Thinking about selling off my diesels

[lietuviai]

I've come to the point that it's become either impractical or overwhelmed with repairs to own either one of my diesel cars. The '85 was converted to run on WVO but my supplies have dried up and finding others have not been successful. It doesn't get the fuel economy to be affordable to drive anymore. The only reason I held on to it was I had a stable source of WVO.
I bought the '87 last summer with the intention of converting it to run on WVO but since I couldn't even get enough for one car, this conversion never went through. I drove it as it was since the fuel economy ranged from 28 to 35 mpg's so it was good for that. But recently one thing after another has happened that I need to throw more money into the beast, the biggest thing looming now is to get the tranny resealed. It leaks enough now to be beyond annoying. The fluid is getting on to the catalyst so it stinks like burning fluid after a while. Also the garage floor is getting trashed even after putting scrap cardboard underneath the car to catch the drips. I've lost many weekends fixing this car as well. The last major thing I did was redo the front end. Even if I fixed the tranny, I thing the injection system is in need of attention. The car starts and runs roughly for about a minute after a shutdown. I'm just tired of working on these things. I feel I need to get rid of the 87 so I can get my weekends back. I'd don't just plan on unloading the car on someone else. I plan to disclose everything I know that needs to be done. The 85 I have no problem selling it as it is. It needs nothing other than a respray of the front sheetmetal since the clear coat is shot. The rest of the car is excellent.
I would end up with a car payment since I don't want anymore used cars or someone else's headache but I would at least get my weekends back. OTH I have no plans to sell the 230CE. I'm keeping it as the spare.
Please feel free to share your thoughts with me.

[Pete Burton]

Sounds like you don't like working on old cars anymore . That's OK. As we change, what we do in our lives change. I've almost always worked on cars because I like machinery. When I depend on my old vehicles that don't work it sucks, especially if I feel "under the gun" to fix it tonight so I can drive it to work tomorrow. Then I feel like I should get rid of it all. Someday, I probably will.

At minimum, you need some space - be it time, distance, thought. Maybe now's the time for a clean slate. I just stopped working on the car for a week or 2 due to holidays and assembling some furniture from IKEA for my wife. Boy, a break from the car was good. I might actually go back to it tonight. -but only if I WANT to. You should enjoy what you do, as much as you can, IF you can, for as long as you can. That's it for me.

[vwnate1]

I feel for you and pete's right ~ if it's not fun , stop before you begin to hate / regret it

I'm lucky (or cursed) as I was born with a wrench in my hand and I'll never stop (I hope) .

it can be a real PIA when you've got a yard full of oldies that won't start on a workday morning....

[boneheaddoctor]

I can relate.....there are times I want to sell them and buy something new.....but then knowing what that would cost every month always knocks some sense back into me.

I think most people consider playing with these old cars to be a hobby. If it becomes a chore, you probably can't justify owning them. Personally, I like old cars more than new cars, but I do need at least one or two functional vehicles at any given time. If I stop having fun, I'll just sell them and buy a new car. I probably spend (on average) more per month than a car payment anyway. You just have to decide what you want.

[dkveuro]

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

I can relate...always knocks some sense back into me.

This doesn't happen very often, does it ?





.

[pj67coll]

"lietuviai could drive his 300D for years with a tired front suspension, and a leaky trans."

As a foreigner who'se been forced to go cold turkey on MB's for the last six years I feel I can impart a different perspective here perhpas. I find that Americans, perhaps because of the naturally larger quantities of wealth and cheaper prices of stuff in general in this country seem to regard some unnecessary stuff as "must do" stuff.

I think the quote I copied above is quite true. My first Mercedes, a 1971 108 280S was probably one of the worst maintained cars I'd ever driven and I had no idea at the time. The steering box was so wore out that there was a couple of inches play in the wheel at dead center. I just figured it was fair wear and tear for the age and couldnt afford to fix it so I just didnt let it worry me. The car squeaked horribly from the front, and rear when going over bumps at low speed. In retrospect I belive that much of the front end was wore out and almost all rubbers completely perished. But I just drove it anyway for several years like that. Leaks! I had to fill the power steering resevoir every few days because the leak was so bad and the engine would get so low on oil that I could actually "hear" the difference filling it up with oil would make. And that too was a weekly task.

Neither the AC nor the heater worked and what eventually killed it was that the power steering pump had worked itself loose from the firewall as a result of unseen rust on the box section to which it was mounted, plus probably never having had the mounting bolts torqued as per factory spec in it's life. Result of this was a snapped steering column when I was trying to park one day.

I realised long after I got rid of the car that over the lifetime of 20 plus year old cars, maintenance needs to be done if it's to remain a safe, reliable car for ever. But at the same time I did drive the car for several years for next to nothing leaving oil and fluid trails behind me where ever I went. Naturally I did this on a very poor mans budget but I certainly didnt blame the car for the problems it had. That was purely the fault of the previous onwner (only one it had had as it turned out) and his tight arsed lack of proper maintenance.

Hmm. Let me see now, I'm sure there was a point to this. Oh yes. I think if I were in the position of the thread originator I'd dump the 124, take a breather to think things thru and then resume with just the 123's.

As for me. I'm currently stuck with a 02 Kia Rio. The worst piece of junk ever put on the road. I had the misfortune to buy it new in 02 and have had a staggering amount of trouble with it in the last three years and 60K. But there may at last be a light on the horizon. Early in the new year, if my grandest plans come to pass, a colleagues 240D will become mine and life will start to be good again.

- Peter.

[rwthomas1]

I am right with you on this. I have so much time, money and effort into my 300D that I cannot get out. Now it still needs lots more attention since the valve job was done incorrectly and the ACC system has decided to give maojor problems as well. We just sold my wifes old 89 VW Jetta and got her a new/used 03 TDI Jetta to replace it. I know that VW's have mixed reports on this board but we have put 4K in it in a very short period of time and I quite like it. Smooth, quiet and 50mpg with the cruise set at 80mph. Really makes me want to sell the 300D the more that I drive it. Of course when it gives trouble I will likely not be too happy but the increase in comfort, economy, etc. will likely make it still worthwhile. I know I can tear the head off my 300D and send it out to Metric and then remove the ACC and try resoldering the boards to fix it, etc. but I just don't want to do this anymore. Pouring more time and money into it doesn't make sense but I can't reasonably get out either. So it sits. I am also playing with remote controlled helicopters now and they are more fun than wrenching on the MB. FWIW, I have found that working on my diesel Chevy truck is way easier and more rewarding than the damned MB. Now maybe I would feel better with a 240D and a 617 turbo conversion. All the pop and none of the puff. If you need out and can get out, do so. Buy a "insert brand here" and drive happy knowing you have time to do the things you really want to. RT

[lietuviai]

The funny thing is that before I owned the MB's I had cars that didn't need any work other than oil changes, filters and other mundane maintenance. I wanted to do some real wrenching. Now that I'm overwhelmed, there's no getting away from it. The 123 diesel was OK it didn't get too bad but this 124 was a mistake. I should have never go it. I knew better. I've read a lot of bad things about them in our and other forums but I went ahead and got one anyway. I thought that since I got a reasonably low mileage example things would be OK. WRONG! I just want to dump it and get what ever I can for it. I'd probably feel better scapping it so no one else would be stuck with it ever again. Maybe there's someone who'd be willing to give it a second chance. I just don't enjoy working on it anymore. I was happier doing the mundane things which is what I should go back doing.
I've made more mistakes buying used cars so I don't trust my judgement anymore. New car payments don't really worry me. I probably spent the equivalent of a car payment every month owning the 124. Maybe I'll regain my sanity but for now I don't know what is worth buying out there.
I need to find time to chill.

[rwthomas1]

Heres the funny part: I have owned 23 vehicles and put lots of miles on them over the years. The MB is by far the most difficult to work on and most demanding of time. I'm not talking about regular maintenence. I'm talking heavy suspension work, cylinder head removal, dash work, etc. Its not a heap by any standard but it is a PITA to even attempt to keep perfect. I feel I have made excellent choices as they have all been used except for one 95 Chevy truck. I guess I was due for a crappy hand to be delt to me. RT

[Hatterasguy]

I can relate, if I wasn't a poor student I would probably get a much newer car for daily use.

I am taking a break from working on cars for now as well. I havn't touched the SDL in a month except to throw a better car cover over it. The SD is a beater and doesn't get anything, although tonight I spun on a new tie rod end. Other then that I havn't touched a MB since Oct. It is kind of nice but I can feel the itch coming back. In a few weeks when I am out of school I will probably pull the cover off the SDL and get cracking on it. I do sometimes wonder why I spend so much time and money on the SDL. It is a toy and hobby for me, I enjoy driving it. My friend just got a 97 S320 a few weeks ago, and I hate to say it but the newer MB bug has bit me pretty good. It is so nice to work on and ride in a car that looks/feels/drives like a late model 2-3 year old car. All of the modern comforts such as seat heaters and a Bose sound system are nice.

[PatricdeBoer]

I felt like that with my 76 300d. Then I got my sd and never looked back.

[michakaveli]

Or, just find a good local indy and have them take care of the work!

[lietuviai]

Originally Posted by michakaveli

Or, just find a good local indy and have them take care of the work!

Do I hear CHA-CHING? $$$
I think in that case a new car will really be cheaper.

[braverichard]

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

My friend just got a 97 S320 a few weeks ago, and I hate to say it but the newer MB bug has bit me pretty good. It is so nice to work on and ride in a car that looks/feels/drives like a late model 2-3 year old car. All of the modern comforts such as seat heaters and a Bose sound system are nice.

Oh I hear you very well on that. I pretty much paid for my Brown 300SD again by plunging $4500 on it to repair the body damage from hitting a deer a few months ago. I just thought I'd rather make that one time payment than go and get a new car making payments. But I've also been looking at S320s lately on eBay after our debate revealed facts to me that showed the S320 being a better W140 choice than the S350 Turbodiesel. I guess eventually one wakes up and realizes that if he/she values the attributes of newer cars, then these old beasts will have to be sent off to some other folks. I think for me it is only a matter of time before I take and execute a stand on this issue.