Mechanics wife wants a newer car for satus symbol - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Idolotor · #16 07-25-2008, 12:09 PM

Best of both worlds here. We drive my wife's 2007 Honda Element most of the time because of the gas mileage and it's nice for going to Costco and the store because of the room. I still drive my 1989 420SEL on weekends sometimes just to keep the battery charged and because it's fun.

aklim · #17 07-25-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistress

Ak- if you want voice navigation and being told where to go just put your wife in the car!

Been there, done that. Bought the Nuvi 350 (aka Marriage Saver). Nuvi is more accurate and I don't have to argue with the wife because she didn't read something fast enough or I moved too fast.

dynalow · #18 07-25-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENZ-LGB

Me too. I love it when I tell people (driving newer cars) that my car is nearly 20 years old.

The overwhelming reaction is: WOW...it looks new!!!

Exactly the reaction the CE gets.

My gf's 21 yr old daughter asked me not too long ago why don't I get a newer car? Are you nuts? Must be another illustration of the "wisdom of the young". Would you guys be ashamed to drive this car? (it still looks this good.)

300CE/E320 Coupe owners Roll Call!

aklim · #19 07-25-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

My gf's 21 yr old daughter asked me not too long ago why don't I get a newer car? Are you nuts? Must be another illustration of the "wisdom of the young".

Would you guys be ashamed to drive this car? (it still looks this good.)

Did she tell you why she asked that? Maybe she likes the toys in the car? I know that when I went to the 99 C280 from the 91 190E 2.6, there was a jump. Xenon lights, self leveling lights, rain sensor, 3 remotes for garage doors in 1 mirror, cranking till it starts, etc, etc. Not to mention more electronic controls on the engine making my diagnostics and adjustments easier.

Having driven clunkers and what not, probably not.

aklim · #20 07-25-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

the bottom line is a car is supposed to get you from A to Z. I see them as a grocery hauler with occasional long distance trips.

the electronic transmission on newer mercedes can fail if you spill coffee down the shift console. if the engine computer fails it is around $5K to replace. computer electronics belong on your desk at home, NOT in a car. we went from a basic simple design, i.e. 1982 -1985 300DT to a computerized, electronic, wiring nightmare. and they call it "progress".

here's one:

(overheard by passengers on the world's first fully automated passenger aircraft). Welcome to flight 593, ladies and gentlemen. You are aboard the world's first fully automated passenger aircraft. there are no live pilots on board, everything is fully computerized. as your computer pilot, I want to assure you that nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong.

How about something more solid? The horse and buggy. Much cheaper to feed and if the horse dies, bury it and you have fertilizer.

Why 82-85? Why not go back to the Model A? How often do these problems happen? Sure, if lightning hits your house, it will burn down. How often does it happen? In the last 20 yrs, I have yet to burn out an ECM even though I was welding without disconnecting the ECM. Yes, you have a few horror stories. There was a brand new Town and Country that didn't work well after a lightning strike came near it even thought they replaced many components. Have I ever had that issue? Not yet. You?

The F16 has been made so it flies unstably. Why? Because it makes it more maneuverable. So, they have a computer to control it all. What happens if it fails? One of the other 4 take over. Why not build it to be more stable? Because you cannot make it as maneuverable. Sure there are complexities but there are also benefits.

aklim · #21 07-25-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

my response to first statement, "Why 82-85? Why not go back to the Model A"? to date, a Model 123 Mercedes Benz holds the World's record for most miles on ORIGINAL engine and transmission. the greek taxicab driver is still making taxi runs with 2,500,000 miles on the ORIGINAL Mercedes engine and transmission. let's see where that Mercedes E500 is at 2,500,000 miles. It'll be down at the local scrap yard being picked apart by "computer module" buzzards.

there have been more than a few lawsuits against the air force for system failures on the F16.

BTW, call a few transmission shops that are Mercedes benz specialists and discuss 99 and newer mercedes electronic transmission failures involving transmission fluid sucked into the TCU. or failures caused by coffee spilled down the shift console. after I heard the horror stories on these new benzers, I decided I'd rather ride a bike than part with $50K on a computer repairman's dream job.

the following thread and others convinced me that if you really really enjoy computer repair and diagnostics, then buy a POST 1995 mercedes.

Is that a common occurance or just a "one of"? Records are nice but they don't tell me what to expect from an average vehicle of that type. I'll bet there are a lot of 123s in the junk yard too. In fact, I think my Dad had one that he was so happy when he sold. Not sure since that was so long ago.

Of course. Nobody said that the performance was free. Question. Would you rather deal with the slight possibility of that happening or the very real possibility of being shot down by someone more willing to take the risk than you? Me, I'd go for the high performance and take a smaller risk of it blowing up in my face than the bigger risk of being shot down by a higher performing aircraft. There is no free lunch.

I did check around at the MB shops speaking to the techs. They didn't think that my purchase of a 99 C and E class was that much of an issue. In fact, they were more worried about the spring perch than anything. Again, nobody is saying they don't have problems. Further to that, spilling coffee in electronics is not an advised thing. I don't need the car to be idiot proof. If I am that stupid, I deserve to spend money fixing it. Telling me about coffee in the shifter is like me saying that your 123 hydrolocks if I drive it in deep enough water. Sorry. Car was not designed to be idiot proof.

I guess I have to buy another one to experience those problems then. I have had a 99 C280 that saved my life and now a 99 E300. I have never experienced those problems you are talking of. Could it happen? Of course. So far, not yet. My biggest problem was the AC. Sure, tomorrow I could have a cascade failure of all my systems. Possible? Sure. Probable? Not really.

aklim · #22 07-25-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

well, let's see. met a man about five years back selling his 300D with 760,000 miles on the clock.

the one I am currently driving is pushing 250,000 with very few problems. of course, valves are adjusted every 15,000 to 20,000 miles, oil changed at regular intervals and brakes and injectors inspected for wear and tear. the vacuum system is what drives most people nuts. I gave up trying to locate the leaks and just take it to the shop. vacuum problems only seem to arise about every 2 - 4 years though. usually due to the age of the vacuum lines (cracking, just replace with new lines), not a big deal though. yes, it is an old beast, makes a lot of racket when you start it and wakes up the neighbors early in the morning. I really like it around town where the car will literally turn on a dime and is easy to get in and out of grocery store parking lots. W123s aren't for everyone, price of the fuel and all, but overall it is a very reliable car and I wouldn't hesitate to fire it up and drive cross-country.

positive shift, no electronics and so easy to work on a 10 year old could do it. I'm no mechanical genius but this car is EASY. May the W123 continue on for another 25 years of power and glory.

Well, saw a brand new car with a blown motor. Literally didn't make it down the road after it was sold. I'm sure the proud new owner wasn't so proud of it.

I'm not there yet so I don't know what happens at 250K. IIRC, last week it was at 197K. No valve adjustment yet. I was just being anal and decided to have the timing chain adjusted although the tech said the stretch was minimal. I just took the injectors out because I clean them every 100K and this time I wanted to try the Bosio nozzles. We have had a fuel pump leak because of the ULSD switch. No biggie. Burnt thru many sets of pads and tires. Changed the trans fluid every 60K. Note that the first time it was a little darker than the new fluid but it supposedly MB changed the formulation. Did alignment once after the spring perch was fixed. AC was a nightmare but I will not own a car without functioning AC. Had to take head off because I broke a glow plug and drilled it out badly. Now I take the GP out every other year as PM for cleaning and fresh anti-seize.

AHHHH!! I think that is the crux of the issue. Yes, my car is a little more complicated but I am used to EFI so I have scanners that can read for my cars. If I had to go with a carburetor, I would be lost yet there are those who say it is so much simpler. Is it? Well, I had a bad sensor reading and I could use the AC controls to see what each sensor was reading. Found the bad sensor and fixed it easily. Yes, the computers in the car will separate the backyard hacks from those who actually understand what is going on and are comfortable with diagnostics via sensors. When EFI became advailable, I traded my wife's carbed ATV in for EFI. Other than induction, nothing changed. OTOH, I was able to change altitudes WITHOUT rejetting. Like I said, it provides one thing but might do something else. I'm not a mechanic by any means but I am very comfortable with the sensor readouts and trying to figure out what each reading means. In my 91 Vette, I diagnosed the problem of a torn gasket in the manifold from reading the IAC counts. Now, if you don't really understand or are not comfortable with the scanner, you might stumble around trying to find out what is causing the unstable idle at random times.

davidmash · #23 07-25-2008, 08:53 PM

Personally, I like the older models. When mine has been in the shop I have been given a C class. Don't get me wrong the C was a great car to drive. Quiet, smooth, handles great, very comfy, controls on the wheel .. and the list goes on. The only thing is it does not inspire me like my 190 does or my wifes E300. I like the simplicity of our cars, I like the fact that they are older and still look good. I like the fact that when I was getting gas yesterday the kid at the station was looking my car over and asked how old it was and when I told him, he said it was 2 years older then he was. He was impressed that it looked half as good as it did.

Bottom line is even if I won the big money, I'd still keep her and use her every day. She would get a full make over and have some other playmates in the new garage, but I would never abandon her. Like a mariage, till death do us part.

pawoSD · #24 07-25-2008, 10:46 PM

I love telling people with their new econoboxes that my car is 26.5 years old, has never let me down, and has 273,000+ miles on it.

They're always amazed.

aklim · #25 07-25-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

I am looking for a magnet to place on the bottom of the transmission to keep the metal particles from circulating. anyone have any ideas on where I might find one?

Talk to your friendly MB dealership. 220 271 00 98. That is what is in my car. All it is would be a magnet in the pan.

mwood · #26 07-26-2008, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

How about something more solid? The horse and buggy. Much cheaper to feed and if the horse dies, bury it and you have fertilizer.

Why 82-85? Why not go back to the Model A? How often do these problems happen? Sure, if lightning hits your house, it will burn down. How often does it happen? In the last 20 yrs, I have yet to burn out an ECM even though I was welding without disconnecting the ECM. Yes, you have a few horror stories. There was a brand new Town and Country that didn't work well after a lightning strike came near it even thought they replaced many components. Have I ever had that issue? Not yet. You?

The F16 has been made so it flies unstably. Why? Because it makes it more maneuverable. So, they have a computer to control it all. What happens if it fails? One of the other 4 take over. Why not build it to be more stable? Because you cannot make it as maneuverable. Sure there are complexities but there are also benefits.

I have two horses and believe me, a new car would be MUCH cheaper to keep!