When you find getting in and out of the car difficult unless you scoot the seat back

When none of your friends can figure out how to start your car

When you revv the car in neutral while following a slow driver and they pull over immediately (probably thinking they cut off a large truck)

When you drive a tractor and it has a "sportier" feel than your car

When you can leave the car locked and running when you go into the store with a single set of keys, and get looks for doing so

When you run on wvo and take pleasure informing prius drivers you pay less than they do per mile of driving, and that you're car cost 1/25th as much as theirs

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1982 300D Turbodiesel, daily driver. Mods so far: Fram 8038 paper filter, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 (front) rotors/calipers, boost turned up to 12lbs, non-egr manifolds, water/methanol injection, 4-speed manual
1980 300SD Turbodiesel, project car, nearly ready to hit the street

1974 240D, New paint

When you judge the tuning of your engine by how little smoke is produced when you hit the kick down switch.

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

When your wife appreciates how much work you have done on your car by just changing the engine and transmission mounts.

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

When your wife appreciates your car more because hers is falling apart in less than 10 years and you are just starting to replace the same parts after 30 years...

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

I don't understand the bang-clunk reference in shifting from 1-2???

Packman

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83 240D - 4 speed manual - Manilla Beige
189K miles, Tachometer mod, cool wooden shift knob from PeachParts, CocoMats, Original factory paint, manual windows, manual sunroof. Starting to add AudioWrap to this car too!

With a manual, you won't. A lot of automatics have a hard 1-2 upshift.

Mine included....after its warmed up its gets a little softer but first shift is hard.....I give up trying to soften it...

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When your cat takes up position by the kitchen to get fed when she hears you pulling up!

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1983 240D, 272K+ miles (odo broke)

When your dogs hear a family member at the head end of our street coming home and head for the front door.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

Ha ha, this actually happened to me, except it was the wife's Jetta, back when it was in "we never know when the car alarm is going to go off" mode!

Kurt

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- '79 240D - engine swap complete! Engine broken in! 28-31 mpg! Lovin' the ride!
- '86 190D (W201-126) - 2.5 NA engine, 5 speed, cloth interior, manual climate controls, 33-34 mpg (sold to forum member).

pfft... My house is SOOO far off the street, street view only has Benz grilles in it...
actually, I just looked, and you can see one of my wagons up on the car hauler, and a trailer with the Stealth still on it... THAT's been a long time ago... and my pickup in the driveway, with the tarp still covering it... so...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

A cracked head can mean one of two things:

1. OM603 engine trouble
2. Banging one's head on the grille with the hood open, one too many times

You tell your DIY car enthusiast friends to "soot up" instead of "suit up" when telling them to prepare for wrenching

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

When customers walk out of the dealer show room to drool on your car.


.

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ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Or your outside cats come running when you pull up in the morning. I work nights and get greeted/attacked when getting home at six am.

How about your not being alowed to park in someones driveway lest you leak oil on it?

Or feeling the compulsive need to check your oil when there aren't any spots after parking?

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1991 300d 2.5 Turbo OM602