we buy only used cars and don't finance them. We only have basic cable. We don't finance anything unless it is absolutely necessary. I thing we're saving more than enough money elsewhere to more than offset the luxury of roadside assistance.

It's about more than money, sometimes. Don't lose sight of that. I never bothered with an assistance program when I lived in the Midwest where living was cheap, I had the energy and youth to function as a one man vehicle repair army, and I never had to worry about a frantic call from a family member that was stuck with a crippled vehicle of mine, because no one but me drove my vehicles. Roadside assistance can not be always be assessed as only a matter of cash spent over time.

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- K.C.Adams

'77 300D Euro Delivery
OM617 turbo / 4-speed swap
404 Milanbraun Metallic / 134 Dattel MB-Tex

Current status:
* Undergoing body work

My '77 300D progress thread

Sadly, this serves as further proof that MB is no longer the same company that built our beloved vehicles. Some day, my grandchildren won't believe me when I tell them that a car company once manufactured cars that were built to last 30+ years.

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-1985 300TD - 324k mi on chassis. MB "Tauschaggregat" 617 motor + 4-speed conversion
Alaska Roadtrip 2009
-2002 E320 Wagon - 197k mi
-1998 E320 Wagon - 310k mi - retired