My Opinion of Kent Bergsma, Revised

This video is about why Kent Bergsma is not a true Mercedes enthusiast.. Kent recently parted out a unique green on green w116 300SD. This was a bad decision, and this car could have easily been saved.
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[@klwthe3rd]

The Green ghost was my favorite car on Mercedessource because of the rarity of the color. I send emails to him asking if the car was for sale several times and his daughter responded saying "no". He stated on his channel that the only reason he was parting it out was that it was too expensive and time consuming to fix the right front fender which was crunched in an accident. So you're going to part out a super rare Mercedes Benz just because of that? That's crazy to me. Fender epoxied to the body or not, that shouldn't have been a viable reason to part out that car. Then taking the engine and transmission out to sell to someone else was the knife through the heart. That sounded like financial motivation to me. That's the difference between Kent and Pierre. Kent and Pierre both run businesses but Pierre's true motivation is preservation not reselling. This video was spot on and I applaud Pierre for speaking the truth. Sometimes it hurts.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

this is exactly what he does. One of my customers asked about his 6.3...same thing...radio silence even after he offered the car for sale

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

the rarity of that car is one thing most people on this channel do not understand.It is not the same as a gray/bamboo 450sel with tons of rust, or a 280s that was driven on salty roads and then left in a field to waste away. this is a rare, beautiful car.

[@klwthe3rd]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 I loved it because of its super unique and rare color. I also loved that it was the last year of the W116 body. Crushed fender or not, that car was good enough to save and fix. I am not a Mercedes Benz expert nor do I purport to be a collector car appraiser but I wanted to buy that car the moment I saw his first video on it. I would have fixed it and kept it 100 percent stock Mercedes Benz and owned it till I die. Lol

[@LM3802]

That car needed A LOT of work to be repaired properly. I wish Kent would have fixed it or sold it to someone who would, but I can see why he didn't want to put a lot money in to it.

[@klwthe3rd]

@@LM3802 I agree there might have been more needed that wasn't shown on camera. But as we've seen on other videos, it wasn't anything Kent wasn't capable of doing. He did take the time to save the car in the first place right?

[@whozat2008]

What bugs me about Kent's videos is they tell the DIY'er almost nothing about how to actually DIY. The vast majority of his vids are made to sell his products, as if they are the ONLY way to address a problem. As a result, when I do a "How to---" search, I just ignore the stuff that comes up from Mercedes Source.

[@1986Phoenix29]

His KZbin videos, yes of course.. And he usually says straight out, I'm not going to be going over a complete job, that video comes with my kit.... He's a business, nothing wrong with that... His intellectual property is worth something.. God knows its saved me thousands over the 20 years I've been dealing with him. Are all his products great... no.... but like anything else, use your own judgement...

[@vitalmakhdum]

Exactly - it's so annoying - his videos should come with a disclaimer - or label them differently.

[@andrewcooney2387]

Yeah I agree with you Kent is bullshit

[@stevesutton9444]

My problem with Kent is that he is always trying to sell you something not really helping you solve problems, at least not without buying something.

[@andrewcooney2387]

Kent is a business not a charity helper, if you don't have the cash get lost. That's the hub of it.

[@V1er1f1ed]

but its the way he does it, there is a business and a business@@andrewcooney2387

[@brentsosa4783]

You’re so broke that’s sad

[@newtonfamily2274]

Pierre, my man, i get what youre saying. This video upsets me though, because you and Kent have probably saved thousands of classics from the crusher. Kent got me started on Mercedes 5 years ago, and both of you have helped me every step of the way. Without Kents instructions and tools, i would have been lost on many projects. It pains me to see a "Scotty Kilmer / Chris Fix" beef between you too for no reason. To say Kent is disingenuous about his passion because he scrapped a car, is so overly presumptuous. We have no idea behind his rationale, and you know what? When youve saved as many cars as the both of you have, its okay to let one go. Its okay to part it out. Its his car. He can do whatever he wants with it. Yeah it would have been cool to see a rebuild, and maybe he would have if he was 20 years younger. But here we are. I dont want to see this beef continue. We need both of you to continue innovating so we can keep these amazing cars on the road.

[@DriveVibeAuto]

Yeah this video just made me unsubscribe.

[@NPqueen3499]

Agreed. Why do you hate him so much? Jealous. I prefer Kent's videos. He doesn't wine all the time.

[@moroder00]

Amen, I bought quite a few tools from Kent and his how-to videos are awesome. He caters tp hobbyists, not necessarily professionals. Pierre is great too but man, this tiff is just dumb - my suggestion is to get rid of the videos of Pierre bashing Kent. It does not do anything for anyone.

[@Junk65]

Kent is great. I love watching him and his employees. I own and fix my own Benz, thanks to people like yourself, Kent and many many others on KZbin. No need to criticize others. Take a chill pill.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

glad you;re fixing your own MB. Not glad Kent parts out perfectly good cars.

[@jefferysmith3930]

I’ve never met Kent or bought his products. I have reaped a great deal of knowledge and confidence to tackle my own repairs by watching his videos. So, the green ghost started out as a running driving car but with front end damage the got into the frame structure of the car. It seems to me he made a simple cost benefit analysis on saving the car or not. I was disappointed that he didn’t save it but that decision was made several videos and a long time ago. His most recent video was just showing the end result of a decision made a long time ago. So why the ire now, not back then? Any car can be saved if you get right down to it but if you’re not willing to do all the cutting and welding and if no one else wants to buy it, then a decision has to be made.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

the parting of the green ghost was unnecessary. that is my point.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

if this was Kent's channel, you would not have been able to leave a comment like this.

[@cherkas009]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 you can't leave any comments at all over there

[@jimk7882]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 The making of this video was completely unnecessary.

[@ItsTimePictures]

Uh oh... SHOTS FIRED! ;-) I do think it comes down to age with Kent. He's around 70 and doesn't have the energy needed for such work. He's pretty much retired, with the KZbin channel being his retirement gravy train. That's what I surmise from things he has been saying over the last couple of years. He's not going to spend the majority of his time working on cars at this point. I purchased his dash cluster removal tool and it is better than the official Mercedes pry-tools. That being said, I have read reports of many of his products being lackluster and even including URO bits. Also, some of the cars he has offered for sale in recent years were not really given proper maintenance. How could he sell his lovely looking w126 560SEC and NOT do the timing chain and guide?!!! It had 100k miles on it. It's due!!

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

he's too old to fix it, but not too old to part it out!!!!

[@ItsTimePictures]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 his gang will part it out. He won't do any of that work. He has a couple guys who do grunt work like tearing cars down.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@ItsTimePictures just like Alix ....no qualified mechanics but plenty of strippers

[@newtonraymond77]

He should probably oversee and pass on his knowledge to a couple of up and coming mechanics if he's too old to do the job and even make videos of the training/ repairs

[@bobjohnson8206]

If you would have really listed to the video he stated the previous owner had that done, that was another reason why he brought the vehicle.

[@LM3802]

I am disappointed that Kent didn't restore this car or sell it as a whole car, but you shouldn't be angry about this. It would take a lot of money to repair this car properly. As a customer of Mercedessource, I would say that his custom tools may not be Snap-On quality, but they do get the job done. I won't buy parts from Mecedessource unless the brand is specified. I don't blame Kent for disabling comments on most of his videos....there are a lot of trolls out there. Well, I will continue to watch your videos and Kent's videos. It seems to me that both of you are Mercedes enthusiasts!

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thanks for your very civil and thoughtful comment!

[@atatexan]

Well, well Pierre. I like Kent and Mercedessource as a complementary resource to you. I bought several of his kits and find them helpful. The same goes for his “how to” videos. I am certainly not an accomplished mechanic but love my three MB’s. Kent is pretty passionate in the way he exhorts people like me to be brave and learn the basic A and B checks (terms borrowed from commercial aircraft maintenance schedules) as a way to keep the cars on the road. As to sacrificing the W116, that distressed me a little as a thistle green metallic 116 (350SE) myself - but he has a business to run and lots of personal cars. At 72 years old, Kent is likely thinking about rationing his time sensibly. The community needs both of you. It is a little like faith in God and church. Some of us are Roman Catholics and others Baptists. The goal is the same just different paths taken.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thanks for your very civil and insightful contribution. they are not making naymore w116s, so the solid cars deserve a second chance

[@atatexan]

You are a blessing, too, Pierre. I will be in Orlando at an aircraft conference in March and will add time to meet you.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@atatexan i would like that a lot! do you have my email and phone number?

[@atatexan]

I do not, Pierre. Send you contact info to me at [e-mail]. I will bring my cute certified MB tech daughter who is my better half.

[@crickle47]

To my knowledge, Kent has never claimed to be a car repair shop at all. I've enjoyed using his tools, and love his videos. I've found that me personally, just can not restore all the cars that I have now, and it is due to age (71). Hopefully, you will get there. And you might find that you have other projects that steal your time, in Kent's case, he is building a beautiful home.

[@aaron___6014]

Please sell them. So many older people are holding onto cars that others would absolutely love to get back on the road. Sell them and ask to be updated on their restoration.

[@ismailcigerli3456]

I do like him and you are great of course as well I did buy his Valve to adjust my transmission it’s like a air flow control valve it did work great on my 84 300cd love it

[@DeltaStar777]

I think you both contributes enormously to the interest and preservation of these old cars. You Pierre being clearly the most passionate and Kent more commercial but you are both great and we need you both. Love from Stockholm Sweden and my 280CE -77. PS Thanks Pierre for helping me finding out that my starting issues was because of my faulty fuel accumulator.

[@ogruesser]

Maaan! Stop whinging! He has enourmes recources and you do too giving to the mb community. Focus on your expertise. What will this criticism help?

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

the criticism will make people aware of how important it is to save these rare cars. that was the whole point of this video

[@zenjamin6262]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 pierre is so correct.. these cars need to be preserved. YOU DONT TRASH A MERCEDES BECAUSE IT HAS OLD GAS IN IT... YOU GET YOUR ASS OUT THERE AND CLEAN THOSE TANK AND LINES !

[@joewellborn802]

Exactly! FTR I’ve found Kent’s videos to be a great resource and the products I’ve purchased to be a good value. If Pierre wants to criticize/review Kent’s products, that’s fine and even helpful. But the criticism regarding Kent’s decision to part out a car seem pointless and petty.

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

I'm not turning you off sir, I'm just politely pointing out to you that any respect you may have won from followers will be rapidly eroded by your lack of professionalism in publicly denigrating someone else's work, it's absolutely unnecessary.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

maybe, but at the end of the day, I am here to preserve cars like the 300sd that kent took apart. I won;t turn a deaf ear to how kent manipulated his subscribers, pretended to offer the car for sale, and then dismantled it for spares.

[@rover73]

I'm leaning more towards Kents side on this one. Kent is in his 70's and he probably just does not want to take on another project. If you watch his videos, you will see he has a lot of project cars. I have purchased from Kent over the past few years and he has helped me get my 300TD back on the road and running better than ever. I respect both of you and your passion for saving old Mercedes.

[@urbanturbine]

Well then he could maybe sell it to someone who can fix it. But they refused to do so.

[@hammerobx8196]

urbanturbine Save one car or many with parting out. My A124 is always appreciative of the rare find trim piece or part. Does anyone really care where their part comes from when in need- of course not- they are only interested in their own project.

[@bradrichards6107]

rover73 Kent’s employee, Jerson, could do the work for him. Jerson appears to be a capable mechanic.

[@urbanturbine]

@@hammerobx8196 Pierre addresses the "save other cars by parting one out". Obviously you didn't watch the video.

[@hammerobx8196]

urbanturbine He’s just so arrogant I must have missed his point. Could anyone really ask this guy a question about their car and not think he would make them feel dumb for even inquiring. In this video he isn’t showing passion so much as a lack of intelligence in communication. Basically he comes off as a jerk.

[@vitalmakhdum]

Im shocked some people in the comments section havent realised Kent's videos dont actually show you what to do, no DIY info, just...BUY MY SPECIAL HELPFUL LITTLE TOOL. That's it. So annoying.

[@romans32426]

I will hit 79 this year (2019). This week I will change out my glow plugs on Martha, one of my 1983 300d's. It is getting harder as the years slip past. I think this may be part of the reason for the difference in viewpoints - 75 is a lot different than 50 which is how old I was when I first got my first w123.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

i think the important thing is that you are still at it.....

[@philipgibson9566]

At 78 now the peers that skilled my mechanical apprenticeship were aircraft and army engineers plus the adventure of being an marine then power station engineer I can't stop myself and old classic Mercs are music to me

[@RoyalHippieGangstercom]

This is my favorite kind of video...honest and direct. I've done a small amount of business with him and his family up in Bellingham. I think Kent is perfect for the brand new enthusiast...I'm guessing it's his bread and butter. You, on the other hand, my fine man Pierre, are suited a bit more for the more 'refined enthusiast. And that's cool...cuz it takes all kinds. - (I found you/your channel through Glow Plug Relay troubleshooting research) - Back when I was stupid (yeah, like lessons are going to end), I once had a Stuttgart-trained MBZ private shop owner turn down my $6000 investment into my own '83 240D manual...and instead attempt to sell me ANOTHER 240D (1982)...for that same $6000...citing the fact that the body damage on my car made it 'not worth it'. - To whom, f*cktard!? - And so we just 'throw them away?! F.U. My Grandpa would be so pissed off to hear some 'supposedly grown man treat a 'luxury tractor' like the 240D poorly just because it had a 'few scratches. LEARN SOMETHING!...he'd say. PRACTICE!...he'd say. And when you get it right, just how you like it...you'll know Pride. 'Course, Grandpa's dead...and so are most of his ideals. - It took me a minute, but I came to the realization that my ownership of this 240D Mercedes Benz was going to be the most profound vehicle relationship I'd ever have. I fell in love with a designer...Bruno. I fell in love with a company....MBZ. I fell in love with a car...Y.C. the L.T. (Yellow Cherry the Luxury Tractor). My 6 year old son and I are learning to be our own mechanic. I am building a lifetime of memories with my boy. (He used a multimeter for the first time, testing out glow plugs.) He sits behind the wheel and helps steer as we 'test our latest fix in a loop around the neighborhood. He will learn to drive, in a 240D, 4 speed manual, merging into CA freeway traffic going uphill. - In other words, I'm the MutherF'in Charlton Heston of this 240D. And I don't give a shit how little value YOU place on it. You look blind to me. - So not all of us are going to see eye to eye on the VALUE of a particular car. As it is with the Green Ghost. To one, it's a historic relic...something to be admired and relished. To another, it's a carcass for sale and slaughter to the highest bidder. And you're correct Pierre, a man's choices reveal his character. Kent told what he cares about, in that case, with that decision. -

[@hlukufarmmechanic2497]

very well said bro

[@jd-py5nm]

I like kent for the most part and agree with the others I think he is just slowing down to enjoy retirement and while not ideal he handled this ok imo could have been worse wish it was better

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

he should have given the car to you, Josh . you would have given it a second life

[@nickyborrisino]

Much respect Pierre, I also bring dead vehicles back to life for customers. For myself, I saved a complete 1970 MG Midget race car with a rare 1275S engine from being crushed at a junk yard. Everything was shot on it, but the rare engine was rebuildable and I made one transmission out of 3 used units. The body/frame was not worth prettying up because of the extensive abuse the poor car had seen through it’s entire life as a race car, but I did a complete mechanical/electrical restoration on it’s vintage racing components, while keeping the car together as when I first saw it, and I still drive it several times a month.

[@zakhassan]

Come on dude this is very unfair. Kent is 70 years old if he choses to part out any of his cars thats his choice. It does not mean he cannot fix it. I have a lot of respect for Kent, leave him be. Theres plenty of room at the mercedes inn for everyone.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

sorry, but Kent should be setting a good example for us. He doesn't need to part the car out.

[@TheCarTakerGarage]

i do agree with you there..even though i have to admit i see Pieres point aswell...but i also see it the same way as you do too :)

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@TheCarTakerGarage thanks for being civil!! much appreciated.

[@zakhassan]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 Pierre, i really admire your knowledge and attitude when it comes to Mercedes. I know you have everyones best interest at heart. I think everyone can co-exist in the same three pointed space. Lifes too short to squibble about the small stuff...Main thing is sharing the knowledge and working together for the greater good.

[@FABWaldorf]

Yes Pierre, I'm with our friend above who speaks of Kent being 70 and to leave him be. As was also said, . . ."There's plenty of room at the Mercedes Inn for all" . . . There too many comments here that seem to reflect a "let's get Kent" mentality. Having come from a Professional background myself, working as Senior Business Development Manager for Multi-National companies, it would be unprofessional of me to be seen to knock Kent in any way . . . "We all have our quirks, we can all look for flaws in others. Is it not better to look at our own flaws and fix those?? Finally, Pierre, I enjoy what u do, but remember, "Never be seen to knock your competition" . . .this leaves u looking unprofessional, is that the image u want for yourself and your business?? Fergus, Ireland, Europe Mercedes Benz Classic Car Club U.K.

[@nevido84]

Why does this video feels like nothing but self promotion to me? Kent has so much free content for diyers for free. He makes things easy for diy community by tools, kits etc so they can maintain their cars without a mechanic. Kent is a great resource for mB owners who dont have $$$ to send their car for every issue they have. Those tools and kits keep those cars on the road. Kent saved so many other cars on his channel. I am a business man and understand content marketing well. This video is purposefully designed to attract attention by attacking another respectful mb community member. I support good constructive criticism. However, I dont think l can trust someone without good business etiquette with my car even if he is talented.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

Nedim, Kent is the self promoter. my advice is free, and you can leave a comment on my page. What does that mean to you?

[@alekseyabramchuk6718]

I like Kent and what he’s going and with his car he can do whatever he wants even chopped up and get rid of it

[@MmetalbikesS]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 defaming your colleague and insulting a viewer with an objective opinion. Just show some respect.

[@lucashicks3668]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 Give me a round of applause too you big doofus. I don't want to sink to your level, but you seem like a real miserable piece of shit.

[@ianwright40]

I have been grateful that people have parted out cars in the past. Lets face it. This stuff ain't that rare. Live and let live.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

me too but when was the last time you saw a green on green w116 300sd? never, right?

[@OB928]

Stumbled on your channel when looking for some actual “how to” videos. What I like is yours is not just a sales pitch with no explanation. Your info has been very helpful. Thank you.

[@DaveyJonesLockerwithJazzy]

Easy tiger. The guy is 70 years old. He's getting tired bro. We are all human.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

he is still setting as a bad example. My father was still rebuilding IH diesels at 75

[@DaveyJonesLockerwithJazzy]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 , Pierre, Kent is from an aircraft maintenance background, yours is automotive. I wouldn't worry too much about Kent, you're golden and we appreciate what you provide for us. You guys both are very good, just different, and yes, maybe you're more passionate, but that doesn't matter mate. So don't worry, you don't have to say it, we can feel your passion. I just wish we had you in Europe. Maybe one day I'll follow in your footsteps for us European blokes. By the way, I'm the proud owner of my family's very first Mercedes Benz. It is an unmolested stock, everyday commuter, 355 diamond blue, June 1985 C-126 coupe, with 500 SEC M117.963 engine - complete with beautiful 922 grey/blue velour interior, original Blaupunkt Toronto cassette player, & no back head-rests! She's not perfect, in fact most everything I did purchasing this car was opposite what you advised, apart from checking over and driving, I didn't really know what to look for, but it test drove well enough, so.... I only discovered these channels and you guys after I impulsively bought this car 😄 ... buy now, think later! For me, as you said in a previous video, I drive it because I like the way it makes me feel. The sound it makes, the looks of the car, makes me feel an improved version of myself. Something beautiful, it makes me feel good, because I'm responsible for it's care, so my children can enjoy it one day. As it stands, my littlies (8-12 y/o), are already helping me look after it! Cheers, Sam

[@zenjamin6262]

Ya Mercedes haves souls ! Pierre has some guts to speak his mind. These boys should have a wrench off.

[@philipgibson9566]

I am 78 and still can covert 280ces to300ds and maintain all aspects mechanical engine/ gearbox/diffs electrical a/c hydraulic punmatic and body panel paint welding etc traditional training apprenticeship skills of the day.

[@closer71]

That argument doesn’t hold water for me.

[@gottfriedlaubichler9838]

It may be water too far down the river, but I like watching your channel as much as I like watching Kent. I don't always do what y'all suggest fixing my W114 & W126, but I'm a knucklehead for Mercedes too except for the knowledge and capabilities y'all have (it still happens to work out good for me somehow). I appreciate any help I can get that helps to not brake the bank. Thank you for that, and thanks to Kent too. I'd love to see y'all collaborate some day. It would be great learning to hear how two different philosophies tackle the preservation in order to keep the cars we love

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you for this very kind and civil comment

[@ronaldstrickland6188]

Well said, I don’t know how many sleepless nights I’ve had with my 80 450 SLC, but in the end it’s all about the passion for a Mercedes Benz

[@IKhanNot]

In your attempt to make Kent look bad you only made yourself look and sound self righteous. You call yourself passionate about classic MB's and it's evident in your content but if you're that passionate and focused on restoring these classics why would you even waste a minute on another mechanic's content or info when it doesn't really affect you in any way? Kent has helped me out with his content and yes, most of his videos are subtle sales pitches but at the end of the day you need to sell and earn business to survive. Either way, I saved money by using his info, kits and then doing the work myself. As for his cars and his content well it's his so who are you to tell him what to do with them?

[@GeorgeKirko]

I believe, if a car has no rust, it is wrong to part out the car!!!!!

[@thisisnightshop2037]

George Kirko you're absolutely right George. Replacing a fender and one of these cars takes a couple of hours

[@EndofUSA]

I guess Pierre you are right on the dot with Mercedessource. Its just too bad. Well in fairness to Kent, he has a family to support.

[@kevinpantera4429]

His videos have helped me alot. I like Kent.

[@muralidharan1065]

Anything Kent Bergsma can do I can do too. I have. To a W124 and a w126. Thanks Pierre.

[@sumporfuk]

I truly appreciate your thoughts, honesty, and passion

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you!

[@michalkarbowiak649]

It's interesting that this is the second negative video about Kent stop trolling it does not help the Mercedes community

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

I am not trolling. I am genuinely angry because of what he did to the green on green 300sd.

[@LM3802]

I understand that you don't like what he did with the car, but I think you are overreacting to this. What's done is done; it's time to move on.@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753

[@Sean0526a]

@@LM3802 not to mention that t's none of your business what he chooses to do to a car

[@zenjamin6262]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 I. Mad to pierre ! This is un-forgivable

[@closer71]

Green on green is ultra rare, bro. It deserves special dispensation!!

[@stuartjohns230]

I like Kent B. He is extremely helpful with MB advice. What I dislike about his channel is, you can’t make any comments???

[@st.filipeneri3193]

You know, in Kent's latest videos he is selling (not to say giving away) many cars of his collection. The question is all about his age, the man is getting older, and working in any car as a mechanic takes some phisical abillity. Personaly, I admire your work and passion for these machines, but your words are very harsh to a professional that spended the last decades fixing AIR PLANES and cars.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

well, he should not have parted out the green ghost. I have nothing personal against Kent, but his actions were selfish and destructive.

[@hamshank29]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 you sound like a child. Its his car, he can do whatever he likes

[@dannymartinez8314]

So I have a problem with my 90 300e v6, on a cold start it takes many attempts to start up and if I give it some gas, it will stall, but start right up again, and when it at operating temperature, it will keep running but after 15 minutes it will stall and then it won't start back up, but after many hours I can start it, and it will do the same as i stated above, any advice would be appreciated, thank you very much.

[@terryratcliffe1451]

Dear Pierre, I am unable to completely fill my fuel tank on my w220. My first thought is to check my evap charcoal canister. However I am unable to find it. I have removed both rear wheels but cannot find it after removing plastic wheel guards. As well what is that canister behind left wheel arch. It says it is a motor. It has 3 tubes coming out of it,is it to maintain pressure in fuel lines? Would appreciate you help. Thank you, Terry

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

if you cannot fill the tank you must have a breather issue. there should be a line coming out of the tank and going to some kind of three way valve. the item you have identified sounds like it may have something to do with the evaporation system but I have never worked on a w220 before so I am not sure. still, your tank is almost certainly not able to vent itself.

[@ncscientist]

Shots fired! Pierre - Apple , Kent - Microsoft. We need them both.

[@TheLuisg92]

Forgot to say something. The reason this car was parted was because it needed "too much work" and he didn’t have time to fix it. So, he parted it out which requires time and then went and bought a lot of projects to work on them, which demands even more time and money. So, what was the real reason behind it?

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

he should have given it to someone who was willing to do the work Luis

[@kermitefrog64]

I understand part of what is happening is that Kent is in his 70's and he is at a point that some projects become time consuming whereas Pierre Hedary is a much younger man and has the time to restore the more challenging projects. I wouldn't discount what Kent offers just because he is at a different point in life. Pierre I appreciate your passion and the videos you provide but wait until you get a few more decades of life.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

Kent should have answered the people who wanted to buy the car from him. Kent's decision was selfish and I lost faith in him because of it. Also his lack of correspondence with his subscribers comes off as rather smug and arrogant.

[@greywolfthunderheart]

Excellent Pierre! Thank you for always sharing your knowledge with us classic Mercedes fans.

[@closer71]

I agree with you 100%. But for a long time Kent was all we had...always liked him. But he can get a little long winded. Ha! Ha! Ha!

[@unpob]

don't loose faith, you are part of a very small community who provide super help to folks like me, hope instead for more of Kent types even with their human failings

[@lightamplifier6105]

Thank you for your passion and sharing your gifts. I have an 85 190e that I rescued. However after getting the fuel system straightened out I hear a bottom end knock. You mentioned a cracked flex plate. Please explain how I decipher the two. Thank you!

[@cjoakman7715]

I've recently dealt with Kent Bergsma, and I'll tell you what I found out. I'm working on a 1975 450sl. It needed new injectors and seals, so I ordered an injector set and seal kit. What I did not know (turns out, Kent didn't either) is that in 1975, Mercedes decided to put nylon inserts into the injector holes. When I removed the injectors, these inserts were in bad shape, so I removed them. After removal, it was obvious that there had been leakage between the inserts and the heads. So I go to order the inserts and quickly find out they are unobtanium. Nobody sells them. I looked (and still am) for over a week, and found nothing. I joined 3 Mercedes forums, just to ask about these nylon inserts and everyone in the know told me I would probably have to use a 3D printer and print them. Back to the seals. In the kit I got from Mercedessource, there were 2 seals for each injector. Both seals are black. Problem is, the 1975 engine with those inserts, uses a green seal that is nothing like either of the black seals in the kit. It fits snug, down in the insert. So I contact Kent and ask him why I didn't get the green seals, that are used in my 1975 engine. He responded by saying he had never heard of the inserts. Asked me if it was a European model. He contacted me a few days later, saying those inserts are no longer sold. Well, thanks kent. So now, I am left with a non-running 450sl, still trying to find those inserts and looking at 3D printers. I have a set of black seals I cannot use if anyone out there needs them.

[@raadhussein965]

Kent made me to love classic mercedes and own one, I love my W124

[@kevinshephard1797]

Hi Pierre what is your opinion on the aftermarket fix for the innovative as in Australia that part is no longer supported by Mercedes Benz in this country

[@flopsiejmcardle]

with all his old classics he's selling, Kenn seems to be winding down his involvement with his business. I would much rather he saved the Ghost, but his knowledge, anlong with yours is what makes it possible to keep both my Mercedes running, and happy.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you for civil presenting your opinion

[@MrBobby3340]

Kent has been VERY helpful in empowering me to diagnose and repair my 560SL. Mercedes workshop manuals are horrible and lack organization.

[@tonychavez2083]

It is very obvious that Mercedes Source does NOT have the same passion and appreciation for the marque nor the quest to keep older benzes on the road. Well said Pierre! you are highly regarded in the MBZ community..

[@davidantiwan930]

I find his channel useful but The fact that you can’t leave a comment sais a lot about him you are definitely the real deal You are second to none

[@fixittony]

New subscriber to Pierre’s channel. I never fixed cars in my life until I bought my ‘94 C280. I rely on KZbin to do what I can. I had to outsource a handful of repairs because I do work a 40 hour plus a week professional career and raise three very active boys. I have a few issues that I am ignoring because the car is a daily driver for my sons. They learned how to drive with the car and use it daily. So far 2 of the 3 driving age boys have fallen in love with the car and don’t want me to sell it! I resigned to the fact that I may only be able to do 50% of the work myself simply because of time, tools, space and knowledge. I’ll keep watching to immerse myself in the culture.

[@ericsheaffer5083]

...glad you're around Pierre, dig your passion! Wish you lived near Hanover, PA. Keep up the great work, Eric S.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you. You can always ask me any question you need to.

[@goorgenta]

hello Pierre can you recommend a shop who works on classic mercedes from 90's in virginia or north carolina

[@markdavisson3518]

I have learned a little bit from Kent, but it seems that most of his videos start by exposing "the most ignored maintenance item" and end with a commercial for the tool or kit he just invented to make that most ignored maintenance item easier to perform. Makes me wonder.

[@klwthe3rd]

You are not wrong sir. That's how I feel too. And it can leave a bad taste in your mouth.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@klwthe3rd he should start selling toothbrushes....

[@Uhuhss]

As a newbie mercedes source was good start but I immediately needed more depth so I bought some books and found some chunks of knowledge on youtube here and there. 2 years after buying a good e190 with low mileage and getting interested in the likes of the w123, w116, I couldnt be happier to have found your channel! I think every channel has its "crowd". Some people cannot see the obvious and pointing out the truth wont change their mind in my opinion but I appreciate the statement without any sugar coating nontheless. I am thankful for everyone who sits infront of the camera and puts a lot of effort regardless of the other stuff surrounding the channel. Your mentality putting out knowledge resonates with the way i work on daily bases. If people appreciate it, they will donate. If they dont donate, at least you put out the knowledge into the world which will possibly passed tonother people. Greetings from Germany

[@r.weaver3769]

I'm with you Pierre, Too many good cars get parted out, crushed, or just let rust away. I like some old American cars, but everyone feels like they must be modified. Which is why I love old Mercs, very few have been molested with LSs, and multiple turbos and such.

[@Rrrockhound]

Wow, it's the Mercedes mechanic equivalent of a diss track! I think this kind of thing is common in every trade. Doctors, vets, antique sellers and even Mercedes mechanics probably get burnout after so many years and so many units pass through their hands and what seems like a special car to some is just another needy project to the expert. But Pierre, I understand how you feel and I love your passion. Never change, man.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

haha i won;t!

[@discerningmind]

I stopped watching Kent Bergsma years ago. Whereas I had watched his videos for a period, but I didn't like what he was bringing. I don't recall the various details on why I ditched him, but the main reason was that I figured out that he wasn't truly about the cars. I came to the understanding that Kent Bergsma was about Kent Bergsma.

[@countryguywithcamera]

I found Kent's channel before I found yours, and his repair videos did give me confidence to tear into my 300d, I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos in the future, and all the useful information therein, subbed will be following for more 😎💪. 1985 300d turbo, Nautical blue / tan interior just rolled 180,000 miles. Would love to see some rust repair tips and videos, my car came off the coast of South Carolina.

[@P.Galore]

I have done business with Kent for 20 years - he's great. My impression is that he is honest and helpful. Don't get on his case for being a missionary - all Mercedes can not or should not be saved. If you are so passionate about this one car, YOU should have bought it.

[@michaelcavagnaro8387]

Dear Pierre, I think it's great that so many people have taken such an interest in these cars that we can have this energy displayed over cars that are 30-40 years old. It just shows that some people do care about quality and engineering excellence. Jay Leno needs to get hip to these cars and stop melting car bumpers with his heliocopter engined motorcycles!

[@cameraman4brainiac]

I've watched many of Kent's videos and have learned a few things from them, but I've always noticed that they all seem like advertisements for things associated with his website. It seems that many of his videos target inexperienced owners and try to instill a lack of confidence into them for whatever procedure he happens to be describing, and then he plugs whatever he's trying to sell to make the job easier. I've never purchased any of it so I cannot personally attest for the quality (or lack thereof), but most of his bent-up wrenches and whatnot resemble things that I've made myself over the years. I always thought of him as primarily a businessman who uses his extensive knowledge of old Benzes to turn a healthy profit, and probably a classic MB enthusiast on top of that. However, when he junked that w116, this confirmed the former and completely dispelled the latter.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you Luke...a lot of people thought I was crazy for saying what I said...I think Kent sells some good and useful things but for him it is money first..always money first.

[@cameraman4brainiac]

Don't get me wrong, I've learnt a lot from his videos and I respect his business model, and I understand that he's old and probably doesn't want to take on a project like that, but I feel like there are plenty of people out there who would have bought that car for more than what he got out of the drivetrain and would have fixed it on themselves. It's a real shame that he didn't at least try to sell it as-is to somebody who is interested in doing that sort of thing. I'm disappointed in him for doing that, but to his credit, by all of his DIY-oriented stuff that he sells he has probably helped keep a bunch of old Benzes on the road that would have otherwise been left to rot or junked.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@cameraman4brainiac i think someone would have loved that car also. We recently rescued a 1977 280se from a garage sale. the car sold immediately to one of my friends in nashville. People love the w116.

[@cameraman4brainiac]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 I'm just getting into classic Mercedes, and I am starting that foray with a 190e. If I found a w201 in that shape that somebody was going to scrap, I'd buy it from them and fix it. Any classic Benz that is in fixable condition deserves a better fate than the junkyard.

[@thisisnightshop2037]

@@cameraman4brainiac that's what my girlfriend and I did with an 87 190e 2.3. She really enjoys driving it now. Best $300 car I bought in the last year

[@mikesartin]

I looked at Kent's brake-fluid replacement kit, bought a four-pack of Gator Aid, bought a few feet of tubing and drilled some holes. I am hydrated, my potassium level is fine and I am ready to change brake fluid.

[@carguyva7596]

I was disappointed to see this video. I love your channel and I love your passion for older mercedes. But I've been a customer of Kens for about 20 years. He has saved me much money by putting together kits with precise instructions so that I could actually maintain the car that I love. My car is a 81-300sd. I think it makes you look bad to tear down another Mercedes enthusiast. So I will continue to watch your channel but it really hurts your reputation when you tear down someone else. As the Brits would say it is very bad form.

[@nkenchington6575]

I'm with Pierre on this one.

[@frazierfrazierr]

Oh god yes... I’ve been waiting for this beef for a long time LOL.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

well, it's a shame about the car. I would prefer not to have the beef. I feel that what kent did was wrong, that's all.

[@christopherdrake1028]

Go Pierre ! Allowing serviceable old Mercs to be parted out is vandalism. A half decent 126 - 500 is a big fun car that is tough as nails and drives and rides better than lots of new cars - and even at 40 years old it still looks the business.

[@roveradventures]

While the w208 isn't incredibly rare, im glad I saved a CLK55. One person backed out...was gonna LS swap it. All it needed was a key and it started right up with no issues. Another one was a W201 2.6...junkyard. Good shape...all it needed was a tune up. 😂 if it wasn't in the rural South im sure I'd not have these fun opportunities. Honestly I have their transmission fluid extractor for the W201 (even i accidentally overfilled it as I misread the capacity) Speaking of which i was offered a W126 1986 420SEL... one door rear by the cigarette tray is rusted (not through but its noticeable) and needs a grill and radiator but the rest of the body isn't damaged Plus its that lovely black and tan color combo. 😁 Hasn't been ran in years, 190,000 miles. Interior surspsingly isn't deteriorated badly. I've handled 2 rovers too 😂. I'm just wondering do I keep the solid 2.6 W201 or plunge myself into a W126 with a small v8 as a project. I'm checking your videos and so far, very nice stuff!

[@RasSosa]

You both are some good folks when it comes to Mercedes Benz. How ever! you are correct this man/Kent Bergsma is a business man... This is fair.

[@jerbear7952]

I don't care for ken petsonally but he was instrumental in making it possible for me to restore my first 300td. I'm on my third and I no longer need his stuff but I dont regret any of it. Im happy to pay a person to come up with a good solution with step by step instructions. Even over pay sometimes. I don't disagree with your assessment on the car however. I wish you would make tools and instructions. I'd even help :)

[@walterstrahota2956]

Thank you for keeping old Mercedes on the road.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you!

[@coleramus561]

Kent does things in a very particular manner and I like it. It has helped me a lot over the years. Maybe you should be watching Vice Grip Garage instead--they do what you're talking about..

[@jedschleisner8960]

Way to go Piere! I love your passion. You have straightened out my thinking on saving classic Mercedes. Thanks

[@lilibethdoherty295]

Sour grapes, kent is allowed to use his judgement after all he is no novice!

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

in this case his judgement was flawed. Peers can critique peers.

[@V8PropaneBurner]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 critique is one thing. When you go as public as this it becomes personal.

[@timfarrant545]

Pierre, as a recent new owner of a W126 I have searched out info on repairing this car, your videos pop up in my search, but they always leave out the critical info I am looking for. It seems to me most of the time you assume the DIY knows as much as you do, therefore they are not informative. You tell us what to do, but not how to do it. I have learnt a lot more from Ken than I have from you!!

[@tedtolentino4955]

I have followed Kent's KZbin channel for some time, and have bought one tool from him. His videos have helped to sort out what I need to do to keep my MB running. Perhaps it is true that his passion for restoration falls behind Pierre's by a good margin, but then again I realize that the two come from different worlds, one whose idea is keep these cars running in good condition without depending on the dealership, the other who wants to resurrect any and all classics from the bone yard. Both men are valuable to any us MB owners. My 2 cents.

[@andreimtriscas6626]

Love your passion for Mercedes classics and I definitely agree, when you love something, any type of investment is worth it...and yes, I hate when people destroy a good classic car for whatever reason. I still hope that at one point I'll be able to restore my 85 380se and make it at least a weekend driver if not daily driver

[@johannesvisser9866]

I have the utmost respect for your sincere passion towards these old Mercedes. I feel exactly the same, hence that I also put so much of my own blood, sweat, and tears into these cars. Hopefully, I can one day do a trip down to your shop to say hi :-)

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you

[@imnotarob0t1984]

this channel is so much better than Mercedes source, they don't allow comments, and everything just a ploy for his store... He never tells you the full method of fixing shit lol

[@peterierino9508]

Hi Pierre, Don't worry about Ken he's in it just for money keep up the great work you do, you blood needs bottling Pierre, I have a W126 300SE 1988 I spend a lot of time and money on it but I can't find a good manual for it anywhere I purchased a few over the Net. But they all garbage not worth a cent. Could you point in the right direction to find one. I'm in Perth Western Australia a long way from the US It would be much appreciated if you can, thank in advance

[@undefinedname1398]

I turned you off at 1:27. His car he can do what he wants with it. Quit your whining.

[@medraut9]

Not really wanting to jump into the cauldron on this one, but I'd like to point out just a couple things. First, perhaps it was an issue of time, meaning the lack of it. There are hoards of old Mercedes cars out there. One person can't save them all. Maybe his shop was backed up with work for the foreseeable future and a restoration just wasn't gonna get done on that particular piece. Second, maybe the financial end just wasn't right. If it takes more money to restore something than what the final result will be worth, in the end it is a financial loser, which makes it hard to justify. Again, I'm not taking sides on this one, just wondering if these issues might have played into his decision.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

there are not hoards of green on green w116 300SDs. When was the last time you saw one?

[@LM3802]

I know of one for sale. I haven't seen it in person...it appears to be a lighter shade of green. @@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753

[@justinhenderson5710]

I love you both. U both have the passion. Kent can't save them all.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thanks for being civil. I just wish kent had actually offered the car for sale. I know five people who tire dot buy it...no answer

[@justinhenderson5710]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 do u still have that C140?

[@justinhenderson5710]

@@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753 btw that story you told about the 190e and the junk yard was CLASSIC!!!!😂

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@justinhenderson5710 thank you Justin!

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@justinhenderson5710 it's still here I am storing it for a friend.....with no end in sight ):

[@simonflint5303]

I just watched Kent struggling with a simple issue on a W123 transmission for like, 5 minutes at least. He could have just edited the video or made it look easy, but instead he stuck with it until the problem was solved. Yeah he is the genuine article. I fix up 1950's/60's Tube Stereos for a hobby and I do justify scrapping the odd one to save some others. Like a W116, W123, W114/5 etc my various tube stereo makes and models were mass produced in the hundreds of thousands (millions for a W123/W115/4) - so I can relate to putting a w116 out of it's misery for the sake of simply 'can't be bothered to save this one - I'll keep the parts to fix up some more worthwhile examples'. So disagree with you on this video perhaps, but's that probably why you filmed it right? opinions... Love your videos Pierre! And yes I do note you can't comment on Kents, hence why your channel is elevated above his in my opinion.

[@terryratcliffe1451]

Dear Pierre. Thanks for your help. Without taking many pieces away, I cannot see all the aspects of the tank. I figured there was something blocking the lines, but will keep trying. I have just ordered an Emanuel, though I,m having trouble with downloading it. Nevertheless thanks a ton. My brother is called Peter, so you must be a great guy, like him. Regards Terry

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you terry! good luck!

[@w124mercedes7]

You just said what I thought after only watching a few of his videos. Every video is about selling an over priced kit or tool. I restored cars for over 35 years and I have restored cars much worse than the green car. I think I just bought a big stash of n.o.s mercedes parts. Plus a bunch of manuals M.b Tools and misc. Would you be interested in any of it. I am only keeping what I need for my car.

[@SchoolofHardNOX]

I'll never understand why people get so bent about what other people do with their cars. It's his car he can do whatever he wants with it. Somehow that doesn't pass your enthusiast test as if you are the final word on who is a "real" Mercedes enthusiast. To my knowledge Kent is not doing anything fraudulent or malicious so I'm also not understanding the need to produce multiple videos throwing shade at the guy. I've purchased some of his kits and for the most part they were decent. Some of the stuff I kind of looked sideways at, but nothing major. I put this down to the fact that I am professional mechanic, so perhaps expected more. Pros are not who Kent is mostly selling to though, so if I was just a DIY guy I probably would have been more than pleased with what I received. I think he, like you, is a good source of information. All the best.

[@JoeSolla]

I'm afraid that a lot of the folks commenting don't realize that Pierre can get passionate about a hose clamp. That said - Pierre walks the walk. It's all about the automobile. Good luck trying to "monetize" Pierre Hedary.

[@jimk7882]

Pierre, you are no Kent Bergsma. Far from it. To bad mouth Kent, in the manner that you do, speaks volumes about your lack of character.

[@robertsykes3242]

Sounds corny but Folks we are lucky to have a person here with a passion and desire to keep the older Benz going and to share his experiance.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

thank you Robert!

[@doe8939]

He always wants to sell you his "inventions", charges you for simple DIY videos and some of his parts are made by manufactures with reputations for poor quality

[@timebandit71]

I love Kent Bergsma, But I notice he uses the word "old" a lot.......

[@stricht8]

You are both very passionate about Mercedes. You both exhibit your passion in different ways and you’ve both helped many people keep their cars alive. Your different approaches complement each other and create a total atmosphere of helping and knowledge promotion that aids in the salvaging of many cars. In my opinion, you should join forces, rather than attack each other! United, you will be more powerful in your joint mission of helping Mercedes owners keep their cars on the road!

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

I would join forces with Kent, but he doesn't seem to like communicating with anyone. Also, he owes the world another green/green 1980 300sd.

[@stricht8]

Yeah that really sucks about the green ghost. We can never forgive him for that!

[@thisisnightshop2037]

@@stricht8 Keith told me earlier that you had purchased John's 240D. I was sad to hear that he passed away so suddenly. He and I used to talk on the phone all the time. I'm glad somebody is taking care of his old 123.

[@stricht8]

Pierre Hedary. Yes he was both my neighbor and a great friend. His passing was devastating to me. He willed the car to me (a 300D) which I took to Mercedes Day at Larz Anderson last September and won third place in the modern sedan class. I’m sure he would have been proud.

[@jedilion2227]

Kent is a good teacher. The only issue i have is i want to learn to do it myself to save money. But all his kits are extremely expensive. Lol

[@DavidMSyme]

Wow. That is so disappointing to see a hit piece on Bergsma. The man is a legend and, as others have said, is responsible for saving thousands of classics. He is has educated a generation of DIY guys. Its sad that you feel you need to trash him. Shame on you.

[@ItsTimePictures]

This afternoon I traded some text messages with someone I know on the forums who tried to buy that car from Kent. He loved the crazy color and would have restored the car to its full glory. Kent never returned his emails. I really do not know what the hell happened with this one but it doesn't shine well on Kent.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

it really does not

[@d.draper5822]

Pierre, can you put links to your wood restoration Igor buddy and the other resources you spoke of in this video, here? Thx

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

restoredinusa.com/ gahh.com justdashes.com/

[@edward2359]

Please do... as i have been wondering how to restore the burl wood in my 1991 300E! Many thanks ahead of time.

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

@@edward2359 links are posted in this thread...just befroe your comment (: i read your mind...in the future!

[@edward2359]

Wooooow!