"New" 300sd to do list

[300sdToronto]

This 125,000 km or 80,000 mile '83 300sd is new to me.

After much reading and a couple of months of driving her, here is my to-do list to be done over the next year or whatever as $ allow. Comments on any critical jobs I've missed would be appreciated. Luckily the car has very very little rust.

Drive train

ALDA banjo bolt & vacuum line clean
have injectors tested/cleaned/rebuilt at professional shop
replace fuel return hoses with injector job
turbo air seals at bottom of air cleaner
replace thermostat next time coolant replaced (coolant is very clean)
new voltage reg/brush unit on alternator
inspect all fuel lines and replace as needed
fix AC compressor noise - see my other post - advice needed
fix cruise control when I have a lotta time on my hands
inspect oil cooler lines for weeping - done
power steering fluid and filter change - done
air filter change - done
transmission fluid and filter change - done
timing chain inspect and adjust tension - done
oil and filter - done
primary and secondary fuel filters - done
valve clearances - done
inspect all coolant hoses - done
replace monovalve - done

Body and Suspension

replace brake fluid and flex hoses
brake pads and rotor replace - done
sunroof and drive cable lube, replace seals at same time
new shocks and rear springs in due course
clean all chassis drain holes
Rust Check treatment
replace window weather seals

if there are any critical tuning or maintenance jobs I'm missing, I'd appreciate comments. Thank you.

RL

[andmoon]

How's the car run?
If it's running well and getting around 13 sec 0 to 60, I'd leave the injectors and alda alone. Unless you are having leaks I would leave the seals alone too. Same deal w/ the alternator brushes.

Motor mounts, engine shocks, subframe and rear diff mounts? Don't forget to take a look at the flex disc.

[300sdToronto]

Originally Posted by andmoon

How's the car run?
If it's running well and getting around 13 sec 0 to 60, I'd leave the injectors and alda alone. Unless you are having leaks I would leave the seals alone too. Same deal w/ the alternator brushes.

Motor mounts, engine shocks, subframe and rear diff mounts? Don't forget to take a look at the flex disc.

Thank you - exactly why I posted. I will do a timed run one of these days. She accelerates like a slug up to about 40km/h or 25 mph and then really takes off. Idles smoothly and cruises nicely at 120 km/h or 75 mph on the highway. Burns no oil.

Now what is a flex disk and what do I do it , apart from looking at it ?

[andmoon]

I am no expert.
The flex disc as I understand it is the dampener for the driveshaft. I think bmw's call it guibo or something. It actually is a disc designed to reduce shock. It is connected inline w/ the driveshaft.
Does the rear of your car sit lower than the front?

[Maroon 300D]

Sounds like you will be busy! Welcome to the club.

What temp. is your car running at? I see you mentioned replacing the T-stat. 80-100 C is the norm.

You also forgot about fixing all the annoying electrical things that will inevitably stop working now that YOU own the car. But most of them are easy, so that's OK.

Does it really have just 80K? That's pretty amazing.

Originally Posted by 300sdToronto

Thank you - exactly why I posted. I will do a timed run one of these days. She accelerates like a slug up to about 40km/h or 25 mph and then really takes off. Idles smoothly and cruises nicely at 120 km/h or 75 mph on the highway. Burns no oil.

Now what is a flex disk and what do I do it , apart from looking at it ?

To improve your acceleration, have you completed your "ALDA banjo bolt & vacuum line clean" item? Also have you adjusted your ALDA? If not, do a search on ALDA.

The flex disk is a component in the drive shaft, sorta a rubber donut that looks like this:

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1CQ0J3JZ41SC0Y77Z1&year=1983&make=MB&model=300-SD-002&category=All&part=Drive+Shaft+Flex+Joint

[300sdToronto]

Lotsa comments - thanks

1. Pretty confident the mileage is genuine, talked to a previous owner.

2. Rear does sit lower than front, front coil springs were replaced as part of the purchase deal as one of them were cracked and it would not pass the govt safety check.

3. I suspect the shocks are either wearing out or are lousy cheap replacements as I get a rather vague floating feeling in the front end when entering freeway ramps at speed - best way I can put it. Body roll seems a bit excessive too. Shock performance on big potholes is OK, again suggesting lower quality units rather than worn out?

4. So this disk in the drive train presumably is at the back end of the tranny somewhere? Am I checking for obvious damage, loose connectors etc?

[nrthrngreaser]

the flex discs take the place of the u-joints in these driveshafts. they are used for connecting from the transmission to the driveshaft,and from thedriveshaft to the rear diff.

they are rubber and cord and steel, but can wear out and break. ugly when they do. I've heard of them breaking and flailing around and grabbing the parking brake cables and siezing up the rear end of the car at highway speeds.

one of those things that are not too expensive and probably better safer than sorry when you're going to have the drivetrain apart after several hundred thousand miles. one of those things that doesn't break in the driveway. I have the engine and trans out of my 300sd project car and will be putting in new flex discs.


karl

[The Gears]

What is the diff ratio in the 83SD, 3.07 or 2.88?

[toomany MBZ]

3.07