'87 300D Issues (long) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sublettm · #1 12-30-2004, 10:51 PM

Well, there I was driving down I-10 on my way to Florida to visit my parents for Christmas when we encountered a bit of a problem. We were at a dead stop on the interstate outside of Beaumont, TX due to an overturned 18 wheeler in the middle of the east bound lanes, when I decided to cross the median and head down the frontage road. I crossed the median, flew down the frontage road and discovered I couldn't get back onto the interstate going eastbound. We headed South on some farm road and we were heading straight to the middle of nowhere...by the way it is about 1:30A.M. at this point. After driving for about 15 minutes, there was a clang under the car. The wife looked at me and I just kind of shrugged...thought maybe something flew up off the road and hit the underside of the car. About five minuted later, the wife asks me what the foul smell was. I didn't smell anything but at that moment, the oil light illuminated on the instrument cluster. I thought to myself...this isn't good. I could barely see anything in the rearview mirror, but what I did see wasn't good...large quantities of smoke. My heart sank. We finally reached civilization and I pulled into a parking lot to asses the damages. I looked under the car and the oil pan was intact as well as everything else. I popped the hood and noticed oil all over the place. My heart sank even deeper. I went into the store (thank goodness for 24 hr Walmarts) bought four gallons of oil and proceeded to fill the car back up to the appropriate oil level. It is now about 2 A.M. and we turned around to head back to Houston to retrive the wife's car. I nursed the car back home...2 1/2 hours of nerve wrecking driving.

The next day I call the mechanic and explain the whole scenario to him...the boys at MPH here in town. He tells me to bring it in for him to take a look at. Once I arrive there, he popps the hood and proceeds to inform me that my car never had the trap oxidizer removed...recall. He informed me that my turbo appeared to have blown a seal. He told me to take the car to the dealership for them to fix under the recall. I was shocked. I took it to the dealer and lo and behold, they are replacing the turbo for free.

Now for the bad news. The part they replace the TO with is on back order from Germany with no expected ship date. They supposedly don't have any more and have to make one. They did not have a loaner to give me right now, but I am supposed to go down the end of next week to pick one up to hold me over until they can fix mine.

I have a few good things to say about this whole scenario. First, the folks down at MPH have to be some of the most honest people I have encountered. They could have easily "forgotten" about the recall and charged me 2 grand to fix the car. Instead, they tell me the truth, refer me to the dealer, even give me the name of the person I need to talk to down there. These are good people. Second, the folks at the dealer were very friendly and helpful. I was amazed that they are going to give me a loaner given the age of my car...and the value. They could have also charged me for the repairs but they aren't.

Now for the humor. The folks at the dealer do NOT refer to anything as a recall. They are called "Campaigns". It sounds so nice when they put it like that.

Just wanted to share my experience with you folks.

Mike

AusMBtech · #2 12-31-2004, 01:14 AM

Sounds like you are very lucky indeed!!!

It's rare to hear an indy not trying to make a buck and a dealership to help you out as much as they have. I'm surprised they are repairing your turbo though

.......I wouldn't mention it too much though.

It's worth the inconviniece just for the savings $$$$!!!!

TwitchKitty · #3 12-31-2004, 07:05 AM

The bad news is that the oil light doesn't mean stop at your next early convenience, it means STOP RIGHT NOW.

#4 12-31-2004, 06:22 PM

What did your oil pressure gauge show after driving some distance after your oil light had come on?

Oil light, indicates level of oil in oil pan. Oil guage, indicates oil pressure in the engine. If your oil pressure guage remained pegged at 3 bar, and never dropped, except at idle of course, you didn't do any damage.

Just wondering as you didn't mention oil pressure.

BB

sublettm · #5 12-31-2004, 08:42 PM

Guys, I am well aware that when the oil light comes on, it is not a good thing and the car shouldn't be driven. I was in the middle of God's Country at 2 A.M. what other choice did I have? I couldn't exactly call someone and say, "Hey come down I-10, hang a right into no man's land and I'm the third broken down car on the right."

To answer your question, the oil pressure gauge was pegged at three bar...except at idle and it still didn't drop below 1 1/2. I stopped several times to add more oil in an effort to keep as much in the engine as possible so I did't ruin the engine too.

Mike

dieseldiehard · #6 12-31-2004, 10:45 PM

sublettm, you are lucky, to have nursed it back to Houston without engine failure.
The factory Campaign (Wasn't Napolean's wars called that?) will be a God-send. I was lucky to have bought my '87 after the PO went thru that ordeal. He had the local dealership perform the Trapectomy

You should have read up on the subject here, before you put too many miles on the car!
The '87s are a marvelous combination of innovation and automotive engineering.
I just completed a long trip in my W123 turbodiesel wagon, CA to Tyler TX, and wished along the way that I was driving my '87 300D, the extra acceleration and better fuel economy would have been welcome but the old '85 chugged along just fine. OTOH I probably would have been the recipient of a speeding ticket in Texas where I was coming up on a State Trooper at 85 MPH in a 70 MPH zone near Pecos, TX when I spotted a timely off ramp and took it in a seconds notice in a fortunate gap in traffic in the slow lane.
DDH
Oh yes, I always carry a jug of 15W40 DELO in the trunk in case of something like what you went thru (but I use Amsoil synthetic in the 603 engine, it loves the stuff).