I am the newish owner of an old 83 300D and I am wondering how easy or difficult it might be to convert the v-belt system to an easier to use serpentine belt system. I know I'd have to line up all of the pulleys and fashion brackets to mount a tensioner someplace. The problem I see is probably going to be with the water pump/fan as it might have to rotate the other way (not viable). Anyone tried this? Am I completely crazy? I just hate v-belts, PITA!!

Thanks.

Yes your crazy.

Why reinvent the wheel. The design has been working for 20+ years. Just put on a new set of Mercedes belts and you should be good for 10 years of so. That's how long mine were on the 300TD before I replaced them. I do recommend getting them at the dealer. I had Gates (from Oreilly's ) belts on my daughters car and the water pump belt broke causing an overheat. The 240D is a single belt on the water pump, your 300D is a double belt. I have not had any Mercedes belts break.

Dave

Mar 28 2007. Small note. One of my belts DID break. My son has been driving the car and when I fillied it up with diesel and checked the engine compartment I noticed that one of the alternator belts was gone. So they do break.

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Then it should not be too difficult to find a few items that really need some attention!!!

that sounds like a great idea, you'd just hafto figger out a tensioner, (or maybe you could just tension it using the alternator and pwr steering pump.)

dunno about making the water pump rotation, don't they all go CW?

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Cheers,
Robert