This was a good read. I was recently talking to my wife about doing an "upgrade" for reliability's sake. I got my head bitten off even suggesting the 85 W123 was in good shape for a few bucks. Instead we settled on an ultra-reliable 98 Volvo (yeah right). She's still happy, I'm still happy because I have another toy to play with. Funny thing was my son who just started driving. I had given him the Subaru figuring he'd like having a decent car to run around with. It broke, so I gave him my old Mazda to drive and he comes back at me that that was the car he wanted from the beginning but was afraid I'd give him a hard time!
What my wife really wants is a 300TDT wagon, I'll see if I can find her a nice but newer than the W123 diesel.
I'm getting old now so once my son's off the insurance I see something new in the wind, hope it turns out to be MB but I don't trust the newer ones very much. Who knows what the future brings. I'll be parting with my 58 in the spring due to old age (mine, not its).

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1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.

And the OP is posting about his what, oh right - Acura.

This thread essentially shows that we are not just diesel MB nuts, but we are also generally car nuts and appreciate different designs.

I'm glad Jimmy is enjoying his Acura. I sure miss reading about his old MB stories (on China, Squash, etc) but I'm sure Jimmy is making new ones with his new toy.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

I'm glad he's enjoying his Acura as well, which I stated in an earlier post, it just didn't feel like an MB forum after looking at pictures of Ford internals, and a Mustang.
After just completing a lower ball joint and LCA bushing job on the 300SD, I'm ready to jump the fence too.

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'81 300SD

LOL..........touché

TOO OLD? What`s too old? Blasphmy, never too old.

I`ll be 68 this Sunday, and I ain`t too old.

If you get all hung up on a number, then you will become old just thinking about it.

I drove my mom`s 2001 Ford Tarus a few days ago, (she is 90) 23,000 miles on it. nice car, lots of zoom and get up and go. everything works nice and smooth, but it (to me) is harder to see out the back window and sides, seem to have blind spots. then I get back in the 240D, and it is like putting on a nice set of comfortable slippers. it just felt right, and there are no blind spots.

Those two pimple face teenagers that were handed the restored Mustang and Camaro, don`t have the appreciation of these old classic cars. too bad they have to keep up an image with their peers.

I guess to each their own.

Now back to my wrenching.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

OK, OK!!!! Do I need to set her straight too????

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Its all about the right tools. Going along working on an MB with inadequate tools makes for a quick path to suffering.

I did the lower ball joints on my 420 in less than 5 hours (removal, bring to shop AND re-install)....

I've actually been running out of things to fix.....its boring. I had to replace a fuse in my 300SD today, first repair on that vehicle in almost a year!

Will probably be doing a fun project with my sister's 190E soon, I can't wait. (Engine/trans swap!)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Which model?

If you are able to avoid electrical/electronics issues (which seem to be hit or miss on those cars) you'll be okay - but the price of parts may be a cold shower.

If you got talked into a 'cheap' V70 XC, we need to chat....

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

In July I did my first cross country road trip in a non-MB. It still fit the standard for being older (1994) and cheap ($4000) but I have never had to do a thing to it other than normal maintenance and a secondary terminal post cleaning in one year and 15,000 miles. It wasn't the best handling car for the California highway 1 leg of the journey, but I was incredibly comfortable. It has good power, decent gas mileage, and a nice stereo. Its also a big attention grabber too.

1994 Buick Roadmaster


In September, I decided to buy something new, fuel efficient, and could toss around an autocross course or a track day. I go back and forth as to whether this was a good decision, especially with the run of luck I've been having with the business. I absolutely love the car, and have put 8000 miles on it since buying it the beginning of September. I just hate having all the money tied up in a depreciating asset. Its nice to have all maintenance paid to 40k, and it really was a bargain for all the car you get.

2012 GTI


The 500SL is a garage queen. In the last 2 years I maybe put 1000 miles on it. She's still a needy mistress, though. Every year I think about replacing the convertible top to make it as perfect as its going to get, but I find something new that's leaking or broken. Another grand or two goes down the drain and I put off the soft top until the following year.



I still buy and sell Mercedes with the dealership, but I've had a terrible run of luck with repairs on them. Then again, I've just had a terrible run of luck this last 6 months with nearly all the cars. I really hope things turn around. The first year in the business I never had any major issues like this, other than a Cadillac Northstar Engine and your E300. I remember how frustrated I was a year ago over one transmission failure. Now I'm sitting on 2 Mercedes with bad transmissions and one has a double whammy with a bad head gasket. I had another head gasket failure on a 4.0 Jeep last month (that seldom happens with that motor). A few months before I had a 90,000 original mile E320 wagon head gasket suddenly start leaking. Unfortunately the original wiring harness didn't survive disassembly, but I was able to find a used replacement. After doing all this, reverse gear on the transmission takes a dump while backing it out of the shop.

I've been trying out other brands, and become interested in Land Rovers recently. My parts supplier gets bits for the brand at ridiculously cheap prices, and working on them is pretty straightforward. Cosmetically they tend to hold up and clean up really well. Its fairly easy to find mechanically distressed examples, thoroughly recondition them economically, and sell them quickly since they have a pretty broad appeal. Other than the enthusiasts, women like them as grocery getters, and guys like the rugged presentation.



It was great having burger with you in Dallas a few months ago. Even without Mercedes, there's still so much for us to talk about.

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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!!!

I have done it about a dozen times partially or completely-most recently in December/January when I did every mile from top (Leggett) to bottom (Dana Point). I would not want to wheel that Road Master on the most northern end. it was bad enough in my 740IL.

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87 300D 265Kmi
Factory rebuilt crate 603.96x engine at 200K

Thanks Charlie, brought me back to earth. Guess I was feeling old from laying on a piece of cardboard for an hour at 30 degrees. I used to be good for 10 degrees and lower --- in the snow. Guess my wife will get her 300TD (no extra T ), I never could keep that straight. I'm 61 and anxiously shooting for semi-retirement so I can wrench more. My mom's 85 and still boogies along in my sister's little Mercury Capri --with the top down in summer even!

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1985 300D 197K - Semi-Daily Driver Diesel
1998 Volvo V70 AWD 226K - Daily Driver 2
1998 Volvo S70 140K - Wife's DD
2003 GMC Sonoma ZR2 Option - Rusty Truck
THE BABY 1958 220S Sedan 66K All original, never restored and never will be.

Rich at 61...........amazing...........

Never would have believed it.............

Malibu to Monterrey. I'm not sure how people were enjoying themselves in rented RVs. More than once I just pulled off to the side of the road because I was tired of following them.

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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!!!