“W11x chassis cars” are making a mess of the W113 forum

[Peter]

I find that the posts of “W11x chassis cars” are making a mess of the W113 forum lately.
When reading “Show unread posts since last visit” it is now polluted with all kind of posts of W11x. 

Is it possible that a reader can block a topic like “W11x chassis cars” such that it will not appear in “Show unread posts since last visit”?

Would be nice, Peter

[66andBlue]

Peter,
I assume you see the same or similar window as I do that shows all the new threads.
Why not simply open those that you want to read and when you are done mark all the others as "mark all messages as read"? That way you can avoid the W11x contributions as well as others you don't care about.

[PeterPortugal]

Guys,
Come on. I have a W111. i don't have a W113. It takes me 10 secs to scan the unread posts and decide what i want to read and what I want to ignore. It's not that big an issue.
Most of us are on here for help/advice with mechanical or electrical issues and much of it is common.
This truly is a great site and i will try and help anybody who asks if I think I can (even Colin Fearns). I agree that the W111 crowd have certainly come to life recently (particularly in Australia)....but as long as the posts are appropriately categorised what is the downside?
A big thanks to Dan Caron, Joe Alexander and Pawel66 who always try to help us out too.
Regards
Peter

[wwheeler]

I joined this site in 2007 and became a regular contributor because the technical information and people here are second to none. Yes, I own a W111 car and contributed to this site long before there was a W11X section. Not once during that time or after have I posted non-W113 info where it wasn't appropriate. Why did I stay? Because these cars have so much in common that I was able to learn volumes about my W111 and still do. I have also contributed back to those with W113 cars and hopefully have helped them as well.

I have noticed the the traffic in the W11X section has increased significantly lately and maybe now that is an issue. Yes, this is a W113 site and I think the owners of W11X cars have and do respect that. The last thing anybody wants here is a political issue that interferes with knowledge sharing and the better good of this site. I think Alfred's solution is doable and I avoid reading topics that do not interest me now. However, whatever the board decides is what is going to be the best for this site and I will still continue support SL113 as I have for 13 years.     

[Garry]

Way back when this was proposed, I was not much in favour of mixing W11x with W113 data.  At the time it was decided to make it a seperate section and from then there has been a great exchange of information flowing both ways.

As one who reads every post, to moderate if needed, i have noticed the increase going more to very specific W111 related questions and answers, however, clearly our Australian W111 owners are doing some restoration work that will generate the traffic but will reduce as the vehicle is brought up to scratch.

As Alfred said you can just avoid opening the W11x topics if you don’t want to read them.

There was a Board Meeting phone conference this morning that I was unfortunately unable to be part of but unless there has been a Board coup, there was nothing on todays agenda nor planned on W11x to change the way we are operating.


Garry.

[hansr433]

As one of the prolific W11x polluters (see the screenshot above) and a new member to the group, I am sorry if my posts offend anyone.  I joined the group because I liked the knowledge being shared and particularly the tone of the replies.  The anonymity that the internet affords makes it easy for someone to be insulting, offending and just being plainly stupid.  Thus the need for moderators.  The membership of this group is to be congratulated for being civil and providing answers to what some might consider silly questions.  I will try to pollute less, but as a relative newbie to the W11x world and having lots of issues with my W111 currently that I am trying to sort out by myself, I am happy that there are so many members in this group willing to help out.  To Peter who started this thread, please be patient as we W111 owners around the globe sort our problems out.

[Paul & Dolly]

I offer some  support to  Peter, The problem I see is that W11X posts are not all in the W11X section, but have been posted under "General Discussion", "Drive Train" and other W113 sections.

I also get a bit frustrated to start reading a new post,in "Show unread posts since last visit" only to find that it is not concerning a Pagoda.

I would be happier if the W11X posts could be easily identified as such, when I scan the "New Posts" section,

I think that this situation could be greatly helped if those posting W11X items would confine themselves to the W11X section only.



Keep well

Paul

[WRe]

Hi,
I second Paul's comment that W11X posts should be easily identified as such not only in their special topics of "W11x chassis cars” or "Other cars" but also in their issue/text.
E.g. : I looked for this clip "https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=31273.0" but couldn't find it in my car unless I recognized that it's a W108/111 clip.
...WRe

[PeterPortugal]

WRe - i did apologise for that one !

I rebuilt my subframe recently and I needed some help which was happily provided by the forum as usual.

I posted in the main section because the components used are common. If I posted it in the w11X section then it is becoming clear that many W113 posters (who could potentially offer advice) would immediately write it off and ignore it.

Just a point for you guys to consider.

[ejboyd5]

Consider the commonalities between the W 11X and the  W 113 before throwing stones. There is much good information that is shared between the several types that we should be thankful for as the types themselves grow older and the number of experts decrease.  Much the same situation exists with the 190 SL and the 300 SL. Although they are very different cars, they share many features that can be a help to both camps. If concerned by a W 11X post, simply skip it.

[Garry]

As i together with several others, moderate all the posts, i tend to move anything that is very specific to W11x to that heading if it has been posted to the other areas.  If it is more of a generic item to our cars i tend to leave them alone.

To Hans and Peter,  I am pretty sure those that can answer most questions relating to W11x read all posts anyway. I am referring mainly to Joe, JA17, Dan, Benz Dr and Aaron to name a few but there quite a few others as well so putting a post in the main area to just ensure that it is seen maybe is not such a good idea and sticking to W11x specific items most definitely should be in the W11x area only.

Having said that, i tend to look at the posts each morning Australia time so many of you may have already seen the more recent daily posts before i get a chance to move these types of posts about. I know Alfred, 66andBlue, also has been moving some of the W11x posts to that heading as well based on USA west coast time before i get to view them.

I hope that explains some of the moves that have been done quietly in the background by your moderators.

Garry

[FGN59]

I second Alfred’s and Wallace’s posts. Don’t feel swamped in W11x issues, and many of the posts bring useful information to W113 owners too, if only by underlining differences and similarities, which help understand some things better. I personally don’t have any problem with things as they are, and I agree that using the proper section of the forum is required.
As I also expressed elsewhere on basically the same topic, having a forum open to more W11x issues/owners doesn’t bother me at all, on the contrary. Might be a bit more difficult initially to sort out the information and the queries so as not to create a mess, but I am strongly in favor of ‘the more the merrier’, as long as it is orderly, and limited to these series W111/112/113. Don’t want to stir up the pot, just trying to clarify my personal opinion.

[Paul & Dolly]

Can you explain  ejboyd5 "throwing stones" comment ,please

Thanks

Paul

[PeterPortugal]

Hi Garry,

i think you do a very good job of moderating the posts. Only a small number of "inappropriate ones" slip through as per the one used as an example by Wre which I started.....but very few "inappropriate ones" go onto the main board at all.

If you look back at the history of this post the original complaint was just that W11X owners have posted a lot of stuff recently....99% of it is in the correct W11X section. I think it's great that we are getting a few more active members, just make sure you encourage them to become "full" and pay the subscription !!

Keep up the great work.

Peter

[scoot]

I check for new posts everyday.  I haven't felt that the W11x community has polluted anything.  It's not broke, don't fix it.

[Peter]

Hi Gents,

Thanks for readability suggestions of the W113 and W11x item.

I appreciate if we monitor the development of this amount of W11x posts.

It sounds very open minded and friendly to welcome W11x posts, but when it results in less involvement of knowledgeable W113 members it would harm the very good quality and objectives of this Pagoda forum.

Peter

[JPMOSE]

Ridiculous

[Benz Dr.]

I started working on MB cars back in 1977 and there was no help at all from anyone back then. Trust me, things are so much easier now.

My first fuel injected car was a 1964 111  220SEb coupe and I figured out some basic things that helped me when I bought mt first pagoda in 1988. 111's and 113's share a lot in common with the chassis and interior being the biggest difference. If the truth is to be known, the 111 is a lot more car than the 113 but both of them are fine cars and worthy of anyone's care.

This site here will continue to evolve and there will always be supporters and detractors. I've been both at times but I'm largely a team player and try to think long haul and a bit into the future. The help we provide, the friends we've made, and the posts we all still have yet to make, will steer us well into the future. What we have here is what we have. We will never be all things to all people, nor should we even try.

The site and the club are two distinct entities that are joined at the hip. The site is about the day to day things that come across the desk while the club is more about a slower strategic progression into the future. Think of both as a kind of pension plan and heritage that you can pass on to the next generation. There will be a  different owner of the Red Rocket some day, after someone pries my hands off of the steering wheel. 

[jim 56]

I own a 1972 W108 280 SE.I sent an E mail to the site before I joined asking if it was worth it for me to join.The reply I got was because of the engine (a M130)was common to the 113 that I would garner a lot of valuable advice.I was so glad that I did join as my car would probably not be running now.I try to keep my questions about the engine only.I do have to mention that once I state what my car is it seems to me that I get less help.My question is should I be asking my questions in the forum under "other cars"?

[JPMOSE]

Benz Dr. and Jim 56....Well said!  I come and go on the site but will probably spend a lot more time on it in a couple years when I retire! Prior to Mercedes I was a big Lincoln continental fan plus a 1956 Lincoln Premier coupe.  But owning vintage Mercedes has been a real blessing!! Plus, it’s so nice to meet people that have such a passion for such a beautiful machine! I don’t care if it’s a 180 Ponton diesel or a 300SL roadster, The workmanship and quality is evident in all these cars!

Wishing you both a great weekend! JP

[Garry]

Jim56


Keep posting your questions to the W11x area when it is specific to that model, we just ask that you start the heading with the w11x that then enables those that do look every day at all the posts, to flick through the headings and pick out those that they wish to look at or not.


Whether you get less help is maybe a bit subjective, but those with the vast W113 knowledge and wish to help will always step in and answer questions like Benz Dr or JA17.


You don’t need to keep your questions to the common parts only when posting within that area as there also some within the W11x owners such as WWheeler who will always help if they can.


To explain the rational behind keeping the questions within the headings, and why i often move posts around to from the general area to specific headings is that if some one wants to do a search specifically to the W11x area then they will be able to do so under the search button at the top right hand side whilst in that W11x area or what ever area they may be in at that time. If they want to search under all topics then the search button in the Home line above will do that.


Garry
Membership Administrator

[Benz Dr.]

Jim56


Keep posting your questions to the W11x area when it is specific to that model, we just ask that you start the heading with the w11x that then enables those that do look every day at all the posts, to flick through the headings and pick out those that they wish to look at or not.


Whether you get less help is maybe a bit subjective, but those with the vast W113 knowledge and wish to help will always step in and answer questions like Benz Dr or JA17.


You don’t need to keep your questions to the common parts only when posting within that area as there also some within the W11x owners such as WWheeler who will always help if they can.


To explain the rational behind keeping the questions within the headings, and why i often move posts around to from the general area to specific headings is that if some one wants to do a search specifically to the W11x area then they will be able to do so under the search button at the top right hand side whilst in that W11x area or what ever area they may be in at that time. If they want to search under all topics then the search button in the Home line above will do that.


Garry
Membership Administrator

I can't argue with anything you say Garry, however, sometimes my best answer is, " I don't know! "

[jim 56]

I guess i'm a bit confused.What does the W11x chassis cars topic actually mean?
Thanks

[Benz Dr.]

I guess I'm a bit confused. What does the W11x chassis cars topic actually mean?
Thanks

I imagine it refers to 111 coupes and cabriolets. Namely, 220SEb, 300SE, 250SE, 280SE, and 280SE 3.5 cars built from 1961 until 1971. The engines and drive trains are similar to 113's with only the 220SEb engine and the 3.5 V8 that was not used in the 113's. The 220 engine was used and modified for 230SL's so it is similar but not the same. Because of these similarities, this extra 111 forum was developed for our use on this 113 site. It adds more than it detracts. If you don't have a 111 ( I do ) don't bother going there. The drive trains in both cars are very similar and I think that's why 111 guys would come here for help with those items and for good reason too.

[wwheeler]

Well said! I think it also includes the W108 cars as the drivetrain is also very similar.