Replacing the upper control arm bushings on the 240D. Easy job gone wrong. Removing the bolt that holds the arm to the frame was a bear because it had corroded so badly to the bushings. I tried different approaches until finally cramming a whole sawzall up under the wheel well and arduously cutting that bolt on either side of the UCA, then hacking up what was left of the bushing still stuck on the frame with the bolt head. PITA. But I felt proud once it was done.

I can think of a few other things that were harder than I thought they'd be, or simply more painful ... rebuilding the 124's sunroof, removing the 240D's driveshaft after the front flex disk had exploded and stripped the bolts, refinishing the interior wood of the 300D (difficult because it took so much patience and meticulous work), getting the bolt out of the motor mount arm after snapping it off on the 240D (turned out to be easy once I got the right tools), repairing and repainting the 240D's fenders.

Knock on wood, I haven't had to do any huge things yet on either car. Although hopefully when the time comes (or if I go out and buy a car that needs such work) I'll have the confidence to get it done.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Well worth it -- I remember seeing it at the GTG this summer and it looked great

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Thanks! It's held up really well over the winter so far, too (knock on wood, no pun intended) ... Epifanes gets the thumbs up from me.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Hey Bodhi - got a pic of the before and after?!

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Actually, without trying to sound too belligerent, I haven't found any task to be that daunting.

I admit the stripped-out hex sockets on the Motor Mounts bolts were a bit trying. I have done a fair amount of work on my W126, and a W123 before and since that.


My lasting impression is that the engineers actually had consideration for whomever was going to make repairs. Not like some Asian makes I could name that required fingers and hands much smaller than mine for some routine operations.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

96 geo tracker, alternator R&R:
Pull charcoal canister & bracket.
Pull lower rad hose upper 1/2
Pull lower rad hose intermediate fitting/bracket shift out of way
Reach between belts loosen adjuster bolt
2 wrenches on pivot bolt, 1 blind
Blind reach to remove exciter & ground
twist & turn to get out

Installation reverse of removal.

1/2 day first time, 45 min second time.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

The most surprisingly difficult thing I did ....and I'm not kidding, was change out the primer pump. I thought no problem, a 5 minute task. 45 minutes and a quart of blood later....... It's always the "easy" jobs

__________________
Rich B

1983 300D Turbo
205k

Excuses are crutches for the weak

Removing the fan clutch from the water pump on my 616 in the 307d in a barn outside of Exeter, England. Turns out it needs about a 3" ultra skinny wrench to thread the bolt out of the center of the water pump. Took me a while to find a wrench that would fit.

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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

I bet you didn't use a small pipe wrench to remove the old primer pump, which would have taken 30 seconds. It chews up the old pump but who cares?

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Replacing the AC expansion valve under the dash od a 1983 300SD, a real back breaker

__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.

Agree 100%...Most of the jobs on my stealth have been far more complex and difficult compared to the Mercedes simply because the engineers didn't design everything to come apart and be serviced by the owner. Latest is chasing down an electrical short that made the taillights come on whenever the ACC power was on. Turned out to be a blown capacitor in the suspension control computer that's after about 30 hours of hunting and then bringing it to an auto electric specialist when I exhausted my troubleshooting means...Replaced the cap and resoldered all the components on the circuitboard and it kinda works.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Who knew

__________________
Rich B

1983 300D Turbo
205k

Excuses are crutches for the weak

Oh great ... I have to do this soon.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Getting the valve cover off each time I adjust valves,also putting it back on.

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

I made a sort-of DIY on the job I did: http://savingchase.com/diy-pages/wood/
I don't have many good before pics (the "before" pic on that link is actually from a parts car), but my 300D's wood was very cracked and foggy ... pretty much the classic MB wood wear and tear for a car never garaged.
Couple more after pics (in bad lighting, sorry). The boost piece I made.

Attached Thumbnails

         

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)