I like this site the best too. If you search, the information is most complete. Because of this site I have been able to keep my MB and save many thousands in labor.

Some of the other sites give fairly good information but the members bicker and insult one another. I remember getting advice on changing a steering rack and two guys were arguing and fighting about what is done and how long it takes. The information was good but the rhetoric was tough to take.

The bickering and insults are much more subtle and restrained here at this site. (except: SL forum, "Consider This Before Buying Sl's" as some of the member remarks remind me of some of the lower class sites.)

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Steve
1985 Mercedes 500SL Euro (Gray market)
1995 BMW 520i Euro (Gray market)
1992 BMW 525it Wagon
1994 Honda Del Sol Si

Larry, perfectly put,,,, this website has saved me i dont know how many thousands of dollars, just by the advise given and not sending to the dealer for ridiculous labor fees and diagnostics work... I love this forum

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2001 Mercedes-Benz C320 3.2
1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E 3.0

What you all have said, exactly. This and the kayak builder's forum I've watched are the two examples I've found of a truly functional online community; it's a joy to read and to participate.

Off topic, but only in a sense: Snibble, you've got me thinking of my favorite line from the BBC sitcom "Yes, Minister":

"The fact that the Prime Minister needed to know was not known at the time that the now known need to know was known, and therefore those of us who needed to advise and inform felt that the information that we needed as to whether or not to inform the highest authority of the known information was not yet known, and therefore there was no authority for the authority to be informed because the need to know was not yet known, or needed."

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Craig Bethune

'97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition

'04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's)
'06 Lexus ES330
'89 560SL (sold)


SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes.
(Kudos to whoever said it first)

If you own a MB because you WANT to and not simply because you CAN (financially), this forum is the absolute best....bar none! The members and techs are the best around. I was a MB newbie 3 years ago, and this forum alone is the reason I now have 3 of them and feel confident that I have somewhere to turn no matter what I am confronted with. I saved a fortune on the hydraulic rear suspension repair of my w140 solely from the responses here. What a wonderful group of people...thanks to all....and let's hope that the forum continues to excel.
Just as a side note...there is a UK forum that is much smaller but also has a great group of members (credit where credit is due). It is:
http://mercedesclub.org.uk/

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1996 SL320 97K miles
1996 C220 130k miles
1992 500SEL 170k miles <---sold
1986 300E 216k miles <---sold

The Open Forum gets going a little, but even the heated discussions there are civil.

The Tech Forum is incredible, and the depth of the knowledge on the board is practically unbelievable. Folks like Steve Brotherton have increased my own knowledge 100 fold.

I have come and gone from other car forum, dominated by rude morons that have nothing better to do than insult and tear down what might have been a valuable bit of information.

MB-Shop is the best of the best. I have two other forums that I frequent where the people are of similar calibre, both are hiking/climbing forums.

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

I agree! There are some remarkable people and postings here. I love the one where everyone wanted to help a lady and her family save their house or the one where a gal had borrowed her boyfriends car was stranded .... if I recall correctly someone drove many miles out of their way to help her. Wow!

The quality of this forum and site is very good. Impressive.

Let's all be sure to support FastLane and the PartsShop. It is because of them that all of this is available.

Thank you for everyone's care and patience.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

I am just glad to be a part of something that works in most cases for all. Seems that there is always someone willing to help you with the challenges that you may face with your Benz. Looks like the members continue to steadily increasing daily. Keep it up men.


Jim

GROUP HUG PLEASE !!!!!!!!


Sorry, it was just getting tooooo mushy for me.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

this forum is the best. when i go to another forum i quickly realize that this is the most adult forum out there.as a mechanic the other forums can be misleading. not as much correct info.
also because i stumbled onto this forum i am now hooked on mercedes. with the info here buying a used mb can be done with the info needed to look for those special problems that a particuler model has.before finding this forum buying a mb was something that was not even considered.
thank you all for some very informative reading
now if only the politics could be a little more friendly
hooked on mercedes, thanks to all the techs here
rich

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88 300E White, sold 9-04
88 190E Black 2.3 sold
90 300CE White, Grey sold 12-24-04
92 400E White,Grey Sold 5-06
90 300CE 91K Signal Red,Black Sold 2007
1989 300CE Smoke silver,Tan Sold 1-08
1993 300E 3.2 M104 motor
1991 300CE White,Grey
1994 E420 beautiful car,gone to new home
1994 E320 Smoke an Parchment.Beautiful car

Absolutely,

This is the best forum I've ever been on regardless of subject matter. Great people, great advice and no flaming. I have saved hundreds of dollars by being a member here. I have also learned so much about these wonderful machines we all own.

Kudos to all,

Richard

I also appreciate the openness allowed in this forum. Too many other forums have rules where you can't discuss vendors. Though we know this site is supported through FastLane, we are still allowed to discuss other suppliers.

Plus, what other make-specific forum would give praise to other car makes?

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K

HEAR! HERE!
I propose that we all raise our glasses in a uniform toast to the well respected and well spoken, MR. LARRY BIBLE.....
Best wishes to all,
spo out

Larry, nice topic!

Not much to add here boys, everything has been summed up.

Have to say to everyone on here who has ever helped me in any way (advice, instructions, tips etc...) that I sincerely appreciate it.

I hope we all continue to offer each other more of the same in the future. We've got such a great resource here. I hope we value it enough and respect what has been built up.

All the best to everyone,

-Mike McKinney

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1989 300CE - 269,000 km
1994 SL600 - 59,000 km

I agree. I can't say I've saved money or avoided large repairs, but I've come to know and hopefully understand a little more about my Benzes through this forum.

As for the tenor of the forum, cruise a few E36/M3 forums for comparison. This group is, on the whole, much more civilized.

The TLJ Pretty Girls thread is also, well,....um....

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David

His:
2003 Dodge Durango SLT
2002 BMW E39 530i Sport
1988 Mercedes 300TE
Hers:
2003 Chevrolet Suburban
1999 E430

I think glasses should also be raised to the guys that started this site Donny and Bill. I live about 10 miles from there new shop and met them several times. Donny is a very honest,down to earth guy who will do every and any thing to satisfy his customers. Bill has the same work ethics as donny with a similer personality. I think the combination of Bill, Donny, and Phil and all of the great guys that contribute there time and knowledge to this site is what makes it so great.