Suggestions on a good repair manual?
 

I just bought a '84 300D and was changing the oil but I could not find the filter. After searching for it for 1/2 an hour (I finally found it), it became clear that I needed a good repair manual. Any suggestions?

Buy this manual:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7964308533&category=34222&sspagename=WDVW

It will be the best $12.00 you ever spent.

The next step is the CD that is the factory service manual. But, its no fun to navigate through.

You can also get the hard copy of the factory service manuals on e-bay. They are pricey ($50-$100) and you have to be patient.


There are several different factory manuals including engine, chassis, electrical, and climate control.

Hayne's makes good manuals that are easily understood. I highly recommend you start with a Haynes manual.
Mercedes factory manuals can be overwhelming with details and unfortunately they are no longer available from MBNA for the W123 chasis (your car). The (mostly pirated) CD's that are available from eBay are hard to use and in most instances lack the details that the printed copies have.

FYI. There are 2 small rubber O-rings that go on the stem that runs down thru the oil filter. When these get old they fail to seal and let dirty oil bypass the filter stage, resulting in excessive engine wear. A symptom is lower pressure on the gauge or a fluttering oil gauge indicator needle. These O-rings should be replaced at something like 15K mile service intervals (the same time as that at which the valves get adjusted)
DDH
1971 220 (gas) 4-spd manual 106441
1979 300TD w/ ’85 turbo engine 296650
1983 300D 243280
1985 300TD 223470
1987 300D 262300

Try this web site for W123 Manual
 

Try http://skinnerbox.steaky.org/Service/W123/Main.html]. I believe I got this address from this forum. This fine person has put the MB 123 manual online. :)

New location:
http://skinnerbox.steaky.org/Service/W123/Main.html

Haynes
 

Haynes is money well spent and will guide you through all the common jobs in some detail.

K

Personally, I would go with the FSM. I don't think there is an equivalent substitute, and even then, there is lots of room for improvement. IMHO, service manuals should have laminated pages and lay-flat binding. But the people who make those decisions are not wrenchers themselves, at least not the ones I've met.

I use haynes, chilton and this forum. I think this forum is the best by far.