When I find myself with no repair projects I get really quiet, because if one of the cars finds out it'll develop some kind of fault just to get attention. They're worse than cats.

Same goes for if I have extra money.

Tomorrow, March 17th, is the last day you can buy a debit card from Lowe's, loading it up from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $4,000. On Friday, the 18th, Lowe's adds 10% to the card's value, so, a $4K pre-paid card becomes worth $4,400. Good forever on all purchases from any Lowe's, including installation labor charges.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

The secret is to own multiple old German cars. There's always something expensive broken!

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Well, I made it back from Lowes with one sheet of 3/4" plywood, and six galvanised roof-panels secured to my Thule rack, with the pair of clamp-bars I fabricated for hauling such stuff. Was getting dark so I did need to use the headlights on the way home, but my TD did fine.
And an hour later, my brother arrived with TWO spare Bosch alternators.

As for extra money, my porch-project has already used up the $190 alternator-price the local import parts-place wants for a nice Bosch rebuilt, or the $130 that Pep-Boys wants for a crappy Mexican one.
Hope I can combine my spares, and the one on the car, to make a good one.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

You need to buy at least 2 more old Mercedes- then you will never have this problem again Sometimes, if you let enough people know you can work on old cars, they will bring them to you to repair for them if you don't want to buy anymore of your own! Or you could have three kids like me and you will never run out of maintenance chores- just time and money

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1984 300TD 1981 240D

If your multiple Mercedes are the same year & model, you can always swap parts around when needed.
And when you work on other peoples old cars, you might be able to pesuade them to make a donation to help keep your decaying fleet alive!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Meanwhile, I charged the battery on the 240D, which has been sitting next to th driveway for over amonth with a flat tire. Then got the plywood and roof-panels off the TD, cut the pane;s to size and stored them on the porch. Then back to the 240D for some Fix-A-Flat (new non-flammable formula), and the required drive to spread the stuff inside and finish filling the tire. Still need to figure out why it occasionally rattles in front when I brake or shut off the engine, and why the left-rear power window stopped working.
And of course, get a working alternator in the TD.
One of my spares looks like a 100-amp. Physically a bit larger than the original 65, but it might still fit the bracket, And I may need to run a thicker cable to the battery.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I just have her make a list then go about procrastinating on the list I've made. Too many hobbies. All vehicles are running. Think I'll ride my bike down to the sailboat.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.