Barton is back - hooray.
From: Barton Fiske Gmail <barton.fiske@gmail.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 2, 2012 2:06 PM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Don't Be Afraid To Try
Been a while since I've posted - hopefully this will give some hope to this community - either in my "success" at keeping one of these running, or in the schaudenfreude of knowing most of you have probably spent less than I have (so far)….
I'm probably nearing $10k over 3 yrs into my '84 300SD…but I've only done 1/10th of the repairs myself, so to some degree I have myself to blame for the price tag (I originally paid $800 for a rusty shell w/ good motor, and $800 for a nice shell with a seized motor and a $300 in transport costs from PA to MA - so I'd already spent $2K and could not (safely) drive either car).
Perhaps a third of the remaining cost has been "elective surgery". Had the bumpers and a few scratches and dings repaired, really nice, new, all season radials on 15" rims, had the vacuum controls gone through as much as could be to get heat in all the right places, etc.
Additional (expensive and non-optional) repairs included a good portion of the front suspension including power steering replacement and brakes/rotors/pads/bearings all around after about 5K miles back on the road and finding out what was really worn and what was still serviceable.
Yes, there are some really nice 300SD's out there for half that price - but then I would have to start over on the cost meter fixing whatever inevitably needs fixing on that car, and in three years time, likely to be near the same amount (assuming I still don't do the repairs myself).
The most recent repair finally solved my distressing vibration on acceleration - turned out it was the center driveshaft support bearing. Symptom was a pretty nasty wobble down the centerline of the car when accelerating into all but final drive. In general, parts are still cheap - but labor is not, assuming you can find someone who still knows how to do the work and is actually willing to. Replacing that bearing and getting things right took a lot more labor than the parts total would suggest. But it now accelerates smoothly and I don't get chills up my spine wondering if the driveshaft is about to snap. My honest hope right now is that the major repairs are done (for a while…. :^)
To be clear, the issues have never really been the motor. It's been lots of other things, but that motor lives up to the legend - about to turn over 288K mi and still getting a solid 23.5MPG, sometimes 25MPG or more if it's a long trip and not much weight in the car, no AC, fair winds, etc, etc. No blue smoke, only a few drops of oil per day from what is likely the rear main seal, or more hopefully, a seeping valve cover gasket (reminding me it's time to get the valves adjusted).
Also, there's (still) no rust on this car - and it's been here in salt-loving New England and on the road for almost 3 years. This year I'm considering the undercarriage oil spray - you can still get it done if you find the right garage in NH or more likely VT, forget about anywhere here in MA.
My son (who I built the car for in the first place) is now regularly driving the car - he loves it. He's learned a lot about cars by now, and he can confidently drive our stick shift cars as well - one new, one almost 34 years old. In it's current condition, I'd take the 300 SD anywhere…..but now I've got my son looking on the web for newer/better versions of this one - and he's spotted a black 300SDL w/ ABS and airbags near LAX for $9K…don't think I've got the time or interest to chase that one down - looks nice, but I"ll pass.
I figure the average new car (financed for an average 3.5 yrs) runs about $500/mo in payments alone - and that's a lower end VW, NOT a new Mercedes.
That's $21K spent in (just over) the same time it's taken me to spend $10k. Would I love a new Mercedes? Sure thing. Do I want to pay for a new Mercedes? Not at this stage in my earning profile - it's money thrown away as far as I'm concerned. Kudos to those that can afford it, but congrats to those of us who can retain much of the style and safety w/out all the electronics and insane maintenance costs (although the lack of an airbag still gives me pause)….
cheers,
-Barton
------------------------------------
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brian from laverne, ca
Mary (195K) Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's
Mary (195K) Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's
From: Barton Fiske Gmail <barton.fiske@gmail.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, September 2, 2012 2:06 PM
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Don't Be Afraid To Try
Been a while since I've posted - hopefully this will give some hope to this community - either in my "success" at keeping one of these running, or in the schaudenfreude of knowing most of you have probably spent less than I have (so far)….
I'm probably nearing $10k over 3 yrs into my '84 300SD…but I've only done 1/10th of the repairs myself, so to some degree I have myself to blame for the price tag (I originally paid $800 for a rusty shell w/ good motor, and $800 for a nice shell with a seized motor and a $300 in transport costs from PA to MA - so I'd already spent $2K and could not (safely) drive either car).
Perhaps a third of the remaining cost has been "elective surgery". Had the bumpers and a few scratches and dings repaired, really nice, new, all season radials on 15" rims, had the vacuum controls gone through as much as could be to get heat in all the right places, etc.
Additional (expensive and non-optional) repairs included a good portion of the front suspension including power steering replacement and brakes/rotors/pads/bearings all around after about 5K miles back on the road and finding out what was really worn and what was still serviceable.
Yes, there are some really nice 300SD's out there for half that price - but then I would have to start over on the cost meter fixing whatever inevitably needs fixing on that car, and in three years time, likely to be near the same amount (assuming I still don't do the repairs myself).
The most recent repair finally solved my distressing vibration on acceleration - turned out it was the center driveshaft support bearing. Symptom was a pretty nasty wobble down the centerline of the car when accelerating into all but final drive. In general, parts are still cheap - but labor is not, assuming you can find someone who still knows how to do the work and is actually willing to. Replacing that bearing and getting things right took a lot more labor than the parts total would suggest. But it now accelerates smoothly and I don't get chills up my spine wondering if the driveshaft is about to snap. My honest hope right now is that the major repairs are done (for a while…. :^)
To be clear, the issues have never really been the motor. It's been lots of other things, but that motor lives up to the legend - about to turn over 288K mi and still getting a solid 23.5MPG, sometimes 25MPG or more if it's a long trip and not much weight in the car, no AC, fair winds, etc, etc. No blue smoke, only a few drops of oil per day from what is likely the rear main seal, or more hopefully, a seeping valve cover gasket (reminding me it's time to get the valves adjusted).
Also, there's (still) no rust on this car - and it's been here in salt-loving New England and on the road for almost 3 years. This year I'm considering the undercarriage oil spray - you can still get it done if you find the right garage in NH or more likely VT, forget about anywhere here in MA.
My son (who I built the car for in the first place) is now regularly driving the car - he loves it. He's learned a lot about cars by now, and he can confidently drive our stick shift cars as well - one new, one almost 34 years old. In it's current condition, I'd take the 300 SD anywhere…..but now I've got my son looking on the web for newer/better versions of this one - and he's spotted a black 300SDL w/ ABS and airbags near LAX for $9K…don't think I've got the time or interest to chase that one down - looks nice, but I"ll pass.
I figure the average new car (financed for an average 3.5 yrs) runs about $500/mo in payments alone - and that's a lower end VW, NOT a new Mercedes.
That's $21K spent in (just over) the same time it's taken me to spend $10k. Would I love a new Mercedes? Sure thing. Do I want to pay for a new Mercedes? Not at this stage in my earning profile - it's money thrown away as far as I'm concerned. Kudos to those that can afford it, but congrats to those of us who can retain much of the style and safety w/out all the electronics and insane maintenance costs (although the lack of an airbag still gives me pause)….
cheers,
-Barton
------------------------------------
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<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
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<*> To change settings online go to:
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(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
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<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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