Just bought a beautiful black over palomino 300TD...two owner, she's cherry. Okay, not quite...hopefully some easy answers here from veterans:

1. On the drive home the turn signal switch (combination switch) stopped working...the wiper/washer function is still fine, and since the hazards work I've figured it's not the turn signal relay. Is it just a matter of cleaning the contacts or something similarly easy, or should I just buy a new combination switch (~$100!) and be done with it. Obviously this is a safety concern that needs to addressed asap.

2. The rear passenger door power window switch doesn't work. (the switch for in on the console works fine). The dealer was nice enough to give me a new switch, but replacing it didn't solve the problem. Where could that electrical gremlin be?

3. Finally, the driver's seat springs need to be replaced. The upholstry has a couple minor tears, so I'm not sure if it's worth replacing at the same time. Question: is replacing the springs a diy-er job, or is this something best left to the pros? The springs alone cost a fortune, so I can imagine the labor is just going to compound the emptying-of-the-wallet syndrome. Anyone who's dealt with this before, please help!

Thanks all...and if there is a general guide online to routine maintenance I should perform (other than the obvious oil/filter change), that would be great! I can't wait to work on this thing...gotta love the old-school german engineering.

Mine did the same thing. For mine, just messing around with the hazard lights switch, there's a spot just short of switch full off where the turn signals work just fine. So if I were you I'd clean that switch.

As for manuals and guides regarding routine maintenance, what you want is here. And/or a Haynes book.

Here's a link to some information when I replaced my seat covers.

Also do an advanced search in Diesel Discussion on "peyton" "seat cover"...another member who owned a 123 did a nice write-up on the cover replacement/seat rebuild.

Good luck and, welcome to the forum!

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

1)same thing happened to me. WW is right, clean the hazard switch. I haven't yet, but the problem seems to be gone for now. all I have to do is turn on the hazards for a split sec and the turn signals work fine. passed DC inspection even. radio shack has some spray electrical potentiometer cleaner that might work with these switches in a pinch without having to take them apart.
2)look at your console window switches. on the driver's side, between the front driver's side switch and the rear driver's side switch, there exists a childproof plunger button. your graphic might be worn off of it so you might mistake it as just some random piece of plastic, but it's a button. both of my rear windows weren't working and i scratched my head for a while until i figured this one out. i just didn't think they had childproof stuff like that in 85. you may have a deeper problem, but this is my experience.
3)the seat spring is a pain. go out and buy a seatspring from a junkyard if you can. new ones are $250. removing the seats is not a huge job it's just a pain. pull the seat all the way up and forward to access the rear bolts. getting the bolts back in place after you've replaced the seat is a pain. glad I got it over with. it's something all w123 owners will have to do at some point.

So you're in DC eh? I love TDs. A TD is what I originally wanted, until I learned about the self leveling suspension and all that is involved with it. I'd still like to have one. They are the pimpinest 123 in my opinion. Hard to find too. You live in the NW? I have seen three TDs here in the District- a silver taxi(susp draggin' the ground), a beige one up in my neighborhood, and a very well-kept metallic blue one. Good luck with yours.

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'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

Magically the turn signals now work--no doubt from fiddling w/ the hazards, just as you fine people pointed out! And the rear passenger window switch now works too! I figured for sure it was a problem unto itself, as the other rear door switch worked, but I guess there must have been a dirty contact in the child-proof switch that I cleaned out by operating it a few times.

To d.delano--yep, I'm in NW, actually Mount Pleasant. If you want to see it sometime (and I could then pick your brain about w123 ownership), let me know. email is ehoffland@hntb.com.

oh, and to r leo..."peyton" was totalled recently I found out, and the owner can't believe I found another black 300TD, which is what he had (in DC no less!0

Welcome to the W123 wagon world!!

another 123 wagon in the family!. .ehehe.. welcome!!

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Mike

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1975 200 - Sold (no pix);
1978 200 - Sold - http://www.pbase.com/hboy/redbaron
1979 300TD - Sold
http://www.pbase.com/hboy/greenwagon
http://www.geocities.com/hboy726/300TD.html
1985 230E - now my daily driver...