how did you convert to diesel mercedes? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

73MB280SEL · #16 03-17-2003, 06:02 PM

Those stories are pretty familiar, so let me ad my own flavor to it:

I grew up in the '80's. I graduated from high school in '84 and got my drivers license in '82. I remember ONE INSTANCE at a gas station where somebody had a new Diesel 123. I thought it was absolutely cool how the front of the car had those round headlights integrated into the body profile. I thought the headlight surrounds made the car look like an airplane. He had the hood up and I saw how the grille moved with the hood: another cool feature. When he started it up, the clatter it made sounded so mechanical.

That's when I got into Diesels. Heck, I WANT them to clatter.

I've always been into the "wierd" or unusual cars. I don't understand why everybody in the US wants to have the same classic car: corvette, chevelle, mustang, camaro. Sure, these are great cars and easy to work on, but there's just so many of them around. The reason FOR a classic car is to have something different than every body else. Although I do like a well done corvette, chevelle, or camaro, I'm mighty biased towards the well done Mercedes, Citreon, Auto Union, BMW, heck even FIAT. These aren't by and large too expensive cars like a Ferrari, but are just about as unique on the road today.

Sholin

rickg · #17 03-17-2003, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 73MB280SEL
I've always been into the "wierd" or unusual cars. I don't understand why everybody in the US wants to have the same classic car:The reason FOR a classic car is to have something different than every body else. Sholin

Right on! (One reason I have 3 Audis

)
I've always gone my own path. (Heck, I was the only kid in my whole high school wearing cowboy boots

) My brother has always been the "practical" one in the family (had a mini-van for several years). He can't understand my obsession for things different. I say dare to be different!

rwthomas1 · #18 03-17-2003, 06:57 PM

When I was 16 I was too interested in going fast and killing rear tires to think about a diesel. Funny thing is one of my buddies had a diesel Rabbit, his dad had a diesel Caddy and his Mom drove a diesel Pontiac. Suprisingly they never had any trouble with the GM's.... Because of fuel mileage issues the Rabbit was the cruising/roadtrip vehicle of choice. Still I had to have the performance so heres the list: 75 Dodge Dart w/340, 4speed, 4.11's(from a wrecked Demon), with a ridiculously large rollercam, like 8in/hg of vacuum at idle, screamed like a banshee at 7000rpm-Sold. 72 Pontiac Firebird w/455 poncho, Turbo350, a 3.73 rear from a 77TA and enough go-fast goodies to lay down 410rwhp on a chassis dyno. Scary fast car, the ground actually shook from the choppy/violent idle-Sold, pay for school. 81 Caprice, strictly a college barmobile. Great for driving and parking where you and others may be, ah, "impaired". 85 Dodge Shelby Turbo, StageII turbo, intercooler, computer. Went like a raped ape, handled REALLY well too.-Sold, should have kept it, they are collectible now. 87Mazda pickup, strictly a cross-country vehicle. Spent 4months driving/camping/exploring 43 states of this beautiful country of ours.-Sold, overall a good vehicle but when it broke, I couldn't get the parts, couldn't fix it and couldn't afford to have it fixed. 72 C10 Chevy shortbox classic truck. 383, 4speed, 3.73's.-Sold, Fun but didn't keep it long as it as "distracting" me from grad school. 95 Chevy C1500 bought new, basic reliable and practical transportation. 82K without a single problem-Sold to my brother when he totaled his vehicle. Which leads to the diesels... My wife had a 5.0 convertible but was commuting 110miles one-way in TX and that wasn't cutting it. My family had always had VW's, and I knew the Jetta diesel would be just the ticket. Puchased the Jetta in 98, a tmu car, and have driven the wee out of it. It keeps asking for more..... Wanted a diesel pickup as I tried towing my hovercraft trailers and the move to Texas in 98 was not fun with a 1/2ton gasser. Ford/Dodge were too expensive used because of demand/reputation. I searched the web, found www.thedieselpage.com and found out GM diesels ain't all that bad once you get to know 'em. So I took the leap of faith and purchased the 6.5TD I have now. Have never had a problem with it other than regular maintainence and some upgrades. Nothing tows like a diesel, nothing. Set the cruise and let her just glide along. I find the truck almost as comfortable as my 300D. Almost. Moved back to RI now fully-obsessed with diesels. Purchased my 300D on Ebay after considering other MB's for 2years. Should have done it sooner. I am a diesel addict with an appreciation for all but a preference for MB's. Hoping to find a reason to purchase a nice SD in a year or so. Still want another hotrod though, blown big-block this time. RT

84300DT · #19 03-17-2003, 06:58 PM

smashed up my '82 peugeot 505s turbodiesel. replaced with present mb.
was hooked on diesels b4 that though '79 vw rabbit ...

mechmagcn · #20 03-17-2003, 07:09 PM

I was looking for a diesel car to put my other half into. Her brother had a neighbor that had this car sitting in the back with the right rear crashed. Interior was fair, but major body work just isn't in my resume. To make a long story short, I bought a parts car from a member here, and the rest is history. I love it!
Also, the IRS never has to know whether the diesel goes into my service truck or my personal vehicles

Only problem that I have found, when I told Mother that I had bought a MB, First thing she said was [ I want it]. Now the search is on for one for her. Anyone with a 81-85 300SD in need of a little TLC? Cheap?
Thanks, Jeff

Capt Kirk · #21 03-17-2003, 08:24 PM

I actually wanted a Diesel Mercedes when I was 16

(got one when I was 17, now I'm 19)

I learned to drive on a 84 VW Rabbit, my first car was an 89 VW Jetta (Diesel). The first cars I remember were those 2 (in family since new) and another 83 Rabbit so I really grew up around Diesel powered cars. As far as the Mercedes w123 choice : my grandpa (the german one, in Germany) had a 1980 280E that he kept up until 2 years ago. It ran on leaded fuel and was the coolest thing ever to me. All that and the fact my mom refused letting me get a CJ8 led up to me getting a German car, none other than my 300D.

Angel · #22 03-17-2003, 08:37 PM

My Father bought a VW rabbit diesel (rabid dismal ? =) in 1981, and commuted in it, I grew up in that thing. My (older) brothers both happened to find cheap vw rabid dismals when they turned 16. At one time we had 3 in the driveway...
So when I grew up, I joined the navy and had a gasser Jetta. While I was in, bought the VW sports car of my dreams- the VW corrado.
Corrado's have one of the worst reliability records of all the VW line (supercharger, rear wing, sunroof, $1400 seat belts...) I have mine running, but I have no need for a 19mpg 2+2. I wanted either a 4 seater or a 2 seater.
Right before I got out of the Navy (in 2000) , I bought a motorcycle (Suzuki Katana 750), so that MORE than filled any need for speed I had (or will ever have). There are faster bikes out there, but until I can outride my bike (long way off), that one is gonna do me for a while. My Fiance likes the bike too....
So w/ the Corrado getting no younger (its at 150k now....) I prayed....honestly...and asked God to send me a Fuel efficient 4 seat sedan- preferably an MB diesel b/c my Grandmother had a 240D that I liked. I really didnt think I'd find one, especially in my college student price-range. After going around and around fixing a car (the Corrado)I didnt want to keep, I decided that if I was gonna work on a car, it had to be a car I wanted to keep.
Lo and Behold, a 1982 300Dt appeared at a local indep. MB shop- I jumped on it. The price reflected its condition (<$1000), but Its in my garage now, and I LOVE the thing in spite of its auto trans. It might not get much better fuel economy, but I WILL be able to hold 4 in more confort than the fiance's neon.

Keep on Klatta-ing -John

#23 03-17-2003, 08:56 PM

I guess I would say I've always wanted a MB diesel since I was 2 y/o when my dad bought an 85 TD S/W (Champagne w/ Tan). I guess he went for the diesel being a farmer in Georgia (being around diesel tractors). We went around in that wagon everywhere we could possibly go (with me and my twin in the 3rd seat, amazingly we never got sick, hehe). Well, I have 2 other brothers who got an MB diesel when they started to drive (my whole family enjoys the whole diesel idea including my mom). Well, to make a long story short, my first car wasn't exactly a diesel (it was a 92 GMC Sonoma which is what I went around in until I could find an MB). Fortunately, last October I found the most perfect MB (my favorite body style too). We still have the truck for hauling big things mostly, but we're in the process of selling it unless my brothers and my dad can persuade my mom to let us replace the engine with an MB diesel engine (any suggestions on which type??)

-Jamie

Oh yeah, I forgot that my dad bought a Sky Blue w/Blue VW Rabbit Diesel brand new. Never saw the car with my own eyes because he sold it b4 I was born.

The Warden · #24 03-17-2003, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 73MB280SEL
I've always been into the "wierd" or unusual cars. I don't understand why everybody in the US wants to have the same classic car: corvette, chevelle, mustang, camaro. Sure, these are great cars and easy to work on, but there's just so many of them around. The reason FOR a classic car is to have something different than every body else. Although I do like a well done corvette, chevelle, or camaro, I'm mighty biased towards the well done Mercedes, Citreon, Auto Union, BMW, heck even FIAT. These aren't by and large too expensive cars like a Ferrari, but are just about as unique on the road today.

I know that feeling; the only gasoline-powered vehicle I want to own is a '59 Cadillac...not a coupe or a convertible, though, I actually want a station wagon.

Then I want to make it look as original as possible, but have a 426 Hemi for a powerplant.

PDeputy · #25 03-17-2003, 09:07 PM

Never thought of owning a diesel about 10 years ago (33 yrs old then). It all started when my brother in law who owns a mercedes repair shop in another city, started talking to my parents about mercedes. After a number of years, he fianlly convinced my Dad to buy a 83 300D. He had rebuilt the transmission on it. After a couple of years my Dad bought my brother in law's 85 300D (the same one I drove away from my wedding in). When Dad bought the wedding diesel (how many of you can say that?!?), I bought the 83 300D from Dad. The domino effect continued. I've since sold the 83 300D (to my cousin), my wife has the 85 300D and I purchased Dad's last 300SD from the estate, after he died.

I really like the diesels. They are certainly easier to work on than the rabbit diesel truck I had before them all (talk about pedaling up an hills), and by far are a more economical transportation choice than anything I have owned before.

My sister always said, "I drive a mercedes because I can't afford to drive anything else". A little skewed since he husband owns the shop.

I really appreciate the forum, it make working on my diesel's fun.

mplafleur · #26 03-18-2003, 04:11 PM

My oldest brother bought a '62 MB in my early high school days. I remember being impressed that it was 4 wheel disc brakes. We lived on a farm and my dad was a mechanical engineer, and thus I was raised that we always do our own repair work. (I hated drum brakes just from watching my dad replace them) I think my brothers previous car was a Simca. How many remember those? We actually had two of them at once, as well as two '67 Plymouth Valiants in the family (couldn't kill those, unless you forget to put oil in after an engine rebuild like my next oldest brother did)

Fast forward to me bring out of high school (couldn't own a car until out of school) and my first car was a '69 Triumph Spitfire. That got rear-ended in Detroit while parked and I had hand-me-down cars until out of college. '72 Polara and a Volare'. Out of college I bought a '79 Datsun 280ZX. Had that for 16 weeks, 16,000 miles, 3 tickets and 1 rollover. Decided to get something slower after that and settled for a '75 300D. I think I had that until about '88 when body cancer got too bad and I had it put down. Stayed out of MB's until I bought the '89 190E 2.6 in about '96 or so. It when the timing chain in that car broke that my oldest brother, who owns an indy shop in Prescott, AR, turned me onto this forum. It was mercedesshop.com and the Diesel Discussion group that got me turned onto diesels again. Now I own three of them.

mechmagcn · #27 03-18-2003, 08:21 PM

I thought that I was the only one who had one of these things. Great little car. Good mileage, very hard to get parts for. Only water cooled engine I have ever seen that could be run with water pump locked up. We drove it from New Orleans to Laffayette one night after this happened. Replaced and drove it another 10000 miles. Brotherinlaw let it freeze and cracked the head. Towed it to the wrecking yard, left it sitting in their drive because they didn't want it.
Thanks for bringing back memories, Jeff

fz500sel · #28 03-18-2003, 09:55 PM

until a fellow member here (Larry Delor) let me drive his '83 300D. At first I thought that it looked like an "old man's car" but after driving it I fell in love with it. I had already had my '84 500SEL but after driving his 300D I had to get one of those also. I found a guy who had an '85 300D with 267K on it. He had it for sale for awhile and although I wasn't scared of the mileage, I knew that other non-MB'ers would think it was outrageous to buy such a high mileage car. It was just starting to rust from the lousy Michigan winters. I got it for a good price and I loved it. At 310K, I sold it for a measly $1,000 and ended up buying my mom's 1995 Lumina LS with only 60k on it. It drove great but every day I complained to my wife that SHE was the one that made me sell my beloved MB diesel so that I could buy the Lumina.

This past Xmas, while visiting Larry Delor down in Florida, he told me about a guy down the street that had both a 350SDL and 300D for sale. I ended up buying both from the guy. I drove the SDL back up to Michigan and am getting anxious to go down there and get the 300D and drive it back here also.

I love these cars! I don't care that they don't burn up the track or 1/4 mile. They glide down the road and are built "like a tank".

Thanks Larry for turning me on to them.

ltrain300D · #29 03-18-2003, 10:58 PM

When I turned 16 just 2 1/2 years ago, I got my mom's 1985 Jeep Cherokee with the crappiest 2.8L V8 GM engine. HATED the cold, ran on premium only, got about 12 mpg. After about a year of that, I decided I needed sometime more efficent for my student budget. My grandma had a neighbor who had a silver/blue 1983 300D Turbo in decent condition with only 180K in his driveway with a "for sale" sign on it. Decided to pay him a visit, took the car for a ride and loved it! The interior was flawless, and all it needed was a paint job and some various repairs (nothing too serious). The next week and only $1700 later, I was the very proud owner of this beautiful car. Now a year later, with 220K miles, I love my car more and more everyday. Still needs a paint job, but it is in top-notch mechanical order. What I love about these cars is how easy they are to work on and fix. If something isn't working, most of the time I could just take it apart, clean it out, put it back together, and BAM - it works! Much better than having to buy replacement parts like on my Jeep. I plan on driving this car for as long as it will go... my ultimate goal is to have reach 1,000,000 miles. Only 780,000 to go!

jfikentscher · #30 03-19-2003, 08:02 AM

I have had many cars over the years, Volks, Volvo, Toypta, Ford F250, Dodge Van (2), Chevy, Suburban, Thunderbird, Valiant!, Fiat, etc.

The car before the diesel was a 190E 2.6 Smoke Silver with burgandy interior. Bought it with 96,000 and traded it in at 450,000. The dealer had a 1987 300D Turbo on the lot. there was a puddle of transmission oil under the car and many of the amenities (cruise, sunroof, antenna, radio etc) did not work. The dealer said he would fix them if I bought the car and that I would love a diesel because I spend so much time on the Garden State Parkway. 50,000iles/year.

I really agonized over the decision, but finally decided to try the diesel. After about two months of repairs all of the problems were fixed and I took posession. Love at first drive!!!

I have had a few problems but nothing major so far. Looking forward to turning 200,000 in about a week. Will post a picture of the odometer when it turns. I will buy another MB diesel in the future without hesitation.

Joe.