My mechanic made the mistake of going through the local MB dealership for all the parts I needed. I've been without my car for coming up on 3 weeks now due to the ridiculous lead times on something as simple as a primer pump and a crankshaft seal.

I realize it's difficult to pinpoint exact parts to hold onto, as everyone's car is different and some things will go wrong on one car that another's owner will never have to deal with. Are there parts that need replacing more often than others? (e.g. the primer pump)

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Never be ashamed to ask for help.

1985 300D
1987 300SDL
1970 Jaguar E-Type OTS
2002 Dodge Intrepid (Traded In)
2011 Ford Crown Victoria

What kind of car are you talking about? I don't keep any spare parts for the Hondas.

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Jim

If it's a w123 (maybe a w126) a monovalve rebuild kit is a good bet!

Don't know if this'll help you, but here's a list of what I travelled with in the trunk, when I travelled 1/4 of the U.S. in my '83 300SD with 305K miles on it:

* Set of tools
* Jackstand
* Floorjack
* (1) set fanbelts
* Oil filter
* (1) set of fuel filters
* DC air-pump to air-up a slow leak tire
* Assorted exterior vehicle light bulbs
* Work gloves and safety glasses
* Section of cardboard to lie on under car
* Rags/shop towels
* Fast Orange hand cleaner-degreaser

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I would add to this ;
*a set of fan belts
*Coveralls
*water/coolant
*small container of diesel
*Roll of 100mph tape ( strong duct tape)
The amended list is about what I have. There is the usual junk in the car as well. Often I travel miles from the nearest town/house so its necessary to be independent.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I tend to have door strikers wear out at inconvenient times, so I always keep a spare one for each side.

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84 300D 255K "Mr B" ("Mr Becker")
79 300D 265K "Mrs B"
85 300TD 175K "Mali" (Sold)
74 Ford F-100 74K "Bonnie" (Sold)
67 Jeepster Commando (Sold)

With the delivery times that Fastlane offers, it hardly seems necessary to keep any parts on hand besides fuel filters.

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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 agree, however I also keep a set of fuses (standard, OVP, and glow plug relay fuse) and and a spare voltage regulator.

Still waiting for the voltage regulator to crap out. That thing has been in there for a long time!

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

A few 1985 only items:

Sunroof motor
Rear Diff
Speedo/Odo
Blue UFOs
Never hurts to find a spare vac pump.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I have a spare wiper arm assembly for the 124 along with a spare power steering pump.

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Jim

heck. just get a few spare parts cars, and stack them in your garage. easy!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

If you cut the roof off and take the wheels off you should be able to get 3 high vertically.

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Small set of tools
gloves
fuel filters
belt
flashlight
100 mile AAA card!!

I seem to be collecting more and more parts from the junkyard. My latest is a spare #22 head for the 603.

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1987 300TD 147,000 miles- Palomino leather interior, 1995 facelift and body cladding, E350 wheels, Rebuilt suspension and sport springs, rebuilt turbo, New Monarch injection pump and injectors....and the list goes on and on...

Maybe carrying a spare head in the trunk is a bit of an over kill !!

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

for my long drives with the 300TD i tried to always have:

-heater hose
-2x of each type of filter (primary fuel, secondary fuel, oil, air)
-fuel line
-vacuum lines
-more than the engine's capacity worth of each fluid (oil, coolant, brake, p/s)
-glow plugs
-more than a full set of fuses
-stuff to do wiring (wire, solder, torch, crimps, stripper, etc)
-floor jack + jack stands
-2 spare bundts with tires on em
-multiple spares of all bulbs
-2 of every belt type (ac, ps, alt/water)
-spare SLS high pressure line
-large size fix-a-flat
-couple 4x4 blocks
-couple 2x4s
-spare battery (charged)
-4x 5gal military fuel cans (the awesome scepter ones you cant buy anymore) full
-2 sets of jumper cables (1 set wont start a dead w123)
-MREs (military food rations)
-blankets + pillows


with that, the only times i ever had to call for a tow were when i blew a head gasket, and when i fully seized an engine.