From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #975 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 Thursday, April 17 2003 Volume 01 : Number 975 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: Becker Radio Re: Becker Radio Re: Other Becker Radio Questions Re: Becker Radio the Hollander guide... Re: A/C Compressor help Re: A/C Compressors on VW Re: A/C Compressors on VW New model MB, BMW, Volvo garbage! Re: New model MB, BMW, Volvo garbage! 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: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 18:35:16 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: Becker Radio Ah, Thats the answer that I wanted to hear. With all of the MB's rolling around these days I could not fathom why Becker would not have a current radio for the American Market. Im going to explore how much I can get a 4602 for but I may look into a 4337 depending on which one is cheaper. The 4602 has a couple of things going for it. The Mercedes logo on it is not exactly what I wanted but it will make the unit less attractive to theives thinking its a factory radio. As well the 4602 probably has full warranty coverage within the US where the 4337 might have to be sent back to my friend in Germany if it develops issues. Ill see what the differences in price end up being and weigh all my options. I really really appreciate all of your help with the information. I had seen this paticular model of Becker radio but was not sure if it was fiber optic or not. It looked rather new and that kind of worried me since I drive an older car. Do you know what MB's issues is with tape players in their new cars? I think its amazing in a sense that even some of their newest cars have tape players. The MB dealers claim that tapes are more popular in europe but I have seen several european model Mercedes Benz Branded CD players on ebay. I have a friend that has for a while not been able to take the MB plunge due to the CD/tape/Nav system issue. He does not want a Nav system and finds it offensive paying $2500 for a CD player when he considers it should be standard as with any modern car. This might be the break he is looking for. Ill have to forward him this info. Perhaps he might be able to do some research and find a CD player compatible with whatever Mercedes Model he chooses. Thanks again. Robert Chase Jaime Kopchinski wrote: > Hello Robert, > I was forwarded your post with radio questions so I thought I'd help > you out. The Becker mexico you sent a link for is a great radio, but > never available with a US tuner, This means AM radio has 9kHz > increments instead of 10k. If you don't listen to AM and you can get > it cheap enough, go for it! > > Otherwise, Becker sells what they call a "4602". Its pretty much a > new Mexico, but for the american market. And it says Mercedes Benz on > it, not Becker. There is a picture here: > http://www.beckerautosound.com/4602specs.html > > Becker in nothern NJ sells em... (201) 327-3434. If you call for one, > you might want to try and get a "B" stock, as these are cheaper. They > also have wiring harnesses that will plug into your factory wiring no > matter which radio you buy. > > As for your other questions: > Yes, they're 12V negative ground just the same, so no worries there. > The displays are almost always in english, even in germany, so don't > worry too much about that either. And there is no new radio on the > market that doesn't look "ricey"... ;-))) And no, you haven't lost > your mind ;-))) > > Ok, so I do work for Becker, but as an engineer, not a sales guy! I > don't have much to gain here, but I do enjoy my old Mercedes and > Becker radios! Just thought you'd like a heads up. If you're in the > area, you can even stop by and see what they have in person. > > Good Luck! > > Jaime > '67 250S > '83 240D ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 17:40:32 -0500 From: "Vernon Tuck" Subject: Re: Becker Radio I haven't been following this thread closely. However, I just saw a Becker Mexico radio on ebay. VT - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Chase" To: "Jaime Kopchinski" Cc: ; "DanG" ; "diesel Benz" Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 5:35 PM Subject: Re: Becker Radio > Ah, > > Thats the answer that I wanted to hear. With all of the MB's rolling > around these days I could not fathom why Becker would not have a current > radio for the American Market. Im going to explore how much I can get a > 4602 for but I may look into a 4337 depending on which one is cheaper. > The 4602 has a couple of things going for it. The Mercedes logo on it > is not exactly what I wanted but it will make the unit less attractive > to theives thinking its a factory radio. As well the 4602 probably has > full warranty coverage within the US where the 4337 might have to be > sent back to my friend in Germany if it develops issues. Ill see what > the differences in price end up being and weigh all my options. > > I really really appreciate all of your help with the information. I had > seen this paticular model of Becker radio but was not sure if it was > fiber optic or not. It looked rather new and that kind of worried me > since I drive an older car. > > Do you know what MB's issues is with tape players in their new cars? I > think its amazing in a sense that even some of their newest cars have > tape players. The MB dealers claim that tapes are more popular in > europe but I have seen several european model Mercedes Benz Branded CD > players on ebay. I have a friend that has for a while not been able to > take the MB plunge due to the CD/tape/Nav system issue. He does not > want a Nav system and finds it offensive paying $2500 for a CD player > when he considers it should be standard as with any modern car. This > might be the break he is looking for. Ill have to forward him this > info. Perhaps he might be able to do some research and find a CD player > compatible with whatever Mercedes Model he chooses. > > Thanks again. > > Robert Chase > > > Jaime Kopchinski wrote: > > > Hello Robert, > > I was forwarded your post with radio questions so I thought I'd help > > you out. The Becker mexico you sent a link for is a great radio, but > > never available with a US tuner, This means AM radio has 9kHz > > increments instead of 10k. If you don't listen to AM and you can get > > it cheap enough, go for it! > > > > Otherwise, Becker sells what they call a "4602". Its pretty much a > > new Mexico, but for the american market. And it says Mercedes Benz on > > it, not Becker. There is a picture here: > > http://www.beckerautosound.com/4602specs.html > > > > Becker in nothern NJ sells em... (201) 327-3434. If you call for one, > > you might want to try and get a "B" stock, as these are cheaper. They > > also have wiring harnesses that will plug into your factory wiring no > > matter which radio you buy. > > > > As for your other questions: > > Yes, they're 12V negative ground just the same, so no worries there. > > The displays are almost always in english, even in germany, so don't > > worry too much about that either. And there is no new radio on the > > market that doesn't look "ricey"... ;-))) And no, you haven't lost > > your mind ;-))) > > > > Ok, so I do work for Becker, but as an engineer, not a sales guy! I > > don't have much to gain here, but I do enjoy my old Mercedes and > > Becker radios! Just thought you'd like a heads up. If you're in the > > area, you can even stop by and see what they have in person. > > > > Good Luck! > > > > Jaime > > '67 250S > > '83 240D ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 17:40:56 -0500 From: DanG Subject: Re: Other Becker Radio Questions Try this web presence. Dan ChicagoArea http://www.beckerautosound.com > Anyone know a good source for German radio spares, if possible with a net/web > presence ? > > My electronic tech tell me he cannot repair my Becker 'cause he cannot source > here a component he has to replace. > > TIA, > > Ron, on the banks of the Paraguay River. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 19:07:51 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: Becker Radio Yep, I looked too. Euro Model but its cassette. R. Vernon Tuck wrote: >I haven't been following this thread closely. > >However, I just saw a Becker Mexico radio on ebay. > >VT > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Robert Chase" >To: "Jaime Kopchinski" >Cc: ; "DanG" ; "diesel Benz" > >Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 5:35 PM >Subject: Re: Becker Radio > > > > >>Ah, >> >>Thats the answer that I wanted to hear. With all of the MB's rolling >>around these days I could not fathom why Becker would not have a current >>radio for the American Market. Im going to explore how much I can get a >>4602 for but I may look into a 4337 depending on which one is cheaper. >>The 4602 has a couple of things going for it. The Mercedes logo on it >>is not exactly what I wanted but it will make the unit less attractive >>to theives thinking its a factory radio. As well the 4602 probably has >>full warranty coverage within the US where the 4337 might have to be >>sent back to my friend in Germany if it develops issues. Ill see what >>the differences in price end up being and weigh all my options. >> >>I really really appreciate all of your help with the information. I had >>seen this paticular model of Becker radio but was not sure if it was >>fiber optic or not. It looked rather new and that kind of worried me >>since I drive an older car. >> >>Do you know what MB's issues is with tape players in their new cars? I >>think its amazing in a sense that even some of their newest cars have >>tape players. The MB dealers claim that tapes are more popular in >>europe but I have seen several european model Mercedes Benz Branded CD >>players on ebay. I have a friend that has for a while not been able to >>take the MB plunge due to the CD/tape/Nav system issue. He does not >>want a Nav system and finds it offensive paying $2500 for a CD player >>when he considers it should be standard as with any modern car. This >>might be the break he is looking for. Ill have to forward him this >>info. Perhaps he might be able to do some research and find a CD player >>compatible with whatever Mercedes Model he chooses. >> >>Thanks again. >> >>Robert Chase >> >> >>Jaime Kopchinski wrote: >> >> >> >>>Hello Robert, >>>I was forwarded your post with radio questions so I thought I'd help >>>you out. The Becker mexico you sent a link for is a great radio, but >>>never available with a US tuner, This means AM radio has 9kHz >>>increments instead of 10k. If you don't listen to AM and you can get >>>it cheap enough, go for it! >>> >>>Otherwise, Becker sells what they call a "4602". Its pretty much a >>>new Mexico, but for the american market. And it says Mercedes Benz on >>>it, not Becker. There is a picture here: >>>http://www.beckerautosound.com/4602specs.html >>> >>>Becker in nothern NJ sells em... (201) 327-3434. If you call for one, >>>you might want to try and get a "B" stock, as these are cheaper. They >>>also have wiring harnesses that will plug into your factory wiring no >>>matter which radio you buy. >>> >>>As for your other questions: >>>Yes, they're 12V negative ground just the same, so no worries there. >>>The displays are almost always in english, even in germany, so don't >>>worry too much about that either. And there is no new radio on the >>>market that doesn't look "ricey"... ;-))) And no, you haven't lost >>>your mind ;-))) >>> >>>Ok, so I do work for Becker, but as an engineer, not a sales guy! I >>>don't have much to gain here, but I do enjoy my old Mercedes and >>>Becker radios! Just thought you'd like a heads up. If you're in the >>>area, you can even stop by and see what they have in person. >>> >>>Good Luck! >>> >>>Jaime >>>'67 250S >>>'83 240D ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 21:39:37 -0700 From: john Subject: the Hollander guide... good news, found the Hollander Interchange Manual web page... bad news, "only" $795.00 for the complete windows version... However, it's only $99.95 for the domestic version in paper for 1965-1979 vehicles... Too bad they don't offer something in the 1974 through 1992 range to cover the SJ and XJ model Jeeps. :) Anyone familiar with the 1965-1979 domestic version? Would it be useful for working on Full Size Jeeps? http://www.adphollander.com/products/hollander.html https://https.kinetic.com/adp/orderform.html thanx, john ============= - ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/Filter_INFORMATION/air_filter-1.jpg http://wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/Filter_INFORMATION/air_filter-2.jpg SJ Jeeps: 360/401: TS-23 258: TS-12 retail $21.50 XJ Jeeps: 4.0L/2.5L('87 and up): TS-29 retail $29.95 WJ Jeeps: 4.7L: TS-104 retail $47.50 DieselBenz: typical S1118 or S1680 retail $32.50 or $39.85 http://wagoneers.com/AMSOIL/ order 1-800-956-5695 cust# 283461 Snohomish, WA, where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... - ----------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 01:50:54 -0500 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: A/C Compressor help Big John wrote: > hey guys, it's not hard to have that pump rebuilt... > it's just seals and bearings... if there isn't a local > shop to do it I can't see why any of us couldn't figure > it out... might have to invest in a few special tools... We're talking R4 compressors here. The consensus on these Delco units (actually Harrison) is that they are not rebuildable. The failure rate is extremely high. If you enjoy R&R'ing these units, buy a rebuilt, or learn to do it yourself, and have at it. If you are like me and want to fix the problem and not have to mess with it for several years, other than "top offs", buy a new unit for $250-300. When I found out that my 240D used the same compressor that a Chevy pickup or Cavalier did I got very irritated. If I'd bought the car new, I'd have been furious. If the engineers at MB had swallowed their pride, taken a trip down the road to VW and asked them about their recommendations concerning A/C, they'd have found a better answer. The A/C units on my VW's were superior to anything I'd experienced with the exception of Chrysler. Maybe now MB's will have good reliable air conditioning. Incidently, VW's A/C units are manufactured here in Texas. We know a few things when it comes to keeping our cool... Jon '84 300SD 156,600 mi. (I think) "Bruno" His A/C is dead, but he's alive and well! (Knock on wood...) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 06:00:08 -0400 From: "Eurowerks" Subject: Re: A/C Compressors on VW Just a note on VW A/C systems. I am replacing the compressors on two VW's this week. One is a 2000 model TDI and the other is a 98' model jetta 2.0 4 cyl. These are fairly new cars to have the A/C compressors fail. I havn't seen a Benz in either of these years have a compressor fail yet. Kirk A. Gilchrist EURO-WERKS / Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Service and Repair 8 South Highland St. / Winchester, KY 40391 / 859-745-0125 eurowerks-at-qx.net / 888-522-0271 toll free ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 09:28:53 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: A/C Compressors on VW Ouch, Reminds me of my 1998 Volvo S70 Nightmare (if it could break it did and usually more than once). So are you noticing the quality drop drasticly on post 1995 european cars across the board? I ask that because I notice you work on most of them :) Robert. Eurowerks wrote: >Just a note on VW A/C systems. I am replacing the compressors on two VW's >this week. One is a 2000 model TDI and the other is a 98' model jetta 2.0 4 >cyl. >These are fairly new cars to have the A/C compressors fail. I havn't seen a >Benz in either of these years have a compressor fail yet. > >Kirk A. Gilchrist >EURO-WERKS / Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Service and Repair >8 South Highland St. / Winchester, KY 40391 / 859-745-0125 >eurowerks-at-qx.net / 888-522-0271 toll free ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 07:02:08 -0400 From: "Eurowerks" Subject: New model MB, BMW, Volvo garbage! You are right on the mark with the 95' model year. You may even want to back up a few years to about 92' when the 140 body was introduced. I am sure that alot of people would disagree (especially the people who own the newer models) but I can prove that the newer cars are of inferior quality to the older models. I do this for a living and can emphatically tell you that the newer models have what I consider fatal flaws. Way back when I was trained on MB's, I was told that I could rule out a wiring problem on any MB during my diagnosis. As of the 92' model year that is no longer true. I have had to replace more than 50 wiring harness' last year alone! Major electronic compenents failing at an exponential rate. The early to mid 80's cars NEVER did this. Of course, we are all seeing the failures now, and alot of people are complaining! Come on people, these are old cars that have 100K plus miles. Things are supposed to break. Remember, it is a machine that is designed to wear. I just wish that everyone realized that. Normally, once we replace the older electronics with new, (although some of the reman. parts available today are not nearly as good as the originals) the cars will go for another 10+ years or 100K plus miles without failure. I could go on and on about the newer models, but I am sure that you get the point. Buy a good old 123 or even a 126 body and maintain it properly, and you will still see it on the road in 30 years. Not so of the newer models. Most of these will be scrap by that time! I am not guessing, I am positive...I have thousands of service records to prove it! Kirk A. Gilchrist EURO-WERKS / Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Service and Repair 8 South Highland St. / Winchester, KY 40391 / 859-745-0125 eurowerks-at-qx.net / 888-522-0271 toll free Ouch, Reminds me of my 1998 Volvo S70 Nightmare (if it could break it did and usually more than once). So are you noticing the quality drop drasticly on post 1995 european cars across the board? I ask that because I notice you work on most of them :) Robert. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 10:54:32 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: New model MB, BMW, Volvo garbage! Whell at least I know that I'm not nutty, Yes..... I have to unfortunatly agree with you on the w-140. I wanted one for a while but not anymore. For as new as these cars are I have yet to find one with nothing wrong with it. Something even on the latest model w-140's is always broken. I went to test drive a 1993 300SD the other day. I did not even get out of the parking lot with it. The engine was running really roughly and they wanted almost $17k for it. It was raining and the rear window would not go up and water was pouring right into the back seat. I pulled the window up for them manually and suggested they either lower their price or send it in to the Mercedes Dealer for some work. The dealer obviously knew nothing of diesels and did not even let the car preglow before starting it. It would not even start for him *duh* and I got it started. He of course in typical used car dealer style said "oh all diesels run like this". This car shook and vibrated more than if i had put a quarter in a cheap hotel bed. I had always noticed the diesel w-140's ran really smooth and did not even sound like my car. I gave it a few minutes but it never smoothed out. I knew several people with 740's and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about them. When it was time for me to consider a new car I decided to retire my long line of Honda Ownership and move onto a Volvo for a change. The S70 looked like a great car. A natural evolution from the 740 to the 850 and then to the S70. Similar engine technolgy evolution. Great deal right? Nope. My car was an early 1998 model built at the same time they were still assembling the last of the 1997 models. They made all of their mistakes on the 1998's. Things did not improve much though from what I understand. Most of the horrible gremilins my car had eventually made their way to the 99's and 2000 models. I have decided that I have bought my last post 1995 car. Until the auto industry gets their act together they wont be getting a dime of my money. I wish more people saw that "someone" gets the money either way from a car purchase. Whether its the dealer ripping you off on trade in or financing or if its from something honest like a mechanic replacing worn out parts on your car you have to spend to keep going. Hmmm Kinda interesting though... Business for repair shops must be getting better but giving customers bad news like that must be fustrating on many levels. While your making a profit on their problems you get the ones that question your credibility which has to suck (been there on computer issues). Doing an entire wiring harness swap is a pain and should be paid well but then again a lot of people either just dont have the money or wont spend that much for a repair. I have to say if I was one of those suckers with a wiring harness fault I would be very much inclined to rewire (aka jury rig) the car as much as I had to to get it operational and then dump it. Im sure you have seen your share of those too :). The amazing thing to me is people are FLOCKING to the new car dealers and the new cars are pouring out the doors. The used car market is getting really weird lately. I think that us pre 1992 diesel benz people should grab up as many cars as we can before the used car market artificially lowers the value of these cars. If they are crushed we loose their availability and the source of some used parts :(. Robert. Eurowerks wrote: >You are right on the mark with the 95' model year. You may even want to >back up a few years to about 92' when the 140 body was introduced. I am >sure that alot of people would disagree (especially the people who own the >newer models) but I can prove that the newer cars are of inferior quality to >the older models. I do this for a living and can emphatically tell you that >the newer models have what I consider fatal flaws. Way back when I was >trained on MB's, I was told that I could rule out a wiring problem on any MB >during my diagnosis. As of the 92' model year that is no longer true. I >have had to replace more than 50 wiring harness' last year alone! Major >electronic compenents failing at an exponential rate. The early to mid 80's >cars NEVER did this. Of course, we are all seeing the failures now, and >alot of people are complaining! Come on people, these are old cars that >have 100K plus miles. Things are supposed to break. Remember, it is a >machine that is designed to wear. I just wish that everyone realized that. >Normally, once we replace the older electronics with new, (although some of >the reman. parts available today are not nearly as good as the originals) >the cars will go for another 10+ years or 100K plus miles without failure. >I could go on and on about the newer models, but I am sure that you get the >point. >Buy a good old 123 or even a 126 body and maintain it properly, and you will >still see it on the road in 30 years. Not so of the newer models. Most of >these will be scrap by that time! I am not guessing, I am positive...I have >thousands of service records to prove it! > >Kirk A. Gilchrist >EURO-WERKS / Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo Service and Repair >8 South Highland St. / Winchester, KY 40391 / 859-745-0125 >eurowerks-at-qx.net / 888-522-0271 toll free > >Ouch, > >Reminds me of my 1998 Volvo S70 Nightmare (if it could break it did and >usually more than once). So are you noticing the quality drop drasticly >on post 1995 european cars across the board? I ask that because I >notice you work on most of them :) > >Robert. ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #975 *********************************