Got my first Mercedes! 1980 300TD

[silverfishk8]

I bought my first Mercedes yesterday! It's a 1980 300TD. I enjoyed my slow ride home very much (its not a turbo), but defineatley have some work to do. I got the car for a GREAT price: $500. After seeing what some other people were thinking of paying for 300TD, I jumped at the chance.

The transmission shifted great, the engine hardly had any blow-by, and the rear-leveling suspension actually works! I figured it had to be worth $500, even with over 300,000 miles on the clock!! (I'm going to get the high milage badge ASAP)

I'll get some pictures up soon, but right now theres about 3 inches of ice covering everything.

When the weather impoves, I plan on doing all the typical PM items. Change the oil, tranny fluid, PS fluid, brake fluid, rear leveling suspension fluid, glow plugs, air filter, and fuel filters. Did I leave anything out?

The car has the following issues that I would love some advise on:

1. It has its fair share of rust, especially on the drivers floor pan. I'm not sure if it is easier to replace the entire floor pan, or have a welder to some remedial work. Any thoughts?

2. The seats are quite uncomfortable, and don't look that great anymore either (they're blue MB Tex). I'm thinking that I will need to rebuild them, or find used seats in a wrecking yard. My SAAB has great seats, has anyone tried to install these in MB?

3. The passengers front side window and the drivers side back window do not roll down. I hear the motors running, but they don't budge. I'm guessing they are just off track? Is it a pain to remove the door covering?

4. There seems to be a small amount of oil leaking from just below the instument cluster.

5. The climate control works OK, but no AC. I'm not too worried, I hardly ever use it anyway. I realize that I have the "evil crysler" unit in there, so I don't expect too much from it. Is it possible to exchange units, or did the whole system change in 1982?

I'm sure there will be plenty more things that need attention soon. Some other general questions:

6. Does anyone have the MB service manuals on CD? If so, is it possible to burn me a copy. They cost major $$$.

7. Is there a good wrecking/junk yard for MB in Upstate NY, or anywhere else in the North East?

Thanks in advance for all your advise!

~Sean Roland