I need a new starter in my 1985 300SD. When looking on the internet, I see that there are Federal and California choices, not sure which one I need? Does the VIN # tell you anything in that regard?

Easiest way is if you have an air filter box on the front left corner. It is a California version.

But you can run your vin here and it will say "California version"


http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng




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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

^ Yes, a wide round, flattish air cleaner housing just beside the cam cover in the middle is Federal.
A Cali will have a taller, smaller diameter canister closer to the passenger headlight.

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83 SD

84 CD

Here is a visual on the difference

First pic is a Federal air cleaner

Second pic is a Calif air cleaner

Third a close up of the Calif, sits right behind the R/F headlight

Fourth, If you see this silver looking football below the turbo, it is a Calif.

Fifth is the two Starters. The upper one is the federal version. The Calif starter has the solenoid on the bottom to clear the trap oxidizer.

The calif starter cost is about twice as much.



Charlie

Attached Thumbnails

         

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

California is on top, correct?

Here is a close up shot of the two. the lower one is the Cali starter. solenoid is on the bottom.

Look at the picture above with the trap on the eng., and you will see
why it is on the bottom. A clearance issue. And for only one year.


Charlie

Attached Thumbnails

   

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

thanks for the info regarding calif and federal...

turns out, after speaking with W Hunter, the AT shift link bushings are probably the culprits for my non starting car...

Any good DIY's, with photo's?

I bought a neutral safety switch as well. Ditto on reference DIY's

If I can get the car to start one more time, should I drive it onto ramps, or jack it up?

If you replace the trap catalyst with a test pipe (a forum member makes them) you can use the less expensive Federal version of the starter.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

If your problem is the neutral safety switch, you can jump it to get the car to start. There's a thread on here that describes how to do it above the driver's kick panel. Search on jumping neutral safety switch or NSS.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

On my 300SD, the two purple wires at the NSS are cut and spliced together to defeat the park/neutral part. This works, but IMO should only be used as an emergency thing since you can start the car in gear. Also, with the worn out bushings, your car can pop out of park. Mine did this once in my driveway, luckily it only bumped one of my other cars.
The "correct" bushings are not cheap, but Ace hardware has a very nice selection of nylon bushings that can be modified to fit.