Hey GOD, is there some reason for all this??

[Cap'n Carageous]

Many of you have read the numerous posts I've made concerning my 300E. Just last week I thought I was having good luck only to find out it was marginal. So today I get time to take the fuel distributor off for the fifth time to try to reset the static height of the airflow plate. All went well and within 45 minutes I had it running decently in limp mode. (I've given up on closed loop operation so I'll settle for what I can get.) After a ten minute test drive it seems to be doing good, no stalling, skipping or idle problems. No soot from the tailpipe! Yippee!! But what is that roar from the front of the engine??? Oh God!!, please don't let that be the WATER PUMP!!!

God: Cap'n, your water pump bearing is shot!
Cap'n: Why God??? Why?, just as I saw a little light at the end of the tunnel??? WHY????
God: Cap'n don't raise your voice to ME!!!
Cap'n: Sorry Sir.

So I'm not gonna be driving the MB to work tomorrow so I better see what's up with the Accord, which has been my daily driver until last Tuesday when it just died on the open road and had to be towed in.

Two hours later, I have the front cover off the engine and find a stripped timing belt. Don't know if the valves crashed into the pistons yet, but one of the lugbolts on the front tire broke when I tried to take it off. Haven't figured out yet how to get the spindle off to fix that! So the diagnosis for the Honda looks bad too. I didn't even ask God anything about the Honda (for obvious reasons).

All this just a couple of days after my 81 year old Dad had a stroke and can no longer string three words together to form a complete sentence.

I'm tempted to question the reasons for this unfortunate chain of events in my life, but I won't. Tomorrow, God willing, I will have the opportunity to work towards straightening my mechanical woes out. Some people aren't that lucky.

[suginami]

Well, some times I've noticed that bad things happen to good people. There's just no other good explanation.

Maybe these things are happening to you because God knows you can handle it.

[G-Benz]

Leave God out of this one...even though I have (oops) spoken His name sometimes when that wrench slips and I skin yet another knuckle!

God does know what you can handle...but remember, he didn't speak to you in a low booming voice that said "Buy the 300E, buy the 300E"...

It's time to take stock in what is right in your life. After you do this, align your priorities. You can then act with a clear head and decide what is the proper course of action for you at this time.

Perhaps you do need to dump the MB and Honda, and perhaps not. Sometimes just a wee bit more tenacity will allow you to get through these setbacks...but too much tenacity may imply stubborness.

Right now, I think you are too close to the problems. Do you have another vehicle to fall back on with the MB and Honda out of commission? If you do, leave the cars alone for awhile, and do some other things that have meaning in your life. Only THEN, do you return to your cars an access the best course of action.

[Cap'n Carageous]

Originally posted by G-Benz

God does know what you can handle...but remember, he didn't speak to you in a low booming voice that said "Buy the 300E, buy the 300E"...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from the Cap'n.......
There was more to that conversation than I quoted;
Cap'n: Is this car some punishment for past improprieties?
God: No, I tried to tell you not to buy it.
Cap'n: Really? I didn't hear you.
God: You weren't listening. You NEVER listen when something disagrees with what you think is right!
Cap'n: Oh. O.K. My bad then. But tell me, why this Mercedes is hell bent on breaking me??
God: Don't blame me. I didn't have anything to do with Mercedes. That was 'you know who'!
Cap'n: Oh!! That explains it!


Do you have another vehicle to fall back on with the MB and Honda out of commission?

Fortunately yes! 35 years and it hasn't stranded me yet!! (knock on wood)

Cap'n, sorry about your recent misfortunes.

Like others have said, you never know just what the "big" picture is, especially when you're still so close to the events.

I lost my dad nearly five years ago. Still don't completely understand all that's involved in that, but I try to keep my eyes and ears open for answers. I think we'd be amazed if we really knew how events affect our lives and the lives of others. Even the littlest things.

So who knows, will your father's growing dependence on others bring good out of them by taking care of him? Will this give him a chance to take stock of his life (if he needs to) and change a few things while he still has time (not that time is a factor, I don't know)?

Will you stumble onto a great car to buy that will be pretty much mantainance free and provide many miles of joy?

Who knows, but good things definately happen to bad people. God never gives us a cross that we can't bear.

You must be a pretty good person...

Hope everything works out.

[mpnye]

NICE Sprint . . .

[Cap'n Carageous]

Originally posted by mpnye
NICE Sprint . . .

Thanks!!

I hope everyone realizes that most of this post is tongue-in-cheek! The part about my Dad is serious business but beyond my control, so I have to take that. But as far as my machines go, I tolerate that because I choose to. I could scrap them anytime but I have this silly belief that I (or anyone else) can make a machine run as long as you want it to!! On top of that I hate being beaten by a machine!! I only hope that I don't go broke trying to keep this W124 on the road!! My Mother used to say "when it rains, it pours". As I said in the last line of the first post, some people aren't as lucky as me!!

[Cap'n Carageous]

I wish someone was making a movie and needed a Mercedes to blow up!!! I might even give them mine just for the immortality of having it on film!!

I am not intimidated by any process or system on the Mercedes I have. I've just never had to work on a fuel injected engine before. I have spent hours learning things I didn't know that might become useful at some time. I also have access to two local techs that are willing to repair it or help me repair it. And then there's the offer from Steve Brotherton to teach me how to diagnose the CIS-E systems. Add the fact that MB Autowerks is within tow distance and it's clear that I could get professional help and that's exactly what I intend to do........as soon as I get this damned $130 water pump replaced!! As Rosanna Rosanna Danna used to say "It's always something".

[wbain5280]

Well Capt'n, there is a Dirty Harry movie, one of the later ones, which has a beautiful silver W116 which blows up. I cry every time I see that scene.

Sorry about your dad, mine's 82 y/o and getting a little feeble thought he is still pretty sharp mentally. I remember several years ago he said all he wanted to do was to see the year 2000. Well, he's gone beyond that. He's pretty active on the internet and posts on various boards.

He's owned a 180b, a 220SEb and a 300SE LWB.

[engatwork]

Stephen, sorry to hear about your dad. If I can help out with anything let me know.

Don't forget you will need that special allen head socket to replace the water pump. There was a fella here in town whose water pump went out right in front of Kubia on Watson Blvd. It took them 3 weeks and they charged him $1000 to replace it. I'm under the assumption that the cost did include the pump. I woulda changed it for him for that amount and could have probably done it in a weekend.

[Cap'n Carageous]

Jim, when I had the engine out I took the funky bolts out of the water pump and replaced them with regular bolts. It shouldn't be a problem. Funny though, a water pump for that old Falcon cost $22 and the MB is $130. The one in the Falcon has been there for over 20 years. I guess Mercedes coolant just costs more to pump than Ford!!!

[pentoman]

Originally posted by SP0CK


I sat in a new m-45 at the dealership last week. If I have my choice, that's going to be my next car. Nicer than any new MB in its class, more prestigious, faster, more unique looking and A LOT less money.

Being European, I've no idea what an 'M-45' (?!!) is, but I looked it up on the internet.

Oh please, dear God, tell me you're not talking about this..... thing:

[Cap'n Carageous]

It looks like an electric razor on wheels!!

[pentoman]

Originally posted by SP0CK
Well, you are entitled to your taste Pentoman, I sure did slam that one person (too hard) for their mb pickup truck. But I like it. Maybe try sitting in one first. 340 hp on tap and only $46k!!

Actually I think tastes come in 'European' and 'American' modes. The Camaro has been over here a few years now, and offers a similarly high HP/price ratio, but is one of the worst selling cars you'll find. Alongside the Toyota camry, which is one of Americas best selling cars.

This means one of 2 things
1. Average Americans can spot a bargain better
or perhaps
2. Europeans are obsessed with brand/image/looks over value and bang per euro.

[BENZ-LGB]

...look what happened to Job.

(WARNING: the following may be mildly offensive to Christians with no sense of humor)

Count yourself lucky that you have not yet developed skin boils and that your crops have not yet been destroyed or your livestock killed or your...well, you get the picture.

Maybe God is betting Satan that you will go on working on your car, accepting your string of bad luck and not cursing the all-mighty. Or then again, maybe God is too busy dealing with the French or helping Alabama find a new football coach, or laughing at Bill Bennett to really be bothering himself with you and your car.

Just a thought.

Hang in there brother, things will get better sooner or later. They always do.