From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Sat Jan 24 21:14:18 2004 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Sunday, January 25 2004 Volume 01 : Number 1351 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] 240D ignition switch removal and replacement (again!) [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D RE: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D RE: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D [db] Dallas Can Academy results - 1-24-04 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: Fri, 23 Jan 2004 19:24:34 -0600 From: "Vernon Tuck" Subject: Re: [db] 240D ignition switch removal and replacement (again!) Wellllll Sam, I will be very surprised if it is THE problem although it might be, especially if indeed my car is wired for the light to be on whenever the glovebox door is open, regardless of key position. The car has started reliably for about 12 hours now. But I won't wager the farm on it yet. VT ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 02:01:49 -0600 From: "Richard Gilbert" Subject: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Hi, I have three questions about the 1985 300D, as I am checking one out this weekend: (1) I had read somewhere that there was some problem with the '85s, as opposed to the '82-84. But I can't recall what that problem was. Can anyone remind me? (2) What are the odds the interior is tan leather, as opposed to MBTek? The owner claims it is leather, but I don't believe him -- nor do I want to, as I prefer the 'tek. (3) Someone told me that 1985 was the first year they used a particulate trap -- is this true of all '85s? Can anyone comment about the effectiveness of this trap? Thanks all! Someday I will find my car -- this may be the one ...? Richard ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 04:51:54 -0500 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Richard Gilbert wrote: >(2) What are the odds the interior is tan leather, as opposed to MBTek? The >owner claims it is leather, but I don't believe him -- nor do I want to, as >I prefer the 'tek. > > Low to impossible. These cars dont even have power seats let alone leather. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:41:55 -0600 From: "Kaleb C. Striplin" Subject: Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D I have owned/seen many 123's with real leather. Robert Chase wrote: > Richard Gilbert wrote: > >> (2) What are the odds the interior is tan leather, as opposed to >> MBTek? The >> owner claims it is leather, but I don't believe him -- nor do I want >> to, as >> I prefer the 'tek. >> >> > Low to impossible. These cars dont even have power seats let alone > leather. > > - -- Kaleb C. Striplin/ Claremore, OK Mercedes-Benz Club of America Member Since 1991 MBZ.org Diesel/LL/123/124 List Administrator 89 560SEL, 85 380SE, 84 380SE, 82 300D, 81 500SE, 81 300TD, 81 240D, 77 300D, 77 450SL, 76 450SEL, 76 240D Parts Cars: 84 300TD, 84 300D, 82 240D, 81 300SD, 81 300TD, 79 240D, 78 300SD, 78 300D, 77 300D, 76 300D, 75 240D, 75 240D ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 13:11:47 -0500 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D I have never seen a 123 with leather. Do they change the stitching like in the 126's? Robert Chase Kaleb C. Striplin wrote: > I have owned/seen many 123's with real leather. > > Robert Chase wrote: > >> Richard Gilbert wrote: >> >>> (2) What are the odds the interior is tan leather, as opposed to >>> MBTek? The >>> owner claims it is leather, but I don't believe him -- nor do I want >>> to, as >>> I prefer the 'tek. >>> >>> >> Low to impossible. These cars dont even have power seats let alone >> leather. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 12:38:00 -0600 From: "Sam Williams" <1sam-at-io.com> Subject: RE: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Richard, Don't know what problems you refer to. 85s had improvements they hadn't thought of for earlier models but some old-timers believe that older is better and MB hasn't made a decent car since their 19xx model. You have to look at the seats. Some people can't tell the difference at first glance; by second glance it should be obvious. 85s had transmission better suited to turbo diesel torque curve than those on earlier cars, have better acceleration off the line. I think that was a big improvement but resulted in tiny loss in fuel economy. Most 85s had a trap oxidizer that MB replaced free on a recall. That should already have been done by now. Have local MB agency check and do it for you if it hasn't. 85s are about as good as 123s ever got. The particular one you are looking at may be somewhere between best car ever produced and a money pit. Have someone knowledgeable do a Pre-Purchase Inspection. MB (and some third-party MB garages) do PPIs using a thorough checklist. First stage usually costs $100 and can find problems you never guessed possible. Don't be frightened; only a perfect (very rare) car will pass 100 percent. Take it as a guide for what to fix or ignore over the years you own the car. The second stage of PPI (usually another $100) includes compression check and other tests in case you plan to buy the car and want to know everything. Sam - -----Original Message----- From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On Behalf Of Richard Gilbert Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 2:02 AM To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Subject: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D Hi, I have three questions about the 1985 300D, as I am checking one out this weekend: (1) I had read somewhere that there was some problem with the '85s, as opposed to the '82-84. But I can't recall what that problem was. Can anyone remind me? (2) What are the odds the interior is tan leather, as opposed to MBTek? The owner claims it is leather, but I don't believe him -- nor do I want to, as I prefer the 'tek. (3) Someone told me that 1985 was the first year they used a particulate trap -- is this true of all '85s? Can anyone comment about the effectiveness of this trap? Thanks all! Someday I will find my car -- this may be the one ...? Richard ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 14:50:30 -0600 From: "Kaleb C. Striplin" Subject: Re: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D no, the pattern is the same Robert Chase wrote: > I have never seen a 123 with leather. Do they change the stitching like > in the 126's? > > Robert Chase > > > Kaleb C. Striplin wrote: > >> I have owned/seen many 123's with real leather. >> >> Robert Chase wrote: >> >>> Richard Gilbert wrote: >>> >>>> (2) What are the odds the interior is tan leather, as opposed to >>>> MBTek? The >>>> owner claims it is leather, but I don't believe him -- nor do I want >>>> to, as >>>> I prefer the 'tek. >>>> >>>> >>> Low to impossible. These cars dont even have power seats let alone >>> leather. >>> >>> >> > > > > - -- Kaleb C. Striplin/ Claremore, OK Mercedes-Benz Club of America Member Since 1991 MBZ.org Diesel/LL/123/124 List Administrator 89 560SEL, 85 380SE, 84 380SE, 82 300D, 81 500SE, 81 300TD, 81 240D, 77 300D, 77 450SL, 76 450SEL, 76 240D Parts Cars: 84 300TD, 84 300D, 82 240D, 81 300SD, 81 300TD, 79 240D, 78 300SD, 78 300D, 77 300D, 76 300D, 75 240D, 75 240D ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 14:59:40 CST From: acordova-at-texas.net Subject: RE: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D I second Sam's comments. Don't be afraid of an 85. I had one for 8 years. Leather should be possible. Not sure how to help you determine what's in that car, though. My understanding is that the torque converter stall speed was raised for 85. I know the drivetrain on mine was gloriously well matched. The Trap Oxidizers were first used on California 1985 models. The 49-state versions did NOT include that nasty thing. The only other thing I can think of about 85s also applies a couple of years earlier. I think it was around 83 or so that MB changed the formulation used in the paint finish, probably due to environmental regulations. It was not uncommon for the revised formulation to develop leprosy after 15 years or so, with the clear coat gradually disappearing. I owned my 85 longer than any other car before or since. Until I get another OM617-engined car, it probably will retain its title as the best car I ever owned. Alec Cordova Taylor, Texas 89 300CE, 167K > Richard, > > Don't know what problems you refer to. 85s had improvements they hadn't > thought of for earlier models but some old-timers believe that older is > better and MB hasn't made a decent car since their 19xx model. > > You have to look at the seats. Some people can't tell the difference at > first glance; by second glance it should be obvious. > > 85s had transmission better suited to turbo diesel torque curve than those > on earlier cars, have better acceleration off the line. I think that was a > big improvement but resulted in tiny loss in fuel economy. > > Most 85s had a trap oxidizer that MB replaced free on a recall. That should > already have been done by now. Have local MB agency check and do it for you > if it hasn't. > > 85s are about as good as 123s ever got. The particular one you are looking > at may be somewhere between best car ever produced and a money pit. Have > someone knowledgeable do a Pre-Purchase Inspection. MB (and some > third-party MB garages) do PPIs using a thorough checklist. First stage > usually costs $100 and can find problems you never guessed possible. Don't > be frightened; only a perfect (very rare) car will pass 100 percent. Take > it as a guide for what to fix or ignore over the years you own the car. The > second stage of PPI (usually another $100) includes compression check and > other tests in case you plan to buy the car and want to know everything. > > Sam > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net [mailto:owner-diesel-benz-at-digest.net] On > Behalf Of Richard Gilbert > Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2004 2:02 AM > To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net > Subject: [db] Auditioning a 1985 300D > > Hi, > > I have three questions about the 1985 300D, as I am checking one out this > weekend: > > (1) I had read somewhere that there was some problem with the '85s, as > opposed to the '82-84. But I can't recall what that problem was. Can > anyone remind me? > > (2) What are the odds the interior is tan leather, as opposed to MBTek? The > owner claims it is leather, but I don't believe him -- nor do I want to, as > I prefer the 'tek. > > (3) Someone told me that 1985 was the first year they used a particulate > trap -- is this true of all '85s? Can anyone comment about the > effectiveness of this trap? > > Thanks all! > > Someday I will find my car -- this may be the one ...? > > Richard ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 21:03:22 -0500 From: "Black, Waylon" Subject: [db] Dallas Can Academy results - 1-24-04 Finally got 'mom' her own MB diesel. Clean. Drives solid. http://www.texascarsforkids.org/details.asp?CarId=9429&vType=car It bid to $675, after all the little fees - $931 out the door. The 500 SEL bid to 1275. http://www.texascarsforkids.org/details.asp?CarId=9426&vType=car The 116 300 SD bid to $300. http://www.texascarsforkids.org/details.asp?CarId=9589&vType=car Waylon Black Little Elm, Texas ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1351 **********************************