The perils of driving old Mercs!

[Timster]

An interesting series of events, which I thought I'd share with you.

After taking the dog for a walk, got back into the '87 W124, reversed out of the parking space, engaged first gear and "Bang!" Driveshaft gone, so no forward momentum, although the speedometer informs me I'm doing about 20 mph!

Having fiddled around for a bit it's getting dark, so bite the bullet and call the rescue service, towed to my mechanic.

My friends giving me a lift back in his '83 W123, and the exhaust falls off just by the gearbox!

A quick fix later with a redbull can, some tent pegs and cable ties, and that car's also parked outside the mechanics!

Kenny (My mechanic) will be delighted to see out cars back again tomorrow. The credit crunch isn't touching him ......... We're keeping him in business.

Anyone share any good news about how cheap and easy it was to fix a driveshaft on a W124 estate? The exhaust shouldn't be a big problem.

These things always happen at the same time, looks like I'm on the motorbike for the foreseeable future, in this lovely weather!

There's nothing else for it, out with the Malt! Bowmore it is!

 

[Wunderpartz]

not a tip on cheap fix but mind which driveshaft you buy for the estate as they are different to the saloon iirc.

 

[Ian B Walker]

I have a couple of drive shafts spare. If you need one just give us a call.

 

[Timster]

And ......

Just when I thought he'd nursed the W123 back to the garage, I get a call to say he can't get the car started. He'd stopped to check the quick fix, turned the engine off, and it wouldn't start. So back on the bike to pinch his wifes car '93 W124 (The only one working!) Back to him, a quick tow and he's off

Looks like the alternator, we'll find out tomorrow.

Back to the whisky ......