MBDiesel.net - An Owner's Journey

I've strayed, dear readers. I've strayed, and I've been neglectful. I haven't been paying enough attention to the site, even though there have been things going on around here with the cars.

For instance, I had to swap the transmission in the 300TD because the bearing noise in it was getting just a little scary, and it was crossing the threshold of "liability to drive". We need the car to be our reliable trip transportation, as well as schlepping me back and forth to work, so the excessive bearing noise from the transmission had to be addressed. I swapped in the low-mileage unit from the 280S, put a shop spare into that car, and continued along my merry way.

Just kidding. I tore into that old gearbox to find out what the trouble was - the noise was coming from the rear bearing on the countershaft - spalled bearings, missing material in the race, it was toast. So then I put it all back together. And then took it apart again a few more times. And put it back together. Rinse, lather, repeat. And now that I've purchased some additional tools, I'm strongly considering rebuilding that box.

But this doesn't begin to explain my dalliance with another motorized vehicle manufacturer. I've kept this secret for quite a while, but now it must come forth - I own two BMWs in addition to our collection of Mercedes.

Blasphemous, I know. And even worse, this update is to show a write-up of some maintenance work I performed today. Go here for the rest.