Eventhough It's not a 'technical question', I am posting it here as it is directly related to the technology forum...

With all of the members here who are DIY'ers heavily relying upon the advice of other members, I am very curious to know how the information was being passed around 15 years ago or so when the internet forums werent so readily available and internet usage wasn't as common.
Having forums like this give us a sort of comfort level while owning an old benz, knowing there would be others to consult incase of problems.
Were the dealerships and indy shops basically generating great revenue in the absence of such forums and owners without much advice from others ?
just curious...

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Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.

Things were simpler then. Still, we did more dive in and learn the hard way. Also, more folks relied on books.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

Yes, books were available then!

ALSO there weren't computers controlling every item on those cars!

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I'll tell you, it's only been the last 4 years or so that I started working on cars again...because of these forums.

Books really can't troubleshoot...and that's what I am not vary capable of....

The experienced people here bail me out in that arena..and your feedback gives me the confidence to get through a job.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Mods,
would it be possible to bring in and combine the other post (url below) to this one that's ongoing. we can delete the post in the open discussion forum.
thnx.

How were DIY'ers fixing cars 15 years ago ?

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Whether you think you can or cannot, Either way you're right!. by Henry Ford.

Back in 1990 we were mechanics, not "technicians". Fuel injection systems were mechanical ( for the most part anyway ), transmissions were mechanical/hydraulic, climate control was pneumatic, etc. You could take things apart and see with your own eyes what was happening. In other words, anyone with a little knowledge and a lot of patience could figure out how things were supposed to work. The biggest difference between a professional and a DIY'er was the amount of time it took to do the job. Both could do quality work. Nowadays, due to the lack of technical expertise or diagnostic equipment, most DIY'ers can't even attempt some jobs.


If someone told me fifteen years ago that things would be the way they are today I wouldn't have believed them. Still, the technology used in modern MB's is amazing, although it's understandable that some find it a bit intimidating.

Speak for yourself. 15 years ago, I worked for Cadillac. Digital fuel injection, On-board diagnostics you could access without a scan tool (including climate control paramaters) with freeze-frame data. Multiple computer modules with a data buss. Everything from the alternator to the 'Trunk Lid Ajar' message controlled by computer. Interior lights that only worked when it was dark enough to need 'em. Semi-active suspension. Etc.

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1989 300 SEL that mostly works, but needs TLC

and that explains a lot about cadillac...

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2004 Chrysler Crossfire

It's a well known fact, as we get older we experience diminishing intelligence, i.e. we get more stupid.
Hence, 15 years ago we were sooooooooo much smarter.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Hardly. Caddy stuff works. Compare to the balky bells and whistles on MBs the last 15 years.

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1989 300 SEL that mostly works, but needs TLC

I wonder how many of those 15 year old Cadillacs are still running today.

That's exactly the stuff (actually the lack of reliability of that stuff) that earned Caddy their horrendous reputation for quality. A reputation they are still struggling to overcome.

What's a real tragedy, is that same "bells & whistles" approach is what's dragged MB down to the sorry state they're in today.

Jeff Pierce

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Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F

Back then you could get a shop manual for any car. Now you get "sorry, no books any more, but for a bunch of money you can get a POS CD rom with nothing useful in it." Not progress.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

A quick look through E-bay pulled up plenty. I'd suspect they are no better than MBs at surviving neglect, though.

Scarey thought: The Allente has become a collectors item.

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1989 300 SEL that mostly works, but needs TLC

I would hate to have to keep all that electronic clap-trap working on an old car. I'm afraid that current MBs will be just as bad in 15 years. With any luck, I'll still be driving my 123s .