I got a 81 benz for good price and was wondering what all you forum guys think of it? I have had VW diesels and want to maybe make this a veggie vehicle...It has 280 something thousand miles but is in great shape and runs good. Any suggested maintenance/upgrades needed? Is this a good year to keep running? Or is a trouble car with lots of problems in the future?

Thanks,

Caleb

Hi, congratulations on the car and welcome to the forum. You have just become part of one the best groups of people ever brought together across the Internet.

You bought a good car and it is definitely worth maintaining. Almost everything that you want to know about it has been posted in this forum. Learn to use the advanced search and then ask questions to fill in the blanks in what you learn.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php
Check the stickies at the top of the forum. As you go you will learn search terms and user names to use in your searches. Your car is a 123 body and a 617 engine.

Check the maintenance schedule and catch it up. Change all of the fluids and filters. Clean all of the body drains. Good luck.

My freind, you have just purchased one on the finest machines in existence.
And you are at the best place to learn about it.
Congrats!

__________________
Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

Welcome to the club!

You didn't make a mistake, you'll love the car!

__________________
-Randy Wakefield

1969 220D 4 speed (parts car)
1976 280C
1976 280S
1981 240D 4 speed (parts car)
1982 300D
1983 300TD (Ivory)
1983 300TD (gold)
1985 300TD (gray)
1987 190D 2.5
1970 280SEL (sold)
1977 240D 4 speed (sold)
1974 280 (rusted to death)
---
1927 Chevy 4 door sedan
1938 Chevy 2 door sedan
1950 Willys Jeepster
1955 Studebaker President 4 door
1977 Ford F250
1979 Glastron 17'
1948 John Deere A
1960 John Deere 2010
1979 Satoh S650G
--
2000 Bichon (Doby)

Congrats on a splendid purchase. You and I are both "newbies" to the Forum, however, I got a few years on you in the MB ownership category. Now in my 23rd year of MB piloting. First one was a "79-240D", a surprise Christmas-1982 present for my wife. After 10 years, she couldn't wear it out, just claimed she "got tired of it". So guess what, Christmas-1992,
yep, surprised her again with a 1983 300SD-Turbo. Early 2004, I get
the word "I want a new car, tired of driving the same car". This time,
I didn't make the mistake of giving up a great car, I just took the '83
300SD for mself. See a pattern here ? These cars will last forever if you take reasonable care of them. The folks in this Forum can really help you do that.

A couple of suggestions:

1--Remeber, your driving a great diesel... sit back, relax, enjoy the ride,
she'll get you there in plenty of time.
2--You may not be the first one off-the-light and your buddies may
joke occassionally about 'ol-smokey, but when you arrive you'll
be stepping out of a Mercedes-Benz, the finest family of autos
in the world (and your buddies already know that)

Good Luck,
Mike

Wow, thanks for the responses! I am excited about keeping this car aound for awhile. Thanks for the info and this seems like a great forum! Where is the best place to buy parts? Is it pretty easy to do my own repairs/maintenance? I love my VW diesel and now with a MB, this is ever better!

Is it better to not have a turbo? From a maintenance standpoint? It seems like less to break down?

Caleb

Check FastLane for parts, it's the link at the top of the page. I try to support this forum with purchases from FastLane. There are many parts places available, both on line and off line. The turbo is very solid, as long as reasonable care has been given to it, ie, oil changes. Not to point out the obvious but, you DO NEED, diesel rated oil. There are many threads here with heated debates over which oil is best. Do a search and decide on your own which one to go with. A manual goes a long way with these cars. Also do a search on skinnerbox, it's a factory manual online for your car. Good luck...............

__________________
1984 300D Turbo Sedan (Hilda) 272,115 miles.....
Anthracite Gray/Palamino Leather, I am 3rd owner

2001 Dodge Stratus (Silver) (wifes) 55814 miles...

1982 280TE Wagon Astral Silver Metallic/
Anthracite Velour
260,512 miles (Eva)

1969 230 Sedan Olive Green/Black MBTex
4 Speed Manual
84,213 miles ????
Haus Frau


2004 Boreem Ninja Pocket Bike
Highly Modified 49cc (Ling Ling)

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit