LightMan ..

Thanks for the thoughts ..
Took the car to the dealer on Tuesday ..
Got it back early afternoon today Friday ..
Did two things not originally planned ..
New in dash radio/CD to replace the radio/cassette
that was in the car and had the "ding doctor" work
his magic on the body .. Now I'm afraid to drive it !!

Neeedless to say I had a "walletectomy" preformed on me ..
Ouch .. parts were $1730.00 so you can imagine the bill for
labor .. but she's darn near perfect ..

You were right about the oil .. they put in
Kendall 15/40 dino rather than a high quality synthetic ..
Their reasoning .. specs don't call for synthetic on
the 1996 E300D and the car would leak oil if they used it .. hmmm ..

I'm still thinking AMSOIL 10/40 or 15/40 synthetic for the
next oil change and I like what I read about the oil impregnated
foam air filters .. Has anyone tried one on a 1996-1999 E300D
with good results ???

Wallets' tired .. I'm gonna have to become a DIYer ..

Jim in Ct ..