there have been sooo many accidents around lately including from board members..

i'm thinking about leaving the benz sitting for a bit to wait for better weather..
there's a lot of crazy driving going on up here in the snow and ice..

anyone else have those thoughts?

wish i had a beater

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

Well, my 84 300D has been plugged in for 3 1/2 hrs now but won't turn over. I would drive it if I could, good thing we have a E320 for these cold days. I don't see how one can own these cars in Alaska or Quebec. It must be plugged in overnight most nights.

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85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

Hi folks, with these temperatures I've had to plug in my '84 300 D (182 k) all week. It starts on the first try. I commute 100 miles a day from NJ to NY. The problem is the return trip from NY. The car sits in a parking garage all day and struggles to start for the trip home. Can't wait for it to reach 32 degrees.
Liquid graphite has solved my frozen lock problem.
brrrrrrr,
jakl

If it won't turn over even plugged in, you've got other problems. A good battery and starter will turn over all but a siezed up engine, even if you had straight w50 in it. It may not turn fast, but it will turn over.

Check starter, battery and connections.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Not only are there so many accidents - but that salt kills. A few minutes ago a truck pulled in front of me after crossing a center median we were both going about 40mph. The salt that hit my hood and windshield sounded like gravel!! - not to mention my car is as white as a ghost!!!

I am seriously thinking about picking-up a cheap 240 4-sp as a beater.

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1996 (W210) E300D 86K - Traded in for a Lexus
1992 (W124) 300D 2.5 Turbo 202K - Sold
1983 (W123) 300D, 146K - Sold
1970 280S, 263K - Sold - Beginning of addiction

I'm in Toronto and have had no problems in -25 degree (celsius) weather. It was -40 with the wind chill yesterday, and the car sat out all day (10 hours) in an open parking lot susceptible to wind and cold.

The car sounded dead and cranked slowly. Stopped and let it glow a second time.. It cranked faster and faster, then started. I'd estimate the engine only turned over 5-7 times (total with both starting attempts) before it caught well enough that I could release the key.

That's the first time in 3 years that I've had to glow twice to get it started.. good starter and battery (and glowplugs!) make a HUGE difference! I can usually start it up like a gas car (except for the glow light delay) in any kind of weather.....

I would have been stranded if I hadn't swapped out the Monark glow plugs for some good Bosch ones last summer. Starting the car last winter was hell...

Neal

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'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)

Correction: it turns over and over but won't start. I guess I'll check the resistence in the glow plugs....it's just so cold, I'm lazy.

The last few days the diesels had to plugged in for a few hours to start at all. This morning, even the Town Car battery couldn't do the job. I think we'll be adjusting our rules a little bit, if the overnight temp is going to drop below 15 F, they have to be plugged in. I think we might start making the change over to synthetics over the course of the year so next winter is easier. Gotta fix the leaks in the 84 first.

Jerry

My 85 lost the block heater last year and with as easy as it is to change (NOT ) it just hasn't gotten done. Last week it set outside with dino oil at 2 degrees F and started after two glows no problem. BTW if you ever crank one at this cold and it doesn't start the first try and then won't turn over its probably the solinoid moisture condenses from the heat then freezes couple of tapps and your in bussiness again. Just thought I'd share that as it was a real head scratcher at 4:00 am one morning last year.

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87 300SDL 220K
85 300SD 218K
82 diesel Chevette 440K
85 subaru 4WD turbo
83 4.1L buick powered cutlass THE TOY

well it's a tropical +15 deg F today, clear and dry. i may risk taking the diesel out !
i just hope there won't be any bad consequences....

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

Temps in NJ have been low of -2 and high in the teens. I found that when I cycle the glow plugs a couple of times, she starts pretty well.

Salt,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, my car is a mess.

JCD

JCD,
That was my experience too until this last week. Since we're still kinda new at this diesel thing, I'm not sure if the overnight below 0 cold soak makes the difference or if it something else I haven't figure out yet.

Jerry

There was a HUGE difference starting my car this week compared to any other winter period (even prior winters). It turned so slowly I thought it was a dead battery at first.

I couldn't believe the difference between -30 and -40. Car starts perfectly at -30 and it is very hard to start at -40. Ten degrees makes a world of difference, at least for my car.

Neal

__________________
'83 300SD 335,000km (207k) mi SOLD
'87 560SL 163,000km (101k mi) SOLD
'86 300SDL 356,000km (220k mi) SOLD
'92 500SEL 250,000km (155k mi) SOLD
'90 300SL 140,000km (87k mi) SOLD
'01 S430 260,000km (161k mi) SOLD
'03 SL500 167,000km (104k mi) SOLD
'07 S550 4MATIC 235,000km (146k mi) SOLD
'07 GL320 CDI 4MATIC 348,000km (215k mi)
'13 GL350 BlueTec 4MATIC 170,000km (105k mi)
'14 SL550 72,000km (43k mi)

well back safe and sound - started with a couple of cycles and a few cranks (no block heater overnight)
big difference between +15 and -8 deg F.

on the topic -
did almost get sideswiped by a min-van (driver talking on a cell phone and windows completely ''salted over'')

think the car needed a run after sitting all week in the frigid below 0 deg F temps...

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

there's a beater saab parked next to me mite be 4sale..

87 saab 900-34k actual miles - what mite it be worth ??

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