Pelican Parts is expanding its early Mercedes DIY library. We have currently acquired a W123 300TD wagon. We want to know what fixes YOU would like to know as we start the project soon. Anything you can think of that you wish you had a step by step process to do work on your car before. Even simple things like oil changes, light bulb changes, jacking up the car, etc.

Let us know what you want us to do by commenting below!

Articles will be uploaded here - http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MBZ_Tech_Index-W123.htm

How about best practices for jack stand placement?

Do a complete fluids change on a newly acquired W123 with no service history.
Describe each service
how much fluid it will take to flush and fill
what parts need to be replaced as part of the service ( seals, washers, gaskets, hoses, lines, filters )
what tools are needed
give the Pelican part number and price for everything used.
Provide links to your online parts.
Bundle everything you need to do each service into a single package and sell it as a package.

Coolant
Oil & filter
Brake fluid
Power Steering fluid
Transmission fluid
Differential fluid
Rear suspension for the wagon

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Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

Yeah, as mentioned I'd love to see good jack stand placement. Especially on the front of the vehicle.

Also, as GregMN said, transmission drain (flush?) and refill. How much fluid does it take, how to replace the tranny filter.

How to properly perform a citrus flush on the radiator/engine perhaps?

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"The MB W123 is so bulletproof, you can drive them forever. Which is a good thing as it takes that long to get anywhere."
Betsie: 1984 W123 300D (hobby, 280k miles)
Myrla: 2001 Mazda Protege 2.0 ES 5spd (daily driver, 130k miles)
The Turd: 2007 Toyota Camry (wife's car, 118k miles)

Honing the cylinder and hand fitting second oversized rings onto the original pistons

Injection pump rebuild

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Make it fly!

Ok im done...

Id like to see an axle removal and rebooting and or a rear diff swap as some of us don't have the 85 gearing ratio!! The washer system refurbish including the in headliner connection. Preventative Maintenance on the wagon rear turn signal pockets, holders, and lenses. and a condensed SLS pictures and tutorial on flushing, testing, and replacing the wear items such as the two pump hoses.

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1983 240d 5Sp SOLD
1986 300D(LUCO) SOLD
1983 300TD(dreamboat)SOLD
1984 240d (Executive)SOLD
1984 240d (Euripides) SOLD
1982 300sd SOLD
1982 300sd (Ambas)SOLD

Mm turbo wagon fun...

Rear hatch lift strut replacement.

Rear subframe rebuild.

Rear wheel bearing rebuild.

SLS strut replacement.

SLS system refurbishing.

Door latch rebuild. (I see your rear passenger latch is bad...)

Fuel tank screen and fuel level rebuild.

Third row seat install.

Manual sunroof latch repair and rebuilding.

Sunroof cleaning and seal repair.

I'll think on some more...

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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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

WAGON GAS TANK PULL and fuel sending unit replacement! No pics exist anywhere...
SLS system maintenance/repair!
How to pull and replace rear window gaskets
Make a safari wagon, with bad roads clearance stuff.
rear windshield wiper system replacement/refurb.
..general actual question. what do you do if you rear side window gaskets are bad and NLA?

..and just as an aside could you post pics of the tailgate interior hatch trim? My wagon came without...

1.Vacuum pump rebuild
2.turbo rebuild
3.power steering pump o-rings seals replaced
4.adjusting wastegate + alda to get proper boost
5.compression check
6.replacing B-2 piston in trans if auto.
7.replacing rear main seal
8.coolant flush
9.recharging a.c.

To start with

Remove and reinstall factory turbo inlet tube and seals properly
Monovalve replacement.
Vacuum leak diagnostics
Motor mount replace
List of oil leak locations and solutions
E.g. turbo oil return, valve cover, power steering, main seal, transmission, head gasket, fuel lines
How to check the front ball joints with a prybar (and rest of front suspension)
Head removal and installation
How to get center dash vents working again.

Windshield replacement

Valve stem seal replacement.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

These may already be on the site somewhere, but I haven't found them (yet), so maybe just point to them or a link, if they are already covered;

Cruise control rebuild, or typical fail points, including C/C amplifier (?)
where is it, what does it look like?

Climate system controller

A/C distribution valve, where is it, what does it look like?

Thanks, looking forward to this, since I have an 85 300TD, 278K

Bob Bush in Lou. Ky.