Long time (21 years) customer calls.." Heard a loud THUNK yesterday...car seems to wander now...can I bring it in?"

Me "You checked under the car H***** ?"

Him "No...but I did check the oil." Me " Okay H***** drop it off and I'll run you home."

I got a call-out 5 minutes later for a no a/c in a Mack truck next door. So when H***** came by I was gone. My buddy Ron, who owns 3 123's and a 201 was there to greet him and looked at it for me. He called to say the steering box is not attached to the chassis rail !

Eh ???. I got it on the lift later and sure enough the three bolts has sheared at the box.
On closer inspection, the pitman arm, where it connects to the centre link, was covered in concrete dust. The outer tie rod joint was loose in it's tapered housing arm and other joints showed signs of stress.

That's not all.......the muffler pipe was cratered at the under drive shaft bend, and we found half a curtain ( drape.) with it's store tag of $10.99 still attached, wrapped around the rear flex coupling and it had burnt out the pinion oil seal.

I'd seen the picture of the bed spring mattress wrapped around the Jeep(?) drive shaft but this was unique to me.

Seems H***** has succeeded in scoring a direct hit on a cinder block and window drape...not at the same time maybe...but close.

So I have ordered all joints and a pinion seal.

BTW...H***** is my only customer who has successfully driven 16 miles to my shop with a 3 inch hole in the upper oil pan in his 240D an not suffered engine damage. Charmed life !