Hi all
I finally replaced the vacuum pods on my 300d. It turned out to be a nightmare but not because the job was hard but due to other little things that went wrong. I think none of us should pay $1500 to have this work done, is very straitforward but tedious. It took me just over 1.5 hours to remove the dash, but replacing the pods took something like 5 hours because of my big hands and some prior work I had done to the blower assembly. I had taken out the blower assembly to get to the evaporator and clean it out to improve the airflow and it turns out that whem I put it back I slid the fan to the side a little bit and now the recirc flap was hitting it and not closing all the way so I had to go back and remove all those covers to fix that before I could continue. I also cracked one of the little white clips that hold the right side recirc pod to the recirc flap when the flap was hitting the fan so I had to get a tiny screw and washer to fix that or I would have to do another tear down to fix it later if I used the broken clip. It is a PITA because the clip is so hard to get to, is right up against the windshield but I got it done. Putting the dash together was simple too. It took me just over an hour.

Some tips to those who are planning on doing this job: Count all the dash bulbs that are burned out and buy them BEFORE starting the job so you dont have to stop and go looking for parts in the middle of the repair. Also if your odometer doesn't work this is the time to order the odometer gear and replace it. The gauge cluster has no screws holding it so make yourself a tool to pull it. You have to wiggle it out, sometimes it seems like you'll about to break it but it does pull out. When putting the cluster back is very easy to forget to connect something or to forget about a vac line so please test them one by one at the port next to the glove box. Get some bags and masking tape and label it by section so you dont confuse the screws or forget to put one back. There are two screws in back of the heater box and they are a PITA to remove, I removed them by feel but be careful not drop them inside the evap chamber or you'll never get them back. I know I'm probably repeating stuff from other members, especially Dave (GSXR) whose post was invaluable in doing this job but believe me none of these stuff becomes apparent till you actually do the job. Sorry for the long post folks but I just wanted to be as detailed as possible. If anybody has a particular question I'll be checking this post regularly just post them, the repair is still fresh in my mind.

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87 300d Turbo 241K with original #14 head (blue)
87 300d Turbo 198K will run great again someday (silver)
84 300sd sold ( buyer drove it to Paraguay )

Question, heater core and evaporator, did you clean them? If so, how did you clean them? My A/C stinks in the summer months and I know it's from condensed stagnated water that doesn't fully drain out. Once heated a bit, and it smells awful coming out the vents.

I did that prior to doing the pods. I took off all the covers from the base of the windshield and got to the blower motor. You need to remove the wiper assembly for this. I took the blower out and that gives you axcess to the evaporator from the outside. I then used wheel cleaner to desolve the grime and hosed it off good ,then sprayed laysol desinfectant on the evap and it smelled really good after that. You have to be careful with the blower wires when you put them back since they are not totally insulated, I taped them up.

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87 300d Turbo 241K with original #14 head (blue)
87 300d Turbo 198K will run great again someday (silver)
84 300sd sold ( buyer drove it to Paraguay )

I see heated seat switches in your center console wood. Very rare option on the 1987 300D!

Yeah, I was glad when I saw them when I picked up the car, I bought it on ebay. I also have the orthopedic lumbar support, is a neat thing but I think a vac line is broken under the seat because it stop working recently.

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87 300d Turbo 241K with original #14 head (blue)
87 300d Turbo 198K will run great again someday (silver)
84 300sd sold ( buyer drove it to Paraguay )

I plan to do this job on my CE during a Thanksgiving break...thanks for the write-up and the advice.

Could you please tell me how many vacuum pods there are? It appears to be 5 according to a parts search.

Better yet..if by any chance you have the MB numbers, it would be appreciated.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


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Actually the heated seats are more commonly seen on the diesels than the gas cars. I believe this to be due to the fact that many sales people or others who drive A LOT, buy diesels. Because they drive a lot, the heated seats add to comfort on long trips.

When I drove 60,000 to 70,000 miles a year I ordered a 96 E300D and specified the heated and orthopedic seats. They both helped drastically on long trips. It was very common for me to sit in the car 7 hours or more at a time. I ran the heated seats in all weather at different times. They're not only useful on cold mornings.

Have a great day,

Some times I open the sunroof and just turn them on on low when is chilly outside.

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87 300d Turbo 241K with original #14 head (blue)
87 300d Turbo 198K will run great again someday (silver)
84 300sd sold ( buyer drove it to Paraguay )

On my 87 300d there are six of them. These are the part numbers strait from GSXR's post:

124-800-00-75 - Defroster flap control
124-800-02-75 - Center vent air flap control
124-800-03-75 - Cold air flap control (diverter)
124-800-04-75 - Main air flap control (Left)
124-800-11-75 - Main air flap control (Right)

124-800-01-75 - Footwell flap control (Round, 2 required) - Up to VIN 289309
OR
124-800-09-75 - Footwell flap control (Rectangle, 1 required) - From VIN 289310


Numbers 00, 04, and 11 are "dual chamber" pods. Numbers 01, 02, 03, and 09 are "single chamber". All of 6 them will be ~$150 new. Note that later 124 chassis with the dust filter use different part numbers for all three dual-chamber pods. The numbers listed above are for cars without the dust filter (pre-1990).

good luck

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87 300d Turbo 241K with original #14 head (blue)
87 300d Turbo 198K will run great again someday (silver)
84 300sd sold ( buyer drove it to Paraguay )

Thanks...I have bought two...and will be buying a couple each month.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


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