THANKS guys, for your help!! I mean that!!

Re the oil... if jet black oil is "normal" then how in the world does a person know if the oil is truly dirty? Is it gritty? Smelly? I could always tell what dirty oil was with my other cars, but the oil for Mercedes diesels must be different I guess...

THANKS Craig, about the manual shut off info. I will look for it just to know where it is.

It sounds safe to venture forth in the car, after all!

bebu