Original post says:

So here i am planning on goin to college in Laramie, Wyoming. I want to bring my mercedes ('81 300SD) with me, but my parents, along with myself, have a cause for concern. It gets reallllly cold here... Like -40F cold..
#########


I call BS, -40 is very very cold.


Post 14 says: Yeah, it gets cold, but consider this: The average January high temp in Laramie is 32.7 degrees while the average January high temp in Stevens Point is about 23. The average lows: 7.8 in Laramie vs. about 3 degrees in Point (I got these numbers from Wikipedia/The Weather Channel sites).
####


Post 10 says

Small gasolene generator you've seen these tiny ones that are about a 1,000 watts looks like a big lunchbox with a pull start...(with synthetic oil in it) pull it out of your trunk plug the car in to it....or feed the power lines to your trunk inside. strap it down in the trunk....open the trunk lid.
#############

I was thinking the gen thing too but, do the running gen in a open trunk and you will look like his sig pic. Even with the lid open you can fill the car with CO. ( Yes I know that most MB have a steel bulk head between the trunk and cabin but is isn't air tight. )


In any event, you need good compression, do a test now and you might be looking at a valve grind to keep compression up.

Consider an intake air heater. These are used on direct injection diesels to provide heated intake air.

There are two types, a coiled element that looks like a massive spark plug. These draw ~ 30 amps. Another type is called a "flame plug" takes less power and uses diesel fuel to heat the intake.

Take a look at industrial diesel engines from Deutz , Hatz , Perkins. Also look at farm tractors from Ford , International and others.

Also consider a 2nd battery for more reserve power. If you can't get one with the same capacity / age , use a continuous duty solenoid to bridge the two when you have the key on and drop it when key is off. Batteries of different ages can discharge the stronger one into the weaker one.

Lastly, just plan ahead and use public transportation on very cold days. You are going to want to have this in place anyway for unseen breakdowns.