Absolutely no way that even a trained monkey would mistake the white plastic expansion tank with flip-lid for the aluminum top of the engine with a black plastic marked oil twist cap. Nobody who has EVER changed oil, even once, would make that mistake, if so he would NEVER have figured out the oil filter.

I wouldn't have been afraid of the car until I was told that, the guy isn't even a very believable liar IMO.

I remember seeing a smoked silver one for sale on CL for several months. I'm wondering if it's the same one.
There was a gold one for sale not far from me for around $2K on CL. The owner dropped by the shop that was recharging my A/C and that's how I found out about it. He asked if was interested but without asking his selling price but I said no. It was a good runner with no head problems. He was selling it because he got tired of the trim falling apart in the interior and the rear windows weren't working.

Since we're all beating on you, I hope you didn't pay more than $1000 for the car. Who's going to pay a premium to be the third owner of a rebuilt transmission?

And since we're beating on the PO more, what exactly does the paperwork on the transmission rebuild say? I hope it was more than a front pump and reseal. Most transmission shops require installation of a new torque converter with the rebuilt transmission for the warranty to be valid. Does the paperwork indicate a new torque converter?

I've done far worse on impulse so I'm not here to cast a stone. What's key is to understand what you actually have vs what you think you have. I've never raped an ape so I don't know how one responds, but it's a good sign you enjoy the car's performance. Let's keep it performing that way.

Sixto
87 300D

Someone back me up on this one, My grandpop taught me this trick a while ago for checking for a bad head gasket.

With the engine cold, get a helper and have them fire the car up while you are squeezing the upper radiator hose. If you feel immediate pressure, then you have confirmed that combustion gasses are entering the cooling system.

If the system builds pressure slowly as the engine warms up, then the head gasket is good, or has a small leak.

I don't know if this method is only good for indicating larger leaks or what, but it's worth a try.

Just, someone back that up before anyone relies on my information. If im wrong I'll edit my post. Heck, Im kinda curious if my grandpop was right anyway :).

It's a valid test but in the case of the 603 early head casting, it doesn't distinguish a bad head gasket from cracked head.

Sixto
87 300D

Good call, im not too familiar with the 603's yet. Are they the one's with the evil aluminum heads?

Depends on the age of the kid. Don't know if am a trained monkey or not, but when I was 3 I used to like to play "Fill'er up with Ethyl". In my mind Ethyl came out of the garden hose, and went in the tailpipe. I have since grown out of that habit. :D

did you also try shoving potatoes into the tailpipe???? Maybe a few firecrackers????

ATS
 

Howard and Dave know how to overhaul a Benz gearbox, Sixto. It shifts great. Maybe I'll find a wagon with a bad trans.!

I did the same thing - bought a car I shouldn't have - with my first diesel. '84 SD. Total hunk of crap. Needless to say that didn't deter me. This is a great car to learn on. I'll get it straightened around. Might take a while, but I'll get it.

Thanks, everybody!

Jay.