Thank you, the 12 point replacement nut is the last thing I need to make this come together.

I appreciate your research and advise.

Think you've seen it all? How's this for a flex disk disaster:

http://www-nass.nhtsa.dot.gov/bin/Airmis.exe/getPDF?AirMisid=278031626

Now thats friggin interesting. After doing the 5spd swap the no name brand flex disk I installed lasted 14,500 miles before it started making a ticking sound. There was no vibration, just very light metalic tick tick tick under hard acceleration. I replaced it promptly with Lemforder/SGF part. Keep in mind that I'm using smaller flex disks than what came originally on the 300D turbo.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Did you notice that car was only 6ish years old but had 202k miles on it already? That's well over 30k a year....sounds like they did not maintain the car properly. That flex disc's rubber looked very dry and baked like it spend a lot of time in a really hot/dry climate. Not surprising it failed under those circumstances.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I've hit a snag here, I never altered the nut to loosen the front of the driveshaft when I removed the flex disk. Now it seems as if there is tons of room between the transmission yolk and the flexdisk.

I must be missing something?

Could the centering bushing also be shot? Thank you for all your help.

I should also add, I am able to slide the front portion of the driveshaft in and out a small amount, just enough to be able to get it on the transmission. Thank you again.