Had to turn in my 12mm surrender socket for some 1987 Champagne......

Hi everyone - I'm Jeromie - It's 6:30 AM Monday and it's been 18 hours since my last Mercedes w124 purchase. I do feel powerless before a good deal when one is presented - I find that I cannot, well, just say no. My whole family knows that I have a real weakness for station wagons - after this last binge, this'll be my third time on the wagon. I did go thru a spell of almost 3 years without buying any, but those demons turned out to be too much to me to resist.

I knew things were starting to fall apart for me when I'd, occasionally, browse the internet forums and sale sites, looking at 300TD's. Once and a while I'd see someone on the highway enjoying their wagon and I would feel jealousy and guilt. Lots of guilt. Why did I ever sell my first wagon? She was a good car, no turbo, only 5 cylinders, but she was always faithful, beautiful, and blond.

I tried to fill this hole in my life by participating in group therapy sessions (www.peachparts.com) where I felt safe talking about my addiction with others who had the same opinions about these cars. Some encouraged me to meet up for ‘social outings’, to get outside and work, feel good about myself again, be productive – but I quickly found that the “Pick A Parts” parties were only a cover story we told our wives. We weren’t there for therapy – it was savage wagon gluttony! There my inner wagon lusts were fully awakened – I felt my hot passion for glo-plugs light again, soon I was coming home with diesel oil on my hands and there was nothing anyone could do about it!

I began bringing home parts to cars I didn’t own. First it was small, unique interior wagon trim pieces, then third row seats and headrests. Then, I began collecting heads. I was obsessed with them, I would read about them, how they broke, what people…glup….did with them when they broke (like baking them in ovens!). I got my first - head - a few months. It felt sooooo good - I kept it there in my basement, next to all the other body parts. When I learned that my head wasn’t perfect, I was filled with rage (it had 3 cracks between the #3, #4 and #5 exhaust valve and injector nozzle) – so I got another, then another. Finally my wife pleaded with me to stop and get my head checked.

About 4 months ago I found a great deal on my first 1987 W124 300TD. I brought it home and gave him the name Klaus. You’ve probably seen me writing and sharing photos about him on this forum. I will be getting the #22 head back from the machine shop sometime next week, just in time for me to go on a 3 week trip for work. Anyway – my wife really was charmed by Klaus. She liked the size, comfort, lines, it was easy to park and most importantly, the power. She didn’t like my first wagon (a 1980 300TD with no turbo - her name was Chloie - I guess my wife donesn't like other women), so feeling how much faster the OM603 is, well, it finally sold here. She surprised me one day and said she wanted a wagon too. At first I thought she was faking it, but after more questions I realized she was - curious - and sincere.

Last Thursday I saw a posting in the for-sale section for another 87 300TD (which was a nice color, not white with blue interior, my least favorite combo), for a very good deal and it was only 500 miles away – and HEY Honey – it’s a Lobor Day holiday weekend! Perfect time for a long road trip up and down I-95. You were just saying how much you and the boys enjoyed out last 500 mile drive to Columbus, OH two weeks ago to pick up that #22 head (insert fake smile here). NOTE - My oldest son, Matthew, opted out for this one, he stayed home and slept the entire time we were gone - it's hard work being 16.

We drove up to Rhode Island, got the car, and brought it home. Tolls on I95 came to just over $180 (the George Washington Bridge in New York alone was $60 for my pickup and an empty U-Haul car trailer!!!!). Now I have two gorgeous W124 300TDT’s in my stable.



The view from the driver’s seat of my faithful pickup “Mr. Thirsty” - our 1997 Ford F350 Diesel Dually. I really love the feel of pulling a project car home on a trailer. I learned my lesson when I brought home my first wagon, this one came on a car-hauler (all the wheels off the ground, no car-dolly this time) – I didn’t want to hurt the transmission.



Nice, straight, only a few very small dents here and there, but this car presents very nicely when you walk up on it. I love the silver/champagne color + the interior is cool (I think it is palomino brown, it’s darker than my other wagon).



The front seats are from a W126 and need to be replaced. They are comfortable, but they ain’t right for the car. They also don’t match the color of the rest of the interior.



Look JJ! Third row leather seats (factory installed this time, Daddy doesn’t have to tear the whole interior out to install a scavenged set. Ohh-Ohh – LOOK – the rear hatch hydraulics hold the hatch up in any position, so I don’t have to replace those either. Glory days !



Another treat I found – car has both of its luggage rails. Bummer about the sunroof – its taped shut. Motor is jammed. I’ll open the cover today and crank on the manual close knob to get it closed all the way. I’ll then address the rebuild / cleaning later.



Finally – here’s a photo of my youngest son, JJ and my wife posing next to her new car. I made a mental list of all the things that need to be done before she can start driving this;

1. Replace / Fix the IP – engine runs terribly - combinations of very rough idle, black smoke, white fuel smoke (car has a #17 head, no oil in the coolant reservoir that I can see, and the coolant hoses are soft).
2. Repair/Replace both rear hydraulic pistons – I haven’t looked too closely at these yet, but the passenger side unit is pouring out fluid – so I don’t know what to do about these yet. The driver side seems fine. Probably going to have to service the SLS valve too. The whole rear end is sagging right now.
3. Reconnect all the miscellaneous vacuum lines and wires that are missing or disconnected currently.
4. Fix both driver side front and rear electric windows
5. Fix the A/C (Mama does not like a hot car)
6. Fully service the cooling system (this car has the aluminum fan, appears to have a tight viscous fan clutch, and the radiator shroud is in place).

I have a longer list of nice things to do also, but these are the HOT items that’ll get her on the road. She is a very sweet and understanding wife. Soon as I get Klaus running again, I’ll start on her car. I promise