Messing up is OK. It is part of learning and you look back with a laugh. I changed the oil once but forgot to tighten the oil filter lid. Started the engine and oil everywhere. But there are mistake that is fatal. Like working under car with jack only. Did not secure the spring with spring compressor etc. I don't work in auto industry and I am sure there are other dangerous practices which I am not aware of. May be we should list avoidable fatal mistake here.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

I mess up MUCH less than people who do it for a living.

This didn't start when shop owners went flat-rate. It's been this way since I can remember...late 60s/early seventies.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

John Muir (related to John Muir of the Muir woods) was an interesting guy, seaman, engineer, hippy and radical environmentalist. He also wrote 'how to keep your vw alive for the compleate idiot', possibly the prototypical 'dummies' book.

While a 603 car might only have a nut or two in common with an air cooled vw, the style of procedural writing and thinking '1. Open the engine cover and prop it with a stick so it doesn't hit you on the head' fills in a lot of the thinking, doing and understanding that doesn't come in a haynes book or FSM.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/96161.How_to_Keep_Your_Volkswagen_Alive

I tend to diverge quickly, forget things, and work in fits and starts. Wrenching on cars, I've learned to deal with and work with larger and more complex systems, tasks, projects and levels of detail than I might otherwise.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

I'm worse. Everything on an MB is chinese to me. I take photos, organize them in folders within a master folder then take hours to find the correct bolts, nuts and parts for every project. I might take three months to get around to doing a particular project because my research is so extensive and I'm so worried about breaking something or having it fail.

Everything turns out almost perfectly but I'm limited in working hours each day due to my health. Sometimes I just don't feel like messing with it for a week. I'm distracted by NCAA football this time of the year and move like a snail because of the distractions.

I've been on this diesel/gas conversion project for two years now. I'm down to refitting the interior with all the fresh painted parts and redoing the front seats.

I wish I was just 'as bad,' as you.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

[QUOTE=moon161;3767549]John Muir (related to John Muir of the Muir woods) was an interesting guy, seaman, engineer, hippy and radical environmentalist. He also wrote 'how to keep your vw alive for the compleate idiot', possibly the prototypical 'dummies' book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/96161.How_to_Keep_Your_Volkswagen_Alive

Same book was written for Toyota pickups - the smaller ones made 30+ years ago.

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Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

I've been wrenching on my own vehicles since I was 18 and bought my first car (a 1971 240z). Now I'm 48, and yes... I do stupid stuff all the time.

I changed the t-stat in my 91 300d last week. Front end was up on ramps. I had a hose connected to the engine block drain. Of course, I was on my back looking straight up at the drain. Put a wrench on it, it gave, the hose fell off and I got a face full of coolant. In retrospect, I should've seen that coming (and technically, I did).

Similarly, I replaced the front flex disc on the same car this past Sunday. Had a dickens of a time getting the driveshaft flange to let go of the disc. Did a little prying with a screwdriver. It broke loose and the shaft dropped, hit the exhaust and covered my face in rusty scale. Evidently, I spent a long time under there picking rust out of my eyes and ears because when I pulled myself out from under the car, some vultures were circling overhead (true story).

My point is that stupid stuff happens, but don't let that deter you. Too many of my friends just take their cars to the stealership or local indy and hand over their wallets. You've got a knack that's going to save you thousands over the course of your life.

And besides, I'd rather eff something up my dayum self instead of paying someone else to.

My other fascination is old, antique, metal blade electric fans... ended up at urgent care for stitches one time.

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1991 300D 2.5 "Rocinante"
2002 Golf TDI "Teen Spirit"
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1984 300D
1966 Mustang I6 3sp
1985 Mazda RX-7 GSLSE
1982 Toyota Supra
1977 Datsun 280z
1971 Datsun 240z