From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-krusty-motorsports.com Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #181 Reply-To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Sender: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Errors-To: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Precedence: bulk diesel-benz-digest Saturday, July 31 1999 Volume 01 : Number 181 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles John Meister Digest Coordinator Contents: Odometer stuff Re: Website re-launched psyched Re: fritz's wind deflector FWIW, W123 headlight replacement the small difference Re: the small difference Re: the small difference RE: the small difference 82 300SD aux fan Re: the small difference RE: the small difference RE: the small difference Re: the small difference Re: FWIW, W123 headlight replacement links glow timer relay Re: the small difference Not for me, but maybe someone else wants a 72 300SEL 4.5 project. (long) Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 18:39:15 -0700 From: john Subject: Odometer stuff nothing... but let's post it to the diesel-benz list to see what comes of it. :) john At 05:53 PM 7/29/99 -0700, you wrote: >cool, go for it ... enjoy the weather. > So an MB ? My odometer reads a "big" 9, "little" 6, & the rest is >all "big" #'s ... I am assuming this means it's turned at least once ... >do you know anything about this phenomenon? > rick > - ----------------------------------------------------- john-at-wagoneers.com http://www.wagoneers.com ...don't leave life without Jesus, please! Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... - ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 18:40:39 -0700 From: john Subject: Re: Website re-launched thanx declan, I enjoyed reading some of the pages on names and such... lots of good info up there... you did a lot of work. john At 02:11 AM 7/30/99 +0100, you wrote: >Further to previous postings on this mailing list, I have now redesigned my >web site so that it will work properly and look OK under both Internet >Explorer and >Netscape Navigator. Every page has been tested using version 4 of both >browsers. Although still designed for 1024x800 screen resolution, it should >also now work well at 800x600 and other resolutions. > >Once again, my apologies to anyone who has visited the site in the past and >been disappointed by poor rendering or obstinate links. If you encounter any >problems >when visiting the site again, please let me know (web site and e-mail >addresses below). > >Regards, > >Declan >http://www.dberridge.dial.pipex.com >dberridge-at-dial.pipex.com >'99 Mercedes A170 CDI >'85 Bertone X1/9 VS >'85 Fiat Uno 55S >'64 Vanden Plas Princess 1100 > > > > > - ----------------------------------------------------- john-at-wagoneers.com http://www.wagoneers.com ...don't leave life without Jesus, please! Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... - ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 21:45:40 -0500 From: "Matthew J. Mason" Subject: psyched Well, according to the folks in NY, the new engine has arrived... direct quote from Dad, also a diesel Benz driver/enthusiast: "It looks beautiful!" He's a videocamera nut too, so chances are we'll have fairly good documentation of the process (in addition to the website). Can't wait to get home and tear into it... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 21:56:55 -0700 From: john Subject: Re: fritz's wind deflector Jc whitneys'... it's a tape on unit, a pain to service the sunroof, I'd recommend the clip on type designed for the benz... john At 11:58 PM 7/29/99 -0500, you wrote: > >I remember you mentioned once that his wind deflector (on the sunroof) came >from Whitney's or Crutchfield... would you remind me? I wonder if they can >beat Impco's prices... > - ----------------------------------------------------- john-at-wagoneers.com http://www.wagoneers.com ...don't leave life without Jesus, please! Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... - ----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 02:34:36 -0500 From: "Jon Filina" Subject: FWIW, W123 headlight replacement FWIW... I went to leave the office last nite. I started my 240D, which was parked up against the building where I work, and turned on the headlites. The driver's side low beam had decided it was time to retire... Today, I stopped by my local Pep Boys on the way to work and picked up 2 Sylvania halogen headlights for $12.99 each, plus tax. Before I left the office, I installed them. Talk about a difference! It took about 20 minutes to replace both of them, which included time to go back in the office to cool off because the temps at 11:00 pm were 95 degrees! I found out that two of the knobs that hold the plastic bezels in place were stripped. Reversing the knobs resulted in a snug fit, and the plastic is secure. The light from these bulbs is noticably brighter (whiter). While these bulbs may not be the latest and greatest, they are quite a bit brighter than the original ones. Check out the application guide next to the bulbs...they are listed as the "halogen upgrade"...and are definitely worth the extra 4 bucks or so over the standard bulbs. If you don't want to go to the trouble and/or expense of upgrading your W123 to the newer halogen lenze and bulb combination, with the possibility of wiring changes, these Sylvania bulbs are worth checking out. Jon '81 240D 230,000 mi. "Mathilde" Blinding all pickup trucks when on high beams, except Dale Lockwood, who has the common sense to dim his headlights... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 09:44:06 +0200 From: Thorsten Windhues Subject: the small difference Hi folks, after this tinted glass question I have a very important one. John calls his car Fritz, Jon has his Mathilde... Now tell me, are MB's male or female? I have been searching for the "small difference" on my car but could not find it (maybe I don't have enough imagination? Viagra might help the last part of the exhaust go up straight again and not pointing down like it does.........) Please help me out. Thorsten ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 03:21:38 -0500 From: "Matthew J. Mason" Subject: Re: the small difference Wagons are definitely female, IMHO... sedans, you've got some leeway... I remember asking for suggestions a while back, and I think I decided "female" for the 240D and settled on Elise... (forgive me for this next one, it's in good fun, I assure you)... my car's been ressurrected so many times, I've considered calling it Jesus... (*joking!*) - -- mjm At 09+44 AM 7/30/99 +0200, you wrote: >Hi folks, > >after this tinted glass question I have a very important one. John calls >his car Fritz, Jon has his Mathilde... Now tell me, are MB's male or >female? I have been searching for the "small difference" on my car but >could not find it (maybe I don't have enough imagination? Viagra might help >the last part of the exhaust go up straight again and not pointing down >like it does.........) Please help me out. > >Thorsten > > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 13:11:21 +0100 From: "Declan Berridge" Subject: Re: the small difference For what it's worth, my A-class is called Archie. The name just kinda suggested itself. Declan http://www.dberridge.dial.pipex.com dberridge-at-dial.pipex.com '99 Mercedes A170 CDI '85 Bertone X1/9 VS '85 Fiat Uno 55S '64 Vanden Plas Princess 1100 > >At 09+44 AM 7/30/99 +0200, you wrote: >>Hi folks, >> >>after this tinted glass question I have a very important one. John calls >>his car Fritz, Jon has his Mathilde... Now tell me, are MB's male or >>female? I have been searching for the "small difference" on my car but >>could not find it (maybe I don't have enough imagination? Viagra might help >>the last part of the exhaust go up straight again and not pointing down >>like it does.........) Please help me out. >> >>Thorsten >> >> >> > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 08:44:00 -0400 From: "FEKETE, ANDREW" Subject: RE: the small difference My 83 300 tdt has been confirmed as "Olga". German and old but runs like a clock. Just changed the oil yesterday with Mobil 1 15-50. What a difference! Andrew 83 300 tdt 143,000 miles and rolling. ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: the small difference Author: "Declan Berridge" [SMTP:dberridge-at-dial.pipex.com] at S-P_EXHUB_AM Date: 7/30/1999 8:11 AM For what it's worth, my A-class is called Archie. The name just kinda suggested itself. Declan http://www.dberridge.dial.pipex.com dberridge-at-dial.pipex.com '99 Mercedes A170 CDI '85 Bertone X1/9 VS '85 Fiat Uno 55S '64 Vanden Plas Princess 1100 > >At 09+44 AM 7/30/99 +0200, you wrote: >>Hi folks, >> >>after this tinted glass question I have a very important one. John calls >>his car Fritz, Jon has his Mathilde... Now tell me, are MB's male or >>female? I have been searching for the "small difference" on my car but >>could not find it (maybe I don't have enough imagination? Viagra might help >>the last part of the exhaust go up straight again and not pointing down >>like it does.........) Please help me out. >> >>Thorsten >> >> >> > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 10:14:43 -0400 From: "Christopher M. Klass" Subject: 82 300SD aux fan For the first time my 300SD is starting to run a little hot. Is the fan in FRONT of the radiator an aux fax? Should it come on at a certain temp? Is there a common reason they fail that I should check 1st? Fuses are fine. Also, oddly enough, my A/C fan stopped today as well!!!! The A/C turns on (I can hear the click), but the blower does not. Chris 82 300SD ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 09:51:34 +0000 From: richard Subject: Re: the small difference i'm ready to put my 1980 300sd back on the road, my ist went off a 30 foot cliff so i purchsed her back for the insurance co for parts and bought another 1980 model, i like the 116 chassis,,so my 1981 126* is going to be sold or traded as i have too many cars... * new basecoat/clearcoat paint, clean interior[metalic charcoal,w/ palomino interior, new seat skins over mb-tex interior, all systems working...stainless wheel arch's, chrome mb-alloys jpg's on request of the 1981, ext/interior , car located in north texas richard, btw i have had three cars towed to my shop for repair of poor running/no start... i found, as suspected , super tight intake valve clearances,,,causing low compression,,, set the valves, pre-heat and clack, clack, clacky ...clack... all they needed was...simple maintiance ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 08:11:20 -0700 From: Farnes_Quinn Subject: RE: the small difference Just wondering if the tight valve clearances might have been caused by head warpage following loss of coolant. q. > i found, as suspected , super tight intake valve clearances,,,causing > low compression,,, > > set the valves, pre-heat and clack, clack, clacky ...clack... > all they needed was...simple maintiance ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 08:51:30 -0700 From: "John Paul Broad" Subject: RE: the small difference I too have had (and continue to have) trouble with this VERY important question. :) I think that each car takes a fair amount of time for it to find a way to "tell" you it's name. Fortunately, on our wagon, the previous owner had the car long enough to hear it's name and thus the name "Giesela" has remained with our 1982 300TD through our ownership as well. My SLK230 is another story altogether. Initially I gave it the name "Junior" since it was a small MB convertible and my wife and I don't yet have children but we spend about as much on and treat our cars similarly. ;) I believe that "Junior" is an androgynous name ala "Kon Jr." from "King of the Hill". At first, I thought that Junior may indeed be male. However after having spent far too much time with that car and not always with my wife, I tend to think of the SLK as more of a mistress. ;) John Paul John Paul Broad johnpaul-at-mbca-portland.org 1999 SLK230 Manual 7kmi "Junior" 1982 300TD 165kmi "Giesela" Member: MBCA Portland, OR "If you count on the worst and hope for the best you'll rarely be disappointed." - -----Original Message----- From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net]On Behalf Of Matthew J. Mason Sent: July 30, 1999 1:22 AM To: Thorsten Windhues Cc: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Subject: Re: the small difference Wagons are definitely female, IMHO... sedans, you've got some leeway... I remember asking for suggestions a while back, and I think I decided "female" for the 240D and settled on Elise... (forgive me for this next one, it's in good fun, I assure you)... my car's been ressurrected so many times, I've considered calling it Jesus... (*joking!*) - -- mjm At 09+44 AM 7/30/99 +0200, you wrote: >Hi folks, > >after this tinted glass question I have a very important one. John calls >his car Fritz, Jon has his Mathilde... Now tell me, are MB's male or >female? I have been searching for the "small difference" on my car but >could not find it (maybe I don't have enough imagination? Viagra might help >the last part of the exhaust go up straight again and not pointing down >like it does.........) Please help me out. > >Thorsten > > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 09:14:26 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: the small difference On Fri, 30 Jul 1999, richard wrote >-->i'm ready to put my 1980 300sd back on the road, my ist went off a 30 >-->foot cliff do explain... this sounds interesting... :) ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- john-at-wagoneers.com **** Snohomish, Washington USA don't leave life without jesus, please... http://wagoneers.com - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 09:18:15 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: Re: FWIW, W123 headlight replacement lighting technology continues to improve... :) I like the H4 type lamps, that way you can run higher wattage bulbs... I like my IPF lights, but the Hellas are nice too... 95 degrees? It's 65 here and cloudy... I think it hit 70 yesterday... supposed to be a hot weekend, 80's even... :) it's been so wet here we have mosquitos... not used to dealing with the little varmits... john On Fri, 30 Jul 1999, Jon Filina wrote: >-->FWIW... >--> >--> I went to leave the office last nite. I started my 240D, which was parked >-->up against the building where I work, and turned on the headlites. The >-->driver's side low beam had decided it was time to retire... >--> >-->Today, I stopped by my local Pep Boys on the way to work and picked up 2 >-->Sylvania halogen headlights for $12.99 each, plus tax. >--> >-->Before I left the office, I installed them. Talk about a difference! It >-->took about 20 minutes to replace both of them, which included time to go >-->back in the office to cool off because the temps at 11:00 pm were 95 >-->degrees! I found out that two of the knobs that hold the plastic bezels in >-->place were stripped. Reversing the knobs resulted in a snug fit, and the >-->plastic is secure. >--> >-->The light from these bulbs is noticably brighter (whiter). While these >-->bulbs may not be the latest and greatest, they are quite a bit brighter than >-->the original ones. Check out the application guide next to the >-->bulbs...they are listed as the "halogen upgrade"...and are definitely worth >-->the extra 4 bucks or so over the standard bulbs. >--> >-->If you don't want to go to the trouble and/or expense of upgrading your W123 >-->to the newer halogen lenze and bulb combination, with the possibility of >-->wiring changes, these Sylvania bulbs are worth checking out. >--> >-->Jon >-->'81 240D 230,000 mi. "Mathilde" Blinding all pickup trucks when on high >-->beams, except Dale Lockwood, who has the common sense to dim his >-->headlights... >--> >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- john-at-wagoneers.com **** Snohomish, Washington USA don't leave life without jesus, please... http://wagoneers.com - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 10:39:29 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: links I've been rearranging my websites... if you have links or pictures from any of my sites you might want to check your links. If possible link to http://www.wagoneers.com and for a bit avoid linking to any subdirectories until the dust settles... :) thanx, john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- john-at-wagoneers.com **** Snohomish, Washington USA don't leave life without jesus, please... http://wagoneers.com - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 15:49:37 -0400 From: "S.D.Byers" Subject: glow timer relay Does anybody have a (used is fine) glow plug timer relay thing they can sell me? I have an 1976 300D, so anything that fits it is fine. Also, I may have asked this before, but: When you swap a flywheel, you have to balance the new to pi radians off the old one (i.e. 180 degrees off). According to the Benz manual (for the OM617.910, page 03-440), you mount them 180degs from each other on a spindle. When the whole thing has zero balance (from drilling the new one), then you mount the new one. The idea is to preserve overall engine balance. There is a special benz part number (617 589 0063 00) for the "balancing drift". Now several Benz workshops I have visited either do not do it or deny that this procedure exists or is valid or useful. I see the logic in what the book says, the engine is balanced to zero at the factory, so to retains that indiviual new components must be balance matched with old ones coming off. A recent discussion with an apparently knowledgable and upstanding Benz dealer got quite nasty when he claimed my information was male bovine extcrement etc. The point: Am I mad? Where can I get this stuff done? Or just the balancing drift? And also where can I get a 617 030 00 05, or a 617 030 01 05? They are both a certain type of manual trans flywheel. Thanks, Simon. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 21:01:34 From: Michael Frank Subject: Re: the small difference Thorsten: You can tell by the pitch of their voice. Regards, Mike Frank 1979 300CD (Sluggo) 1999 E320T (Marlena) At 09:44 AM 7/30/99 +0200, you wrote: >Hi folks, > >after this tinted glass question I have a very important one. John calls >his car Fritz, Jon has his Mathilde... Now tell me, are MB's male or >female? I have been searching for the "small difference" on my car but >could not find it (maybe I don't have enough imagination? Viagra might help >the last part of the exhaust go up straight again and not pointing down >like it does.........) Please help me out. > >Thorsten > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 20:45:59 -0500 From: "TxNet-AlecCordova" Subject: Not for me, but maybe someone else wants a 72 300SEL 4.5 project. (long) Darn! Went to Bryan, Texas, today (from Austin/Taylor) to look at a 72 300SEL 4.5 (about 62K miles indicated, but it only counts five digits) that I could have purchased at what sounded like a good price. It's on a used car lot, and through a friend of a friend, I could have bought it for $2100, when he's advertising it for $3200. My wife spotted it a couple of weeks ago and test drove it with a friend. She said it started right up and drove beautifully, and that the A/C worked great until the loose belt slipped off, which would have been a vast improvement in these Central Texas summers over my 85 300DT's dead A/C _and_ dead blower. So I went to look today, armed with a good friend who's a good mechanic, and with his compression tester (which we didn't use; made up our minds before we got that far). As you approach it, the car looks very nice. When you get close enough and start poking around, it appears to have lead a rough life. Maybe it will make a good project, but I'm looking for a daily driver. Here's a summary for anyone else who may be interested: Car has been completely repainted (dark red), decent enough job. Top of front left fender has two spots where the paint flaked off, exposing the Bondo underneath. Top of right front fender has a four or five inch long by maybe one inch wide dent, with flaked paint and some surface rust showing (looks like the rust you get after a good dent, not like a glimpse of worse rust). In the trunk, there's a two-inch (?) rust hole under the driver side taillight. Under the passenger side taillight, there's some surface rust that could be a glimpse of more. Looks like the car's been well bumped both front and back. Several spots on both front and rear bumpers where the wonderful chrome is flaking off. Auxiliary fan has been pushed into the radiator, which also shows signs of getting too friendly with the main engine fan. Signs of dried coolant on the radiator and around the radiator cap. Current coolant looks OK. A/C problem currently claimed to be simply the compressor clutch, which he plans to replace quickly from a parts pile. Could very well be more involved than that. A/C looks like one of those aftermarket units. May have been the dealer-installed version of its time. Decent enough installation in the interior, and my wife said it blew very cold for a while when she drove the car. Motor starts right up and idles smoothly. Fairly noticeable sound that may have been the timing chain. According to the car lot guy, the air suspension needs to be pumped up if the car sits for about ten days. My wife saw it sitting low, but it rose back up on its own while the engine was running. Interior needs some attention. Leather seats are very well worn, with several cracks all the way through on the passenger seat, and the driver seat is not far shy of that. Headliner on the electric sunroof has come loose from the left rear corner, so my wife didn't try to open it all the way, but she did open and close it a few inches, and all worked well. Rear footwell on driver side no longer has the snapped down mat like the rest. It has a poorly matched carpet remnant glued down (perhaps covering something I didn't want to see?). No visible rust in interior footwells under the other snap mats. Finish on much of the dash wood needs attention. Probably pretty easy to fix that. Salesman mentioned that he had fixed a short that he had difficulty finding. No further mention, but I did find a little piece of cut off wire in the driver footwell. No telling what this non-Mercedes guy did. Overall, the car starts, drives, and stops fine, but it looks like it has been a little neglected. Also appears to have had some past horrors given quick fixes. My mechanic friend said the transmission fluid smelled like it had additives in it. Again, he was asking $3200, and would go no lower than $2100 for me, with connections. If anyone is interested, it's at Centex Auto Sales, at 907 S. Texas Ave in Bryan, Texas. Guy's name is Don Bradshaw, and his mobile number is 409/268-1846. I told him I would mention it. I have no financial interest, blah blah, and have personally chosen to pass on the car, and have tried to describe all of the problems I saw. Still, it may be just what someone else is looking for. I guess it's just time to throw a little money at my 85 300DT and fall in love all over again! Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 85 300DT, <200K, getting some well-deserved attention very soon 97 Z3 1.9, 66K, still going pretty well ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #181 *********************************