Alex wrote:<<Not having an ignition system to worry about >> That's what attracts me also - most gas engined cars have engine bays billed with black boxes that do all kinds of mischevious things - things that take forever to trouble shoot when they start to misbehave.
Actually, I sold a perfectly nice Camry for just that reason - and bought our 91 300D which was 8 years older but had about the same miles. The biggest differenece is I can work on the diesel but was totally baffled when just *looking* at the engine of the Toyota. I'm not really intimidated by mechanical things - but when I need to repair a car that will be driven to work it becomes something that must become almost 2nd nature. Working on a diesel takes away a lot of the variables. When theres a problem the number of possible culprits are much smaller on a diesel. And the culprits are also likely to be less catastrophic on a diesel given the same set of symptoms. That;s not explained very well but perhaps it will do for now. As far as diesels having the same likelyhood of seeing very high mileages, I disagree. I don;t know about the gassers and diesels you were familiar with but I think you might be comparing well maintained gassers with poorly maintained diesels. Also, many of the diesels on this list were bought 2nd hand - change that to 99.9% of the diesels on this list were bought 2nd hand - so while we try to understnd the kind of care the PO gave them, I suspect many rec'd very poor maintanence. Some people actually think a car costing $45,000 shouldn't *need* any maintanence - and I think they often received very little from PO's. I was given my mothers and M-I-Ls gassers - but neither had high mileage. I cared for them exactly as the OM suggested and even more often in many cases, but neither car was likely to see a million miles. My 91 300D will I think unless totalled like both the gassers (neither our fault) -- but anecdotal evidence is tough to use conclusively. YMMV also -- Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alex Chamberlain" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 7:41 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] Gas W140? Was - rod bender > Not having an ignition system to worry about is a big plus to me. > > On 9/13/07, OK Don <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> t's a religious thing - not a rational thing. Some of us are just >> addicted to the clatta clatta and the smell. A Diesel engine feels >> more 'mechanical' and a gas engine --- maybe that's it. >> >> > I thought a lot about a diesel car, and while I'd still like one in >> > ways, I >> > never really bought all the "it will go a million miles" stuff. Just >> > what >> > part will do a million miles anyway? The bodies are the same, trans >> > last >> > about the same, from reading many posts here, heads don't seem to last >> > much >> > longer on a diesel, and all the other parts that are hung on the engine >> > last >> > about the same I feel. >> -- >> OK Don, KD5NRO >> Norman, OK >> "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics." >> -Benjamin Disraeli >> '90 300D, '87 300SDL, '81 240D, '78 450SLC, '97 Ply Grand Voyager >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> 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://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > 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://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.485 / Virus Database: 269.13.16/1004 - Release Date: > 9/12/2007 5:22 PM > > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com 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://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
