I don't know what I was thinking when I said rent from Hertz, Avis or Enterprise. I've had my own personal bad experiences with Enterprise, you are correct, they are a problem waiting to happen.

Plus, they are known to order cars direct from the factory with safety systems disabled so they can save money. Only car rental company in the world I know of that has done that. Crazy.

I'm working on acquiring my own private jet airplane so I can stay off the interstate highway system.

I'd have a hard time paying for a flat tire.... damage.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Try disconnecting the battery for a couple of minutes. I'm chasing electrical gremlins that breed when it rains, and that seems to help.

I had the hood open the other day and there was an obvious patina of winter dust under the hood with two exceptions. The area under the hood vents to the left and right was washed clean with rain water. I will post pictures upon return home.

I believe the passenger’ side is over the cabin air filter with the auxiliary battery underneath it. I don,t know what else may react poorly to water in that area.

Similarity the area under the driver’s side that was washed clean containers a fuse box and multiple electrical components. Who designes stuff like that? This may be the source of my water problem not an abs sensor cable like I first thought. I will look under the “protective beauty panel” for anything obvious.

Curious as to what a 10,000 mile 5 week car rental would look like. I have a feeling I would not be happy. Second that with an bad experience with Enterprise.

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1999 Mercedes E300TD daily driver sold at 238K miles 106K miles were mine, rust worm got it :-(
2006 Mercedes CDI new daily driver! 56,000 miles May 2016 now 85,625 Apr 2018 and Apr 2019 101,000 miles Apr 2020 109,875. March 2024 135,250

Tires rarely just come apart without warning.


A " bad alignment " didn't cause the tire to blow out. You continuing to drive the car with it pulling was an early warning sign that the tire was starting to fail. RE: The body damage is your fault.


Did you read the rental contract before signing it? Rental companies specifically exclude tire damage from any coverage they provide, I know that U Haul does. You might have been able to get around the tire damage issue if they were made aware of the problem immediately after you left the lot.


So you admit to ignoring the pull but still blame the rental company? What sort of logic is that?

Got any proof?


Yes, we already know that.

Got the car home and now it is time to figure out what is going on.

There is a nice patina of winter dust under the hood. These photos show that water flowed through the hood vents during the remnants of the tornado front that passed through and washed the panel underneath clean. Is there anything under these panels that does not react well to water that could cause ABS ESP etc problems disabling the car.



and the other side



Still snow on the ground so can't spray any water in the wheel wells to see if I can duplicate the fault.

Any one have ideas as to where I should look?

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1999 Mercedes E300TD daily driver sold at 238K miles 106K miles were mine, rust worm got it :-(
2006 Mercedes CDI new daily driver! 56,000 miles May 2016 now 85,625 Apr 2018 and Apr 2019 101,000 miles Apr 2020 109,875. March 2024 135,250

If the car can't make it 500 miles..... you haven't taken care of it very well. Sure, something can happen on any car but if you have a MB in good condition you have the RIGHT to take it on as long of a trip as you want. If it breaks down along the way, so be it.

There's something to be said for rental cars, that's for sure, but if you're afraid to drive your Mercedes on a 500 mile trip, you should sell the car.

[QUOTE=jbach36;3907244]If the car can't make it 500 miles..... you haven't taken care of it very well. Sure, something can happen on any car but if you have a MB in good condition you have the RIGHT to take it on as long of a trip as you want. If it breaks down along the way, so be it.

There's something to be said for rental cars, that's for sure, but if you're afraid to drive your Mercedes on a 500 mile trip, you should sell the car.


Roger this. Not being a collector, I would not have a car that I cannot drive. Just returned from a 1600 mile trip with our '83 with 35400 miles on it.

your photo of the passenger side. The engine computer is buried about two layers down under that cover. Remove the cover then remove the next cover which the cabin air filter. The engine computer is below the air filter. That is the arrangement on the 2008 and 2009 E320 cars. yours may be the same.