"I didn't think any of those were still around!" - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Yumeko-chan · #1 06-01-2012, 03:28 PM

After a doctor's appointment this morning I headed to O'Reilly's to get an air filter for my car. An old man, around 70, was there to help me out. Said I needed an air filter for an '83 Mercedes 240D. He gave me a look and said, "I didn't think any of those were still around!" As he looked up which filter I needed, he talked about this Volkswagen Rabbit he used to have, and I mentioned my husband's dad used to have one that he remembers riding around in when he was little. "Can't beat German engineering," he said. And the entire time we were talking, he kept glancing out the window at my car, like he couldn't believe his eyes!

I know my car's one of the older ones on the road in this town, but '83 is hardly ancient

Aquaticedge · #2 06-01-2012, 03:44 PM

in a throw away society that attitude will become more and more pronounced. anything mid 90's and back they think should be long gone for some reason O_o still kinda funny though

ChiefRider · #3 06-01-2012, 03:53 PM

I will occasionally run errands in my '14 Ford. It's really just a bucket of bolts, but like anything else, if you take care of them, they'll keep running.

I really can't bring myself to think of an '83 as all that old!

anghrist · #4 06-01-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefRider

I will occasionally run errands in my '14 Ford. It's really just a bucket of bolts, but like anything else, if you take care of them, they'll keep running.

I really can't bring myself to think of an '83 as all that old!

It's not. Sad that people can't cherish what they have and keep things serviceable for long enough to appreciate them.

cirrusman · #5 06-01-2012, 04:38 PM

Funny; I also was at O'Reilly's yesterday buying an air filter for my '83 300SD. And I had a similar reaction from the guy at the counter. He said "Huh!" when I told him the year make and model, and then when he got the big box with the filter he said "Hang on a moment, I'm curious, I gotta see this filter for myself..." Then he went on saying that he had an old european market Benz himself but he had slapped a Chevy 350 in it... I did a valiant attempt at smiling but I just couldn't smile at the idea of such an engine on a 200D...

PackerEdgerton · #6 06-01-2012, 07:18 PM

Yes, I get a lot of people saying "Wow. That's a classic." as I tool around with my 240D.

One guy stuck his head in the window and said "A 4-speed? No way. I've NEVER seen a Mercedes with a stick shift!"

Several have said "Amazing. It's still running." Or some variant thereof.

Most are amazed it isn't just trashed out. (although when I 1st got it, it was sorely in need of cleaning, detailing, and had lots of little bits missing, like emblems, trim pieces, filthy windows.. etc., but that's another story).

We truly do live in a throw-away society. Cars, houses, clothes, furniture, relationships.... OK, I'll stop now.

Sincerely,

PE

rs899 · #7 06-01-2012, 07:41 PM

I haven't calculated my fleet average, but it's around late 70s last time I checked. We don't own anything newer than 1991 and put 20K miles on them every year. I have never had to call my boss and tell him I couldn't get to work for any car related reason. If you are going to have to rely on old cars, you can't do better than a 240D stick shift. They will even run through a global thermonuclear war.

But..Yumeko-chan...if you want to keep that 240D running even longer, don't buy the cheapo air filters they sell at McParts. They don't have nearly the filtering capability (number of pleats) as the good ones (Knect, Mann, Mahle etc) you can get from this site

Yumeko-chan · #8 06-01-2012, 07:50 PM

I didn't buy one, they ended up being sold out =P

EDIT: the Bap-Geon a short drive from me has a B/A one in stock, is that a "good" one?

ChiefRider · #9 06-01-2012, 08:24 PM

Mann filters are the way to go. If you need it now, pick up the Beck and use it, order a couple Mann online for the future.

Stugist · #10 06-01-2012, 08:24 PM

It's even better when you tell them how many miles are on it.

sleepstar · #11 06-01-2012, 08:49 PM

this is so funny, because around here (sf, berkeley, oakland) i can't go for a ten minute drive around town without passing at least one other diesel MB. the parts people even at oreilly or autozone have never been surprised when i've asked for anything for my 300D

rs899 · #12 06-01-2012, 08:51 PM

Bap-Geon? No, not unless it happens to be German. They don't make anything.

rs899 · #13 06-01-2012, 08:54 PM

Quote:

this is so funny, because around here (sf, berkeley, oakland) i can't go for a ten minute drive around town without passing at least one other diesel MB. the parts people even at oreilly or autozone have never been surprised when i've asked for anything for my 300D

Yeah, well I don't need to tell you how weird the Bay area is compared to the rest of the country. Not sayin that's bad...just not normal...

Mark DiSilvestro · #14 06-01-2012, 10:41 PM

If you really want to amaze some people these days, give them a ride in a Fintail or Ponton with a 4-speed manual on the column!

Happy Motoring, Mark

wildest · #15 06-01-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepstar

this is so funny, because around here (sf, berkeley, oakland) i can't go for a ten minute drive around town without passing at least one other diesel MB. the parts people even at oreilly or autozone have never been surprised when i've asked for anything for my 300D

Same in my neck of the woods. There are 6 W123 sedans, 2 wagons and 1 coupe that I see on a regular basis in this small town.