Best idea yet --- especially if they don't give you permission to run the cord....go out with a bang, do the generator thing as a parting way of saying %#$^&$*&$!!

***OR --- an even BETTER idea...we'll round up the 'Diesel Discussion Forum Posse' for an all out DIESEL attack...we'll swarm your complex - leaving our trusty steeds idling all night, and at the top and bottom of every hour we'll rev the beasts --- A sound that will be a MIGHTY ROAR!!, A ROAR that will tell anyone and everyone --- 'DON'T, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT DISRESPECTING THE DIESEL!! Give us our cords...or give us death! It'll be an event that will 'live in infamy'!

All true Diesel dudes are always up for a road trip and adventure, especially to defend our Diesel Brethren! We will ride to defend and fight for the right to plug in our cars!

HURRY MEN --- Off to the garage to fuel the beasts, air up the tires, check the oil... and oh yea --- better ask your wife if you can go!!!

How about do the Yukon thing; leave the car idling all night when its cold.

I think the OM617 will run all night on a gallon or so. And after a few weeks the landlord will probably buy you an extension cord himself...

Cheers,

Michael

Okay,

The apartment manager caved. Said I can keep my car plugged in at night. Must have sensed I was going to bail if I couldn't plug my Benz in. Must of also knew that I would rather live in my Benz than live without it. :D Didn't even try to get the okay from higher up. I guess I'm a little glad to see the recession .


Thanks for your support ;)

He knew we were coming..

Party Time!!!
 

We should still go....and have a Celebration Party.

Now, where are you located?

I'd go with a generator. :D Go out a few hours before you want to start the car, fire it up, and come back later. :D Propane generator is best and most efficient.

By the way, a stock-in-the-engine-block heater only uses about 275 watts, not 1000. The lower hose style heaters use about 380. (I've tested both types) Engine block style is more effective though, hence why the hose heater makes up for it with more juice.

block heater
 

I once saw a Euro 6.9 with a gasoline fired block heater that was made by Webasto. They also made gas fired heaters for air-cooled VW's.

This thing ran off a clock. At the set time a small burner set-up started misting gasoline and a spark plug would fire. This would light the burner which was about five inches by two inches.

A pump motor that looked like the pump for the heater circulated the engine's coolant through a small core above the burner and then throuout the engine. It was all very complicated looking.

The best part was that, new from the factory, it only cost an additional $7,000. That was the installed price; I don't know what the cash and carry price was.

Even better is that they are still available! Webasto makes these for Diesel trucks, and by that I mean 3/4 ton trucks. The units appear to be much more compact than the old ones and would likely fit in the engine bay area behind the headlight on the left side.

This is also an all-in-one sort of thing, so there is no incredable amount of plumbing involved.

No info on current costs, but the Webasto site has a list of dealers.

Pooka

Glad it worked out for you ConnClark....

I guess I'm selfish - was really looking forward to the "Diesel Posse"....My wife said I could go...She actually encouraged me to go ahead and leave-now! She offered to pack my bag and everything :confused:......I guess she really appreciates the importance of the "Diesel Posse".

Oh well....

Was the plug on your utility meter? I mean, was his gripe the use of the juice and not paying for it? If it's on your meter, I don't see what the problem would be. Tripping hazard? Seems like a long shot. I would consider, in any case, putting a timer on the plug to come on just an hour or so before cranking. Before I did a head r&r and ran the block heater, I found that you didn't need it on all night and it consumed lots less electricity.

Leaving is a GREAT idea.

Myself and my girlfriend started down this road in our old complex. It was an extension cord that we had along the ground to charge her 73' Super Beetle's battery over the winter.

It ended with the apartment complex manager hiring a towing company to steal my VW Bus from out of the parking lot.

Some people just don't understand classic cars.

I had the same thing said to me, so I simply went up to the office and laid into them, they told me to just move it out of the line from the door to the steps.
Turns out it is mainly them worrying about someone tripping over the cable, to prevent any future problems might i suggest routing it where people do not normally walk.

Cool! I had no idea they were that small. My old Ford is 1000 watts - but of course it is a V8 with nearly two and a half times the displacement of the Mercedes.

275 watts means a much smaller inverter, a 50 amp hour marine battery, and a timer would actually work - and it could power the heater for nearly 2 hours. Wouldn't take nearly so much of the alternator's output to recharge it either.

Therefore it is actually a feasible, almost practical, solution.

Glad to hear the landlord finally saw reason, ConnClark. You're probably a good tenant and in the current economy, he realized it isn't in his best interest to loose a renter who is stable and pays their rent.

If he ever gives you trouble again disconnect the vacuum shutoff, set the parking brake, straight pipe the exhaust and let it idle all night.

Yeah I had to sell an MG because of the "dirty looks" I got whenever I popped the hood for anything at an "upscale" community I lived in at the time. I would get waves and smiles whenever the hood was down and the sun was shining and horrible scowls and dirty looks whenever I tried to do even the quickest adjustments.

People have some real issues when it comes to automotive repairs. The line between a car on blocks in a trailer park and and an owner with a classic car that needs a little occasional "help" is a really gray one and most people overreact.

This is a perfect example of the umpteen different reasons that I live in the BOONDOCKS. I live 20 miles from the nearest four lane highway or railroad track and it's not nearly far enough out for me.

I have been going to the city on weekends to help my Sister in Law with some home renovation work and she has to have a permit for everything. I'm surprised that they don't have to issue a permit for her to sweep her sidewalk.

I remember back in the fifties when I was a small kid, hearing my Mom say in response to some stupid city ordinance, "It won't be long before you have to have a permit to push a wheel barrow across your yard." Well folks, my Mom was prophetic. That's where we are today with landlords and home owner associations.

Even where I live you have to put up with people running your own business. I have dealt with three gas pipelines coming across my land without me having ANY choice in the matter. They take it by immenint domain and that's that.

People need to mind their own business.