Occasionally there are posts about whether or not MB drivers take note of each other on the road. Generally, I find a shock of non-recognition here in the Washington DC suburbs. But yesterday on the way to the mall almost collided with a white 123 almost identical to mine...even showed signs of a Holiday trip to the car wash, like mine. Like seeing yourself driving down the street.

This morning as I made the last turn before entering my office parking I noticed a nice circa '80 grey SEL waiting for the light in the other lane. Checked it out, and it was very evident the driver was also checkin' me out.

Lots of times when I find other MBs waiting to use the diesel pump people don't deign to take notice of each other. Some even have MBCA plates.

a cute driver of an early 80s td stared directly at me when she passed by the other day with a kind of smirky smile on her face

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

DA DI DA DA , DA DI DA DA, you have entered a parrallel universe , which, had you not avoided hitting your opposite , would have destroyed all of existance.. because you and the other car represent matter/antimatter... which would have started a chain reaction... I know this from a 1960's television show...DA DI DA DA......

I was pulling into a shopping center yesterday, and came head to head with an older couple in some big old merc, first thing I noticed was 3 badges stuck on the huge grill. A kind of elegant looking lady in the passenger seat waved at me. I think she saw me smiling at them. But yeah, I've been waving at other older benzes, kind of like on motorcycles, every rider used to wave at each other. My car is bright red, so I think people notice it a lot.

I also notice that when I pull into a parking lot with empty space around me, i sometimes find another Mercedes right next to it when I return to my car. A couple of months ago there was a sweet little 280 SL on my right side---

Given the option, I'll pull in next to a Benz as well- simply because a fellow Benz owner will be less likely to slam his/her door into mine than the average driver would.. At least I hope so!!

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Nate Stanley
(Currently Benzless)
1985 F-250 6.9l 170K
2009 SCION XB 36.5K
2003 LS430 78K
2012 Kubota B 2320

Was pulling into a mall a couple weeks ago just as a gal in an older 300D was coming out. We both did a double take at each other, followed by a big smile and a wave. Was the first time I actually got a nice friendly reaction from a fellow Benz'r. Since then I've started smiling and waving at all of them, and have actually gotten a few waves and smiles back. Ya just gotta be first I guess.
I've come back out to my car a few times only to find another Benz next to me. Kind of a nice token of recognition

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past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

I haven't noticed much driving the 123 around. Dig out the 59 though, and you had better not be in any hurry, because you're gonna have to talk to EVERYONE about it.

Zero feedback. Even on the rare occasion I see a 300SDL on the road and honk at the driver I get no response. I just ignore every benz driver now.

And if you come to Kalifastlan, watch out where you get fuel. If I'm around I'll likely try to strike up a conversation with you about your Benz - do it when I off AND on duty. Been batting about 60% or so, higher percentage with the older models. Seems to be a lot of "high noses" with the newer models.

Fine example of that, my friend with a CE and I tried to strike up talk with the owner/driver of an 01 AMG badged S500. Not sure if he tought we were gonna try to jack the car or what, but not so much as a word, just got in his car and split in a hurry.

Oh well.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Just ignore peope for a while, then they will notice you, the same thing happened to me before.

yesterday I was driving my mom around in her jetta because it was snowing, and I saw a W123 sedan from south dakota, and I was looking at the car, and the guy looked at me in the jetta and smiled. It had a wing on it, thats why I was looking, to get a better look I turned around because I wanted to see it again. But it took like five minutes to turn around, ugh.

Theres a 500E around town (1 of 1), and I used to think it was my brothers turbo diesel and I flashed him a few times, but then I was driving through my friends neighborhood and I spotted it. I checked it out pretty good, and the owner saw me. Then I told my friend lets go back and talk to him. We did. he said he was glad we stopped by because he thought we were going to steal it. We explained we were mercedes fanatics, and now we are friends, he moved out by me now.

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Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

There used to be a bunch of Fintails in my town that I noticed when I got mine. Now they've disappeared.
I can't get much of a reaction out of anyone these days.
Usually, though, everyone checks out the Fintail but by far, the least of which are New Mercedes owners.

On another note, I saw a W109 300SEL 6.3 Two tone Paint scheme Benz in Easton Maryland over the weekend.
I can imagine there's only a handful of those around.
Was that YOU? - IDENTIFY YOURSELF!

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

Honestly I kinda gave up here. Most of them just don't care. The new MB owners definitely don't care (80+% of them).

I had a couple in a nice 300E that I was checking out and I realized the driver had his head over looking at my car front to back and his wife (I figured) and him just smiled. So I just smiled back.

That was the only time....

Other than that it's just bystanders or curious people just wondering how old it is, etc. A lot of nice remarks and not many negative remarks.. no remarks of jealousy either. I like that ... doesn't invite unwanted attention.

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

The one car I've had that got the most inquires and comments, believe it or not, was a '74 Fiat 124 sedan, with very pretty olive green paint. That still suprises me, I guess because it was a very square, upright design. I do think it was about the last one in N. America, still on the road. I sold it for $200, I still see it once in a while, driving around.

Jim, im glad you made this post!

Normally when i see another well-cared for, older MB I'll make a point of giving them a thumbs up or a wave. It's nice to be be reinforced for your car and share the pleasure and recognition of a great automobile.

It is disappointing when they don't seem to care. Some guy in richmond has a nice w123 with a badge and MBCA stickers, he doesn't give a rip less or even notice when another MB drives by. it's a shame.

There's a couple in my Raleigh neighborhood that walks by along the sidewalk and as long as no one is around outside, they'll come down the driveway and look the benz's over.

We've got

1985 300TDT -black
1984 240D euro -duke blue
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1985 380SL -metallic blue
1995 BMW 740i

the SL and BMW are in the garage so they don't really look at those. i wish they'd say something, or maybe ill just hop outside and say hi.

so, anyways everyone here, please wave if you see another old benz!

eric

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1995 E320 Sportline Wagon "Bernard"
black on black leather

http://i.imgur.com/BdZ7jM3.png

This may get personal but I got my Nomex undies on so here goes.... Its location people! The closer you get to the East Coast/New England region and the big cities and/or the "great lost cause" of Kalifornia the more *********s you will encounter. I have lived all over NE and spent a ton of time in Kali for work but I didn't really notice it until I lived in Texas for 5years and was fully or almost fully "Texified" and have now, unfortunately ended up back in NE. People here are rude, obnoxious provincial-minded miserable *****es. Granted this is a huge generalisation and just being a member of this board likely makes anyone in these areas not like this but it is most surely true. Most people here (or in Kali) don't say please, thanks, have a nice day, or use any other pleasantry. I lived in Austin, TX and while the traffic was bad at least I didn't have to deal with the 100mph-triple lane changes or the retards that will cut you off or pull out in front of you just to be a 1/2 car length ahead of you. Sorry for the rant but the rest of the country usually hates these areas and since I have returned I now know why. I have found that the older Benz owners usually will wave though. Nomex on! RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K