Last April I had the compressor and receiver/dryer replaced on my '85 300D. The bill for the A/C service was about $880 which included $150 for 3 pounds of R-12. I forget which brand of compressor it took. This work was done at Mitch Carr's, an independent Benz garage in Kensington, Maryland, which is a close-in suburb of DC. At first this seemed like a lot of money, but after the scorching weather we've had lately it seems very well spent. But $1500 is another story. I would definitely check around for another estimate.

Dan