From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Thu May 20 11:27:51 2004 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Thursday, May 20 2004 Volume 01 : Number 1463 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] fuel prices Re: [db] E320CDI in todays LA Times Re: [db] Renewed my vows with my 89 300CE - Oooh Baby Baby! Re: [db] fuel prices [db] http://seattlegasprices.com/ Re: [db] E320CDI in todays LA Times Re: [db] E320CDI in todays LA Times [db] fuel taxes [db] sold my 240D :( Re: [db] sold my 240D :( Re: [db] fuel taxes Re: [db] sold my 240D :( [db] 300D on eBay [db] W123 Electrical Gremlins Re: [db] 300D on eBay Re: [db] W123 Electrical Gremlins Re: [db] W123 Electrical Gremlins Re: [db] 300D on eBay 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, 19 May 2004 12:48:18 -0700 From: "junot" Subject: Re: [db] fuel prices greetings ... #2 Diesel in Tucson, AZ is $2.26/gal ... found a lil place last night for $2.09/gal ... don't know how long that's gonna last did anyone ever do a diesel motorcycle ? junot 82 300D 78 240D 60's sears bicycle - ----- Original Message ----- From: "john meister" > driving home last night passed by a texaco listing Diesel for $2.40!!! > they're always a little more being right on State Route 9... just 8 > miles further south you can get the same juice for $2.29... sounds > like a bargain... > > sounds like I should look into veggie oil... ah, maybe when it hits > four bucks a gallon... > > I'm thinking a bicycle might be a good investment about now... ;) > > john ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 12:43:19 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] E320CDI in todays LA Times radiant floor heat... perfect for crawling under a rig in the middle of a Seattle winter... ;) john Nick.Eckert-at-theaustin.com wrote: > > > > > > If I had enough clams to buy a E320 CDI, I wouldn't have a garage heater. > I couldn't settle for anything less than a garage/shop that had radiant > heated floors. Now that's luxury :-) > > Subject: Re: [db] Renewed my vows with my 89 300CE - Oooh Baby Baby! On Wed, May 19, 2004 at 03:05:47PM -0400, J.B. Hebert wrote: > As far as I know, the HD's were an option in non-US countries. Apparently, > MB assumed that the HD's would not be cushy enough on our crappy roads. :) Until the shocks settled down a tad, it was almost softer driving my 3/4 4x4 truck. It really was ridiculous. Gotta love Caltrans. :) K - -- Kevin Pekarek Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 13:02:29 -0700 From: Kevin Pekarek Subject: Re: [db] fuel prices On Wed, May 19, 2004 at 12:34:17PM -0700, john meister wrote: > I'm thinking a bicycle might be a good investment about now... ;) I have a bicycle, and can offer a few comments about that: - bridges over the bay (except the dumbarton, with a separate lane) do not allow bikes - 56 miles one way to work is rather daunting, especially since there aren't showers at work, and I have a dress code - having to put batteries in the walkman all the time to play the dubbed diesel klatta noise (so you feel at home in your commute vehicle) gets annoying :) I could stand to lose a little weight and get in better shape, but a switch to diet dr. pepper and still driving seems like a better alternative :) K - -- Kevin Pekarek Redwood City, CA (near San Francisco) and Los Osos, CA (near San Luis Obispo) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 13:44:41 -0700 From: john meister Subject: [db] http://seattlegasprices.com/ http://seattlegasprices.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 18:51:10 -0400 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: Re: [db] E320CDI in todays LA Times Living near Chicago (100 miles east) we get Mateja's column every Sunday in the Trib. He has a mean streak in him against diesels (and a lot of other cars for that matter), so you discount most of his rantings. Edward Nick.Eckert-at-theaustin.com wrote: >In todays LA Times, Highway 1 section, they feature a cover story on the >E320 CDI, by Jim Mateja of the Chicago Times. > >Unfortunetly, you can tell the writer has never owned a diesel, through his >description of the trials and tribulations of diesel ownership such as >drinking a cup of coffee while waiting for the glow plugs to warm. > >Cheers, > >Nick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 18:56:08 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: [db] E320CDI in todays LA Times Hmmm, Perhaps he should apply at the New York Times. They are looking for new writers to replace the one fabricating stories. Its ok though. Why do we want other people to drive diesels? Let them pay outrageous pump prices and buy new cars constantly. The simple fact of the matter is there are only so many diesel cars. We don't want to drive the prices up. :) Robert Chase Edward Pomeroy wrote: > Living near Chicago (100 miles east) we get Mateja's column every > Sunday in the Trib. He has a mean streak in him against diesels (and a > lot of other cars for that matter), so you discount most of his rantings. > > Edward > > Nick.Eckert-at-theaustin.com wrote: > >> In todays LA Times, Highway 1 section, they feature a cover story on the >> E320 CDI, by Jim Mateja of the Chicago Times. >> >> Unfortunetly, you can tell the writer has never owned a diesel, >> through his >> description of the trials and tribulations of diesel ownership such as >> drinking a cup of coffee while waiting for the glow plugs to warm. >> >> Cheers, >> >> Nick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 22:54:07 -0700 From: john meister Subject: [db] fuel taxes extracted and sorted from: http://seattlegasprices.com/tax_info.asp I'm not sure I'm honored to live in a state that ranks so high in this area... :) subtitle: Georgia on my mind? ;) TAXES SORTED ON AMOUNT FOR DIESEL: - ----------------------------------- State Gasoline ("/g) Diesel ("/g) 1 Rhode Island 31 31 2 Pennsylvania 25.9 30.8 3 Florida 16.3 28.9 4 Montana 27.75 28.5 5 Washington 28 28 6 Kansas 25 27 7 Nevada 23 27 8 Connecticut 25 26 9 Vermont 20 26 10 Maine 24.6 25.7 11 Wisconsin 31.1 25.1 12 Idaho 25 25 13 Nebraska 25.5 24.9 14 California 26.2 24.7 15 Utah 24.5 24.5 16 Maryland 23.5 24.25 17 North Carolina 24.2 24.2 18 Ohio 24 24 19 Oregon 24 24 20 South Dakota 24 24 21 Iowa 21.3 23.5 22 Massachusetts 23.5 23.5 23 Arkansas 21.7 22.7 24 Delaware 23 22 25 Minnesota 22 22 26 Illinois 19 21.5 27 North Dakota 21 21 28 New York 22.6 20.85 29 New Hampshire 20.6 20.6 30 Colorado 22 20.5 31 West Virginia 20.5 20.5 32 Dist. of Columbia20 20 33 Louisiana 20 20 34 Texas 20 20 35 Alabama 18.3 19.3 36 Arizona 19 19 37 Indiana 18 19 38 New Mexico 18 19 39 Mississippi 18.4 18.4 40 Tennessee 21.4 18.4 41 New Jersey 14.5 17.5 42 Missouri 17 17 43 South Carolina 16.75 16.75 44 Virginia 18.1 16.6 45 Hawaii 16.1 16.1 46 Michigan 19.88 15.88 47 Wyoming 15 15 48 Oklahoma 17 14 49 Kentucky 16.4 13.4 50 Alaska 8 8 51 Georgia 7.5 7.5 TOP GAS TAX STATES: State Gasoline ("/g) Diesel ("/g) 1 Wisconsin 31.1 25.1 1 Rhode Island 31 31 2 Washington 28 28 3 Montana 27.75 28.5 4 California 26.2 24.7 5 Pennsylvania 25.9 30.8 6 Nebraska 25.5 24.9 7 Connecticut 25 26 8 Idaho 25 25 later, john ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 18:26:54 -0700 From: "Jeremy Bowne" Subject: [db] sold my 240D :( Sold my 240D last Saturday for $400.. running. Did I give it away? Car had about 200,000 miles under the belt, A/C didn't work, Blower fan didn't work, ONLY rust was on the hood. Jeremy ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 23:16:17 -0700 From: john meister Subject: Re: [db] sold my 240D :( hard to say, but I spotted an '82 300d that had been rear ended that runs for $200... going to look tomorrow... it's a non-turbo... thinking it'd be good for my son... hey derick, save me the back half of your 300d... drivers side rear fender, trunk lid... maybe rear door... :) john Jeremy Bowne wrote: > Sold my 240D last Saturday for $400.. running. > > Did I give it away? > > Car had about 200,000 miles under the belt, A/C didn't work, Blower fan > didn't work, ONLY rust was on the hood. > > Jeremy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 02:44:59 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: [db] fuel taxes Hmmm, Probably another reason I am driving around on $1.52 diesel. :) Our good ol boys gotta have their big pickups and SUV's so they can get to those Mason meetings and go huntin and fishin (sic). Robert Chase john meister wrote: > extracted and sorted from: > http://seattlegasprices.com/tax_info.asp > > I'm not sure I'm honored to live in a state > that ranks so high in this area... :) > > subtitle: Georgia on my mind? ;) > > > TAXES SORTED ON AMOUNT FOR DIESEL: > ----------------------------------- > > State Gasoline ("/g) Diesel ("/g) > 1 Rhode Island 31 31 > 2 Pennsylvania 25.9 30.8 > 3 Florida 16.3 28.9 > 4 Montana 27.75 28.5 > > 5 Washington 28 28 > > 6 Kansas 25 27 > 7 Nevada 23 27 > 8 Connecticut 25 26 > 9 Vermont 20 26 > 10 Maine 24.6 25.7 > 11 Wisconsin 31.1 25.1 > 12 Idaho 25 25 > 13 Nebraska 25.5 24.9 > 14 California 26.2 24.7 > 15 Utah 24.5 24.5 > 16 Maryland 23.5 24.25 > 17 North Carolina 24.2 24.2 > 18 Ohio 24 24 > 19 Oregon 24 24 > 20 South Dakota 24 24 > 21 Iowa 21.3 23.5 > 22 Massachusetts 23.5 23.5 > 23 Arkansas 21.7 22.7 > 24 Delaware 23 22 > 25 Minnesota 22 22 > 26 Illinois 19 21.5 > 27 North Dakota 21 21 > 28 New York 22.6 20.85 > 29 New Hampshire 20.6 20.6 > 30 Colorado 22 20.5 > 31 West Virginia 20.5 20.5 > 32 Dist. of Columbia20 20 > 33 Louisiana 20 20 > 34 Texas 20 20 > 35 Alabama 18.3 19.3 > 36 Arizona 19 19 > 37 Indiana 18 19 > 38 New Mexico 18 19 > 39 Mississippi 18.4 18.4 > 40 Tennessee 21.4 18.4 > 41 New Jersey 14.5 17.5 > 42 Missouri 17 17 > 43 South Carolina 16.75 16.75 > 44 Virginia 18.1 16.6 > 45 Hawaii 16.1 16.1 > 46 Michigan 19.88 15.88 > 47 Wyoming 15 15 > 48 Oklahoma 17 14 > 49 Kentucky 16.4 13.4 > 50 Alaska 8 8 > 51 Georgia 7.5 7.5 > > TOP GAS TAX STATES: > > State Gasoline ("/g) Diesel ("/g) > 1 Wisconsin 31.1 25.1 > 1 Rhode Island 31 31 > 2 Washington 28 28 > 3 Montana 27.75 28.5 > 4 California 26.2 24.7 > 5 Pennsylvania 25.9 30.8 > 6 Nebraska 25.5 24.9 > 7 Connecticut 25 26 > 8 Idaho 25 25 > > > later, > john ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 02:45:54 -0400 From: Robert Chase Subject: Re: [db] sold my 240D :( Butter Cup revisited? Robert Chase john meister wrote: > hard to say, but I spotted an '82 300d that had been rear ended > that runs for $200... going to look tomorrow... it's a non-turbo... > > thinking it'd be good for my son... hey derick, save me the back > half of your 300d... drivers side rear fender, trunk lid... maybe > rear door... :) > > john > > Jeremy Bowne wrote: > >> Sold my 240D last Saturday for $400.. running. >> >> Did I give it away? >> >> Car had about 200,000 miles under the belt, A/C didn't work, Blower fan >> didn't work, ONLY rust was on the hood. > > >> >> Jeremy ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 10:38:36 -0400 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: [db] 300D on eBay What am I missing here??? Are these people nuts or what?? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2478743514&category=6330 Jim/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 07:47:06 -0700 From: Nick.Eckert-at-theaustin.com Subject: [db] W123 Electrical Gremlins I started working on the electrical gremlins in my 240D last night and it seems that the The Prince of Darkness has a good foot hold on this vehicle. Issue confronted with: Right front parking light does not work Right front Head light 'weak' No high beams Theory: Weak ground Found: Some F**king P.O./idiot had cut the ground wires where they connect to the chassis ground behind the right front parking light!!!!! Solution: Strip wires ends, put new connectors on wires, unbolt useless chassis ground and throw away, bolt on wires. Solved: Right headlight is now shining bright and Right parking light now works. Did not solve: Highbeams still not working, but I did notice the electrical demon trying to escape from multifunction stalk. I quick turned the beasty off. That was enough for one night. Any thoughts on the high beam issue? Cheers, Nick 1961 Series II Land Rover 2.5TD Hybrid 1967 Series IIa Land Rover 5-door 1979 VW Wabbit Diesel "Gerbil" 1981 MB 240D - Grrrrrrrrr ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 09:58:01 -0500 From: "Vernon Tuck" Subject: Re: [db] 300D on eBay What am I missing here??? Are these people nuts or what?? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2478743514 &category=6330 Jim/ Well, Seen from my poor plebian perspective I'd be tempted to answer your second question in the affirmative, and the second, with the comments below. If the car has been locked in a time vault of low humidity perfection, as would appear to be the case, then $22,500 dollars, which you have now, in 2004, but are worth considerably less now, than they were in 1984, when they were worth considerably more, but didn't have 'em, will buy the car you couldn't afford then, at about the same price it likely sold for, when new. I'd rather plunk down $22,500 for THIS car than a new Lexus, even if the Lexus only cost $22,500, which, as we all know, costs way more. But all the above is nothing more than playing the debbils advocate. I would not pay $22,500 for a new Lexus, nor would I pay $22,500 for this car, either. My kink is grime in my knuckles and green in my pocket. Not shine. VT P.S. A little semantic enlightment for my readership. In Spanish, the word "abogado" means "advocate". It also means "lawyer". So, an alternate sub-meaning of "the devil's advocate" is "the devil's lawyer". That is all. As you were. Dismissed. Generalmssimo Tuck ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 10:05:37 -0500 From: "Vernon Tuck" Subject: Re: [db] W123 Electrical Gremlins Nick, I've had the best luck with a shotgun approach. Unbolt all ground connections. Shine 'em up with sandpaper or a steel wire brush. Re-install. Remove all fuses. Shine 'em up or replace 'em. Shine up the electrical contacts with a pencil eraser. Reinstall. And so on throughout the car, starting at the battery. While doing this keep an eye out for anomalous wiring disorders perpetrated by clueless PO's. Also, do not underestimate the ignition switch as being the source of all kinds of trouble. VT ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 11:58:26 -0400 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] W123 Electrical Gremlins I fully agree with Vern... My 240D did very similar things. I put a meter across the fuses (still in the holder) and they all showed good continuity... What up? I took them out and cleaned them with steel wool and the holders too. Everything worked fine! Those darned fuses are made of aluminum and the holders are steel? Anyway they corrode! The look fine but they ain't workin'! ;) Jim/ > Nick, > > I've had the best luck with a shotgun approach. > > Unbolt all ground connections. Shine 'em up with sandpaper or a steel wire > brush. Re-install. > > Remove all fuses. Shine 'em up or replace 'em. Shine up the electrical > contacts with a pencil eraser. Reinstall. > > And so on throughout the car, starting at the battery. > > While doing this keep an eye out for anomalous wiring disorders perpetrated > by clueless PO's. > > Also, do not underestimate the ignition switch as being the source of all > kinds of trouble. > > VT ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 12:05:27 -0400 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] 300D on eBay > What am I missing here??? Are these people nuts or what?? > > http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item$78743514&categoryc30 > > Jim/ > > > Well, > > Seen from my poor plebian perspective I'd be tempted to answer your second > question in the affirmative, and the second, with the comments below. > > If the car has been locked in a time vault of low humidity perfection, as > would appear to be the case, then $22,500 dollars, which you have now, in > 2004, but are worth considerably less now, than they were in 1984, when they > were worth considerably more, but didn't have 'em, will buy the car you > couldn't afford then, at about the same price it likely sold for, when new. > > I'd rather plunk down $22,500 for THIS car than a new Lexus, even if the > Lexus only cost $22,500, which, as we all know, costs way more. > > But all the above is nothing more than playing the debbils advocate. I > would not pay $22,500 for a new Lexus, nor would I pay $22,500 for this car, > either. > > My kink is grime in my knuckles and green in my pocket. Not shine. > > VT > > P.S. A little semantic enlightment for my readership. In Spanish, the word > "abogado" means "advocate". It also means "lawyer". > > So, an alternate sub-meaning of "the devil's advocate" is "the devil's > lawyer". > > That is all. > > As you were. > > Dismissed. > > Generalmssimo Tuck Well, we know that it wasn't sealed in some time capsule of perfect conditions. So gaskets, rubber, etc. have all deteriorated worse that if the thing had a half a million miles on it! So AFTER you spend the $22k (someone actually thinks it's worth 14K!) you'll have a few more *k* to put into it to make it stop leaking! ;) Jim/ ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1463 **********************************