This was the book I read: http://www.amazon.com/Troubleshooting-Repair-Diesel-Engines-Dempsey/dp/0071493719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325825443&sr=1-1. Pretty basic, a few helpful charts. I'm no mechanical genius but I was able to understand it and it gave me a nice broad glance of diesel machines. I should dig it up and re-read it myself.

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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)

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. I am loving these cars. Both the look and the diesel. I especially love the look of the 300 in the wagon, but a close second is the 240D sedan, so I will keep my eyes out. Just please don't tell my wife. Although I am going to use the excuse of having a second car 'just in case EITHER of our cars need service for a couple of days'. The good news on that front, however, is that she is really a huge fan of this car as well.

One bit of good news about my current 300 is that it sure seems to be in really great mechanical shape. The PO spent a lot of time replacing and repairing and tinkering. 15 degrees here yesterday am and she started right up on the second glow cycle. No block heater. That being said, I know it has a few hiccups. Some tranny issues that I will talk about in a new post. Anyway, here is a photo of her. I have a good friend with a body shop, and I have plans on slowly mitigating some rust issues, but again I am thrilled with my 'new to me' MB.

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1981 300TD
1985 300TD

As soon as your auto quits running or something won't go up or down your questions will make sense to you and everyone else.

I have a couple of good period books:
http://www.amazon.com/Crowns-Diesel-Repair-Manual-Publishing/dp/0517552205/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325946006&sr=1-1

and

Amazon.com: Modern diesel cars (9780830620463): Jan P Norbye: Books


The former is kind of basic repair of diesels of the day and some idea of what you are getting into. The latter has more theory and test drives.

There are a few copies of each out there for pennies ( well, $4 after shipping). If any of you are into this, these are worth having for under $10. Not so much MB diesel related, though they are given a prominent place.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)