taking a diesel car seriously - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mr sweattypits · #1 12-22-2005, 01:07 PM

hey all, I have run into the problem of not finding too many people that take these cars seriously. I recently went car hunting for a 300d 5 cyl turbo for my lovely wife and now we have a breathtakingly gorgeous black 84 (pics soon). mechanically it needs attention. through the shopping process we turned down several "runs great" offerings because in reality they were crap with "yeah, its a diesel thats why its slow". which is pretty much, as most of us know, an ignorant opinion. I opted to shop it out on a good recommendation to a long term mercedes mechanic to start to nip at these problems because my other projects are pretty overwhelming and more fun (custom japanese bikes and amercan muscle). The mechanics opinion seems to me more of "its a diesel foggetaboutit". Does this sort of chevy mentality bother anyone else? or am I burdoned with high expectations?
My 81 300 sd runs like a raped ape and idles low and smooth with approx 300k miles, maybe more. unfortunatly it has lost 3rd gear and most window systems and its not worth fixing. I have tinkered with it and some junkyard parts and these are well built cars that take a little unconventional thinking but allow for serious rewards like 25 mpg with realiability and comfort to match a new honda. I am new to the mercedes world but have spent some serious junkyard and underhood time and i really feel like these cars are not so complicated to really dial in but will drive on nonetheless.
If anyone has any cool diesel benz cheapo project ideas i think my sd might get the hammer and grinder chop job soon. its replacement is almost done.

R Leo · #2 12-22-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr sweattypits

If anyone has any cool diesel benz cheapo project ideas i think my sd might get the hammer and grinder chop job soon.

A worthwhile W126 endeavour for you:

300DandTD · #3 12-22-2005, 01:33 PM

Now that is way cool !!! But I am a wagon whoXe !

d.delano · #4 12-22-2005, 01:36 PM

In my area people respect these cars, but down south where I'm from they laugh. That's OK I think of them often with their $500+ car payments as I drive all over the United States untroubled in my trusty MB.
The cars are not supposed to be slow, most of them out there aren't performing as they should because the idiots that own them don't know dick about squat. Statistically people in the US are becoming less and less savvy about science and I think this has something to do with it.
My D is pretty quick and I never feel at a disadvantage in traffic. Of course it wouldn't go over 35 when I got it but that's another story.

boneheaddoctor · #5 12-22-2005, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d.delano

In my area people respect these cars, but down south where I'm from they laugh. That's OK I think of them often with their $500+ car payments as I drive all over the United States untroubled in my trusty MB.
The cars are not supposed to be slow, most of them out there aren't performing as they should because the idiots that own them don't know dick about squat. Statistically people in the US are becoming less and less savvy about science and I think this has something to do with it.
My D is pretty quick and I never feel at a disadvantage in traffic. Of course it wuoldn't go over 35 when I got it but that's another story.

I bought my W123 off a guy who didn't know dick....He bought the car had one electrical issue fixed by a mechanic and decided he didn't like the car becasue it was slow...I test drove it and knews exactly why..got it for a fair price and had it working at 100% power within 15 minutes, after I had it in my name and at home...simply needed the banjo bolt cleaned out..it was plugged up solid.

R Leo · #6 12-22-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d.delano

The cars are not supposed to be slow, most of them out there aren't performing as they should because the idiots that own them don't know dick about squat. ....Of course it wouldn't go over 35 when I got it but that's another story.

Absolutely. About I year ago I bought an '87 300SDL for next to nothing...they were asking $2500 and I got it for $650. Why? Because it would barely pull itsself out of the parking lot and make 45mph on flat ground. The only problem was that one of the pivots in the throttle linkage was loose and the IP wouldn't go to ful-load when you mashed the throttle to the floor.

Old300D · #7 12-22-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr sweattypits

...
My 81 300 sd runs like a raped ape and idles low and smooth with approx 300k miles, maybe more. unfortunatly it has lost 3rd gear and most window systems and its not worth fixing. I have tinkered with it and some junkyard parts and these are well built cars that take a little unconventional thinking but allow for serious rewards like 25 mpg with realiability and comfort to match a new honda. I am new to the mercedes world but have spent some serious junkyard and underhood time and i really feel like these cars are not so complicated to really dial in but will drive on nonetheless.
...

That's not a long list of problems for such a car. Why is it not worth fixing?

TheDon · #8 12-22-2005, 02:19 PM

shoot when i got my car it was like slug outa hell slower than a 240D on take off .. owner thought it was the turbo and charging system.. turbo is fine but now im worrying about the charging system.. volt meter anyone have a voltmeter?

mr sweattypits · #9 12-22-2005, 05:23 PM

Quote:

That's not a long list of problems for such a car. Why is it not worth fixing?

its actually a pretty long list, pretty much the car drives but has no ammenities and the front windows are propped shut with a stick, window seals are toast, engine smokes alot and third gear is practically neutral. i can still drive it around and it is fast for the money a better condition used diesel is cheaper. i really want a good project to butcher it for like a 110 heckflosse bucket case. unfortunatly the previous owner(s) was negligent and a hack. sad, so, sad
now with a newer benz with some "quirks" to figure out, I have a 71 c20
3/4 ton that needs some serious love and a 69 dart super six project to finish dialing in. Also my three project bikes as well as the three custom runners, two furniture projects... i also work alot.
its sort of the benz tragedy, like any well built car, or good natured person.

mr sweattypits · #10 12-22-2005, 05:24 PM

that wagon is really nice, I was thinking of a pick-up like the south african pontons.

bud640 · #11 12-22-2005, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr sweattypits

hey all, I have run into the problem of not finding too many people that take these cars seriously. I recently went car hunting for a 300d 5 cyl turbo for my lovely wife and now we have a breathtakingly gorgeous black 84 (pics soon). mechanically it needs attention. through the shopping process we turned down several "runs great" offerings because in reality they were crap with "yeah, its a diesel thats why its slow". which is pretty much, as most of us know, an ignorant opinion. I opted to shop it out on a good recommendation to a long term mercedes mechanic to start to nip at these problems because my other projects are pretty overwhelming and more fun (custom japanese bikes and amercan muscle). The mechanics opinion seems to me more of "its a diesel foggetaboutit". Does this sort of chevy mentality bother anyone else? or am I burdoned with high expectations?
My 81 300 sd runs like a raped ape and idles low and smooth with approx 300k miles, maybe more. unfortunatly it has lost 3rd gear and most window systems and its not worth fixing. I have tinkered with it and some junkyard parts and these are well built cars that take a little unconventional thinking but allow for serious rewards like 25 mpg with realiability and comfort to match a new honda. I am new to the mercedes world but have spent some serious junkyard and underhood time and i really feel like these cars are not so complicated to really dial in but will drive on nonetheless.
If anyone has any cool diesel benz cheapo project ideas i think my sd might get the hammer and grinder chop job soon. its replacement is almost done.

Luv my 240 D, It's no scorcher but gets the job done. If I want to eat rice, I take out one of my Stingrays and go look for dinner

waybomb · #12 12-22-2005, 09:25 PM

I didn't even know they made a 126 wagon? What's the model number? Is this in the US? How much is that puppy?

mr sweattypits · #13 12-23-2005, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Luv my 240 D, It's no scorcher but gets the job done. If I want to eat rice, I take out one of my Stingrays and go look for dinner

have you seen the diesel vette....
http://www.thedieselpage.com/readers/vet.htm

yeah thats what my dart is for

Quote:

I didn't even know they made a 126 wagon? What's the model number? Is this in the US? How much is that puppy?

i think thats a coach company job, look under herse conversions. you might use it as an excuse to travel to germany.

BluEyes · #14 12-24-2005, 10:43 AM

I don't think it's a diesel thing, it's just an American thing. Hafta say that most of us know @#$% about cars and care even less.
When the parking brake on my g/f's Blazer stuck one morning and she was late, one of her co-workers asked her why. The person said that if you just drive it will come off after awhile, it did in her Neon. It didnt work anymore after that, but her son disconnected the wiring so the brake light on the dash wasn't on anymore. Her Neon also won't go up a certain large hill in our area above 45mph unless she puts it in 2nd gear and floors it

She doesn't care about fixing it, because she's just going to trade it in in a year or so and it'll be someone elses problem...
I'm just glad that this person only wants to drive new cars, so cool cars like our Benzes are not on her agenda of slow torture and death.