Chris/cscmc1,
Q1 - Is this the same car we are talking about?:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-300-Series-Mercedes-300-1984-Mercedes-Benz-300D-Magnificiently-Priced_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6330QQihZ013QQitemZ230113670135QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Q2 - IF you answer yes to Q1, do you think it really has a new tranny?

As a "Euro" car, we might have some difficulties working out this engine/tranny vacuum control system. I believe you will not only have to do a lot of cleaning, but because it is a "Euro" you should really document thoroughly with "pics" anything that you have to take apart for cleaning... this way you can use your photos to put things back... all the while realizing that something might not be correctly assembled as it is!

I'm particularly interested in what I'm all but positive is a Vacuum Control Valve [VCV... aka vacuum modulator valve in some diagrams] that is mounted on the left side of the IP. If this was my car, I would start [one at a time] start removing just such vacuum components to clean them thoroughly and pick off any P/N(s) I could find. Such info might just prove invaluable. I know proper functioning of this VCV is critical to the tranny's shifting and so IF the tranny is "new", then you might try to find out who did the replacement!

What is really puzzeling is that I have access to some old "MBZ of N. America" shop manuals that show this exact VCV and it appears to be on a 617.91 series engine. I see you have been shopping around for such a diesel for some time... can you confirm for us the VIN and other specs for this car? So you might luck out and find many of the parts on these "Euro" models are the same as on U.S. delivered cars... let's hope so!

Regards,