Hey everybody. I have been lurking here for about three weeks now. Y'all (reckon I'm from the South?) have sooooo impressed me with knowledge and willingness to help each other... I'll give you my situation, brief as I can, and hope for the best.

Dec. 3rd. Paid cash for C280 MB, 1997. Drove home, about 60 miles. No problem.

Dec. 6th. Drove car about 6 miles. Stopped. Shopped. (Which, really, could be hours, here.....ask my husband.... or not....) Drove home, about 6 miles.

Dec. 10th. Drove car 10 miles and it started "lurching". Noticed some items on instrument panel not working. I could only drive about 50 mph, and then 40, and the damn thing nearly stranded me and my daughter right then. I did make it where I was going, though, and said *%$!) (expletive...) Car sat about an hour. Got back in, drove one mile, started lurching and surging again really bad. No power at all. I kinda cruised with it down a hill, and pulled over. After a min with no phone service, I thought I'd try and make it home. NOT. I drove about 1 more mile, this car acting like it couldn't get gas... driving about 10 mph... It finally died while trying to go uphill, with absolutely NO POWER, and continuing to surge... I called AAA to come get it.

Dec. 11th. Went to friend's shop (where car towed) and it cranked right up. He scanned the car due to the CEL and said the cam sensor was bad. I paid cash for the part and repair and hoped that was it..... NOT. I get back in the car, drive it just long enough to get warmed up, same situation. DIES ON ME. BTW, I notice that it runs just a little about 80 on the temp gauge just before dying each time. O/W, it stays on 80. Call AAA to tow it again. Back to friend's shop. He had it for three weeks and could not find the problem, except to say, the problem was either the computer or the magnet near the cam sensor. Anyway, he couldn't fix it.

LAWYER THAT I AM, I call the guy I bought it from. He tells me to have it towed to him. So I do. He says he's sure now that it is the "fuel computer". Well, I know now (after a lot of personal research) that there really isn't a part called a "fuel computer" for my car. (I don't think.... I guess he's referring to the Engine Control Unit. It must be. IS HE EVEN COMPETENT, I WONDER by now?!? He couldn't even give me the part number when I asked. (Believe me, I know I don't know a thing about cars and just try not to be taken advantage of...) He represents himself to be ASE certified, Specializing in Mercedes for over 20 years, service, body shop, and sales....

Now I'm on my own searching for a part, which I think is an ECU. I do believe I need the ECU after reading and reading... You guys think my symptoms are such? My mama didn't teach me nothin about cars, and my husband is &%#$!@ (another expletive).

ANY ADVICE ABOUT PROBLEM? I love the car and would love to keep it. Even tho I drove it only three partial days. It's been in the shop since. GOOD GOD, if I can just get it running at all... I'll trade the thing on another Mercedes if I have to... Both mechanics (my friend and the seller) say everything else checks out on the car and it should be ok after this repair... For you MB owners, does the computer just "stop functioning"? Or are there ongoing symptoms before the crash? I'm wondering if he sold me the car knowing these faults and didn't disclose them..... even my asking in spite. The seller did say that he put a alternator and head gasket on the car the day before I bought it.

COMMENTS OR ADVICE PLEASE.................. Please don't think I'm too cheap to pay for repairs. I know that comes with buying a used vehicle and was prepared for it. BUT, I'm just not sure about major problems after three days? Sorry so long...That's the lawyer in me again....... If I was my client, I'd sue him. I just don't want to go that route if I don't have to.

BTW, if I can help anyone with legalities (in a general sense) or questions, I'll reply.