now ive really got one
 

i just got home from picking up my 85 300 turbodiesel and might i say what a fun ride

the turbo needs to be rebuilt i can say that she takes a lil time to spool up but when she does and its on flat ground it cruises..

ive got all original owner manuels and some paper work in german and a pink punch card in german which im guessing is options from the factory??

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74...4/P7271016.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74...4/P7271017.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74...4/P7271018.jpg

Nice looking ride. I would be surprised if the turbo needs rebuilding. Probably a plugged boost line or bad overboost protection solenoid. Third possibility is a tired waste gate spring which is easy enough to adjust out.

Test the turbo by removing the u-tube between the air cleaner and turbo inlet (engine off) and reach in there to see if you can detect any movement of the turbo impeller in the front to back position. If you can then yes, the turbo probably needs to be rebuilt. If you can't detect any movement and it spins freely then it is fine.

but it takes for ever to get to 30 mph so something is afoot..

also she is nearing 260k miles... i want to call the benz dealership to see if they can do an oil change and see how much it would cost for a pro to diagnose anything that should be worked on. i know it might cost some money but i want my benz to last me for ever.

Your boost pressures probably low. I would check it and adjust as needed.

Danny

how? i bet special tools are needed

Take your time and do things yourself. You have all the help you need right here. Taking it to a dealer is a waste of money. Not too many dealers will be enthusiastic about working on a old MB diesel.

Do a search on key words such as ALDA, boost gage etc. You will find lots of info on performance debugging and tuning. Good luck!

If it turns out you need a turbo, just pick up a used one. I got my extra KKK one for $15?

What a beauty!
These folks are right, do it yourself and save a fortune plus avoid dealing with arrogant attitudes about older diesels often encountered at the stealerships.
The nice folks here will help you to help yourself.
It is the only way a guy like me could own one of these beautiful old MBZs!

Never worked on the turbo; but nice finish and looks like the interior is in good shape too. Drivers seat not crushed, by fatties.

That's my car's doppelganger right there. Great looking car, just do all the usual stuff, valve adjustment, purge, italian tuneup, fuel filters. The boost sensor and overboost valve like Engatwork said is often suspect. Check to see that no air is present in the fuel lines, replace leaky return lines. Perhaps tweak the ALDA a little bit. Your situation was just like mine, and I mean just. I think my car just needed to be driven out a bit, with a bunch of little stuff to help out. If it were my car I wouldn't rebuild a turbocharger until all the little cheap DIY stuff was out of the way. Then you might find out like me that it doesn't need rebuilding after all.

Nice looking car
 

Let me commend you on your intelligent efforts to locate and buy that car. All the information you will probably ever need to keep your running and in good repair is contained in this forum. Try to stay away from dealerships. Fastlane is a good place to get parts.

Try this: On the back of your intake manifold you will find a banjo bolt (use a 12mm wrench to take it off and don't loose the two copper crush washers on it) holding a plastic line that travels across the firewall to a small black box that is your overboost protection switch. The line then goes to the side of your ALDA and is again fastened to it by a banjo bolt. These lines can plug up with oil. Clean them out with your solvent of choice and make sure that air can easily travel from one end to the other. Your overboost switch must also pass air freely. This line tells the ALDA that boost is being applied and will then increase your fuel delivery.

You can do a search on "ALDA" and find some really good pictures showing the adjustment screw and jam nut on top of the ALDA. Try loosening the jam nut and turning the slotted screw CCW (counter clockwise) about a full half turn. The increase in power off the line will be a pleasent reward for a half hour of work.

Anytime one of your peers pokes fun at at your panzer, just take it in stride. Is his fuel free? Is it as safe as yours in a nasty collision? Is his car as easy to diagnose and repair as yours is? Does his ride like a Benz? Does he have a built in first aid kit to store condums in? :D

To sucessfully own one of these cars you must be handy with your own maintainence. Whatever you do, don't take it to the dealership to change the oil (it will cost more than you can imagine possible), or to say "See whats wrong with it, and fix them." because you will pay more than you paid for the car by a factor of three or four.

My car has 260k on the original engine and turbo, and the turbo works great, so don't assume that if its old, it must be bad, these turbos rarely go out, and there about 100 different things that can make it slow off the line that isn't related to the turbo.

Have a family member who's good with cars? Have them help you learn the basic tasks like oil changes and whatnot. You can work your way up, but oil changes are a good place to start. Get a Haynes manual right away, and search here for more information when you are about to start a project.

Your car looks like a good one, and, properly cared for it should last a loooong time, but you'll need to take some initiative in caring for it yourself. Save the mechanic for the serious problems, and find recommendations for a reliable independent mechanic, never go to the dealer.

Welcome to the club!

peace,
sam

Love the color
 

What everyone here has said is true. This is my second Benz, and the help and information on this site is nothing less than awesome. Don't know how you came across this site, but you've come to the best. Congrats on the purchase, and let us know how things are going along. We love updates.

It is possible that the turbo isn't spinning as freely as it should, but when pressure builds up, it overcomes the stickyness, and gives full boost. It might loosen up if the car is driven regularly. That was the case with the turbo I got from a used parts dealer. It didn't want to spin at first when I manually spun the compressor fan (it spun, just didn't keep spinning), but after driving it's loosened up fine. You really need to remove the "U" tube from the air box to the turbo and see what kind of play there is.

Also, get some jack hole covers and remove that ugly AAA sticker.
Looks like a great car, though.

EDIT: And a chrome mercedes badge license plate for the front bumper!