i also understand it has to be adjusted to spec...

I'm in LA, so I'll take to the guy in Tarzana I read so much about on here. I'll also have him check the car over. I bought it a few weeks ago from a friend who left the country for $500. She drove it for 2 years with the hard start and stalling, fuel leak, and this transmission problem (which i guess i just low fluid. She just didn't give a crap about the car. Runs really rough... I changed the OVP which fixed the hard start and stalling problems, changed the EHA which fixed the fuel leak... Hopefully the trans leak is just the vac mod. Not so bad.

From what I can deduce, probably needs valve seals, maybe guides, dunno...

It really does run like utter crap.

What kind of tests should I ask him about? I was thinking of having him do a compression test and test down the vac system, maybe look at why none of my A/C controls do anything...

I just yesterday payed a bunch of money to move so I only have, like, $100 to my name. I have a truck I'm selling, hopefully can get 1500-1800 for it and all that money I'm comfortable putting in the Benz. I figured if it cost me $2500 plus the cost of the car to get it running well, it was worth it. Then I don't mind a hundred or so a month on maintenance and repairs.

Not scared of turning a wrench, so I'll save money where I can and where it makes sense.

BTW, it doesn't have to be perfect, especially as old as it is.... I'm a "keep it on the road" kind of guy... As long as it starts and drives, I'm good.