Had a nice bonding experience with my car today... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

The Warden · #1 07-24-2002, 02:33 AM

After I got my new battery installed, I took the car for a test drive. This drive, however, was different. Unlike my daily driving, and even the drive to ge the car back here from Texas, this evening gave me time to play with the car some, to let me have an idea on what it could do. For Bay Area types, I took the 280 over to the 92, and took the 92 to the 35 (Skyline Blvd) and that down to Page Mill Rd and back to the 280.

All I can say is WOW!! Even with the sway bar bushings shot, this car took curves better than anything I've owned (a VW Bug, a '65 Chevelle with dead springs, a 4x4, and two full-size trucks so far) prior. Except for people tailgating me (even though I was going faster through the curves than I'm normally able to, there are always people who want to go faster

) and the radio occasionally cutting out (think there's a bad connection), the drive was beautiful.

I gotta get the sway bar bushings fixed; I wonder how well the car'll handle after that...? Besides that, all I need to do is see if I can re-solder those connections on the cruise control amplifier...that reminds me, where exactly is it and how do I remove it?

-The Warden (falling more deeply in love with his new diesel Benz

)

"Oh lord...won't you buy mea Mercedes-Benz. My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends. So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz"

dabenz · #2 07-24-2002, 08:58 AM

Ahem. You only want to tell people the car's a high maintenance, over-rated hood ornament and not what you expected. And don't tell them "high maintenance" is just tinkering. That way you're honest while keeping the secret.

Nate Stanley · #3 07-24-2002, 09:59 AM

Warden,

It'll get better with time. It's also the best thing going for soaking up the bumps on that rotten Bayshore freeway.

Even though I commute 650 miles/weeek , We took our 300D Turbo on its first road trip to LA by way of Tehachapi over the 4th. 3 adults, trunk packed with 1 full size ice chest, 1 carry-on, 1 duffel bag, 2 suitcases , 1 garment bag and other miscellaneous stuff, got 23 mpg @ 70 mph, even came back between Paso Robles and King City with a 20 mph headwind, so the car thought it was trying to do 90, and still pulled 19.5MPG with that load.

That's with an engine that will turn over 250,000 miles next week.

You can't beat the comfort! Our Crown Vic's days are numbered; I'm looking for a 300SD for my wife, and that will get us 3 benzes.

Welcome to the club!

goldenbear · #4 07-24-2002, 10:18 AM

Check this link for help with the cruise control amp.: http://www.mindspring.com/~houlihan/merc/cruise.htm

240 Ed · #5 07-26-2002, 05:25 AM

Warden ,
I am very familiar with these wonderful roads!
Try going up Woodside road to the top-pop into Alices restaurant for some good food, admire the motorcycles across the street, and then continue on the same road to the coast. Name changes to La Honda road I think. When you hit hwy 1 go left until you hit pescadero road which will take you back to skyline.

I think my Benzina may be the best riding car I have ever driven! and it handles great!

omegabenz · #6 07-26-2002, 05:46 AM

I put on my brothers 18" AMG wheels on my coupe diesel. This turn you should usually take it at lets say about 15 mph, I took it at 40....I slid the rear end around a little, not to much. When I had my Lorinser wheels on my car, I used to slide it around all the time, but not with my AMG wheels. I didnt care about the loriners because the chrome was all flaking off.

I think that I might lower my car soon, and then put on stiffer sway bars from a wagon diesel. There was a post with all the part numbers if you are interested. Holson Adi knows all the part numbers.

Austin

lrg · #7 07-26-2002, 05:33 PM

Warden,
I know that route. I've had a couple of memorable drives there in my old TR8. Watch the CHP radar on weekends!

I've recently had two cruise control amps repaired and been happy with the results. There's an outfit in Morro Bay that rebuilds them for about $180.00 which includes a 4 year guarantee. I've got no interest here, check out their website below and you can decide. You can also find some good info on how to check out the other components there. Be careful with the self soldering routine, they won't always take them for rebuild if you do that. Good luck.

http://www.gdl-online.com

Holson Adi · #8 07-26-2002, 07:59 PM

I had a great drive today even though it was exhausting! (I haven't done such driving for a while now!)

Did a 100 mi. round trip with another friend of mine (two cars). He drives a Toyota Highlander.

The drive was amazing except for a smashed up car on I-95 that drew everyone's attention slowing the traffic down to 30mph.

I love this car... I averaged 80mph (everyone was doing 80 so I didn't have a choice). I couldn't push it to anymore than 90mph. It still had some power but it was slow going up. I switched off the A/C and I didn't realize that I was running at 100mph.

On I-495 there was a BMW 528i/540i that was doing probably 140mph. I could see him come up fast in my rear view mirror. After that I saw him again on the side of the highway... oh well..

Soo many broken down cars.. I wonder why.

I saw a Z-3 (old guy who noticed the diesel and acknowledged as he passed by - no diesel camaraderie but awesome anyway!)

The other nice sight was probably a Mazda RX-7, nicely done and made a beautiful sound as it passed by.

20yrs old and very well composed at such speeds. It felt heavy and stuck to the ground and I loved that! Since it was such a long drive I started noticing how solid the car is over bad roads. No rattles no nothing.. firm damping yet very comfortable.

What a day!
I was thinking how different a day it could've been if I was driving an 500E instead

or an S400 CDI

and yes I have to say this again...
I floored the car at 60 and it downshifted to 3rd and the OM617 revved all the way to 4500rpm for a second. The OM617 sounded really good! Probably wasn't good for the engine but oil was up, engine temp. was up, and it could use an italian tune up

oh well :p may sound like a typical 18yr old's experience on the highway. But, I was driving normally

The Warden · #9 07-27-2002, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 240 Ed
Warden ,
I am very familiar with these wonderful roads!
Try going up Woodside road to the top-pop into Alices restaurant for some good food, admire the motorcycles across the street, and then continue on the same road to the coast. Name changes to La Honda road I think. When you hit hwy 1 go left until you hit pescadero road which will take you back to skyline.

I'll have to give that a try someday. I currently (for another 2 days) live within view of Woodside Rd near ECR, and I've taken it all the way over to PCH a couple times (once in my old Scout, once in the van; haven't tried it with a passenger car yet), although I've always gone north up to Half Moon Bay. I'll have to try going down to Pescadero.

I'm moving down to the Palo Alto area; another thing I may want to try is going out on Page Mill and seeing how far I can get...I'm not sure exactly where that road goes except for that it will get to the 35 and somewhere beyond.

Gotta find a day when I can get good and lost. Maybe see where the 35'll take me to (Santa Cruz?)...

I gotta get the sway bar bushings fixed first, though; then I can find the car's true potential.

On the CC, I'll try doing it myself as soon as I have time (read: after I move...which could mean any time from next week to next year *lol*)...thanks for the site references!