Im getting Discouraged.......

[stcbenz83]

I hate to say this but im becoming more and more Discouraged with my beloved benz. After i took it on a 200 miles trip, it just seems so much has gone wrong, and im taking it on another trip this thursday so the issues that im having now are...


-Sticky gauge clusters, all but gas and temp
- when i just started it to go to lunch, it was more shakie than usual which im hopeing is a bad glow plug
-the exaust need ANOTHER pipe
- 250K on what i can tell is the original Timming chain which makes me kinda scared witht the rough idal, so that will need to be replaced...when?? i have no clue when i can find the money or time

so im just kinda worried about taking it on this trip cause last time i broke down cause the exaust fell off and i had to tie it up. just dont want to be stranded


just thought i would share

[kerry]

Not many reports on here of broken chains. The chain typically lasts as long as the engine. If you're worried, check the stretch and make a decision.
Oil pressure gauge is manual on this vehicle I think, so if it is sticking, you should check that out since it can't be a bad ground.

[pawoSD]

They are old cars, things will break, fix them, and think about how it has no car payment and is such a better built/safer vehicle than some modern econobox. After a while you'll have replaced so much stuff that it will be fine for a long time....

[stcbenz83]

for the oil pressure it rises normaly, and then when i turn it off when its cold (this just happening to day keep in mind) the oil presure dropped to 15 and then really slowley went down. it just has me worried

also if the timming chain starts to go bad, dosnt the IP mess up and the car starts running really horrible??

[ImBroke]

Roughness can be caused by a bad motor mount also. I thought I had a bad injector it was vibrating so badly. Smooth as silk now.

[kerry]

Originally Posted by stcbenz83

for the oil pressure it rises normaly, and then when i turn it off when its cold (this just happening to day keep in mind) the oil presure dropped to 15 and then really slowley went down. it just has me worried

also if the timming chain starts to go bad, dosnt the IP mess up and the car starts running really horrible??

The thick cold oil is just taking longer to drain down out of the thin gauge line. Nothing to worry about

[JimmyL]

A couple of things to think about. Older cars are simply gonna break down more often than a brand new car.
Also, these cars really have a reputation for engineering, safety, and longevity. OK, that means that motors last a long time and the car can remain in use for a long time, but they also have things on them that break all the time (hello AC system for example). It is my experience that you will be fixing something almost all the time, but the car gets you where you need to go.

[sailor15015]

Everything's a trade off. If you buy a new car, you stand a good chance of not having to replace things like water pumps, t-stats, wheel bearings, ect for a few years. Instead, you'll have to deal with the payment and higher insurance. Plus it'll probably be made out of what was last month a soda can. Most people who drive these cars have no payments and enjoy relatively low insurance rates. Parts aren't that bad and if you get quality German parts, you won't have to worry about replacing the thing for quite a while. If you're the kind of person who loves to work on cars, this is the car for you. Plus you've got a 240D, one of the easiet and simplies cars to work on from what I've heard. If you don't like to work on cars, sell it to someone here and go buy a reasonably new Honda because believe me, you're going to have to do some work to keep it going.

[sailor15015]

Oh yeah, don't be afraid to let it alone when you get discouraged. After replacing my water pump, then finding out my t-stat was bad, I just let it sit for a couple of days, focused hard on my school work, then when I was ready I ordered a new one and popped it right in. I've learned the hard way that when I start to get frustrated, if I don't walk away I'll wind up breaking something or something like that. Take a step back, a few deep breaths, and see how you feel in the morning.

[stcbenz83]

Dont get me wrong, I LOVE my 240D just at times it gets really frustrating money draining. But i wouldnt trade it for the world. it just seems like everytime i turn around i have somthing to fix. But i do like the low insurance and the no car payments.

[mybenz123]

Originally Posted by stcbenz83

Dont get me wrong, I LOVE my 240D just at times it gets really frustrating money draining. But i wouldnt trade it for the world. it just seems like everytime i turn around i have somthing to fix. But i do like the low insurance and the no car payments.

Just think about at the $350 a month car payment you're
NOT making.

Louis.

[Blevinsax]

Originally Posted by stcbenz83

Dont get me wrong, I LOVE my 240D just at times it gets really frustrating money draining. But i wouldnt trade it for the world. it just seems like everytime i turn around i have somthing to fix. But i do like the low insurance and the no car payments.

I know exactly what you're feeling! I recently bought a 1991 350SD and although it has been running *somewhat* well, it has spent ALMOST as much time IN the shop as it has OUT! Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to do much of my own work because I am a professional musician (saxophonist) and I absolutely cannot injure my hands or fingers - if I do, it could cost me my livelihood (not to mention one of the things I enjoy most in life!!)

When my most recent serpentine belt/glow plug failure hit (late last week - still working out the problems in the shop) I was beside myself in frustration and distress! Now I'm taking it in stride with the knowledge that sometime soon I will have my beloved Benz back and will enjoy driving it again - and I've learned a ton about the car in the meantime!

When it comes time to pay the shop bill, I will be able to relax for several reasons:
1. No car payment
2. Low insurance rates
3. I drive for free on WVO thanks to the GreaseCar system

All that plus I know that I'll be driving a very safe, durable, and well-designed vehicle that is a real pleasure to drive.

So, just hang in there and try not to let the car get you down! I'm not letting mine get me down, either!

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by Blevinsax

I know exactly what you're feeling! I recently bought a 1991 350SD and although it has been running *somewhat* well, it has spent ALMOST as much time IN the shop as it has OUT!

Your MB is much nicer than any I will probably ever own, but I would be so nervous all the time if I owned one of the "rod benders". Wow though, are they ever nice to drive!!

[Hatterasguy]

They are old cars, there will always be a few things that need your attention.

You need to have a list and prioritize repairs. IE things that will leave you stranded come first, things that make you comfortable come second, and cosmetic things are at the bottom.

After awhile you will get the driveline sorted out to the point that you can drive it anywhere without the fear of getting stuck. But everything else from the windows to the door locks to the climate control will be a never ending battle.

Work on the car until you don't enjoy it any more, then get something new.

Actualy if you only have 3-5 things that are not working right your doing pretty good!

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Actualy if you only have 3-5 things that are not working right your doing pretty good!

LOL, that sounds about right. There's always a couple of things on the list; I just replaced my antenna mast (again), I still have one pesky little oil drip (separator drain tube again, I think), I have a small squeak someplace under the dash that's making me crazy, etc. It's pretty much endless, that's half the fun of owning these things.