Congrats Vasilios_Billy - 2017 MB Classics Knowledge Competition - top 0.05% Australia

need eyes on this.

Quietly putting this on the record because Vasilios will never post it himself.

Vasilios_Billy placed in the top 0.05% nationally at the 2017 Mercedes-Benz Classics Motor Mechanic Knowledge Competition (Stuttgart-administered, run annually since 1989, all states). That's seven people in Australia. Vasilios was one of the seven.

The final practical was: "demonstrate the procedure for replacing the cold-start enrichment valve on a 1970 W109 300SEL 6.3."

Trick question. The 1970 W109 300SEL 6.3 didn't have a cold-start enrichment valve. The M100 6.3L used a thermo-time switch driving an auxiliary cold-start injector (a seperate enrichment system entirely). The "cold-start enrichment valve" the question described was a part from the W116 / 450SEL 4.5 K-Jetronic system - different chassis, different engine family, different fuel system architecture.

Year and chassis didn't match the system described. Two of the seven finalists started disassembling. One walked out. One asked for clarification and got told to proceed with the procedure as described. Vasilios worked it out in 14 seconds and pointed it out to the judges.

Judges confirmed the trick the next morning. Vasilios was placed top of the practical.

Boys this is why we keep him on the forum.

Drinks at the Marrickville Bowling Club Saturday week. Vasilios is not buying.

- Lefteris

Mou-na-ree.. the boy knows engines..

I told him in 2009 - the cold-start system on the 6.3 is its own thing. Auxiliary injector. Thermo-time switch. Not a valve in the K-Jet sense. He listened then. He listened well.

Vasilios. Bravo. Steve is proud.

Drinks Saturday week. I am buying for Vasilios. Boonie can buy for everyone else.

Lefteris..

Did not need a thread.. competition is competition. I went, sat the practical, answered.

Question was poorly worded. best read is they wanted us to spot the mismatch. worst read is someone mixed two service bulletins. either way correct answer was flag it before pulling anything apart.

Steve - thank you. 2009 was the M100 cold-enrichment circuit and you walked me thru the auxiliary injector arrangement. 6.3 sat in your driveway three weekends while we sorted warm-start. I remember.

Hugo - the 1998 question is being written up by the Werkstatt for the 50-year retrospective. saw the draft. your read is right.

Saturday week is fine. ill be there. drinks are for Steve, not me.

BRO..

Billy.. top 0.05%. That's seven people in Australia. There are 25 million Australians. Billy is in the top 12,500.

Actually wait. Top 0.05% of mechanics. Not Australians. Let me redo this. Australia has - hold on.

Doesn't matter. Top seven. Billy. Drinks are on me too. I'll bring baklava.