New owner of 1978 300D and loving this forum

[Island300D]

Well, my first post here, everyone starts somewhere. I'm pleased to announce that my family has purchased our first Mercedes, a beautiful 1978 300D that I have begun to lovingly tune up. She only has 189K and has been garaged her whole life and treated better than a fancy pet.

Before buying her last week I googled Mercedes, found this list, and have been absorbed in it ever since. I've probably spent two hours a day reading posts on the W123 chassis and everything else Mercedes.

Let me say right up front: This is by far the most helpful and thorough and wonderful forum I have ever used, and I have used many. I am also the full-time caregiver to a sailboat with a diesel auxiliary and so am part of various boat forums and miscellaneous other things. I am completely thrilled that any thing I could ever want to do on my 300D has been done and discussed on this forum. We all know how invaluable it is to share wisdom of this sort.

Having had the car for about five days, I have already adjusted the valve timing ( I learned here about the wrenches and bought two $3 14mm at the local hardware store, heated them with my propane torch and bent them, and they worked perfectly!!! Thanks to the person who suggested this as it beats the pieces out of buying "official wrenches" for 12X the price), replaced and repacked the front bearings, changed most all the fluids, replaced all the old and original fuel lines (they crumbled in my hands) and filled up with my first tank of B20.

We have been casually looking for a good used diesel for over a year in our search to go biodiesel and are in heaven at having found this one. Now that I've swapped out the fuel lines I will start running B99 during the summer months here (San Juan Island, Washington) and a blend in the winter. Every single dollar I give to corporate oil and our own and other dictatorships makes me actively sick. Not to mention the important eco-benefits of biodiesel. Will look into VO later too.

So please let me end by saying THANK YOU. I've already benefited enormously from all the people who have taken the time to post pictures and explain their experiences. I look forward to being an active member of this forum as there is still so much I have to learn.

Oh, and I have already supported this forum and bought some tune up parts through the shop. Good price and fast service this first time.

[Jeremy5848]

Sounds like a nice car -- pictures, please!

I'll wave as I go past San Juan next week on my way to Mt. Vernon for the Highland Games.

Jeremy

[unkl300d]

B here or B

pics

[Island300D]

I agree that if I weren't getting Beta here I'd be . I'll try to get some pics soon, she's a beauty. Next project is to repair the just failed trip odometer. I've read the many posts and seen the diesel giant pictorial. Looks straightforward. Have fun at the Highland games!

[rs899]

Welcome aboard. Nice to see you have done some digging around on here on your own. I, for, one get a bit tired of the newbies asking the really basic questions. The COLLECTIVE wisdom of the group over the 7 or 8 years of this forum trumps anyone's personal knowledge.

Rick

[Island300D]

Rick, you are so right about the collective wisdom trumping any one person's knowledge. I've been fixing cars all my life and was lucky enough to have a mechanic as a dad, and so I'm a do it myselfer to the first degree, and by nature, would rather make mistakes than pay someone else to make them for me. For this reason, this forum is indispensable. I get to take a few minutes and read how 10 different guys dealt with something like my broken odometer, and pick the technique that rings most true.

Projects for this week are to remove the oil pan and clean out any and all crud after running her hot and draining the new oil I just put in. An engine flush basically. Also, I want to tackle removing and repacking and maybe replacing my rear bearings, having just done the front. Oh and I need to drain and flush the rear differential, which I am certain has 189K worth of original oil in it!! Again, the PO fixed everything that broke right away, and babied the car extremely well, but anything resembling preventive maintenance, which I love, did not get done.

[vstech]

Welcome indeed to the forum!
don't forget to put your car in the signature. it's good you put in your location, but be sure and list your vehicle too. makes it simple for us to know what car you are talking about when you need help.
and I second the request for pictures.