Thanks Tom. You are fortunate to have that 240 with those low miles. Mine, at 121k when purchased, seemed to be a great thing - "just a baby" - someone said. And it certainly would seem that your 300 was a good experience too.
Actually I have already R&R'd the starter and it was very simple. The only problem, in fact, was physically extracting the thing from the engine compartment. The first time I did it I struggled a good while but got it. The second time I failed to get it lifted out, even though I rotated it like I did before. Fortunately, the engine was shot and it was no problem to just go ahead and yank off a radiator hose to gain clearance. No AT dipstick tube to worry about for me. The only other problem with the starter R&R will be telling wife that it needs it. Heck it'll get her broken in for when I have to say that we should get the suspension checked out. (on this vehicle that was mostly my idea and was supposed to be such a good thing for us to do) One way that I like to look at it is that one can either make car payments like 90% of the population does, OR drive something older with more character that will probably need periodic repairs. But compare these bills with car payments that are guaranteed to be coming in the mail. Another benefit of driving something older and more unique is that you are not likely to see half a dozen other drivers each day driving exactly what you have. In fact, if you do run into someone who is driving what you have, it is an occasion to smile and wave. Brian 83 240D On 3/8/06, Tom Scordato <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Brian said > > "All that said, I still do admire this type of vehicle and think that it > is > one of the few that - since I have to drive - I want to drive. I do enjoy > it > and look forward to a happy life with it." > > As you should and will. Like I told my family who gives me grief that I > do > not or will not drive a rock climber: > > "I will drive a Mercedes Diesel until I die, so get used to it. For me > Brian I to bought a 185K 300D diesel which I did not have records on. But > guess what I put 100K miles on it, had a lot of fun, worked on it, > developed > a love for a car I really enjoy driving. Luckily I bought a 1979 240D > with > low miles and I can start all over again! > > Thanks for your input and enjoy changing your starter out. I know on my > 300D I had to remove the transmission dip stick tube but other that not > too > bad of a job. Kind of a reach around to get at the Allen bolts if I > recall. > Small stubby angle ratchet helps. > > Tom Scordato > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian Chase" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 8:02 PM > Subject: Re: [MBZ] 1977 300D non turbo engine replacement Cross Roads > > > > But would it be worth doing all the crack? Seriously though, jesting > > aside: > > One of the things that I was most surprised about when I began to > > investigate an older Mercedes was how affordable they were. Not having > had > > any specific interest in them in the past, I always assumed that even an > > old > > one (as in 80s) would be way way out of the range of reasonable (like > the > > range you gave for the showroom cond. one). And an even older one would > be > > getting into true "classic" status and thus would be even further out of > > range. > > > > So basically one that is in the lower $2k range is one that, generally > > speaking, has not been maintained and the seller therefore knows it has > > problems? > > > > I see all the time through the list, Mercedes diesels for that sort of > > price > > (and that's about what mine cost) and the listers often tout picking > them > > up. Guess what I have been missing all along is that it is understood > that > > if you buy one at this price range, you will be looking - almost for > > certain > > - at several repairs. > > > > I have read things today on the list that I did not see in the six > months > > or > > longer leading up to the purchase of my 240D. But in fairness, it is a > > Mercedes enthusiast list (with a very large do-it-yourself contingent). > > What > > should I have expected? And also in fairness, I don't think that I ever > > specifically asked the question, do you guys think that I ought to buy > one > > of these autos? > > > > All that said, I still do admire this type of vehicle and think that it > is > > one of the few that - since I have to drive - I want to drive. I do > enjoy > > it > > and look forward to a happy life with it. > > > > Next order of business: replace the starter. It did it's "nothing" trick > > just now. > > > > Brian 83 240D > > > > Marshall wrote: > > > > One that's quite well maintained, may well be worth > > $2000-5000 and one that's in close to showroom condition with less than > > 75kmi on it can sell for $10+k and MAY even be worth that. > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now! > > http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/ > > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > _______________________________________ > > 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 > > > > > > _______________________________________ > 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 >
