How to own a Diesel
 

I just bought a 77' 300D and its the first diesel car I've ever owned. I've purchased the haynes manual so that I can perform my own maintence/repiars. Other than that, I have no idea how to own one of these cars. What is the proper start-up procedure? What should I do initally in terms of maintence; change oil, timing, GP cleaning? Also, with 168,000 what about a maintence schedule ect? General advice would be great. Thanks very much.

Congrats on the purchase.

First things first -- put your location in your heading and your car in your signature. That way people wil lknow where youare geographically and what your questions are about. GO to "Quick Links" and do this now.

Second thing -- learn how to use the search function on this site. There are many gigabytes of information waiting to be found.
Do searches on replacing old style glow plugs with pencil type.

Third thing do a search on replacing the primer pump, fuel filters, engine oil, and transmission fluid.

These things are your most likely maintenance items.

Go to MBCA.org and join the Mercedes Club of America and go to the chapter meetings. There you will meet local people who love these cars and will take time to show you how to care for yours.

Do not worry about asking dumb questions, we were all newbies once.

Welcome to the forum, Turkturk. You won't find a nicer, more helpful bunch of people anywhere. I hope your MB exprience is a good one.

I am not the first person to say that the Haynes manual AND the MB factory shop manuals are needed to DIY on these cars.... Since I have both...and have read them... I am amazed at how many WARNINGS are not put into the Haynes manual... it has better pictures of many things... but it was written by English people...and the FSM by German people....so having both helps interpreting what is supposed to be done..
Also, often there are THREE issues of parts... and the VIN or engine number or the number on the end of the camshaft for instance..... those are almost never mentioned in the Haynes manual.

You will need to know what chassie number your car has perhaps one of the Members will post as I am not sure what chassie a 77 has. As the Manuals are classified by the chassie number. Example mine is a W123
For the Factory Service Manual.
Go to the below site and you will see "Search by Literature Type"-- click on the arrow to show the menue and select Service Manual. $19.99 + $7 shipping.)

http://www.classictechlit.mbusa.com/MB/default.asp?catalog_name=Retail

The main thing when owning a diesel is to keep the oil filler cap in the upright position when you take it off the valve cover. If you turn it upside down while it is off... it will then leak oil onto the top of your valve cover and you will be wondering why... and worrying...
Also, run your oil level at half way between min and max.... or below... above tends to greatly increase your oil consumption.

You can join diesel mercedes yahoo groups.Plenty of nice folk,files,and links to cheaper parts.

At the top of the list is to find all the hidden water drains... and clean them out...
this is the main problem with MB lasting or not lasting...
When you see those rusted out spots behind the wheels... bingo... and some of them really are hard to find and clean... like under the battery.... and the ones at the bottom of the doors... very important for longevity.