From owner-diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Sun Aug 21 22:49:33 2011 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Monday, August 22 2011 Volume 01 : Number 3463 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: [db] 124 again [db] put the popcorn down... [db] leather? [db] Euro headlights 124 - Deze advertentie mag u niet missen! (fwd) [db] Soon, all Diesel fleet Re: [db] Soon, all Diesel fleet [db] comparing two 300Ds - question on tires Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request@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: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 03:20:45 +0000 From: john Subject: [db] 124 again Bought it. On I-5. :) __john_at_http://wagoneers.com__ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 22:55:46 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] put the popcorn down... ...nothing to see here... just another car in the driveway... :) just bought a very nice 1987 Mercedes 300D... 238,000 miles... paint is better than what was on my '91 300D! the guy was the 2nd owner... has the original window sticker, purchased at Phil Smart here in Seattle! whoo hoo... a local car to boot!!! original windshield in it too... amazingly clean... http://johnmeister.com/DieselBenz/CARS/1987-300D-WA/ALL.html didn't really plan on buying it... was just going to look at it, then at another one on the way back home and another one on Monday... but it was just too good to pass up... before I knew it we were writing a check and signing papers... Selling one of the Jettas for home improvement projects... the 300D is not perfect... need to charge the a/c, the compressor was just replaced, the trip odometer, clock and outside temp don't work... but the cruise control did, all the windows, sunroof... has new bridgestone tires, new brembo slotted rotors and brakes, fresh fuel filters, only 238k miles on it... owner claims 37 highway, 35 mpg combined rural... it's the 3.0L I-6. The engine pulls steady and smooth, not as radical as the Jetta's TDIs, it's smoother and relentless... It may need shocks, it does float and wander a lot more than I remember my '91... but it doesn't have the expensive auto leveling system... so it's normal "shocks". Driving it home was like sitting in my leather recliner (even though it has MBTex ;). I'd forgotten that some cars can drive over manual covers without feeling them... We've decided to keep the white '02 Jetta TDI with the automatic for my wife. So it looks like my '03 Jetta TDI wagon will be going up for sale as soon as I get all my stuff out of it and the a/c working in the "new" benz. Hopefully will have it ready for sale by next weekend. The Silver 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon has a 5 speed, with a new 11mm pump, glow plugs, timing belt, water pump and fuel injectors (the Injection pump is 11mm vs. the stock 10mm so it has around 20% more power) It has gotten 48mpg with this new pump, it did about 52 mpg with the old pump. It averaged 45 mpg on the trip in May to Chicago cruising at the legal limit all the way even in the Rockies. Cruise and a/c and all electricals work as designed. Mechanically it's in outstanding condition and will roast the front tires. In 3rd gear you can go from 30 mph or so to 70 mph in a very short period of time... I call it the perfect merging gear. And there's two left after that one... I don't know when 4th ends... I know that passing at 70mph going up hill you can go from 5th to 4th and be doing over 90mph before your wife asks why you're going so fast... the tach wasn't near redline yet... in the Rockies, up hill!!! ...so someone without a wife needs to buy this and tell me what 4th and 5th gear top speeds are. :) It has the Panzer skid plate, and a new oil pan, new brakes in front, good tires, air lifts in the rear, a hitch, it's full leather (black) with the Monsoon stereo, GLS trim, heated seats... good tires, silverstar bulbs, moonroof, etc. Has the factory key fob for remote entry / alarm. It's been getting right around 40mpg on the commute to work. It's a great little car with just TWO issues: 1) it's a manual and there are times that my back has started to mess up and if I'd been stuck in traffic I would have had to pull over... that and my wife can't drive a stick... and then 2) it has about $2k in body damage... I've owned it for over a year and it's not extremely noticeable, and when someone asks and you say you bought it that way it's the end of the story. If it didn't have the damage I could ask close to $11k and likely get close to that... so I'm going to ask $8.5K. Delivery is possible for fuel/lodging and return tickets... ;) Oh, it has 145,000 miles on it. I'll miss it... but after just driving this '87 300D over 100 miles, not much... :) It is a german built estate... john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -o|||||o- fahrvergnugen y'all Snohomish, Washington - where Jeeps and VWs don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 http://JohnMeister.com HTTP://WAGONEERS.COM http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 20 Aug 2011 23:21:30 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] leather? http://johnmeister.com/DieselBenz/CARS/1987-300D-WA/jm7_2918-c-1987-300D-sticker.jpg the invoice says leather... there's a little tear, terrible cell phone picture: http://johnmeister.com/DieselBenz/CARS/1987-300D-WA/originals/2011-08-20_09-29-20_363_2011-08-20.jpg john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -o|||||o- fahrvergnugen y'all Snohomish, Washington - where Jeeps and VWs don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 http://JohnMeister.com HTTP://WAGONEERS.COM http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:51:31 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] Euro headlights 124 - Deze advertentie mag u niet missen! (fwd) ok, starting the hunt for European Lights for my '87 300D. Also need a trip odometer, outside temp display, clock, dash lights and likely shocks and rear end bushings... recommendations for shocks? prefer to buy OEM parts... will contact Phil Smart tomorrow... this body is nearly perfect, just some minor damage to the right rear, very minor... my wife also wants me to remove the dark tint on the front windows... I tend to agree... it's hard enough to see here in winter in the rain without tinted windows. any tips on clean removal? I have a harbor fright heat gun and boxes of single edged blades. below, my friend from Holland found a link for new Euro lights, will look for a US source first... john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -o|||||o- fahrvergnugen y'all Snohomish, Washington - where Jeeps and VWs don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 http://JohnMeister.com HTTP://WAGONEERS.COM http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Beste John, Stef wil u graag op de hoogte brengen van een advertentie op Marktplaats. Bekijk de advertentie 'Nieuwe koplampen w124 L/R' via onderstaande link: http://auto-onderdelen.marktplaats.nl/mercedes-benz-onderdelen/476397574-nieuwe-koplampen-w124-l-r.html Bericht van Stef: John, see this advertisement, New headlights for the W124 a EUR50 per part. Those headlights are brand-new. Met vriendelijke groet, Het Marktplaats team http://www.marktplaats.nl ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:51:58 +0000 From: john Subject: [db] Soon, all Diesel fleet She hasn't driven the 300D yet, so she's thinking it's mine. She wants me to put euro lights on it and the tint off the windows. She plans to drive the white jetta, smaller easier to drive. Since I like both it doesn't matter to me. Both have a/c, automatics and Diesels. :) So we now have a nice pair (set) of German Diesels. Superdawg will match my benz nicely color-wise. Likely scenario is she'll end up with the benz and me with the dawg. Works for me any one of the three possibilities. :). I can now see us going down to two nice, automatic, simple and reliable Diesels, both capable of wvo/biod use. The jetta has a computer, fussy fuel requirements. The sd33t and the om603 engines are both straight sixes with serviceable IPs. Have been into a 602 IP several times, the 603 is just one more set of o-rings. That om603.960 is good, so long as it's not overheated or damaged by the trap oxidizer. Trying to understand why the car was sold with leather seats but has mbtex. Will miss the little jetta wagon, it's a superb car with lots of power, economy and comfort. Won't miss the manual trans or front wheel drive. :) Guess this kind of preempts my desire to put an MB Diesel in a tj/wj/xj. Nice to know there are kits (koch engineering) to do it. And of course if anything happens to my 300D... - ------Original Message------ From: Terry-au To: J Subject: Sent: Aug 21, 2011 14:30 Nice looking Benz mate, knew it wouldn't be long before Becky got her coach back. Congrats Becky on your new car, hope you love it. Terry. __john_at_http://wagoneers.com__ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 23:13:59 +0000 From: john Subject: Re: [db] Soon, all Diesel fleet Excellent question Ron. There are indeed benefits to FWD, traction and economy along with increased passenger floor space. However, the issues with torque steer and the impact on steering when accelerating or decelerating, especially on a curve, or on icy roads. In addition, there is inherent under steer with FWD. The front tires will tend to plough straight through a corner unless you really get on it and power out, assuming you have the power to overcome the understeer and enough traction. There is also the question of balance and weight distribution. A FWD car is often biased toward the front. This is not to say that a FWD car can not be designed well to overcome these issues, but they can never be fully eliminated without also adding power to the rear wheels as they've done with suburas and audis. I found that FWD on the older mkI vw's provided superb traction in snow, but the mkIV does not share that trait. That and it's kind of a cultural thing. I grew up with pony and muscle cars. I'm used to having the rear end break lose under full power and LOVE controlled oversteer, controlled by the loud pedal. While my jetta can smoke the front tires it can't wag its tail. ;). Since are roads up here are usually wet I have plenty of opportunity for controlled tail wagging. Like I said, it's a cultural thing. Viva le pony-power. Viva le sideways driving. Won't miss fighting the steering wheel when under full throttle. - ------Original Message------ From: Renaud (Ron) Olgiati To: J Subject: Re: [db] Soon, all Diesel fleet Sent: Aug 21, 2011 15:36 On Sunday 21 Aug 2011 17:51 my mailbox was graced by a message from john who wrote: > Won't miss the front wheel drive. :) Why ? Cheers, Ron. - -- La vraie science et la vraie itude de l'homme, c'est l'homme. -- Pierre Charron -- http://www.olgiati-in-paraguay.org -- __john_at_http://wagoneers.com__ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:48:21 -0700 (PDT) From: john Subject: [db] comparing two 300Ds - question on tires http://fotomeister.us/2011/08-Aug-21-300Ds-mac/ALL.html found a creative repair for the left turn signal assembly: http://fotomeister.us/2011/08-Aug-21-300Ds-mac/JM7_2958_2011-08-21.jpg trying to decide if I should swap tires around. http://fotomeister.us/2011/08-Aug-21-300Ds-mac/tires-195r65-15/ the 300D has Bridgestone Potenzas - said he put them on last fall, but the rear look worn... the TDI sedan has BFG Traction T/As - about a year? the TDI wagon has Arizonian Silver Editions - brand new selling the TDI wagon... but thinking I may switch tires around.... thoughts? all three tires seem to have good tread... the rear on the benz may be worn, need to check thread depth... the traction T/As seem to have a lot of tread all the way around... so maybe if I change anything I should put the new Arizonians on the Benz? should weigh about 3,460 lbs according to the stickers... wonder if an S rated tire will be ok... I think I may have found some decent Euro lights on ebay... and one set includes the turn signal light... ;) john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -o|||||o- fahrvergnugen y'all Snohomish, Washington - where Jeeps and VWs don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 http://JohnMeister.com HTTP://WAGONEERS.COM http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #3463 **********************************