Haven't been here for awhile. Too busy. Too tired. But my recent discovery is so unbelievably bad I needed to share my misfortune.
A couple of years ago I bought a white 88 300E from a former BenzWorld member. I had worked on this car some years ago and knew it was a pretty nice car. When the owner wanted to unload it due to a failed transmission I declined. Too many cars, too many projects. A month later he called again to say he was going to have the car towed away. Do it I said. Come see it he said. I declined. Another month went by and he called again. Cutting to the chase I did eventually go to see the car and, for better or worse, bought it.
Cosmetically it is a very nice car. Original paint, very, very nice original palomino leather interior. 156k. Decent service history. He spent many times over the selling price to me on repairs and maintenance. But like any 30 year old car it needed attention. And, like always, it needed more attention than I expected.
The first big kick to the family jewels was discovering that, following transmission replacement, the spark plugs fouled. I knew what would be required and dove right in. Pulled the head, had all the guides replaced, a valve job done, etc. Replaced the bad camshaft (2 wasted lobes) and rocker arms with the updated parts (used) from the blown up engine from another BenzWorld member car purchase. The engine was now back together and running great. Things were looking up.
Well yesterday I discovered something that will require *a f$%&ing LOT* more attention.
Wipers were jerky. No big deal I said. I have spares I said. Blower motor inop. No big deal I said. I have spares I said. It's actually a toofer with those jobs so I wasn't worried.
Because it was handy I pulled the necessary parts from my soon-to-be-scrapped 88 300TE (smoke silver). The parts pulling went exactly as I expected. No big deal.
As evening approached I wanted to get those parts into the white 300E so I could have wipers, cabin ventilation, and get the car inspected this coming week. That would not come to pass.
Firstly I couldn't get the windshield lower trim strips off the car. They were stuck on like nobody's business and I didn't understand it. Eventually I got the driver's side off, damaging it, and discovered the problem. The windshield had been replaced and some wanker had urethaned the f$#% out of it so there was major squish out and some added as well at the bottom of the windshield. The trim strips were clipped *and* glued in place! With that info I got more aggressive on the passenger side but it simply would not budge. When the strip does finally break loose I hear a "craaack!" and sure enough I've cracked the windshield. No idea how. The clip is still riveted to the windshield frame so that didn't do it. Oh well, the install was poorly done and there was a slight wiper mark, so I can live with this setback. But things got worse. Much worse.
I remove the cowling and the wiper motor assembly (which was also glued to the windshield). Fine. Whatever.
Now it's time to remove the locked up blower motor. No big deal. Clips released, cover off, blower motor unplugged and removed. Ah, the end is near. I can hear that new blower motor running already! But it would come to pass.
As I looked into the area under the blower motor to check for any debris against the evaporator I discover something horrifying. I'm still not sure when I'll have the time or energy to deal with this.
Can't upload pics. A security token is missing? Administrators? Help!
A couple of years ago I bought a white 88 300E from a former BenzWorld member. I had worked on this car some years ago and knew it was a pretty nice car. When the owner wanted to unload it due to a failed transmission I declined. Too many cars, too many projects. A month later he called again to say he was going to have the car towed away. Do it I said. Come see it he said. I declined. Another month went by and he called again. Cutting to the chase I did eventually go to see the car and, for better or worse, bought it.
Cosmetically it is a very nice car. Original paint, very, very nice original palomino leather interior. 156k. Decent service history. He spent many times over the selling price to me on repairs and maintenance. But like any 30 year old car it needed attention. And, like always, it needed more attention than I expected.
The first big kick to the family jewels was discovering that, following transmission replacement, the spark plugs fouled. I knew what would be required and dove right in. Pulled the head, had all the guides replaced, a valve job done, etc. Replaced the bad camshaft (2 wasted lobes) and rocker arms with the updated parts (used) from the blown up engine from another BenzWorld member car purchase. The engine was now back together and running great. Things were looking up.
Well yesterday I discovered something that will require *a f$%&ing LOT* more attention.
Wipers were jerky. No big deal I said. I have spares I said. Blower motor inop. No big deal I said. I have spares I said. It's actually a toofer with those jobs so I wasn't worried.
Because it was handy I pulled the necessary parts from my soon-to-be-scrapped 88 300TE (smoke silver). The parts pulling went exactly as I expected. No big deal.
As evening approached I wanted to get those parts into the white 300E so I could have wipers, cabin ventilation, and get the car inspected this coming week. That would not come to pass.
Firstly I couldn't get the windshield lower trim strips off the car. They were stuck on like nobody's business and I didn't understand it. Eventually I got the driver's side off, damaging it, and discovered the problem. The windshield had been replaced and some wanker had urethaned the f$#% out of it so there was major squish out and some added as well at the bottom of the windshield. The trim strips were clipped *and* glued in place! With that info I got more aggressive on the passenger side but it simply would not budge. When the strip does finally break loose I hear a "craaack!" and sure enough I've cracked the windshield. No idea how. The clip is still riveted to the windshield frame so that didn't do it. Oh well, the install was poorly done and there was a slight wiper mark, so I can live with this setback. But things got worse. Much worse.
I remove the cowling and the wiper motor assembly (which was also glued to the windshield). Fine. Whatever.
Now it's time to remove the locked up blower motor. No big deal. Clips released, cover off, blower motor unplugged and removed. Ah, the end is near. I can hear that new blower motor running already! But it would come to pass.
As I looked into the area under the blower motor to check for any debris against the evaporator I discover something horrifying. I'm still not sure when I'll have the time or energy to deal with this.
Can't upload pics. A security token is missing? Administrators? Help!