From owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Thu Mar 10 14:05:43 2005 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Thursday, March 10 2005 Volume 01 : Number 1769 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 [db] misc stats Re: [db] Good Machine Shop on SF Peninsula? Re: [db] W201 vs W124 [db] vehicle dimensions [db] biodiesel in seattle Re: [db] W201 vs W124 Re: [db] W201 vs W124 Re: [db] W201 vs W124 Re: [db] today's stats Re: [db] biodiesel in seattle Re: [db] W201 vs W124 Re: [db] biodiesel in seattle Re: [db] W201 vs W124 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, 9 Mar 2005 20:59:27 -0500 From: "wmpless" Subject: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 FWIW After the initial problems with contaminated fuel must say I enjoy driving the 86 190D 2.5L non-turbo,atm now.. For driving at normal speeds in the suburbs the power is adequate and same goes for traveling on the highway. With new Bilsteins the road holding is good and unproblematic. If you look at the dimensions the 190 in the front is nearly identical with the W124. However, rear seats only suitable for children. Fuel consumption at least 1l less per 100KM and who knows what the price of diesel will be in a couple of years. Also guess a used 190D cheaper to buy than a W124. Would buy a W124 only if I need more space in the rear. Which model rates better in accidents???. The W 124 also costs more to insure. Cheers ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 21:03:03 -0500 (EST) From: john Subject: [db] misc stats Wed Mar 9, 2005 - Seattle, WA fuel prices: exit 186 I-5 reg unleaded $2.17 Diesel $2.75 (can find it for 2.09/2.69 elsewhere) temp on Tuesday 8 March 2005 in Seattle at 10pm was 61 degrees... it's in the 60's again today. But what's interesting is precipitation: we have / normal Tuesday 0.00 0.13 This Month 0.16 1.06 Since 10/1 16.10 25.08 Since 1/1 5.80 10.37 meanwhile I hear that "sunny" SoCal has had over 30" of rain... :) john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 02:04:15 +0000 From: Bruce Caruthers Subject: Re: [db] Good Machine Shop on SF Peninsula? My wife and I had good experiences with a place called Helmings when we lived down there (we're talking less than two years ago -- we used them for several years). This is where we are planning to take my wife's old car for a checkover before we drive it up here to Seattle in a few weeks. Helming's Auto Repair 2520-G Wyandotte Street (San Antonio exit of 101) Mountain View, CA 94043 Not sure which of these is the more "current" number: 650/988-0460 650/494-0908 Cheers, -bkc Lynnwood, WA '76 MB 240D '00 MB ML320 On Wed Mar 09, 2005, Jerome Kaidor wrote: > > Anybody know of a good machine shop on the San Francisco Peninsula or > thereabouts? I need to get a valve job etc done on a Jaguar cylinder head. > I used to use Al Leist in San Mateo, but the phone's been disconnected, and > I guess they're out of business.... ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 21:12:15 -0500 (EST) From: john Subject: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Kevin Pekarek wrote: >-->Tire pressure does make a difference. There was some trick the previous >-->owner of my 300D mentioned about not having the pressures the same >-->front to rear. Can't remember offhand, suppose I could just check the >-->car and let you know what he set it at. to induce oversteer in an american car typically one increases the tire pressure in the front and reduces it in the rear. I used to run my mustangs with 3 to 4 lbs difference and it helped a lot. >-->If you're only getting into a mild four wheel drift, you're not leaning >-->on it hard enough. Then again, I don't have an audible g-meter sitting >-->in the passenger seat :) oh, there is no way I would ever be permitted to enter any form of four wheel drift it the audible g-meter were installed. :) unless of course you count flying objects inside the cabin. :) >-->While understeer has never been a problem with my american iron, none >-->of them are necessarily well behaved - manhandling is often required. you must be dealing with newer equipment... ;) >-->Wonder if JB's noticed his 95 300D as being noseheavy, or if it isn't as bad >-->for him because he came from a noseheavy 123 coupe... he really doesn't have any real fun roads on his commute... some nice scenery though... very picturesque, but I'll take the west coast anyway. :) john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 21:31:01 -0500 (EST) From: john Subject: [db] vehicle dimensions Mercedes Dimensions Mdl - WB - length - Width ============================ 123 110.0 186.0 70.3 124 110.0 186.6 68.5 126 115.6 202.6 71.6 201 104.9 175.0 66.1 JEEPS: Mdl - WB - length - Width ============================ Willys 104 174.0 72.0 SJ 108.7 186.5 75.6 XJ 101.4 165.3 70.5 ZJ 105.9 177.2 70.9 WJ 105.9 181.5 72.3 TJ 93.4 152.8 68.2 J10 118.8 194.0 78.9 ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 21:47:17 -0500 (EST) From: john Subject: [db] biodiesel in seattle there's one up in ballard too, they were selling at close to $3.00 prepaid as well... thanx, john On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Jim Blair wrote: >-->They are on the way to W Seattle. I just called over there and it seems they >-->are a co-operative where people buy their fuel in advance. They are >-->currently overwhelmed with applications and have changed their sign to >-->reflect this in the past couple days. >--> >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 21:50:50 -0600 From: Sam Williams Subject: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 John, Tire pressures have a big effect on handling. Check MB recommendation and maintain that differential between front and rear. I usually run my 300 at 28 front 31 rear--that feels best to me for normal driving. 201s might do better with different pressures. Experiment and test on your favorite on-ramp. Pressure varies with temperature; once you find ideal feel, check pressure next morning with cold tires and use that as your standard. The little compressors that plug into lighter socket are handy for such testing. Have fun, Sam On Wed, 2005-03-09 at 18:36 -0500, john wrote: > On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Kevin Pekarek wrote: > >-->throttle). I can fling the 190D around and it goes exactly where I want it > >-->to. The 190D has better balance as well, the 300D feels incredibly nose > >-->heavy. The 300D is still remarkable, but you notice the extra weight in > >-->braking and in cornering. And my 300D has sportline swaybars, my 190D > >-->is stock. > >-->The ride of the W124 is much better than the 190D, though. > > I found out that tire pressure makes an incredible difference in the > handling of my 124. I recently had all the BF Goodrich Traction T/As > replaced (and the four wheel alignment, again) and Discount tire pumped > the pressure up to either 32 or 35 psi all the way around... I can > tell the ride difference and figured it might help economy so I'm > leaving it for now... > > However, heading to church Sunday I took one of my favorite on ramps > at the speed limit and noticed the dreaded understeer and could feel > the front tires slipping... whereas before the entire car would > go into a mild and controlled four wheel drift. > > I'll drop the pressure down to the recommended "full load" and > try it again next Sunday. :) > > Either way, the understeer was mild and well behaved, unlike most > american iron. > > btw, the speed limit is 45 mph, right hand turn... I think the > difference between the 201 and the 124 isn't that significant in > the handling department... speed limits just ain't high enough in > the states to separate them by much. ;) > > john > > ---- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** > Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2005 23:00:30 -0500 (EST) From: john Subject: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 oh yeah, I know Sam. proved it again to myself Sunday. ;) not sure why the tire companies fill the tires to the max rating... kind of annoying... must be because of all those clueless "suv" owners of ford explorers that blow tires because they don't bother to keep them inflated, flip 'em and kill someone... john On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Sam Williams wrote: >-->John, >--> >-->Tire pressures have a big effect on handling. Check MB recommendation >-->and maintain that differential between front and rear. I usually run my >-->300 at 28 front 31 rear--that feels best to me for normal driving. 201s >-->might do better with different pressures. Experiment and test on your >-->favorite on-ramp. >--> >-->Pressure varies with temperature; once you find ideal feel, check >-->pressure next morning with cold tires and use that as your standard. >-->The little compressors that plug into lighter socket are handy for such >-->testing. >--> >-->Have fun, >--> >-->Sam >--> >-->On Wed, 2005-03-09 at 18:36 -0500, john wrote: >-->> On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Kevin Pekarek wrote: >-->> >-->throttle). I can fling the 190D around and it goes exactly where I want it >-->> >-->to. The 190D has better balance as well, the 300D feels incredibly nose >-->> >-->heavy. The 300D is still remarkable, but you notice the extra weight in >-->> >-->braking and in cornering. And my 300D has sportline swaybars, my 190D >-->> >-->is stock. >-->> >-->The ride of the W124 is much better than the 190D, though. >-->> >-->> I found out that tire pressure makes an incredible difference in the >-->> handling of my 124. I recently had all the BF Goodrich Traction T/As >-->> replaced (and the four wheel alignment, again) and Discount tire pumped >-->> the pressure up to either 32 or 35 psi all the way around... I can >-->> tell the ride difference and figured it might help economy so I'm >-->> leaving it for now... >-->> >-->> However, heading to church Sunday I took one of my favorite on ramps >-->> at the speed limit and noticed the dreaded understeer and could feel >-->> the front tires slipping... whereas before the entire car would >-->> go into a mild and controlled four wheel drift. >-->> >-->> I'll drop the pressure down to the recommended "full load" and >-->> try it again next Sunday. :) >-->> >-->> Either way, the understeer was mild and well behaved, unlike most >-->> american iron. >-->> >-->> btw, the speed limit is 45 mph, right hand turn... I think the >-->> difference between the 201 and the 124 isn't that significant in >-->> the handling department... speed limits just ain't high enough in >-->> the states to separate them by much. ;) >-->> >-->> john >-->> >-->> ---- >-->> >-->> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >-->> ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** >-->> Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. >-->> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- >--> >--> ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 10:20:02 -0500 From: "J.B. Hebert" Subject: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 >Wonder if JB's noticed his 95 300D as being noseheavy, or if it isn't as bad >for him because he came from a noseheavy 123 coupe... > >K My car is certainly nose heavy, but I'm used to nose heavy cars (see list below). The coupe was nose heavy, too, but the E300D seems a little more so. I have a suspicion that it is more a case of the rear end being lighter than the front end being heavier, though. And despite the weight bias, the 124 chassis still handles and rides very well (much better than the 123, which is no slouch). This spring I am upgrading to Bilstein HDs and Sportline bars, as well as some 17" rims, which should make it even better. J.B. Hebert - ---------------------------------------------- Current Vehicles: '76 Ford Bronco '78 Volvo 262C Bertone V8 '80 Alpina B7 Turbo Coupe '82 Mercedes 300CD (Deceased) '93 GMC Sierra 2500 '95 Mercedes E300D ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 12:16:49 -0500 From: "Black, Waylon" Subject: Re: [db] today's stats 447.7 miles on 18.864 gallons -at- $2.09(39.60). The real bummer is I stopped at the SAME station where the diesel was $2.05 THAT morning. Mileage has dropped to 23.7 - normally gets 25. Or 11.3 miles to the dollar. Wow - it costs me $8.32 to go to and from work each day - reality check. Time to install some VW 1.6 diesels in the Rampage/Omni/Chargers, as I drive about 85 miles a day. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 10:17:10 -0800 (PST) From: hue wong Subject: Re: [db] biodiesel in seattle So, after getting sticker shock at the pump the other day and realizing that the "summer price jump" isn't even here yet, I've decided to take the jump and do a full veggie oil conversion on my 300td this year. So can anyone point me in the right direction for some god info on this project? any estimates on the overa ll cost of said project? >From what I've read... is it really as easy as plumbing in another tank in the trunk and replacing some of the hoses and seals? I would like the ability to still run #2, but those free 55 gallons of used vegi oil three blocks away at the local burger joint each week as opposed to $3.00 a gallon number 2 is just to enticing! Thanks all! - --- john wrote: > there's one up in ballard too, they were selling > at close to $3.00 prepaid as well... > > thanx, > john > > On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Jim Blair wrote: > > >-->They are on the way to W Seattle. I just called > over there and it seems they > >-->are a co-operative where people buy their fuel > in advance. They are > >-->currently overwhelmed with applications and have > changed their sign to > >-->reflect this in the past couple days. > >--> > >--> > > ---- > > - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** > http://freegift.net ** > Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't > rust, they mold. > - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 10:19:03 -0800 From: Kevin Pekarek Subject: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 On Thu, Mar 10, 2005 at 10:20:02AM -0500, J.B. Hebert wrote: > My car is certainly nose heavy, but I'm used to nose heavy cars (see list > below). The coupe was nose heavy, too, but the E300D seems a little more > so. I have a suspicion that it is more a case of the rear end being > lighter than the front end being heavier, though. And despite the weight > bias, the 124 chassis still handles and rides very well (much better than > the 123, which is no slouch). This spring I am upgrading to Bilstein HDs > and Sportline bars, as well as some 17" rims, which should make it even > better. The sportline bars will make a difference, even with stock 15" wheels. I think you have 16" wheels though. My 300D didn't come as a sportline, but the previous owner (IIRC, you know Brian) swapped in sportline bars while he was fiddling with the suspension. I can't remember what shocks he put in, whether they were bilstein HDs or comforts. Judging by the ride, I'd bet they are comforts. The car handles quite well for its weight with them, and eats up miles without causing driver fatigue - something you might be interested in as a fellow road warrior. I've been meaning to ask him what shocks he put in, though I suppose I could just look at them and tell if I knew what the external differences were. K ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 13:37:15 -0500 From: "Jim Hoffman" Subject: Re: [db] biodiesel in seattle Well, I'm going to stay away from SVO... To much monkeyin' around with heaters, etc. Now, I may opt to *brew* my own, with the lye and methanol but I haven't had time to make my *stil* yet ;) Either way, my MAIN problem is gelling in the winter. Whether I buy some soy biodiesel from my local co-op or brew my own, biodiesel gells just under 32 degrees. Conventional anti-gel additives don't work on biodiesel. I've been told by a chemist to use Anhydrous or "200 proof" denatured alcohol. Or Methanol/Methyl Alcohol. Anyone in cold climates tried blending these components to biodiesel? Thanks! Jim/ P.S. I know I can *cut* it with dino diesel but I don't want to do that. > --- john wrote: > > there's one up in ballard too, they were selling > > at close to $3.00 prepaid as well... > > > > thanx, > > john > > > > On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Jim Blair wrote: > > > > >-->They are on the way to W Seattle. I just called > > over there and it seems they > > >-->are a co-operative where people buy their fuel > > in advance. They are > > >-->currently overwhelmed with applications and have > > changed their sign to > > >-->reflect this in the past couple days. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 14:04:07 -0500 From: "J.B. Hebert" Subject: Re: [db] W201 vs W124 At 01:19 PM 3/10/2005, you wrote: >On Thu, Mar 10, 2005 at 10:20:02AM -0500, J.B. Hebert wrote: > > My car is certainly nose heavy, but I'm used to nose heavy cars (see list > > below). The coupe was nose heavy, too, but the E300D seems a little more > > so. I have a suspicion that it is more a case of the rear end being > > lighter than the front end being heavier, though. And despite the weight > > bias, the 124 chassis still handles and rides very well (much better than > > the 123, which is no slouch). This spring I am upgrading to Bilstein HDs > > and Sportline bars, as well as some 17" rims, which should make it even > > better. > >The sportline bars will make a difference, even with stock 15" wheels. I think >you have 16" wheels though. Yeah, I've got Dunlop Wintersport M3's on 16" CLK rims for winter duty. Planning on putting some 17" AMG split spoke rims from a C32 on it with Kumho Ecsta Supras for summer duty. >My 300D didn't come as a sportline, but the previous owner (IIRC, you know >Brian) swapped in sportline bars while he was fiddling with the suspension. >I can't remember what shocks he put in, whether they were bilstein HDs or >comforts. Judging by the ride, I'd bet they are comforts. The car handles >quite well for its weight with them, and eats up miles without causing driver >fatigue - something you might be interested in as a fellow road warrior. > >I've been meaning to ask him what shocks he put in, though I suppose I could >just look at them and tell if I knew what the external differences were. > >K I switched from comforts to HD's on my coupe, and it made a terrific improvement. Most noticeably, initial body roll during emergency lane change type maneuvers was drastically reduced. Overall harshness was not significantly increased, and they tended to suck up nasty bumps and potholes without bottoming a lot better than the comforts. I could get air over one set of train tracks and the HD's still didn't bottom. :) I'm hoping that the HD's will compliment the 124 chassis' advanced suspension design as well. J.B. ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #1769 **********************************