Ditto. They are simple machines, minimal electronics, yet not sloppy...injection parts with micron toleraces that last FOREVER. After reading about the IP and realizing mine has been going for 211,000 with not a single problem - well, that just blows my mind. Diesel engines are beautiful in their simplicity AND tight tolerances. Then, enter Rudolf Diesel - he was an incredible visionary not only in engineering but in the social impact of his engine. I am having the first chapter of his book "Solidarismus" (on social questions) translated from German. HE is a fascinating man. Then my Germanophilia kicks in. I do believe that there is something about Germans, that make them excellent engineers. My boy-hood hero was Werner von Braun, chief designer of the Saturn V rocket, which I believe to this day is the most amazing engineering feat of all times, exp. considering the types of computers they had to work with at that time. I love German things - pens, watches, cigarettes, guns, cars, my wife (mädchen name ist Übersetzig) and I my self am 1/2 German (mothers side). There is probably no other thing besides an MB that better represents to the world the excellence of German engineering AND all the German virtues that contribute to making Germans great engineers. My car represents to me an entire ethos, my personal heritage and the greatness of the German people who have suffered so much this century yet managed to rebuild thier country in 15 years and the MB is a symbol of the greatness of such a nation. Then the driving experience, ms.300D expressed that perfectly. I am now disappointed that I only live 6 blocks from work - that old commute was a wonderful time for me. On Saturday night, I just took the 300TD out for a drive. It was awesome (also brought my personal top speed up to 112 mph until someone pulled in fron of me goinmg about 60.. 112 to 60 is NOT fun...but it was done as straight as an arrow). Not to sound like a Nazi, but that is why Hitler loved MB's. He wanted the VW for the people - something they could afford but his attraction to MB's was not because they were expensive (he, unlike Goering, shunned expenive ostentatious things for himself personally) but becuase they expressed, in his mind, the best car the "master race" could produce. Well, I don't believe in master races, but he was right in choosing MB! (to me a master race is going 112 in a 65 mph zone)! HA! I just received "Enduring Passion: The Story of the Mercedes Benz Brand" - you'll find it in the business section NOT the car section. It is a book about branding and explores why people are fanatical about MB's - lots of pics, lots of history - VERY nice book. Good look inside the company and how the comapny ran by engineers sold cars vs the new MB (which is no longer run by engineers in the same way) simply sell sars to sell them. I've heard the phrase "Mercedes, the love that never dies" I believe it - this book tries to figure out how MB did that - MORE OR LESS WITHOUT TRYING (until mid 90's when marketing took precidence over engineering) Lastly, THEY DON'T MAKE EM LIKE THEY USED TO. OK, If I hit the lottery, I might by an SLR-McLaren - maybe not. But short of that, I'm more than happy to stick by my 300SD, which I fully believe will be the last car I ever buy for myself. I WILL get that 5th 1,000,000 mile badge before I die. OK, enough for now, I'll be surprised if anyone has read this far! Chris
OK Don <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I like the total "mechanicalness" of the Diesels. The clatta - clatta is reassuring - you KNOW something is happening under the hood. I do miss that aspect of the 603 and 602 engines - too quiet. I like knowing that you can pull the battery out and still drive. I like having many fuel options, whether I exercise them or not. I love the mechanical engineering in these cars. The complex ACC systems are great when working properly, can be a real pain when not. -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK '90 300D 243K, Rattled '87 300SDL 290K, Limo Lite, or blue car '81 240D 173K, Gramps, or yellow car '78 450SLC 67K, brown car '97 Ply Grand Voyager 78K Van Go _______________________________________ http://www.striplin.net For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net Christopher McCann, Squier Park, Kansas City, Missouri -2005 Blue Point Siamese, "Rose" -1992 Volkswagen Golf, diesel, 185K km, "Nanook" -1987 300TD, 151K, "Rotkäppchen" -1985 300SD, 211K, "Wulf" -1976 240D, ?K, "AKP-Wagen" (Alternativen Kraftstoffs Prüfenlastwagen) -1972 Jacobsen 21" Turbo Vent -1971 Case 222 Hydrive, 12HP Kohler, 38" deck, Snowcaster, "One Banger" --------------------------------- Yahoo! Mail Bring photos to life! New PhotoMail makes sharing a breeze. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Feb 27 15:40:50 2006 Received: from mout.perfora.net ([217.160.230.40]) by server5.arterytc5.net with esmtp (Exim 4.52) id 1FDkUU-0007Am-5Q for [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mon, 27 Feb 2006 15:40:50 +0000 Received: from [172.19.56.75] (helo=pustefix133.perfora.net) by mrelay.perfora.net (node=mrelayus1) with ESMTP (Nemesis), id 0MKp2t-1FDkUS13Me-0005CS; Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:40:49 -0500 Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: Luther Gulseth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Priority: 3 X-Binford: 6100 (more power) X-Mailer: Webmail X-Originating-From: 31369297 X-Routing: US X-Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-Received: from pustefix133.perfora.net by 70.182.105.226 with HTTP id 31369297 for [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:40:47 EST Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 10:40:48 -0500 X-Antivirus-Scanner: Clean mail though you should still use an Antivirus Subject: Re: [MBZ] What is the most addictive thing about a Mercedes Diesel? X-BeenThere: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.6 Precedence: list Reply-To: Mercedes Discussion List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List-Id: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes_striplin.net.striplin.net> List-Unsubscribe: <http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List-Archive: <http://striplin.net/pipermail/mercedes_striplin.net> List-Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List-Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> List-Subscribe: <http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 15:40:50 -0000 Chris, you need to schedule a session with LT........ ~Ditto. They are simple machines, minimal electronics, yet not =20 ~sloppy...injection parts with micron toleraces that last FOREVER. After = =20 ~reading about the IP and realizing mine has been going for 211,000 with n= ot a=20 ~single problem - well, that just blows my mind. Diesel engines are beauti= ful=20 ~in their simplicity AND tight tolerances. ~ ~Christopher McCann, Squier Park, Kansas City, Missouri ~-2005 Blue Point Siamese, "Rose" ~-1992 Volkswagen Golf, diesel, 185K km, "Nanook" ~-1987 300TD, 151K, "Rotk=E4ppchen" ~-1985 300SD, 211K, "Wulf"=20 ~-1976 240D, ?K, "AKP-Wagen" (Alternativen Kraftstoffs Pr=FCfenlastwagen) ~-1972 Jacobsen 21" Turbo Vent ~-1971 Case 222 Hydrive, 12HP Kohler, 38" deck, Snowcaster, "One Banger" ~=09=09 ~--------------------------------- --=20 Luther KB5QHU=20 Alma, Ark=20 '83 300SD (231,xxx kmi)=20 '82 300CD (159,222 kmi)=20 '82 300D (74,000 kmi) needs MAJOR work
