The 76 is running great. However, I am thinking as part of good maintenance I might as well replace the 5 glow plugs that are in it far before the winter hits. Question is, is there anything special about changing these "paralelled" glow plugs as opposed to the normal pencil types? Am I just wasting my time doing this? Car always kicks over in 5 secs or less after sitting overnight. Do I need to really replace them? Thanks.

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http://www.betten.mercedescenter.com...n_banner_1.jpg
1976 300D
190,000 Miles
Colorado Beige

1975 300D
Parts Car
78,000 Miles
Rustbucket
Also Colorado Beige

1984 190D 2.2 (Dad's)
156,000 miles
Champagne Metallic Clearcoat

5 seconds??? you're lucky thats very good. in my 78 240 it would take upwards of 20 secs for the light to go out sometimes.

I switched it over to the pencil style fast glow kit. its amazing. 3 second glows now no more knocking after start up either, it has a period of after glow time as well.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

What you have are series connected GP's (also called a loop style because the heater wire is formed into a loop), the later pencil style GPs are parallel connected. The loop style GP's outlast the pencil style generally but the downside is if one of the series connected loops burns open the entire string goes cold and you will find it hard to start (or VERY hard to start if you have low compression and the weather gets cold)
To change them out may lower the already reliability they obviously have or you would be complaining about the engine being hard to start. So its probably best left alone until one GP fails. I used to carry a jumper wire in my glove box for such an event but it never came, the transmission died and I got rid of the car!
I'd leave it as-is. You will find getting everything necessary to fit the head and new GP's and all is too expensive for most 115 owners but nothing is impossible!

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I used to think the 115's were ugly since I am a vivid 110, 111, and 108 fan. However, now I really would like to drive one. So, if anyone is within an hour of Ft. Wayne, IN and owns a 115. I'll let you drive the SDL and I get to drive your 115.

My dad used to have a '76 300D. He bought it off an MBUSA rep and I think it only had 15k miles at the time. Of course this was well before I was born, but he's commented that he received many compliments on the car. He said it was a metallic blue, but a very light blue. I bet ir was just beautiful from what he and my mom say about it. My mom's not a car person so if she remembered the really pretty color than it must have been absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Kyle,

If it ain't broke, don't fix it !

P E H

ditto the above post. glow plugs are sometimes tempermental little buggers... the new ones might not last as long as the ones you already have.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Kyle,

Why did you call the GP you have in a '76 MB PARALLEL GP? Aren't they the ones with wires (some of them resistance wires) going from one GP to the next with the GP in #1 cylinder being grounded to the engine?

The GP described above are older style SERIES GP. The current goes from one GP to the next and then to ground. If one of these burns out, none of the GP will work. I used to carry a jumper wire to get the car started should one of the GP burn out. But one time one of the GP shorted and cooked the copper wire insulation on the wire going to GP in cylinder #1. A short is very rare. I disconnected the shorted GP and used the jumper wire to get the other 4 GP to work. That shorted GP drew so much current, that starter wouldn't crank the engine fast enough to start.

P E H