Where do I get a good block heater?
 

I have a 86 190d 2.5 5spd that is a bit rough to start in cold weather. I'm looking for a block heater for the winter months, and have found one on ebay, <http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MERCEDES-DIESEL-ENGINE-BLOCK-HEATER-1968-TO-1993_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ33613QQihZ017QQitemZ7929653570QQrdZ1QQ sspagenameZWD1V>
but it specifically says it wont work with the 1986-1989 190d 2.5 models.

Does anyone know where I can get one that will work with my ride?

Have you tried Fastlane? (BUY PARTS tab at the top of the screen)

They have a block heater kit for w123s

Take a close look at your engine to determine if you already have one! I was thumbing through my owner's manual a couple of weeks ago, and to my surprise it says that the engine is equipped with a block heater. It goes on to say that if I wanted to use it, I would have to go to my favourite dealer and have the power cord installed free of charge; of course, this was valid for 6 months after original delivery! If you have the heater already, the rest is easy!

Before you do this, take a close look at your glow plugs. These cars usually start fairly easily; after replacing all my GPs last summer, I had no trouble starting even with ambient temps around -5C

I saw the following on Wikipedia:

All Mercedes-Benz Diesel engines were, and should still be if they aren't now, produced with block heater elements already installed. Only a block heater power cord was needed to use them...Which was ONLY an option available through the MB Dealership, and was always installed by the MB Dealership's pre-delivery preparation technician, that is if the block heater was ordered at the time of purchase of the vehicle. The Installation was logged in the owner's maintenance booklet, and also stored in the MB Dealerships' own service record history (logging the installation) was a tear out sheet from the owner's maintenance booklet. Installation was simple, making an often used or old cord easily replaceable. Moreover, the MB Dealership parts department price for a new block heater power cord is very reasonable, around $20 US in 2005.

Use of the block heater was recommended in climates where it drops below 10 °F (−12 °C) for long periods. In less frigid environments the block heater proved to be an invaluable LUXURY feature. It allowed the car to register heat on the engine temperature gauge during the pre-glow time of the glow plugs.

This car doesn't have a cord anywhere, but there is a cord on my 1984 190d 2.2. I'll probably see where the cord on my '84 leads to, and see if I do in fact already have a block heater.

My glow plugs are in decent shape, and the car will start okay in cold weather, but I found that my '84 started a lot more smoothly in 20F and below temps. when I used the block heater. I only need it a couple of weeks a year here in NC, but I figure it won't hurt when I run on a B50 blend during the winter months.

methinks the cord will be on the opposite side of an 84 2.2... the starter is...
the cord should connect to the socket in the block just in front of the starter on the passenger's side of a 617 diesel.

If you don't have one, you can buy a radiator hose heater at NAPA for $30ish and install it in the lower radiator hose. Its a helluva lot easier to install and its worked fine for me. I see temps in the teens during the winter and the engine has always started pretty easily for me when plugged in.

Or if you want to buy one already assembled from diesel giant, you can do that, although it looks a little pricey:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/diesel_parts_for_sale.htm#Block%20Heater%20Kit

I don't think the "all diesel Mercedes were installed with a block heater" is true. My W116 300SD does not have one.

X2. that is a blanket statement, full of crap, as most blanket statements are. why no-one has wiki'D that correct, I dont know.

mine had a webasto installed, not a block heater.

and there are enough old post' about what a PAIN it is to remove the plug that it is obvious that not ALL cars had them.

but I bet you can get one from fastlane. And it is a very good idea to make sure that there is no one installed yet.

and also-(flame suit on) since you are in a mild winter climate, there are tons of other options available from mfr's like zerostart, etc. which you can prolly get at the local mcparts store on the corner.

Block heaters were standard for 1986-and-later models (W124, etc.). The wikipedia error is no more than carelessness.

I have a 79 300D, NA that does not have a factory installed block heater.
Everyone I spoke with said if its not there now, dont bother trying to get it in, as you can crack the block trying to get the plug out.
I also had the old coil style glow plugs, and an old battery.
It get pretty cold here up in New Hampshire. I replaced the battery with a 900CCA battery, I put new glow plugs in with the plug to plug circuit wiring, (I left the existing relay, so it still glows for 20-30 seconds before the dash light goes out). I did purchase the lower radiator hose heater from dieselgiant, and I also purchased two pad heaters. One is affixed to my oil pan, and the other is a pad heater that goes underneath your battery. I installed all this a few weeks ago, so we'll see what happens when the temps drop. I figure between the warm coolant in the block, warm oil in the pan, and a warm battery I should be all set.
I'm going to have to run all these on a timer, or my electric bill will be sky high !!

Good Luck.

http://www.padheaters.com/description.html

Thats thinking ahead....its 104F here today.