And I thought I had problems. I need to do many of those things above. Difficulty? Parts are hard to get on Guam. Car runs great though. Be nice to have A/C but I can survive.

find a 617 engine in good condition and rip it apart rebuild it.
swap 616 engine in 240d for 617 engine.
shorten driveshaft
swap diff's
match flywheels and get right bolts.
replace clutch and associated bearings
rebuild 4speed tranny
refurbish entire suspension
refurbish entire drivetrain
four new tires.
e-brake repair
muffler replacement
cruise control
york air compressor retrofit ac repaired
dents and dings fixxed (rear right corner crunched in)
door seals and window seals.
steering repair
alternator replacement
waterpump replacement
oilpressure hose replacement
windscreen replacement
drives side rug replacement
stick shift bushings replacement
radio reception upgrade
chair upgrade(fixxing)
dash replacement or fixxing
all round wheel bearings.
cv-joints (both)
door trim replacement
vaccum leaks found
trunk little tire cover replacment.
drivers door check strap replacment
hood star put back on
passanger door key unlock to actually work
find the annoying rattle inside the dash
man is there anything really else?

Newbie chimes in...
 

Things to do for a totally overboard retentive beginner;
1) Fix windshield leak
2) Replace drivers side CV joint and right rear axle boot
3) New brakes / plus dust cover shields, maybe...
4) Paint rustproofer on the floorboards
5) Put sound proofer over the rustproofer
6) Fix dash crack
7) Diesel purge
8) Alda clean
9) Clean tank vent
10) Paint rust-proofer on rocker panels
11) Get my head checked
12) Check on battery tray
13) Rust proof hood hinge area
14) Locate a new air-dam if anyone is reading this; LET ME KNOW WHERE TO BUY A NEW W123 FRONT AIR DAM ASSEMBLY OR SUGGEST HOW TO FIX THE UGLY DENTS
15) Buy new Bosch headlight windows
16) Buy 7" AND 5.75" Cibies
17) Rob another bank
18) Buy clear corner lights and windshield wipers
19) Buy pair of 'AMG' rear tailights from some guy that sells them on ebay
20) Polish up the chrome and NOT BUY ANY ADDITIONAL CHROME
This site is great, I'm just getting into working on my car now that the summer is here. I'm not mechanically inclined with cars. In fact, I'm a ten year Air Force veteran and I was lucky enough to have been stationed in places where I could ride motorcycles year round. Now as a full time commuter student in NY I had to sell my Harley for my very first car, my '85 300D.

waterpump.. need to do it soon but my wallet is not agreeing.. I already bought the pump just no time to do it.. it hasnt failed but it is leaking

let me try to list these in priority
 

#1 get my AC running...
#2 fix the D/S inner CV boot and the P/S outer CV boot
#3 check timing chain
#4 check flex disks
#5 my injection timing is retarded by 2* or so. (from 24* TDC) I want to advance it about 4* but I'd like to wait and see if I replace the timing chain or not
#6 add a ball valve in the coolant line to my veggie system so that if I need to I can turn off the tank heater and fill it with diesel.
#7 install the injector line heater I bought a month ago.
#8 replace my primary fuel filter
#9 see if I even have a tank strainer
#10 get a new paintjob... or at least fix the destroyed paint on the P/S rear quarter panel.. seemingly destroyed by biodiesel..


What do you all think of my priorities?

prioritized
 

1. patch gaping holes in firewall from bad battery (p.o.) that were hidden by undercoating
2. timing chain tensioner and tensioner rail
3. replace timing chain
4. replace injector nozzles with new Bosio units after injector tester is finished
5. hood pad
6. overhaul a/c (p.o. didn't leave much: condenser & evaporator)
7. sunroof seals (moved down the list since I discovered #1)
8. rework rear break calipers
9. treat rusty spots in corners of rear fenders with por-15
10. lightly tint windows (probably bluish or silvery tint)
11. fix squirrely fuel gauge readings around 1/4 tank
12. stop squeaky driver's seat spring
13. finish straightening out warped rear deck and coat with Epoxy or POR-15
14. stereo (if I do this at #12, I may not worry about that spring)

Already completed:

• remove and clean algae from fuel tank
• check brake pads
• fix tach amp
• replace rear window gasket
• replace rubber gasket around fuel filler neck
• replace breather hose, grommet, and o-ring on oil drip tube to stop oil from coating everything under the hood
• remove all the oil-saturated remnants of what was once a hood pad
• replace many blown instrumentation lamps
• coat every bit of exposed rubber/plastic with 303 Aerospace Protectant
• replace all 4 boots without dropping diff or removing axles from vehicle (still haven't posted the pics)
• adjust valves (wow, were those exhaust valves tight!)
• check compression - all 5 cyl ~ 350 psi
• fix vacuum leak (turned out to be a/t modulator cap)
• (probably others I can't remember right now)
• (yep, just remembered...)
• all new Bosch glow plugs (old Bosch's will be kept as spares, Autolites will go into my home-made shop heater as igniters)

1. Reassemble engine
2. Attach transmission
3. Install engine/transmission assembly
4. Attach detached items from engine/transmission assembly
5. Work out bugs.

1. replace fan clutch
2. figure out why it dies on hot days. fix.
3. replace valve cover gasket (part in hand, no time)
4. figure out all the OTHER oil leaks.
5. figure out if the turbo's doing what it should. not convinced.
6. beg for a miraculous repair on the sunroof
7. if i ever get the chance, the paint's rough enough that it needs to be polished, whole-car.
8. figure out last month's mysterious dash smoke issue and fix so i can quit worrying about it
9. figure out why the air conditioning is so substandard even after my grandfather correctly adjusted the freon pressures
10. fix the cruise (new switch and amp didn't do it)
11. install my off-road egr block kit (thanks brian :) ) - i've had it for weeks, and i can do the installation... problem is in that time, there hasn't been a 24-hour period when I didn't need the car :D
12. Figure out why the transmission's still breaking my neck. We do have a mityvac.
13. Figure out my transmission fluid leak. Hope it's not where I think it is
14. Figure out why fuel tank sender reports empty 100 miles before empty generally and yet refuses to light the low fuel light (ask how I know...) despite good bulb check at switch-on
15. Have speakers replaced. Down to one functioning.
16. Releather seats? They need it... but I can't really afford that. Alternate solutions below:
16.1 fix drivers seat where it's coming to pieces. the retaining piece at the bottom of the leather that's supposed to be a stiff rim that hooks to the seat frame is torn to bits.
16.2 Fix hole worn in drivers seat back lower shoulder area. down to the horsehair pad.
16.3 Redo something in the back to make it less like trying to sit on a pogo stick
16.4. 16.3 for the front passenger's seat
16.5 Fix the place where the cloth weather strip frame thing (not the rubber weather strip but the cloth covered bit that looks sort of like it) has come completely unglued... thus resulting in the piece of cloth/leather/whatever that covers the seat belt pillar sliding out of its retaining and flapping loose in the wind.
16.6 Rent a rug doctor, convert it to a smaller attachment, and get the ickiness out of the rug that's under the little center console drop box area
16.7 chemically clean the floor mats (almost needs it, 20 years of stains)
16.8 get a new piece of wood grain pattern stuff to go around the shifter column and window switch area. mine's cracking. figure out if the same is possible for the radio/climate/cockpit switches area
16.9 ok, so the whole interior is falling apart except for the dash pad. let's just stop here with the 16s.
17. Fix whatever is causing my a/c to never go out the center vents, it instead goes to the big defroster vents.
18. Moan about the rust at the bottom of the doors (on the inside, no less) that I can't fix
19. Fix tachometer that loves reporting 1500 rpm no matter what circumstances otherwise dictate.
20. Get the rest of the center console and my gear selector to light up (all the time)
21. Replace rear windshield because the defrosters... well, three of the strips work...
22. Figure out why sometimes after an oil change it sounds like it takes nearly ten miles for one of the lifters or whatever to get oil. Extra-loud ticking like a clicking lifter or something after some oil changes - and once or twice, just once or twice, at other times. But it goes away. Always.
23. Compression check just to see how close to giving up I am

1. finish cleaning my 16" AMG Ronals so I can put those on
2. put on my AMG body kit when I get it, than paint it
3. install headlight adjuster switch (nice cheep find on Ebay.de)
4. go through engine and install Garret t-3 turbo
5. try not to become more of an AMG poser than I already am:)
and I am sure there is a 1000 other things that haven't come up yet

1. Fix rust spots on fenders & paint to match (want to salvage as much factory finish as I can)
2. Fix chips and scratches (see above)
3. Replace GP's
4. Fix rear wiper
5. Refinish Bundts
6. Figure out why rear passenger window chatters the whole way up
7. Attempt to reglue vinyl trim around the rear window and around jack access door
8. Replace crappy Blaupunkt with Becker Mexico still sitting in the box on my workbench.
9. Disassemble, clean and lube power antennae-seems to catch at various spots and won't fully retract
10. Replace both front door pockets
11. Replace lower driver's side dash panel
12. Install armrest (thanks bgkast!)
13. Adjust SLS so rear sits just a tad higher
14. Replace front and rear speakers

87 124
change thermostat
change oil/filter
clean
clean engine
fix turn signals
fix trip odo

98 e300TD
Detail
change all fluids/filters
rotate tires
dye leather

Paint (then I'll post pics - it's BF ugly right now, no badges lots of primer!)
DIY wood rack
Refurb Injectors
New Valve Seals
Injection timing / Cam timing check
Front Shocks
Front Brake Pads/Sensors
Rear Spring Pads
Master Vacuum Lock
AC
Vinyl tear repair
Headliner

she should be good as new in time for her 30th birthday!

1. Strangle My Mechanic.

Got my car back yesturday from getting the following replaced...

2 front rotors
2 front calipers
2 front balljoints
1 idler arm bearing
1 drivetrain mount and bearing

Grand. Everything is perfect, previous problems with front end are all gone.
I'm so happy. Estatic.

Today, I drive to meet my brother for lunch and when I return to my car.. The starting rev's are way too slow, and its not enough to start. Two turns later...nothing.. dead.

So my mind starts rolling thru ideas of what could have drained after shutdown- (lights wern't on, nor the parking lights)... while reaching to open the hood. I have to pull on the hood opener wire with pliers, as there is no handle, just the ball on the end of the wire.

However- I notice...
The ball on the end of the line is now gone. There is about a half inch of wire left protruding, that I have not been able to get a grip on to pull enough weight to open the hood.

So tomorrow I get to get up early and walk a few miles to my car...
pay the meter (starts at 10 on Sundays) and pay the meter every two hours Till 9pm. Or....

What is the name of a tool that will clamp down tight enough on that
1/2 inch bit of cable that is tight enough to pull that "hood opening weight"?

:)

I sooooooooooo feel like *****ing. I had plans to go out tonight till
5... 6... 7am- Whine Whine.

Im so curious if he forgot to tell me or what. Im over there alot. And will be
visiting for some time if he handles this well. It's not something I woulden't notice and I'm pretty sure he knows that... It's not something I can go without either...

Humans freak me out sometimes.

2. Replace Rear suspension
3. Rust removal Bodywork
4. Paintjob

After three years this is what I've done...

Interior
-Front seat nets (DIY)
-Rear headrests (DIY)
-Front seat bottom cushions, both sides (DIY)
-Center vent flap disabling (DIY)
-Blower motor renew carbon brushes (DIY)
-Driver door check strap (DIY)
-Driver inside door handle (DIY)
-Condensation drain at transmission hump (DIY)
-1/2 inch inner diameter foam hose replacement in dash (DIY)
-ACC bulb replacement + wood panel replacement (DIY)
-Dimmerswitch and instrument cluster bulb replacement (DIY)
-MP3/CD player head unit
-Brake pedal switch (DIY - major PITA!)
-Shift lever bushings (3 out of 4 only ...DIY)
-PRNDSL light (DIY)
-Extra trunk lights (care of z168, DIY)
-Warning triangle in trunk
-First aid kit cover (cracked old one)
-Usable first aid kit ($10 only and it fits!)

Engine
-Monovalve (DIY)
-Thermostat (DIY)
-Belts
-Alternator
-Glow plugs (DIY)
-Air filter + clean housing + clean boost lines (DIY)
-Fuel filter + diesel purge (DIY)
-Adjust transmission cable, ALDA, throttle linkage (DIY)
-Throttle linkage bushing + lube (DIY)
-Vacuum fittings + main vacuum line (DIY)
-Radiator
-Condenser
-Aux fan (DIY)
-Engine fan + clutch (DIY)
-Fan shroud
-Valve cover tubes
-Air cleaner mounts (DIY)
-Vacuum lines & valves atop valve cover (DIY)

Suspension, wheels
-Front upper control arms + upper ball joints
-Front upper control arm bushings
-Front sway bar bushings
-Front inner lower control arm bushings
-Guide rod mounts (DIY)
-Front lower ball joints
-Brake pads (F/R, DIY)
-Remanufactured axles, both sides

Body
-E code Hella conversions (DIY)
-New headlight doors
-H4 Hella bulbs
-Avantgarde style grille (DIY)
-4 Brake light mod (DIY)
-Convex passenger mirror
-Washer nozzles + new hose (DIY)
-Antenna mast (DIY)
-Jack hole plugs
-Grille badges

And my future projects...
-Weatherstripping (all doors, windshield)
-Windshield replacement
-Rear suspension
-IP calibration
-Battery area rust spot repair
-Hood pad
-Hood light
-AC drier (I should have done this before!)
-Oil pan gasket
-Skid plate
-Turbo drain tube gaskets
-Front and rear crankshaft seals
-Transmission filter + new ATF
-Repair differential leak (LSD?)
-Engine, transmission and differential mounts
-Driver sun visor mirror
-Trunk badge
-Brake fluid bleed + replacement with ATE DOT 4

:book: