>I think some people can take drivnig a Mercedes a bit too seriously. I
> think that jamming the window carefully and reliably is not that much
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Mia
MB has fessed up to the bad balancer act. Go to the dealer and get the last 3 or 4 pages of recall
number 2005020003 and it explains how to get a refund on the labor and most of the parts you paid
previously for the repair.
> Neat! Unfortunately there is nothing on a Mercedes that costs only two dollars. That plus the
> frequent need for repairs is why I am getting rid of my C class and will probably never buy
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>>
>> Mia
>Neat! Unfortunately there is nothing on a Mercedes that costs only two
dollars.
I'm talking about my 1984 300SD. I just did oil / filter change and
replaced both fuel filters for a combined total of $25.00. I know
nothing about newer Benzes, neither do I pretend to know that much
about my own car, but what I do know is that I love the ability to tear
through the car (with help from this group) as if I were a professional
mechanic if something [knock on wood] goes wrong.
What's with 3rd parties making chintzy MB parts? Just got driver power
window console switch from AutoHaus Arizona, it was so poorly made it
didn't even fit into the console.
Cheers!
Benz-Forever-Girl
> Neat! Unfortunately there is nothing on a Mercedes that costs only two
> dollars.
Nonsense - I just purchased a replacement tire valve cap for only $1.97 US
at my local dealer - who says there aren't values to be had at the dealer?
And I even got a couple of free butter mints from the sales counter on my
way out.
> That plus the frequent need for repairs is why I am getting rid of
> my C class
Hint - C class - a fine example of a company totally losing it's grip on
their demographics.
> I have finally discovered that the check engine
> light isn't actually connected to anything except a time delay that
> automatically turns it on after you have owned the car for about 6 months
> and there's no way to get it turned off. ;-(
I call BS - It's a perfectly simple matter to yank the instrument cluster
and turn the light off by removing the bulb. Unfortunately, this makes the
"OMYGAWD SERVICE ENGINE NOW" light come on, but you can't have everything.
> My mother has owned 2, and the last one (an E 320) blew the balancer and
> it cost her nearly $5k to fix it. MB stonewalled her and hasn't fessed
> up to the fact that it was a supplier problem yet.
Uhhmmm MB has fessed up to some bad balancers - are you sure your mom's
not covered?
> My 1997 Ford Explorer has just over 100,000 miles on it and it still
> keeps on truckin'.
And my 300D has over 300,000 miles - to the moon and partway back. Call me
when your Ford Exploder gets there. I'll be waiting - but I'll have a few
more miles by then.
> Mercedes Benz?! Bah, humbug!! Built by Yugo.
>
> Davehd
I've owned a Yugo - and I don't recall the cardboard interior in my Benz
melting if I left the window down and it rained. Of course I also don't
remember the window crank snapping off in my Benz, which it did in my
Yugo, hence the cardboard interier meltdown.
>>I think some people can take drivnig a Mercedes a bit too seriously. I
>> think that jamming the window carefully and reliably is not that much
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>> with parts from a hardware store. I hear words "automotive labor" and
>> I want to run amok.
Shucks - if you like the words "hardware store" you'll love the words
"salvage yard". A good one is your friend, even if you have to go on line.
And it lets you keep your Benz "Benz", rather than "Home Depot".
Cheers,
Conrad
Dave HD - 21 Jul 2005 05:47 GMT
>> Neat! Unfortunately there is nothing on a Mercedes that costs only two
>> dollars.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> And I even got a couple of free butter mints from the sales counter on my
> way out.
Kmart sells a whole package of caps for $1.50. Yeah, but were they
Werther's candy or the cheap Brach's?
>> That plus the frequent need for repairs is why I am getting rid of
>> my C class
>
> Hint - C class - a fine example of a company totally losing it's grip on
> their demographics.
But it STILL is an MB!!
>> I have finally discovered that the check engine
>> light isn't actually connected to anything except a time delay that
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> and turn the light off by removing the bulb. Unfortunately, this makes the
> "OMYGAWD SERVICE ENGINE NOW" light come on, but you can't have everything.
I found an easier way to turn the bulb off. Browning 12 gauge...
>> My mother has owned 2, and the last one (an E 320) blew the balancer and
>> it cost her nearly $5k to fix it. MB stonewalled her and hasn't fessed
>> up to the fact that it was a supplier problem yet.
>
> Uhhmmm MB has fessed up to some bad balancers - are you sure your mom's
> not covered?
Wasn't covered at the time. Dealer wouldn't do anything, neither would MB
when I called them. Told her it wasn't their problem.
>> My 1997 Ford Explorer has just over 100,000 miles on it and it still
>> keeps on truckin'.
>
> And my 300D has over 300,000 miles - to the moon and partway back. Call me
> when your Ford Exploder gets there. I'll be waiting - but I'll have a few
> more miles by then.
Uh, sure. You had a head start. By the way, which repair parts did you say
you wanted me to bring with me? I know that's why you will be waiting. The
Explorer has been places that would make your D would fall into a pile if it
even got near to and it will outrun that stinkpot without even trying while
pulling a 2.5 ton trailer. Of course, the D, with only 88 horsepower
(geeze, my Honda Shadow has more HP than that), I can understand that. How
much does it cost to have that wrecker follow you around everywhere? Or do
you have a 24 hour membership to road service?
>> Mercedes Benz?! Bah, humbug!! Built by Yugo.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> remember the window crank snapping off in my Benz, which it did in my
> Yugo, hence the cardboard interier meltdown.
Uh, you have WINDOW CRANKS in the D? Wow! that thing is OLD!
{snip)
Davehd
Conrad - 22 Jul 2005 19:45 GMT
>>> Neat! Unfortunately there is nothing on a Mercedes that costs only two
>>> dollars.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Kmart sells a whole package of caps for $1.50. Yeah, but were they
> Werther's candy or the cheap Brach's?
Undoubtedly the cheapest bulk candy they could get - I think there's a
special place in hell for a lot of the MB dealers I've encountered in the
U.S.
>>> That plus the frequent need for repairs is why I am getting rid of
>>> my C class
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> Wasn't covered at the time. Dealer wouldn't do anything, neither would MB
> when I called them. Told her it wasn't their problem.
Has that car passed on? I still think she has a possibility of being
re-embursed. Worth a shot anyway.
>>> My 1997 Ford Explorer has just over 100,000 miles on it and it still
>>> keeps on truckin'.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> much does it cost to have that wrecker follow you around everywhere? Or do
> you have a 24 hour membership to road service?
Stinkpot? Hey, that's gennnyoowine french perfume to us diesel guys. BTW,
one of my D's is a Turbo, so thats a smokin' 125 horsepower - on a wet,
greasy street, I can almost get the rear tires to break loose in a corner
if I really gun it. You can bring a rear window regulator, and figure out
why my rear defrost does'nt (not too big an issue in central Florida, but
it would be nice) Other than that, no parts necessary. These older Benzes
really were built - I share your lack of enthusiasm regarding some of the
newer models (My buddy has gone through nine kinds of hell with his
ML430), but it's a different company now. I like the old company better.
But then, I'm an old fart.
>>> Mercedes Benz?! Bah, humbug!! Built by Yugo.
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Uh, you have WINDOW CRANKS in the D? Wow! that thing is OLD!
Yep, old and still running - as are four other MB diesels of similar
vintage on my block (I utterly cannot explain that convergence - that's an
abnormal number of these old beasties congregated in one area). The window
cranks ARE unusual on my silver 300D, at least in the U.S. - as are the
rear headrests, and a couple of other things - it's a Euro thing - power
up front, crank in the rear.
Cheers,
Conrad
Dave HD - 23 Jul 2005 06:13 GMT
Mom's MB is still around and I hear that she just got some sort of letter or
something, so she's going to give it a shot. I called the dealership that
did the work and they told me that they would look into it and call me right
back. "Surprise!! (not)" it's been 4 days and no call. I am about ready to
go up there in person and get personal on them. It's unforgivable to take
advantage of a 70+ year old lady and stone wall her. :-(
Yeah, the older Benz' were well built. That's how they got the rep. Too
bad the old timers that used to be at MB aren't there anymore. They have
really fallen.
Cheers!
Dave
>>>> Neat! Unfortunately there is nothing on a Mercedes that costs only two
>>>> dollars.
[quoted text clipped - 108 lines]
>
> Conrad
> Neat! Unfortunately there is nothing on a Mercedes that costs only two
> dollars.
Actually, the last time I bought a fuse from the dealer for the glow plug
relay I thing the price was about $2.00.

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Roger Shoaf
About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.