Has anyone ever tried to steal your older diesel? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

scottytech · #16 11-17-2012, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w123fanman

I would assume that old diesels, well diesels in general are stolen less per 1000 diesel vehicles vs the number for gasoline vehicles. Most people don't know how to start a modern diesel in the first place. The average person wouldn't know you have to let the glow plugs heat up before you can start the engine. Throw in a manual transmission and thieves are even more confused. W115 240D with a gorilla knob and a manual transmission would be a tough one for a thief to figure out.

Its not just thieves that have trouble with the gorilla knob. We have had more than one tire store push the car in and out of the service bay because they couldn't get it started. Then there was the time the keys got locked in the car and it took the locksmith 2 hours to get the door open. No, the old 240's are not thief "friendly". They make lousy get away cars too.

1960mog · #17 11-17-2012, 09:54 AM

During the day I park my 240 behind my house with the key in the ignition.
Some years ago I found my car on the end of my drive way close to the street.
Some one pushed it down the drive way, but couldn't figure out the gorilla knob.

Palangi · #18 11-17-2012, 10:05 AM

Years ago in my old 200D I pulled into a valet parking lot in downtown Detroit. I asked the guy if he knew how to drive it, and he said of course he did. When I came back 4 hours later, the engine was still running.

BillGrissom · #19 11-17-2012, 10:56 AM

Someone broke in my 85 300D in the driveway by jamming a flat screwdriver above the door handle and prying. I didn't even notice until after my neighbor said their BMW was broken in the same way that night. Maybe a German car trick they learn in prison. Only stole was my prescription sunglasses, so good luck fencing those. A nice neighborhood, but not gated. Now I have infrared security cameras and DVR.

I bought my 84 300D off craigslist for $400. Only 120K mi and bought for the engine to fix my 85. It had been stolen by kids and crashed, which broke the K-frame. A shop welded it back, but the owner said it cracked again, so gave up. I drove it home 3 miles with a front wheel leaning in. I found the repair was fine and it had split at the lower control arm bushing support. I welded it with a strap for re-inforcement, aligned it, and my son has been driving it for 3 years. Looks nice after I fixed a few body dents.

KAdams4458 · #20 11-17-2012, 06:46 PM

I can't say anyone has messed with my diesel, but years ago I had the passenger window shattered in my Saturn by someone that was after my radio. They must not have been too bright, as both doors were unlocked, so there was no need to break glass. Further cementing the perpetrator's lack of intelligence is the fact that they ripped the face off of a radio that did not have a removable face. They then abandoned the radio, took a home-brewed mix CD from the glove box, and left $20 worth of quarters in the ashtray that they removed sitting on the seat.

The real crime here is that this person is robbing all of us of oxygen.

Sev · #21 11-18-2012, 12:46 AM

anyone is free to steal my benz...for the right price

but yeah, i'd shoot first and ask questions later if I caught someone trying

luckily i live in a good neighborhood and know (i.e. i collect on) my neighbors.

Beastie · #22 11-18-2012, 03:37 PM

I know my Dad took a trip to see my brothers one in Monroe Louisiana and the other in the Dallas metro area. Had a gunsight stolen at both locales.
That's 2 in one trip.

eatont9999 · #23 11-19-2012, 05:07 PM

People who steal cars around here stand a good chance of getting shot.

I do worry about some punk ripping my hood star off in the parking lot but so far I have been lucky. I think the market demand for cassette decks is slightly lower than it was back in the 80's. LOL.

I can't see why someone would want to steal an old, slow car that needs a paint job. It's not like the W126 ignition is the friendliest thing for a thief to get past. Shoot, sometimes it can be a challenge even with the key.

Mark DiSilvestro · #24 11-20-2012, 09:19 PM

I'd worry more about some delinquent ripping out the stereo. Seen a couple W123s like mine where the center-console and heater-controls got totally trashed that way.
Reminds me - I really should remove the PO-installed Asian Blaupunkt CD-radio from my Euro '84 TD. That system is a POS, with too many tiny buttons, distracting neon menus, and a CD-player that freezes-up after about 30 minutes. But like most modern aftermarket car-stereos, it has that flashy 'Vegas at Midnite' bling that makes it thief-bait!
I have the choice of a correct 1984 Euro 4-band Becker-Europa cassette radio, or an early '90s Blaupunkt cassette-radio I could substitute. Hopefully, no one wants cassette-radios badly enough to steal them anymore.

Happy Motoring, Mark

strelnik · #25 11-21-2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daw_two

I've owned a few old diesel Mercedes that I wish someone would have stolen. And it wasn't to collect insurance either; just to get rid of the things.

If they're free, I'll take them. Have new extra storage now

strelnik · #26 11-21-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beastie

I know my Dad took a trip to see my brothers one in Monroe Louisiana and the other in the Dallas metro area. Had a gunsight stolen at both locales.
That's 2 in one trip.

I replaced the gunsight with a grille that has a large gunsight in it. Too big to wear, too hard to steal in one piece.

Soon, my CCW will come in the mail, and my Ruger .480 will arrive. Then I won't have to worry about theft.....