The obsession began about 6 years ago with the F250, then progressed when we got the first TDI, then even more so with the second TDI. Last year I just couldn`t bare to cut grass any longer with a gasser so I got a Kubota diesel. And now I find myself in the process of buying a 300TD to add to the fleet, the problem is I don`t think I have the guts to sell one of the TDIs it is intended to replace.

It`s diesels in general, but here I am now with a deposit on the car I`ve always wanted.... a MB turbodiesel. I can`t wait to get my hands on the steering wheel. :p

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300TD W124, Two VW TDI Passat Wagons,Cummins Ram 250, Kubota Tractor
23 cylinders sipping the sweet sauce of the soy bean

My obsession started not much longer than two years ago. I wouldn't say that I'm obsessed with just Mercedes diesels, I really like any diesel that has such a reputation of quality put forth. If I had a Mercedes diesel (or two) and a Cummins (Dodge Ram) diesel I'd be quite happy, but if I only have a Mercedes or two, that is good too!

Ever get that feeling when you search "300D -Canon" (those cameras are just to annoying to look around) on ebay that you just have to buy everything there? Only time I escape the wrath of looking through nearly all the listings is when I don't search it!

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Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

My first diesel was in 1984 and was one of those miserable Rabbit diesel (wannabe) pick-ups. 5-speed w/ air...when the compressor cycled on, it felt like you'd applied the brakes.

The saving grace was that, even if I drove the snot out of that thing and left it idling with the a/c running, it always delivered 42mpg.

The lift pump in the IP died a horrible death one afternoon...I pulled the engine and dropped in a GTI motor.

OMG...the sorry things have developed a cult following! http://www.vwcaddyforum.com/default.asp

Run awaaaaay!

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

only obsessed with diesels 50% of the time.
The rest of the time I am sleeping.

I might differ from a lot of you...I don't like loud vehicles. My diesels have to be pretty silent(minimal injector noises) for me to like them...Of course I want the benefits of a smoke-out, and the fuel mileage, simplicity, and longevity too.

I also want a vehicle that can handle well, is powerful, and has a great solid ride.

Not to mention safe, of course.

Yes diesels and MB in general. After my SDL I will buy an S600 coup. I will probably never sell the SDL though.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Addicted to diesels in general....hell yes!

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1971 R600 Mack toterhome (SuperDawg)
99 NU-WA Snowbird 34+2 SE 102 5er
If it's not diesel, it's not in my stable!
53 F100 617.951/auto
95 Dodge 3500 Cummins/5 speed service truck

I think that I got fed-up with diesels today. I had to work on it today. Running like s#!% and smokes awful. MAN, diesel smoke stinks and it stinks up everything around it!

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Are you obsessed with MB diesels?
Do you keep a log book that even NASA would envy?
Do you go for a long drive; just to hear the clatter?
Do you love the smell of your MB diesel in the morning?
Do you get obsessive about calculating your mileage?

1) ja wohl
2) nah:p
3) sure!
4) better than coffee
5) yep

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

My 300D's spoiled me, I think. I say that because I'm actually starting to agree with you there. I like my daily driver being quiet, and want to add insulation to make the cab more quiet.

This is even beginning to spill over to the truck...although I'll admit to still wanting to remove the muffler I still want to insulate the cab better in order to make it quieter. I can always roll the window down if I want to hear the engine singing

Some of you may laugh at me, but the 300D's the first vehicle I've owned where you can have a conversation on the freeway without raising your voice...

The diesel sounds like a wide open 454, or a 460 after the exhaust falls off. It is the coolest sound I have ever heard. When you rev that thing, it brings tears to your eyes, lol.

Rode in a '95 SAAB 900 convertible the other day. What a POS, you can't even hear the radio because of windnoise, engine noise, and tire noise. I think a 240D would've been quieter at 65 mph. Not to mention the lack of legroom. What a poor design, IMHO.

BTW, Warden. I know you don't like gassers, but try driving a Mercedes V8 at highway speeds. You'd have to make sure the engine was still running, lol.

If you think thats cool try driving an S600 at 100.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I became addicted at 16 when my girlfriend recieved a 1978 300D as a hand me down. I had to have one.

My first was a 1984 300DT. That was 4 yeas ago, and since then ive owned an 85 300DT and now my daily driver, an 84 300DT. (Ive accumulated 2 others that I dont drive, the midnight blue one has a thrown rod, and the other orient red one needs nothing except for registration and insurance). Ive put 6K into my daily driver so far, shes in exceptional shape, and ive kept every recipt on file down to the MBZ logo tire vale stem caps I bought. Shes absoultely beautiful. Please, visit my profle and click on the link to the photos!
Once im out of college and am making decent money I plan on putting the other 2 on the road.

Funny enough, a girl I dated after my girlfirend with the 78 300D also owned a 300D... an 85 300DT. Some may question my motives in dating them.... LOL

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Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

Diesels generally I fell for in 1962 or so when my dad changed jobs and became a truck driver. I remember my first ride in the loud old Int'l rock-hauler truck. It did not even have a passenger seat in it. I sat on a tool box. I remember going up the small hills between Denton and Decatur, Texas and thinking how powerful this truck was as I watched the exhaust plume trailing beind in the side mirror.

My dad moved on to many other trucks after that and I rediscovered diesels when I worked part time during college and worked on several nice 190Ds. Finally, this year, I came back to MB diesels with this '84 300SD.

And it is contagious. My wife hated this car when I told her about it and when we took delivery from the car carrier, she would not even get out of her van to come and look at it. Her only comment that night was "it has a lot of rust." Later, she accused me of getting "just another project car" (my restored 300ZX Turbo--2nd Place Dallas Autorama 1999 in Altered Sports and my 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser rock crawler being the latest of many).

But now, guess which vehicle she wants us to take to dinner, drive to church and to her mother's house. She (and not I) keeps watch on local "for sale" listings of MB diesels. Of course, when I spent most of last Sat. changing out the Guide Rod Mounts, she had no sympathetic comments and I knew better than to complain that night that I was tired or that my back hurt.

BTW she promises me a CD changer for anniversary coming up.

So here is what I am thinking now. I have a 1965 FJ45 Wagon--a rare Toyota Land Cruiser--without engine, transmission or transfer case. How sweet would that be with a 617, MB auto-tranny and divorced NP205 transfer case.

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1984 300SD 326,997 miles and counting . . . No wait, my odometer is still dead