From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #985 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 24 2003 Volume 01 : Number 985 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Volvo Post traumatic stress disorder :) Re: late 80s/early 90s diesel comments Re: on eBay -- 300TD for sale, Virginia... Re: Blue fuel filter? Re: what is rare? (was)Re: on eBay -- 300TD for sale, Virginia... Re: on eBay -- 300TD for sale, Virginia+ OT Rant. While I'm at it, an OT request for help. Re: late 80s/early 90s diesel comments Re: Blue fuel filter? 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, 24 Apr 2003 04:20:45 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Volvo Post traumatic stress disorder :) Ergghhh, Dont get me started on Hippie Volvo driving tree huggers. I had a Volvo S70 because it was a better priced alternitive to the 5 series BMW I was considering. When it started falling apart like the cheap underdesigned piece of junk and I complained about it on brickboard.com I was flamed and attacked by the desperate to think they made the right decision who could could not get past the warm fuzzies they had for their car even though most of the time it was a loaner car. They would all look past the hidden recalls and the outright design fuckups and love how safe they felt in the car (for a car with a "saftey cage" it felt too flexy bendy for my taste. One of the reasons I did not buy a C70 Convertible. I used to convince myself that the car was "aircraft like" and that planes bent and flexed as well as they flew. It really pissed me off the first time I drove a friends 190E and it felt more solid than my car. Oh and dont even get them started with the enviromentally friendly stuff. I have a BIG ISSUE with driving a car with recycle emblems on parts inside. Yeah its great that you want to recycle the car but wait a minute. Dont you think that the recycling programs might change slightly in 20 years. Oh wait. The car wont last that long? As well I really appreciated the enviromentally friendly glue that they used to hold the leather/trim on in my car. Most of these idiots drove around and put up with sagging/bubbled interior panels and were perfectly happy with their cars because it was good for the enviroment and gave them that warm fuzzy feeling inside. The dealership seemed suprised that I wanted the interior in my car fixed in accordance to my warranty. It secretly made me want to find some unsuspecting birkenstock wearing no deoderanrt wearing S70 wagon driver and sneak up on them and suddenly test ever saftey system on both of our cars simultaniously and then jump out and beat them to death with a stale enviromentally friendly natural whey bagel on the end of a natural hemp rope :). Richard Arnold wrote: >Robert wrote: > > > >>Hmmm, >> >>If some car >>companies just said "screw you guys" and stopped selling certain >> >> >models > > >>in California the consumer pressure would be so great that eventually >>the tree hugging hippies that control things over there would get a >>clue. >> >>Robert. >> >> > >Most of the tree hugging hippies drive 1970's and '80's gasoline Volvos, >which spew way more harmful stuff than any diesel. However, one of my >very good friends in San Francisco, also a tree hugger, drives an '85 >300D turbo because it "pollutes less". Honestly, he sold his Volvo to >buy it! He is right you know. >RAA >'87 300SDL >'73 Alfa Spider ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 04:34:05 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: late 80s/early 90s diesel comments Hmmm, Im pretty happy with my 82 300SD. They are cheap as well. Although bigger/faster/better might also secretly contain newer :) The 300d's from what I have seen are great cars. The owner of a local photography studio had one for sale here locally and it was in great shape and gave him years of trouble free service. I understand what you mean with the aluminum block thing. Before my short Volvo mistake I was driving Honda's which all had aluminum engines. One just has to pay attention to the temp guage a little better. Most of the Jap cars were designed to have a "catostrophic" cooling system failure before the block reached critical tempature to alert a driver not paying attention to their temp indicators. I have only lost 1 aluminum blocked engine and that was due to me trying to preheat the car on a cold day unattended. When I got back and found the car in the thick fog of steam and coolant vapors I had found it had overheated and melted itself silly. This was when I was younger and too stupid to realize that the lack of heat I was getting was a lack of coolant. Cost me $1000 which is what I paid for the little Mazda 323 I was driving at the time. In addition to the older w124 300d's there are the newer ones as well. Although they are probably in the same boat as the w-140's. I still would love to find a good deal on a w-140 and keep one as an ocasional driver. Granted the cars have their issues but they are a virtual crypt inside with the insulated glass and chassis design. Taking one of these 500mile ranged beasties on a long trip would be nice even though they dont "feel like" a Mercedes. Too dead feeling on the road but that is a good thing on a long trip. Robert, gary wrote: >I too am in the market for a 87-94 300D w124. > >I want to upgrade to something bigger/faster/better from my '86 190D 2.5 > >I haven't heard of any gotcha's for this body/engine. The aluminum head >thing is a non-issue as long as you keep the cooling system in good >repair. > >But I have heard to stand well away from the 3.5 603 engine. > > >-Gary in Orlando > > > >On Wed, 2003-04-23 at 19:55, Kevin Pekarek wrote: > > >>Tripped over a what looks like early 90s what-preceded-the-E-class diesel >>sedan, pissload of miles, but maintained well. >> >>Aside from being plagued with inexpensive electronics (as opposed to >>inexpensive vaccuum) and aluminum-head-syndrome, anything else I should be >>aware of with this model? >> >>The comments on the 190D I looked at were very helpful. Lots of things on >>that car didn't line up, and I didn't get a warm feeling from it, but still >>want a diesel benz... >> >>TIA, >> >>K ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 04:48:06 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: on eBay -- 300TD for sale, Virginia... Richard, Thanks for the compliment. Im really suprised at how good the euro lamps are. On low beam they light the road well almost everywhere and are adjustable from a control knob inside the car. You can adjust the height up and down a few degrees which comes in handy to light "just what you need" on the road. The fog lamps are quite good as well. On High beam they are quite bright and have the same bumper melting effect. As well they can still be aimed to bounce just right in the driver in front of you's rearview mirror in the event he did something not so nice to you. Not that I would do that its just nice knowing I can if I need to. Speaking of bumper melting my father was an avid Saab owner and Aircraftophyle. He got a good deal on two 727 landing lights and managed to adapt them from 28 volts to work on his Saab. He did a bit of Rallye driving and found them great for lighting courses at high speed and "baking off" mud and grime on contact. He had some gentleman in a corvette one evening come blasting up his backside with high beams blazing and horn honking. He politely allowed the Vette to pass and pulled up behind him at a traffic light. Although Im sure he did not intend to do damage to the car in front he could not resist blinding the living crap out of him at a traffic signal. He flipped on the landing lights and was rather close to the back of the Vette. When he saw the whispy smoke and the bumper start to lightly distort he was a bit horrofied and watched the vette with two round scorch marks drive off quickly into the night. Oh well. Not enough time to appologize for the damage and trade insurance information. I bet that guy was pissed when he got home :). Robert. Richard Arnold wrote: >When I was growing up, my dad had a 1955 220 with Euro lamps. Those >things would melt the deck paint off the car in front. Cool thing >though, they cut off right before the top of the trunk. On coming >traffic never knew they were that bright. Too bad these are not >standard on American issue cars. I know it's getting better here, but >it's still not right yet. >By the way Robert, your lamps and wipers look great! I saw your pics on >John's site. >RAA >'87 300SDL >'73 Alfa Spider > > > >>-----Original Message----- >>From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net >> >> >[mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] > > >>On Behalf Of Robert Chase >> >>Hey maybee I should ask $27k for my 82 300SD. Because as you know I >> >> >am > > >>the second owner of my car and it does have rare european lamps and >>wipers that you dont find on any other 82 SD's >> >>Robert. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 05:02:21 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: Blue fuel filter? I can here the phone call now. "uhm hi. This is Jay Lenno and your new law is going to put most of my classic antique cars off the road. Would you like to have a spot on my show to explain how your draconian laws actually do something for the enviroment?" I know what you mean about working on cars Paul. I was working on my car in the parking lot at work (it was something simple repairing my tachometer amp) one of the people I worked with wondered why I did not just "bring it in" and used the same logic. My answer was simple. Why pay for someone elses labor and do without your car when you can do the repair in less than 10 minutes during your lunch break? Although these were the same people who wondered why I clattered into the parking lot every morning in my older Benz when I could have been driving my new Accord Coupe for everyone to look at and envy. Robert. Paul Schwartz wrote: >>That's all we need for some ignorant politicians to solve that eye-sore. >>With a wave of their Gucci pens, our beloved, older diesel cars and >>trucks could be instantaneously declared illegal. Illegal until we have >>some God-awful retrofit device installed which of course would be >>prohibitively expensive. >> >> > >We Kalifornians practically live in our cars. Actually, in SF many really >do! Vintage, classic and hot rod cars have such a following in this state >that there is a limit to what the pols can do. Our current smog laws exempt >any car over twenty-five years old. There are bills in the legislature to >change this and they are receiving tremendous opposition from the car >community. > >They found out that gear-heads aren't pimply faced brats and assorted >low-life's, but folks like me who make a fair amount of money. I once had >someone seriously ask why I worked on my on my own car--"Paul, you make more >than the shop rate, why don't you have them do it?" They just don't get it. >If I hit the lotto I'd just have better tools and possibly (but, maybe not) >a slightly better car(s) to work on and my own lift in the garage. > >Paul ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 05:28:53 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: what is rare? (was)Re: on eBay -- 300TD for sale, Virginia... Yep, Agree with you totally there. I bought my car because it was "hard to find" but perhaps maybee not rare. Rare would have been an actual full euro spec car with the weird vin. People who consider their SL "rare" when its a plain jane US model are just not creative enough in finding one. While one cant just roll down to the Carmax and find a 72-89 SL just sitting out on the lot they are out there in plentiful supply if you know where to look. And while you dont see a huge number of them in circulation this is due to a number of factors like actually noticing them in traffic since they are so damn common, wrecks and cars that spend most of their lives in the garrage. I really dont understand some of the SL people though. I have seen early 70's SL's for just stupid prices. I could see paying top dollar for one of the later models because it might be in great shape but an average condition early 70's model plane jane us edition is real common and nothing special. I can see the price gouging a bit in the Pagoda's because they are a little less common than the ones from the early 70's era. I have an interest in an SL and would love to have a Silver Pagoda with the older Steering wheel and a 5 speed, however I refuse to pay what they ask for them when I can get much more car for similar money. It disturbs me the people who are "investing" in collectable cars these days to make a profit. Real estate is expensive because of these "investors" and now older cars will be as well. Its sad when someone's only interest in an older SL is how much money it can make them rather than how beautiful of a car it is and how its designed to last forever. A lot of these "investors" are doing horrible things to these cars with botched restorations and aftermarket modifications. Its also sad when someone elses greed ultimately will seperate someone with legitimate interest in an older vehicle from being able to obtain one at a reasonable price. R. P.S. Paul a friend of mine has two of those in his storage unit. He also has a 1957 Eldorado Brogham and an original unrestored Maybach that was General Rommel's parade car. Paul Schwartz wrote: >>Hey maybee I should ask $27k for my 82 300SD. Because as you know I am >>the second owner of my car and it does have rare european lamps and >>wipers that you dont find on any other 82 SD's >> >>Robert. >> >> > >I always cracks me up when I see a car that is fairly common advertised as >"rare." In truth there are very few "rare" cars in this world; to be rare >there has to be fewer that 100 in the world, in my opinion. To be rare a >car has to be so uncommon that when you see one you remark about it--hey, >look at that. I have (half interest in it that is) a '66 Lincoln >Continental 4-door convertible in very good condition and I don't think of >it as rare--there were 3000 made. > >Paul ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 07:19:41 -0400 From: "Jim Steere" Subject: Re: on eBay -- 300TD for sale, Virginia+ OT Rant. > > *** Yeah, that's a little steep. Also, there wasn't much info on the car. > > The TD's OTOH, _ARE_ getting a bit rare. There's a low mileage one > locally > > that the guy is asking $13K for! > > And that car will not be sold at that price. Yer' right. I've got between $6-$7K "hard money" in my obsessive-compulsive/nitpicky/fussy-old-bastard 300TD restoration.....and at, let's say, at two cents an hour, another $10K in labor. http://www.msdra.com/benzwagon.htm I figure my wagon is a really good investment. Kinda' like the the front-engine alcohol dragster I usta' have. The wagon's for sale. Package deal. $50K for it and and a beachfront lot to park it on 10 miles west of Tampa..... They're cool cars....but they're not that uncommon or valuable. You gotta' be wierd and do it for "you". While I'm at it, I'll continue this rant. It's easier to set here and drivel on than it is to go paint the car that's in my booth taped off. Older MB's in general....SL's in particular.....and the absolutely *stupid* prices you hear bandied about. I get real tired of these clowns that (normally "buy" versus "build") these "trailer potato" cars.....too damned expensive to drive...just spit-polish it, put it on the driveway to impress the neighbors and passers by......or haul it to a show in an enclosed trailer (so it won't get dirty) then rope the damned thing off and explain, with a withering sneer, to anyone who will listen, how damned rare and valuable it is. (Older Plasticfantastic Chevys apply here too.....the under-engineered fiberglass wonder Corvette). Whether you are positively revolted by the thought and the sacreligious idea or not.....you gotta' like this guy that owns this Ford/Yamaha/MB crossbreed I'm building. Here's a guy who paid good money for a nice car.....but want's to DRIVE it......and drive the hell out of it......and want's it "just so" and resale value be damned. He's having this created to impress just HIM. The "My God....you've chopped up a Benz! You idiot!" just falls on deaf ears. And he pays his bills. You just gotta' like a guy like that. Jim Steere Everything Automotive Crystal, MI www.usedbenzparts.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 07:44:39 -0400 From: "Jim Steere" Subject: While I'm at it, an OT request for help. >From the conversations I've seen here....there are some individuals on this list that have no fear of haunting salvage yards.....because they're "scroungers" like me unafraid of "road-tested" parts. I've got this enormous & very ugly Isuzu/GMC medium-duty truck (one of those "cab-forward" ones with the aerodynamics of a brick or old VW van) with a roll-back deck on it that is a necessary evil when you do what I do. Typical "Rust Belt" body. I've got all the panels (new...moan....) to put the cab in shape except for a set of doors. The dealer wants $795 each for bare door shells. Does anyone out there know of a "truck" salvage in a friendlier climate that I can check with for a set of rust-free doors for this pig? I know I'll have to pay common-carrier freight....but they're gotta' be some used ones out there. These truck are really common in metro areas because of the maneuverability.....but up here I can' fine anything any better than I've got.... I've checked all over the 'net to no avail. Even if I paid a grand to buy and ship a pair....it would still leave $590 to buy Budweiser according to my little brain. Thanks for any input. Jim Steere Everything Automotive Crystal, MI www.usedbenzparts.com ------------------------------ Date: 24 Apr 2003 09:11:42 -0400 From: gary Subject: Re: late 80s/early 90s diesel comments Turbo? Unfortunately no :( Those are very hard to find. Granted, I now live as a "flatlander", but I find my car pulls it's own on the roads quite well. It will be even better once I get a propane system hooked up! - -Gary On Thu, 2003-04-24 at 00:23, john wrote: > At 11:15 PM 4/23/2003 -0400, gary wrote: > >I want to upgrade to something bigger/faster/better from my '86 190D 2.5 > > hey, I'd like to try out the 2.5L over the 2.2L 190D, is yours a > turbo? too bad you're way down there in Orlando... :( > > john (on the other side of the continent, opposite corner... ;( > ------------------------------------------------------------------ > http://www.WAGONEERS.com/ > Snohomish, WA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold... > jesus, don't leave life without him, please! > ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 24 Apr 2003 09:12:31 -0400 From: gary Subject: Re: Blue fuel filter? Amen brother! - -Gary On Thu, 2003-04-24 at 00:26, Paul Schwartz wrote: > They found out that gear-heads aren't pimply faced brats and assorted > low-life's, but folks like me who make a fair amount of money. I once had > someone seriously ask why I worked on my on my own car--"Paul, you make more > than the shop rate, why don't you have them do it?" They just don't get it. > If I hit the lotto I'd just have better tools and possibly (but, maybe not) > a slightly better car(s) to work on and my own lift in the garage. > > Paul ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #985 *********************************