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  #16  
Old 03-08-2020, 12:03 AM
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Time and circumstances change. No two situations or perspectives of people are the same.

I always seem to have a backlog that demands more attention. Than maintaining thirty to forty year old cars for daily service.

So they have to remain a hobby for me. I lose of course as I enjoy working on cars as I find it relaxing. Plus enjoyable.

Perhaps I should have totally retired at age 65 but it was just not my thing.

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  #17  
Old 03-08-2020, 01:06 AM
vwnate1's Avatar
Diesel Dandy
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sunny So. Cal. !
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Post The 'American Envy' Thing ~

David :

Be aware that many here are financially sound and have a decent size place plus the garages etc.

I along with many others here OTOH, am a regular Blue Collar guy who lives where most are afraid to and have only a tiny 1923 'T' model garage I've never even had my Motocycle inside of .

I don't have hoists , grease pits etc. .

I just make do and cram my back yard with my oldies .

The salt and rust thing is the # 1 killer of all projects, beaters and oldies in general .
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1982 240D 408,XXX miles
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  #18  
Old 03-08-2020, 01:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Of Giants View Post
In my experience finding a good example has become an expensive proposition. We did acquire one, a E300D 2.5.

That car needed glow plugs, but when my hex key broke off inside the the intake manifold bolt, I officially called it quits in diesels. I went through hell with sheared intake manifold bolts on my 1997 E300D already.

I can find clean gassers all day long, plus honestly the gas engines are much simpler to work on and diagnose.

Currently I'm looking at two different W124 gasers

One M103 Sedan and one M104 powered wagon, which ever runs, drives, and stops better I will take home.
I'm not sure I understand the reason why you'd ask this question? If you're expecting aging cars 25 to 30 years old to be trouble and maintenance free, you're mistaken. Same thing if you're expecting parts and labor to be cheap. If I couldn't do most all the maintenance of my Mercedes-Benz' myself? I wouldn't own one. I'd lease some new micro subcompact econobox. Your signature identifies your Daily Driver as a 22 year old Ford with nearly 300,000 miles on it. That said, I'm at a loss as to why you feel these old Mercedes are such bad cars?

I've been wrenching on lawn mowers, cars and motorcycles since I was 16 years old. Mercedes diesels for almost 50 years. I've yet to see the problem with them.....
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  #19  
Old 03-08-2020, 05:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Of Giants View Post
a E300D 2.5.

That car needed glow plugs, but when my hex key broke off inside the the intake manifold bolt, I officially called it quits in diesels. I went through hell with sheared intake manifold bolts on my 1997 E300D already.

If that's enough to put you off an old diesel then forget about a gasser or any old mb


Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Of Giants View Post
I can find clean gassers all day long, plus honestly the gas engines are much simpler to work on and diagnose.

Currently I'm looking at two different W124 gasers

One M103 Sedan and one M104 powered wagon, which ever runs, drives, and stops better I will take home.

If they check tailpipe emissions where you live then don't get a gasser.

if buying an M103 then get one that's 1990 or newer (good camshaft, good guides, no pre-cats)

M103 is not problem or maintenance free but they're cheap, smooth, quiet, faster than diesels

plus they don't have a vacuum pump, a turbo or an oil cooler (many lost their diesels due to a busted hose)


Quote:
Originally Posted by dude99 View Post
I'll never touch another m103. Getting that damned CIS system to run right is just a nightmare.

90% of m103 running problems are caused by the ignition system or vacuum leaks. Almost every part of it will need replacement sooner or later. Cleaning the cap is a monthly job.

having done close to 100k miles in m103 powered cars the problems with cis were not that expensive or difficult to fix: badly spraying injectors (new bosch are only $20 each shipped), a leaking EHA valve ($15 used at a pick&pull ~$300 new), plugged fuel filter, o2 sensor (cheap fox body mustang one works)
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  #20  
Old 03-08-2020, 05:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spock505 View Post
Reluctantly sold mine due to other priorities. Also spares here in the UK are expensive due in part to popularity of Super Turbo Diesels which command top dollar for engines, pumps and the like.
Which UK are you living in mate? My W115 & W123 diesels are the best automotive decisions I've made. Only dealer OE parts go in and they take a year to fully sort. After that, smooth sailing with only preventative maintenance. No other car can give you that kind of peace of mind. Which is why they're so hard to find!
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  #21  
Old 03-08-2020, 10:00 AM
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'83 300CD, engine is the only thing I'm not giving up on, , , ,
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  #22  
Old 03-08-2020, 10:04 AM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Location: Lafayette Indiana
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Just bought a 2015 ML 250 about a month ago. Still trying to figure out all the gadgets in it. Loving the torque of the diesel engine. Very good fuel economy too.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #23  
Old 03-08-2020, 10:08 AM
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Well, I cannot find an evaporator core for a W123...

I haven't been on the site for a while... I was a heavy user from 2007-2016 ...and, I don't see many of the members who were around then, here now.
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'84 300D (211k) *New*... (Wife's)
'85 300TD (174K) 10th Year... (Mine)
'96 F-350 7.3L Dually (149K) Since New
'85 300D (156K) ~~~Wrecked~~~ Damn it! (parts)
'84 300D (176k) ~~~Wrecked~~~ Damn it! (parts)
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  #24  
Old 03-08-2020, 10:27 AM
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Post AC Evap Core

Hang in there, I'm looking now .
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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better
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  #25  
Old 03-08-2020, 10:50 AM
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Buying a diesel now is completely pointless. Gasoline engines have long surpassed the fuel economy of my om603 and om606. They're, slow, smelly, noisy, inefficient, unsafe ( compared to modern cars) and have zero appeal to the general population. That said I'm not getting rid of my diesel yet. The om603 with it's 150a alternator and 23 gallon fuel tank is also my house backup generator. It already did that job once during the last power outage.
I much prefer driving the w203 and w211 wagons. Fuel economy be damned, compared to the diesels they're fast, comfortable, turn and stop much better and generally much more enjoyable to drive. Even a more modern diesel like the om648 is completely pointless. The m112 is far cheaper and easier to work on and parts are readily available.
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  #26  
Old 03-08-2020, 11:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tjts1 View Post
Buying a diesel now is completely pointless. Gasoline engines have long surpassed the fuel economy of my om603 and om606. They're, slow, smelly, noisy, inefficient, unsafe ( compared to modern cars) and have zero appeal to the general population. That said I'm not getting rid of my diesel yet. The om603 with it's 150a alternator and 23 gallon fuel tank is also my house backup generator. It already did that job once during the last power outage.
I much prefer driving the w203 and w211 wagons. Fuel economy be damned, compared to the diesels they're fast, comfortable, turn and stop much better and generally much more enjoyable to drive. Even a more modern diesel like the om648 is completely pointless. The m112 is far cheaper and easier to work on and parts are readily available.
I'm saving for a 1999-2004 manual mustang GT.

My brother wants to keep the E300D so it looks like I'll still be on here even I personally don't own a diesel now.

Yeah I agree, M112 gotta be one of the easiest engines I have laid my eyes on.
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1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

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  #27  
Old 03-08-2020, 12:04 PM
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I'm about to throw a lot of money at the 1984 300DT. By my calculations, when the project is finished, their will be more money spent on repairs, new paint and body work than the car is actually worth. On the other hand, some of these vintage mercedes diesels are fetching higher prices.

Why am I doing this? Because I have been to just about every car dealership in the area and looked, poked and prodded just about everything; Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Subaru, Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler products. Yes, there are some very very cool features on them; apple car play, navigation, etc etc. They drive seductively smooth and quiet. However, there is something plastic and synthetic about them; it as though they were built by robots. They lack character.

Then, I climb into this solid piece of german iron and even with needed repairs, it has a solid feel that these new cars are somehow missing. The challenge to keeping these older mercedes running is the limited parts supply.

That said, I figure if Jay Leno has managed to figure out how to keep classic Dusenberg automobiles operational, the least I can do is figure out how to keep a 300D on the road.
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  #28  
Old 03-08-2020, 12:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by merc lover View Post
I'm about to throw a lot of money at the 1984 300DT. By my calculations, when the project is finished, their will be more money spent on repairs, new paint and body work than the car is actually worth. On the other hand, some of these vintage mercedes diesels are fetching higher prices.

Why am I doing this? Because I have been to just about every car dealership in the area and looked, poked and prodded just about everything; Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Subaru, Chevrolet, Ford and Chrysler products. Yes, there are some very very cool features on them; apple car play, navigation, etc etc. They drive seductively smooth and quiet. However, there is something plastic and synthetic about them; it as though they were built by robots. They lack character.

Then, I climb into this solid piece of german iron and even with needed repairs, it has a solid feel that these new cars are somehow missing. The challenge to keeping these older mercedes running is the limited parts supply.

That said, I figure if Jay Leno has managed to figure out how to keep classic Dusenberg automobiles operational, the least I can do is figure out how to keep a 300D on the road.
I know on the HAMB forum, majority of people rip out entire ac systems from one vehicle and stuff it in their classic.

However that's one hell of an endeavor, I'm pretty sure when they do that, their car is a shell.
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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.
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  #29  
Old 03-08-2020, 01:02 PM
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The 30 plus MB automobile is a labor of love to an extent. Any 30 year old car is. I am a 124 aficionado and will always admire the 603 engine. Can't help it. I want more. Its a fun hobby.
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2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
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www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
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87 300D, sold, what a mistake
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  #30  
Old 03-08-2020, 02:04 PM
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A buyer has to decide. If what he has is a restoration project. Were it has gone very many high millage years with little or no attention.


Or is in half decent condition when he buys it. Needs a few things is far different than needs a ton of work.

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