Folks, I've been pondering something...I keep reading posts about the electronics on newer M-B's that never work, and how difficult they are to work on. I get the sick feeling that the cars we have now, 123's, 124's and 126's are the last generation that we as individuals will be able to do DIY repairs on. What then? The new Daimler-Chrysler cars are not engineered the same, and I doubt they will run hundreds of thousands of miles... Do you really want to be the guy with a 10-year-old car that needs a $250 zenon headlamp bulb or $1250 headlamp ass'y? I'm not even 40 yet, and am trying to get to a point where I own all my cars outright. Where am I going to be in 10-20-30 years automotively? When a 220 is 20 years old, will it even run?
Any thoughts?

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

I'm a lot older than you so I'll give you the wisdom of years, rather specific knowledge of cars.

In the long run, on average. We're screwed.

Hope that helps in your automotive conjecture.

im going to try my best and keep my w123 on the road forever.. and when i have a nice house with a big garage im going to hoard as many as i can maybe a w124 or two

gee thanks Bots...your optimism overwhelms me.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

You either make payments on a new car with warranty, or you pay for repairs on an older vehicle. And in many cases you end up doing both. They figured it out so you won't get any more freebies. Its just capitalism at work. DIYers are a dieing breed. Many highschools abandoned auto shop class, so theres not much hope for the upcoming generation either.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I blame the parents for bring up pansies, and lawyers itching to sue if some jackass drops a car on himself because of his dumbass...

But hey, the prices of DIY cars will go down then, if nobody can fix them, right?

~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

I wonder if people were saying the same thing a while back when mechanical and then electronic fuel injection and air conditioning and power windows came out?

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

What is the simplest, most solid car being built these days? Nothing stands out, except maybe a crew cab pickup.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Hence, their reliability?

B

I'll still have my Harley................

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

How much oil does it leak for ya?

I'm more of the honda ACE person...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v644/NathanEbert/shadow04.jpg

Anyways new cars scare me... My moms 04 grand prix is making a whining noise. Engine variabal, most pronounced durning turns... but it sounds like its comming from the alt. Could also be from the P/S pump. The noise went away after I changed the oil, but came back after a test drive WOT sprint after it warmed up (0-35 mph)

But its cold as ______ here (-13 with wind chill). and it doesnt (didnt) have issues untill it got cold

I just dont know about new cars, or old cars... Mabey I should take the bus

~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

Doesn't leak a drop. Actually what most people consider a leak on the older ones was actually a built in chain oiler....and what drippled is what was spashed inside the cover that runs down later....

Mine is plugged.....I oil it myself..

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

We will all learn to use the scanners. Often.

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You can get farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.

1984 300D
1985 300CD
1980 300SD
1993 SL500

Exactly, DIY may still exist but you will be needing the scanner to tell you which part to replace.

Its actually probably easier to fix!

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

BHD, We could argue shaft vs chain

U got a windshield? ridding pilon with it off I got smoked with a june bug (right in the visor)... It went back on after that


Its looking like we got a bad belt tentioner... $125ish
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)