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Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: medic ()
Date: August 06, 2009 07:19PM

My brother had an older MB TD back in the 80's. He said they were comfortable but had zero acceleration. I don't really care about the acceleration but he said he also had to plug it in over night to start it on cold days. I've never owned a diesel and I'm not looking for a headache car but they're supposedly built like tanks and can run 300k no prob. Anyone own one that can comment? To be used as a daily driver. We probably put 15-20k on our cars/yr btwn work and vacation.

Thanks

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Thurston Moore ()
Date: August 06, 2009 10:32PM

Getting a mercedes fixed is quite expensive.

Just changing the spark plugs, on a gas engine MB, can cost you 4 or 5 hundred bucks.

Keep that in mind, but you're right, they are built like tanks, and will run forever. I bet the diesel engines last even longer than the gas engines.

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: medic ()
Date: August 06, 2009 10:58PM

On my Ford, spark plugs are easy. Are you implying, for MB, the typical jobs require special tools and/or placed in very inconvenient locations that it would require professional intervention?

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Thurston Moore ()
Date: August 06, 2009 11:21PM

medic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On my Ford, spark plugs are easy. Are you
> implying, for MB, the typical jobs require special
> tools and/or placed in very inconvenient locations
> that it would require professional intervention?


professional intervention -- not as bad as changing the oil on a ferrari, but you have to remove all kinds of stuff just to get at the plugs.

If you're good with mechanical stuff and have the patience, you can do it for a few hours work and the cost of the plugs. If you aren't, then you have to pay someone else to do it, and they're going to charge an arm and a leg because it's a mercedes and it is somewhat difficult.

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Mofo ()
Date: August 06, 2009 11:33PM

Get a 4 cylinder civic or accord. You'll get good mileage and Hondas last forever.

I have an 06 accord and the worst I ever get is 25 (mainly fully city) and best I've ever got was 32 all highway.

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: mhm ()
Date: August 07, 2009 10:32AM

Mofo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Get a 4 cylinder civic or accord. You'll get good
> mileage and Hondas last forever.
>
> I have an 06 accord and the worst I ever get is 25
> (mainly fully city) and best I've ever got was 32
> all highway.

buy american

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: The Real Sculler ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:45AM

mhm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mofo Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Get a 4 cylinder civic or accord. You'll get
> good
> > mileage and Hondas last forever.
> >
> > I have an 06 accord and the worst I ever get is
> 25
> > (mainly fully city) and best I've ever got was
> 32
> > all highway.
>
> buy american

Get a clue.

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: § ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:45AM

MB service is expensive. Especially now that they have gotten rid of their service package that you can buy from the dealer upon delivery. I know I recently priced out the 15k service at $400 (oil and filter change) and 30k service at $900 (oil and filter change, tune-up including plugs plus extras). For an older MB, the service intervals are probably shorter, but won't be as expensive if you just find a good independent mechanic or do-it-yourself.

Surprisingly, diesel engines are not as indestructable as you'd think when compared to the modern petrol engine. The hype is mostly inflated due to the comparison vs. the older petrol engines from the 80s.

A 1996 model is sure to smell and spout some soot. If you're looking for a diesel model, I'd go with something 2002 or newer.

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: eesh ()
Date: August 07, 2009 11:57AM

The new BLUETEC diesels offered by Mercedes are a vast improvement over the 80s Mercedes that sounded like school buses. The new ones use a far superior turbocharger that gives great acceleration and the modern diesels no longer require the fuel to be heated during the winter temperatures.

As far as reliability and longevity, diesels use fewer moving parts and have higher heat tolerances than gasoline engines.

If you MUST get a used luxury car, try to get a Lexus. With proper maintenace, they will easily pass the 300,000 mile mark. I see a lot of early 90s LS and ES models that still look new. Also, Lexus is far more reliable than Mercedes. European luxury cars don't hold a candle to Japanese reliability.

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: § ()
Date: August 07, 2009 02:18PM

True, but Japanese luxury cars look like appliances on wheels and are non-distinctive of one another. Most car ethusiasts prefer the cachet or curb appeal of German, Italian or British design. Except for BMW, because they've become so goddamn generic. Everyone drives one; especially in NoVA.

Stick with German. You'd be surprised of the quality of Audi's these days. Check them out. They are just as reliable as a Panasonic Sedan or Sony Coupe.

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Toshiba Turbo ()
Date: August 07, 2009 06:58PM

§ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> True, but Japanese luxury cars look like
> appliances on wheels and are non-distinctive of
> one another. Most car ethusiasts prefer the
> cachet or curb appeal of German, Italian or
> British design. Except for BMW, because they've
> become so goddamn generic. Everyone drives one;
> especially in NoVA.
>
> Stick with German. You'd be surprised of the
> quality of Audi's these days. Check them out.
> They are just as reliable as a Panasonic Sedan or
> Sony Coupe.



Looks and curb appeal won't be on your mind when you have to take that Mercedes or Audi to the shop every month. Audi's all wheel drive eats the drivetrain/transmission and Mercedes and BMW have lower reliability ratings than Kia!


Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti for the win!

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Mofo ()
Date: August 08, 2009 01:01AM

I've had friends with Audi horror stories galore.

If I had the money I would go with either an Acura or a Lexus. I hate the pain of care always having problems and all the stress that causes. Prime example being the first care I ever had, a Mercury Sable that had more problems than all my 3 cars since. (2 nissans and a honda).

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Gravis ()
Date: August 08, 2009 08:30PM

Mofo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Get a 4 cylinder civic or accord. You'll get good
> mileage and Hondas last forever.

and a huge ugly wing on the back, retarded sounding muffler, racing wheels/tires, some spinners, a loud sounds system and a whole collection of really bad "latin" music.

perfect.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."095042938540

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Toshiba Turbo ()
Date: August 08, 2009 08:52PM

Gravis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> and a huge ugly wing on the back, retarded
> sounding muffler, racing wheels/tires, some
> spinners, a loud sounds system and a whole
> collection of really bad "latin" music.
>
> perfect.


Don't forget the fake Lambo doors and the twenty HKS and Flowmaster bumper stickers...

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Re: Considering a 96' Diesel Mercedes
Posted by: Quattro ()
Date: August 09, 2009 10:48AM

Toshiba Turbo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> § Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > True, but Japanese luxury cars look like
> > appliances on wheels and are non-distinctive of
> > one another. Most car ethusiasts prefer the
> > cachet or curb appeal of German, Italian or
> > British design. Except for BMW, because
> they've
> > become so goddamn generic. Everyone drives
> one;
> > especially in NoVA.
> >
> > Stick with German. You'd be surprised of the
> > quality of Audi's these days. Check them out.
> > They are just as reliable as a Panasonic Sedan
> or
> > Sony Coupe.
>
>
> Looks and curb appeal won't be on your mind when
> you have to take that Mercedes or Audi to the shop
> every month. Audi's all wheel drive eats the
> drivetrain/transmission and Mercedes and BMW have
> lower reliability ratings than Kia!
>
>
> Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti for the win!

How do you figure? I'm on my 3rd Audi since 1999 and I've had zero problems. Granted I buy them new and drive them until the warranty is up. If you like driving a toaster around town, go for it.

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