What the hell were you thinking...?
What the hell were you thinking...?
It would be fun to have a thread to sum up flaws and weird solutions which originally were done on our cars... And if someone has a good solution to the flaws (the flaws which can be fixed, of course), they can post it up. After everything is summed up and everyone has improved everything, we will have perfect cars
Post up whatever you want. I'll start off with one:
(W123 300D Turbo)
What the hell were you thinking...
...When GLUEING on a rubber bushing on the accelerator linkage, which sits ON the engine and is exposed to heat, oil and diesel as well as being put under load whenever I push on the pedal?
-rolfi
1980 Mercedes-Benz 300D (US-spec)
+BMW E12, E21, E28, E30 and E32
I have asked this question numerous times, after starting the work on my W123... Yesterday the same question came up in my mind, when my accelerator linkage broke... The rubber bushing/spacer that originally seems to be GLUED on, came loose..................
It would be fun to have a thread to sum up flaws and weird solutions which originally were done on our cars... And if someone has a good solution to the flaws (the flaws which can be fixed, of course), they can post it up. After everything is summed up and everyone has improved everything, we will have perfect cars
Post up whatever you want. I'll start off with one:
(W123 300D Turbo)
What the hell were you thinking...
...When GLUEING on a rubber bushing on the accelerator linkage, which sits ON the engine and is exposed to heat, oil and diesel as well as being put under load whenever I push on the pedal?
-rolfi
1980 Mercedes-Benz 300D (US-spec)
+BMW E12, E21, E28, E30 and E32
-Jesse
80 300sd hy35, front mount intercooler, w115 intake, rack limiter removed, Alda removed, full load turned up, boost, ebp, trans, pyro, egr delete, 3.5" exhaust, e-fan, 16x8 rims with, 245/50 tires, lowered, bilstien 5100's, 12" front brakes, 2.65:1 diff.
97 f250 psd 4x4, crawler
70 f250 390
83 Volvo 242, lots of mods
66 Volvo amazon
10 mistsubishi fuso service truck.
I've always been confused as to why mercedes did such odd linkage for the throttle. That and swaybar on the firewall.
-Jesse
80 300sd hy35, front mount intercooler, w115 intake, rack limiter removed, Alda removed, full load turned up, boost, ebp, trans, pyro, egr delete, 3.5" exhaust, e-fan, 16x8 rims with, 245/50 tires, lowered, bilstien 5100's, 12" front brakes, 2.65:1 diff.
97 f250 psd 4x4, crawler
70 f250 390
83 Volvo 242, lots of mods
66 Volvo amazon
10 mistsubishi fuso service truck.
As far as the sway bar in the fire wall I have no frigging idea what a PITA
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
willbhere4u
08-19-2011, 12:28 PM #3I think the throttle linkage has some thing to do with safety in an accident???
As far as the sway bar in the fire wall I have no frigging idea what a PITA
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
Have not owned my long enough to discover its bugs, but I do have a concern on why all W123 instrument clusters were so poorly designed as far as lighting is concerned. I have now corrected mine by placing aluminum foil in the Bulb Tunnel. But I still think they suck, I mean 80's already had nicely lid clusters. I had a 62 Bug that had WAY better lighting on the cluster.
On OM617
Not sure why there wasn't a type of gasket to seal the top of the oil separator inside the air filter from the factory instead of those funny metal spades.This causes oil misting/sippage inside your air cleaner.
What's up with the crappy oil filter? Maybe back in the day the cotton waste was purer?
Another one:
On OM617
Not sure why there wasn't a type of gasket to seal the top of the oil separator inside the air filter from the factory instead of those funny metal spades.This causes oil misting/sippage inside your air cleaner.
What's up with the crappy oil filter? Maybe back in the day the cotton waste was purer?
What Dumb A** decided it would be smart to put the air cleaner above the hotest thing in the engine compartment come on even then they new cool air was better than hot air!
and what moron thought the locks should be on the same circuit as the engine shut down circuit
These are my bigest ...What the hell were you thinkings
08 Ram Cummins 6.7 Mega Cab 4wd Beauty & Towing Mods, 97 Ram Cummins 5.9 Extended Cab 4wd. Engine, Tansmission, and Funtional Mods, 90 Suburban 4wd Stock, 83 300D Pats Car, 80 300CD in Restoration and Fabrication Process( was non turbo...now Turbo
) 75 Ramcharger 4wd Someday Cummins Power Project
Oil Burner
08-19-2011, 11:44 PM #6What the hell were you thinking...
What Dumb A** decided it would be smart to put the air cleaner above the hotest thing in the engine compartment come on even then they new cool air was better than hot air!
and what moron thought the locks should be on the same circuit as the engine shut down circuit
These are my bigest ...What the hell were you thinkings
08 Ram Cummins 6.7 Mega Cab 4wd Beauty & Towing Mods, 97 Ram Cummins 5.9 Extended Cab 4wd. Engine, Tansmission, and Funtional Mods, 90 Suburban 4wd Stock, 83 300D Pats Car, 80 300CD in Restoration and Fabrication Process( was non turbo...now Turbo
) 75 Ramcharger 4wd Someday Cummins Power Project
Also the window regulators made out of pot metal and not supported adequately. Never seen a car eat window regulators like these can!
Using a vacuum system to run literally every damn thing in the car. Miles of multi colored spaghetti running every which way. something as small as the Gas door lock actuator goes bad and all sorts of problems can surface. stuff like the car wont shut off, locks wont lock/open. Actuators for the climate control fail and are buried in the dash board. There were electric locks in the 60s, why couldn't Mercedes have put em in these cars?
Also the window regulators made out of pot metal and not supported adequately. Never seen a car eat window regulators like these can!
Re om617 w123
Nice body, tons of ridiculous mechanical issues - 300d turbo 82' /motor 85'
I always think wtf can't you put thw fuel tank somewhere that allows the rear seats to fold down. Wouldn't that be nice, a trunk to rear seat opening. Another one that screwed me recently, that formed heater hose that passes right over the oil filter. Owners have bent that thing back and forth fighting the filter out and sure enough it blew up on me.
Re om617 w123
Nice body, tons of ridiculous mechanical issues - 300d turbo 82' /motor 85'
(08-20-2011, 02:26 AM)98taco3 Using a vacuum system to run literally every damn thing in the car.
I have to disagree with this one..I think that this was a great idea.8)
I'll take a fully mechanical vacuum system any day over 100 relays,chips,computers,fuses etc...
Best of all, fully mechanical Diesels are EMP proof!!!
(08-20-2011, 02:26 AM)98taco3 Using a vacuum system to run literally every damn thing in the car.
I have to disagree with this one..I think that this was a great idea.8)
I'll take a fully mechanical vacuum system any day over 100 relays,chips,computers,fuses etc...
Best of all, fully mechanical Diesels are EMP proof!!!
We are more redneck...hell we invented the redneck
08 Ram Cummins 6.7 Mega Cab 4wd Beauty & Towing Mods, 97 Ram Cummins 5.9 Extended Cab 4wd. Engine, Tansmission, and Funtional Mods, 90 Suburban 4wd Stock, 83 300D Pats Car, 80 300CD in Restoration and Fabrication Process( was non turbo...now Turbo
) 75 Ramcharger 4wd Someday Cummins Power Project
Oil Burner
08-21-2011, 04:33 PM #11What the he'll were you thinking only selling automatic 300's in the US and why with all the options we are not pompous a**es here in the states!
We are more redneck...hell we invented the redneck
08 Ram Cummins 6.7 Mega Cab 4wd Beauty & Towing Mods, 97 Ram Cummins 5.9 Extended Cab 4wd. Engine, Tansmission, and Funtional Mods, 90 Suburban 4wd Stock, 83 300D Pats Car, 80 300CD in Restoration and Fabrication Process( was non turbo...now Turbo
) 75 Ramcharger 4wd Someday Cummins Power Project
(08-21-2011, 04:33 PM)Oil Burner What the he'll were you thinking only selling automatic 300's in the US and why with all the options we are not pompous a**es here in the states!
We are more redneck...hell we invented the redneck
+1,000,000!
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
Captain America
08-21-2011, 08:32 PM #12(08-21-2011, 04:33 PM)Oil Burner What the he'll were you thinking only selling automatic 300's in the US and why with all the options we are not pompous a**es here in the states!
We are more redneck...hell we invented the redneck
+1,000,000!
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
What the hell were they thinking when they gave the car 4 speakers, When it costs the equivalent of 50 grand it should have at least 2 more.
1981 Mercedes 300TD Lowered 4 speed manual Holset HX30
mike-81-240d
08-22-2011, 10:05 PM #13I have to agree on the fuel tank one.
What the hell were they thinking when they gave the car 4 speakers, When it costs the equivalent of 50 grand it should have at least 2 more.
1981 Mercedes 300TD Lowered 4 speed manual Holset HX30
-Jesse
80 300sd hy35, front mount intercooler, w115 intake, rack limiter removed, Alda removed, full load turned up, boost, ebp, trans, pyro, egr delete, 3.5" exhaust, e-fan, 16x8 rims with, 245/50 tires, lowered, bilstien 5100's, 12" front brakes, 2.65:1 diff.
97 f250 psd 4x4, crawler
70 f250 390
83 Volvo 242, lots of mods
66 Volvo amazon
10 mistsubishi fuso service truck.
If I believed in god I'd sure as hell want to know what the fuck he was thinking when he created the woman's mind.
-Jesse
80 300sd hy35, front mount intercooler, w115 intake, rack limiter removed, Alda removed, full load turned up, boost, ebp, trans, pyro, egr delete, 3.5" exhaust, e-fan, 16x8 rims with, 245/50 tires, lowered, bilstien 5100's, 12" front brakes, 2.65:1 diff.
97 f250 psd 4x4, crawler
70 f250 390
83 Volvo 242, lots of mods
66 Volvo amazon
10 mistsubishi fuso service truck.
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
Captain America
08-22-2011, 11:42 PM #15I believe and yes I wonder haha
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
I'll post a pic later.
-rolfi
1980 Mercedes-Benz 300D (US-spec)
+BMW E12, E21, E28, E30 and E32
I found a solution to the accelerator linkage problem. Three M6x40 bolts, three M6 lock nuts and a 6mm drill. Had to cut them a little, as 40mm long bolts were somewhat too long... Anyway, it works fine as hell now I'll post a pic later.
-rolfi
1980 Mercedes-Benz 300D (US-spec)
+BMW E12, E21, E28, E30 and E32
What was Lars thinking when he thought it was a wonderful idea to put the lower ball joint on the inside of a cup on the front knuckles? Doesn't he know that is impossible to get to?
What was Dietrich thinking when he made up parts that required specialized tools? These cars are littered with them.
![[Image: FalkonSig.png]](http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t162/DanielWGK2/designs/FalkonSig.png)
What the hell was Hans thinking when he decided that the larger body cars didn't need 90 degree hood hinges? This goes for the SL's and the SD's for sure. not sure on others.
What was Lars thinking when he thought it was a wonderful idea to put the lower ball joint on the inside of a cup on the front knuckles? Doesn't he know that is impossible to get to?
What was Dietrich thinking when he made up parts that required specialized tools? These cars are littered with them.
(08-23-2011, 04:23 PM)DanielK What was Dietrich thinking when he made up parts that required specialized tools? These cars are littered with them.
Job security for mbz techs
Nice body, tons of ridiculous mechanical issues - 300d turbo 82' /motor 85'
2. The nearly inaccessible motor mount hardware consisting of easily rounded out cap screws in a deep hole.
3. The damn near impossible to easily remove oil cooler lines, should have been a replaceable short flexible section in the place where they all leak, just like the trans cooler lines, but for some reason, its one unit all the way.
4. The circular jack mount hole on a lot of models, and rounded bottom jack. Why make the jack so inherently unstable? and why design into the car a major rust point that will almost certainly start rusting if you ever use the jack and damage the finish? Should have been a hardpoint like hondas, or something else exterior, nothing that actually goes into the rocker panel. That was a big mistake rust wise.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
1. The frequently mentioned fuse box cover on 123s. Just a PITA even if you do it just right.
2. The nearly inaccessible motor mount hardware consisting of easily rounded out cap screws in a deep hole.
3. The damn near impossible to easily remove oil cooler lines, should have been a replaceable short flexible section in the place where they all leak, just like the trans cooler lines, but for some reason, its one unit all the way.
4. The circular jack mount hole on a lot of models, and rounded bottom jack. Why make the jack so inherently unstable? and why design into the car a major rust point that will almost certainly start rusting if you ever use the jack and damage the finish? Should have been a hardpoint like hondas, or something else exterior, nothing that actually goes into the rocker panel. That was a big mistake rust wise.
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
08 Ram Cummins 6.7 Mega Cab 4wd Beauty & Towing Mods, 97 Ram Cummins 5.9 Extended Cab 4wd. Engine, Tansmission, and Funtional Mods, 90 Suburban 4wd Stock, 83 300D Pats Car, 80 300CD in Restoration and Fabrication Process( was non turbo...now Turbo
) 75 Ramcharger 4wd Someday Cummins Power Project
Oil Burner
08-24-2011, 10:42 AM #20What's a PITA u guys like your acronyms
08 Ram Cummins 6.7 Mega Cab 4wd Beauty & Towing Mods, 97 Ram Cummins 5.9 Extended Cab 4wd. Engine, Tansmission, and Funtional Mods, 90 Suburban 4wd Stock, 83 300D Pats Car, 80 300CD in Restoration and Fabrication Process( was non turbo...now Turbo
) 75 Ramcharger 4wd Someday Cummins Power Project
(08-24-2011, 10:42 AM)Oil Burner What's a PITA u guys like your acronyms
PITA= Pain in the Ass
Also, AFAIK= as far as I know.
For the longest time I though AFAIK was some kind of brand
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
(08-24-2011, 10:42 AM)Oil Burner What's a PITA u guys like your acronyms
PITA= Pain in the Ass
Also, AFAIK= as far as I know.
For the longest time I though AFAIK was some kind of brand
1974 240D 617 turbo swap, W201 5-speed, in the works project
1983 240D 616 stock, DD
1989 Chevy Astro, 617 turbo swap, T5 5-speed, 4.56 diff, work van
![[Image: IMG_20110821_161716.jpg]](http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g233/rolfi2/IMG_20110821_161716.jpg)
![[Image: IMG_20110821_161724.jpg]](http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g233/rolfi2/IMG_20110821_161724.jpg)
I am determined to get rid of all that sloppy linkage shit when mine goes back together!
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
Captain America
08-24-2011, 03:11 PM #23^^^ Nice fix Rolfi!
I am determined to get rid of all that sloppy linkage shit when mine goes back together!
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
(08-24-2011, 08:46 AM)dropnosky 3. The damn near impossible to easily remove oil cooler lines, should have been a replaceable short flexible section in the place where they all leak, just like the trans cooler lines, but for some reason, its one unit all the way.
If you cut the outer steel part which is pressed on the hose, you can replace the hose only and just use hose clamps to keep it on. That way you keep the threaded nut and the flanged part original.
I did this on my leaky trans cooler line
-rolfi
1980 Mercedes-Benz 300D (US-spec)
+BMW E12, E21, E28, E30 and E32
(08-24-2011, 08:46 AM)dropnosky 3. The damn near impossible to easily remove oil cooler lines, should have been a replaceable short flexible section in the place where they all leak, just like the trans cooler lines, but for some reason, its one unit all the way.
If you cut the outer steel part which is pressed on the hose, you can replace the hose only and just use hose clamps to keep it on. That way you keep the threaded nut and the flanged part original.
I did this on my leaky trans cooler line
-rolfi
1980 Mercedes-Benz 300D (US-spec)
+BMW E12, E21, E28, E30 and E32
(08-19-2011, 06:55 PM)smoke026 Have not owned my long enough to discover its bugs, but I do have a concern on why all W123 instrument clusters were so poorly designed as far as lighting is concerned.
Brand new with prisms and bulbs they are not dim at all..
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
(08-19-2011, 06:55 PM)smoke026 Have not owned my long enough to discover its bugs, but I do have a concern on why all W123 instrument clusters were so poorly designed as far as lighting is concerned.
Brand new with prisms and bulbs they are not dim at all..
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
(08-19-2011, 11:42 AM)dieselboy That and swaybar on the firewall.99% sure MB invented the sway bar, so lets be thankful they did!
1987 300D Sturmmachine
1991 300D Nearly Perfect
1985 300D Weekend/Camping/Dog car
1974 L508D Motoroam Monarch "NightMare"
OBK #42
(08-25-2011, 06:52 PM)winmutt(08-19-2011, 11:42 AM)dieselboy That and swaybar on the firewall.99% sure MB invented the sway bar, so lets be thankful they did!
lol they dont drive like they do
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
Captain America
08-25-2011, 10:21 PM #27(08-25-2011, 06:52 PM)winmutt(08-19-2011, 11:42 AM)dieselboy That and swaybar on the firewall.99% sure MB invented the sway bar, so lets be thankful they did!
lol they dont drive like they do
1982 300D Turbo ... 3,6xxlbs, No fan, No AC, Hood Stack, No ALDA, No rear bumper and stuffed front, A/W Intercooled, Injectors by Greezer and HUGE Pre-Chambers with help from OM616 & Simpler=Better, Fuel Cranked up, 60 Trim Compressor wheel, EGT, EMP, Boost 50" Rigid Radius bar on roof Aux tank for a total of 48 Gal Of Diesel! Odyssey PC-1750 Battery in trunk, 27"x8.5"/R14 Maxxis BigHorn Mud Terrains, In June '14 issue of Off Road Mag
AX15 Jeep Trans swap in progress....
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