I've gotten a lot of quality tools at auctions and can get some pretty good deals on most
brands. Just as an observation, when there are Snap On tools being sold, there are always bidders who wrench for a living. They rarely sell at low prices.

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85 300TD

88 560SL

05 SL65 AMG

As someone else said, I can survive with Craftsmen for their non mechanical tools usually, but anything with gears such as a ratchet, I look elsewhere.

I am a big fan of "Williams" brand which is not the industrial division of Snap-On. At my old job, I once found a 3/8 ratchet in a Cat generator straight from Cat factory. I love the feel of it and wound up buying another one. Another friend found one and it lost a bolt from the back so he was always tightening the other one. Anyhow, mine eventually broke (slipping gears) and so I grabbed both mine and my friends and sent them to their factory in GA. Williams sent back two completely new ratchets, and his was only missing a screw! So I am a fan of Williams!

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1987 300TDT - 195,000 (Original #14 head)
1993 190E 2.3 - 105,000
1981 300D - 250,000

German steel used to be better than US. I bet it still is.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I would bet there are grades of steel in germany.

A true story:
The guys who made the Model 1895 and original 1898 Mausers at the Oberndorf factory used an alloy whose exact composition was later lost in a fire. Those original rifles last far longer than anything else, even much more modern ones and are highly prized.

I wonder if aliens did them or what?

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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

I'd almost bet that someone with spectrum analysis would be able to recreate that alloy. But if I had to bet my bottom dollar, I'd guess heat treatment also was a secret method, and a major part of the process as well...

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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

i wrenched for 30 years professionally, and either american or name brand german are fine. i have never seen a quality tool from china, india, pakistan or taiwan. on the really big wrenches over 1" or 25mm, they are so thick even the cheap ones won't break unless you get really rough w/ em. cheap sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, etc. aren't worth the price even if they're free. when you ruin your work or damage your hand, you'll agree with me.

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1984 300TD "MAX" 303K+ still going...
fast '70 Chevelle 200k+
home built Shovelhead chopper

i own lotsa tools-snap-on, craftsman, sk, williams, hazet, stahwille, gedore, usag, mac, matco, easco, kd, bonney, new britain-both danaher and stanley, and proto. all chrome hand tools. been a mechanic for more than 20 years. there are cheap grades and good stuff that will literally last a lifetime. i doubt the hazets you keep will give you a problem. good luck, chuck.