I'm slowly coming to the realization that it will ALWAYS be something with one of these cars-- it is just the nature of the beastie.

While I was changing the engine mounts, I had another realization-- Most of the parts I have removed from the car that were causing trouble were perfectly healthy parts that a Mercedes-Benz just wasn't happy with. Any other car would have just been content with them until they actually failed, but not a Mercedes-Benz-- They want new parts just to say they have them!

I digress...

When did you finally decide to throw in the towel on a certain car? Was it a recurring problem, or one so big that you just decided to start over? Have you never decided to start over?

Tell some stories!

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SDL never, well until I'm broke. Recently I have some what "thrown in the towel" with it by making it a summer only car. I simply do not have the time anymore to deal with it all year round. 7 months out of the year, pretty much when I'm at school its in storage in the garage. Next year it may be upgraded to weekend toy.


Old cars can be a bit of a pita as I have learned, at this point in my life I simply do not have the time to try to drive them on a daily basis anymore.


But yes with any old MB you always have a to do list. You can make that list very short though with enough time, effort, and money.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Serious rust is about the only thing that will really kill them. Everything else can be replaced, it's just a matter of time and money.

I'm afraid I've bitten off more than I can chew by having 3 cars!

The neon never needs repairs, but the aesthetic maintenence and "anal-retentive" care are getting put off because I am putting more love into the Shlomo-- The VW restoration likewise is slow going because I am always futzing with something on the Shlomo.

I think I want to store the Mercedes and put my time into the VW, finish and sell it, put that money into a nice 107 to drive on sunny days. But by then I'll need a better driver, so it's all up in the air. I just don't know. I do know that my introduction into this wünderbar world of Mercedes-Benz motorcoaches has hooked me and I won't be without one long-- if ever at all!

It is mostly just me asking the question of ya'll!

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Im actually considering throwing in the towel with my current mercedes.... One thing after another after another after another........ I just dont have the cash to continue the repairs on the car... lol.....

I love the car, but like HatterasGuy said, older cars take time effort and MONEY, which is currently in extremely short supply these days....lol....


Anywayz.....

I had a 1996 Nissan Maxima a few years ago. I loved that car. It was throwing a Check Engine light. I got the code from the ECU, looked it up, and found that it was a part of the Evap system(system that catches gas vapors and sends them back to the gas tank). it was a sloenoid that was out. Got that replaced. It throws another CEL..... I check it, and it gave the same thing.... I had the dealer check it out, and was told that the part they replaced was working properly. I checked and replaced virtually every part of the EVAP system on that car.... Finally I got so fed up with the thing, I traded it for the Benz I have now actually.

I got fed up with the car because it wouldnt pass an emmission test here in GA with the CEL on.... So I sold it to a used car dealer and he sold me my Benz.....


Anyone want to buy my Benz??????? Holes in the body from a 12 guage shotgun are free.... lol..... just kidding......

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1983 Mercedes 300D
Atlanta, GA

Smoke, smoke, and more smoke. When I gave up, I took it to my MB-only indy mechanic. When he gave up after a month, it was time for the car to go. I believe it now resides in Florida.
I miss the poor ole smoking Flash.......
These cars may be safe and engineered well, but I haven't had 1/20th the problems with my '79 Chevy PU as I've had with any MB I've owned.
I'm still hooked, though.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Can I get an amen?!?

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im NEVER gonna throw in the towel on my 240D... maybe its because its my grandmothers old car i dont know but since its not my daily driver i have the luxury of storing it in the winter to keep the salt off of it and a garage to store it in and work on it... such a sickness this w123 is

like i said before....

my grandkids will be dead before the car is.....and im not married nor do i have any kids....if rush shall eat the chassis...the engine / trans and all body parts shall be transfered into another w126...if non such chassis exists...I shall have one fabricated to spec! and then drop the engine / trans and etc into that ! When the world goes to WW3-Nuclear War...the w126 will be tucked away in a mountain complex 24-stories underground safe from any thermonuclear device........


now i just need to get the money to accomplish all that jazz.........

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Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Ive thrown in the towel on my SD....only to upgrade to a just as troublesome 87 300D

But i love this car...its my daily driver and i plan to restore it from the ground up. As my dad did when he bought his 64 mustang convertible. Car was a peice of junk when he bought it. Mismatching hood/fenders, rust, no interior, and had been painted 5 different colors in its lifetime.

18yrs later its fully restored, by himself and looks like a million bucks. That was his pride and joy and worked on it for years, one problem after another. Even rebuilt the engine by hand. And finally got the car to its original form and the way he wanted it. The car is simply beautiful and looks like it just came off the lot back in 64!

Now i had always...and still do, wanted his mustang. But my dad told me what his father said to him. Follow your own dream and you too will have the perfect car youve always wanted.

And so i did follow my own dream and fell in love with these diesel MB's. Its just the design and engineering behind these cars that has me hooked. the veggie/biodiesel craze has made it all the more better. I have big plans for my 87, even though it still has its bumps here and there i know it will be just the way i want it.

My dad had his share of thoughts to give up and throw in the towel. But he stuck with it and now he has his dream car prefected. So i shall as well.

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

I never have and never will, the only thing that would make me "retire" a car is a serious accident (where it couldn't be fixed whatsoever) or severe rust, in which case the car would become a parts car for my next one....and eventually scrapped when nothing was left...

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I guess I would answer when its not fun anymore or cost effective.With the high cost of auto insurance,fuel and registration I would rather spend time and money doing some repairs on my old Benz,rather than have a car note.When its time to have some real fun and some speed I break out the other German car (Can I get a smile HITMAN X ?),but come Monday morning it back to old faithful,my 85 300sd.

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85 300sd SOLD ,85 745i,95 740i,1972 Suburban,1938 International

I threw in the towel on the 1977 240d only because that car had structual rust everywhere.
BUT only after I found a totally rust free & low milage 1980 300sd (w116) to replace it.
MAN that car is sa-weeet!
Too bad my 16 year old daughter is going to drive it.

Well, at least she will be safe!

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

I've thrown in the towel on two that were seriously wrecked and one (my first) that had serious rust. One I simply sold to someone who did not take care of it (not sure how many things that kid hit!). Other four I still have plus I got one more for son to buy. BTW Hatty, I drive my SDL everyday, all year long. Haven't dropped as much money in mine as you have (but I'm working on it). Weather was nice (cooled off and lower humidity) Sunday so wife and I took five hour drive inthe 560SL. Could have drive for five days!
Hey superbeast, what's wrong with your diesel (and how much do ya want?). Not sure that my '83 300D is gonna last until my youngest turns 16 next year. The rust is starting to get serious and when the body gets weak, it goes. I really need to get a 201 diesel, but I just love the 123s.