I've got all bushings on order. Did you get the special bushing pliers or took the linkages out to press them in?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I took out the linkages last time... most likely do same this time. I avoid special tools unless absolutely required.

Thinking about doing this tomorrow since I got some of the other stuff done the car needed today. I can take some pictures if I do.

Please do take pics. It's great that you are replacing a lot of parts on your Euro TD. Does the power windows work without the key but only if the door (just driver's door I assume) is open?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I would never replace a ball joint just to fix a torn boot. I just clean well and wrap w/ self-fusing silicone "electrical" tape (Ace Hardware). No guarantee a new ball joint boot won't be cracked in a year. I recall that when I changed the worn lower ball joint in my 300D, I didn't even use the thin rubber boot that came with it, but rather a polyurethane one from Energy Suspension. I have done that in most my cars. Ditto for tie rod ends.

Even with the replacement spindle ready to go, it may not be a trivial easy job. I had to run out and buy a different pickle fork and cut the tips off so it didn't bottom out on the spindle. Some swear by the "2 hammer method" to separate ball joint studs, but has never worked for me.

The shifter bushings would be easy if there was room. View the youtube by M.S. That was a later model and they had to drop the transmission down a bit to get room. I bought the special pliers tool, then found it needed a wider backup washer added, otherwise the bushing just splayed out around the base of the tool. Clean the whole area well first or your hands and arms will get real grubby.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

I did see the MS videos on a 190D and another model, seems to me those pliers are more trouble than they're worth if they don't work perfectly the first time. Taking the linkages out seems like much less frustration and faster in the end.

I like the self fusing Silicone tape idea on torn boot. I still have a bunch left that I bought from McMaster when I was playing with Nichrome line heaters. How long has the wrap on the BJ held up for you? I assume you leave the torn boot on, grease the BJ, clean and wrap over the torn boot? Got a pic of one you did?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

The pliers are a waste....

On the auto's, one bushing that holds the linkage can be installed when the shifter is out for the rebuild. The second one, you will need to undo the arm that is attached to the transmission, there is a nut n bolt that comes out and then it slides off...

The bushings are nylon, not a hard plastic....they can be bent, pushed, deformed and still pop back into the original shape....thus one can use any number of odd objects to push them on...

Worse case, you can make a press with odd bolts, washers n nuts..

The hardest thing to install, are the darn spring clips...

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Agreed.

The bushings arrived and I got them installed. Wow what a difference in how the shifter feels with bushings. They were both missing!

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I used a 19 mm 12 point socket, nut bolt washers to press the bushings in with Silicone spray lube. I only used 2 of the 6 bushings I bought since the ones in the interior of the passenger compartment are in good condition and does not need replacement. Only the ones under the car exposed to the elements were destroyed.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I made a special tool for the clip out of a coat hanger which made the job a breeze instead of frustration. I just pounded the end of the coat hanger to flatten it just enough to spread the clip. I tied a string to the clip so I don't lose it if it pops off.

Pic of special tool after clip was installed.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Is this a genuine Lemforder mount? The only logo that I can find on the mount that is ground off is in the first pic, on the rubber, below the "S11".

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

It's a genuine "Phoenix" brand mount, OE motor mount manufacturer for Mercedes.

The ground off part is where the MB insignia once was. Lemförder has always reboxed this part.


.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Thanks! I will try to replace the passenger side mount today.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I own the MS pliers. I see you already did the job but I think the pliers are pretty nice to use. Now, I have 4 cars of my own that I have or need to use them on plus two cars owned by friends so the cost was worth the hassle for that many cars. They work brilliantly. You just lube up the bushing, put it in place with the pliers, squeeze and rotate the pliers and it's in.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

Good to know the pliers work. Did you also get the special tool MS sells for the clip? I had an 83 300D where the bushing on the transmission end was missing and one day I could not put it in gear when the clip fell off. Before it fell off, the shifter was sloppy but I was always able to put it into drive and reverse and it drove fine. I just wrapped electrical wires around the rod so it can't fall off again and I was back on the road. Didn't bother with new bushings Back then I didn't even know there is another bushing on the other end of the rod. I am sure it was missing too. Mercedes must have designed the shifter to keep working with both bushings missing otherwise there would be many more disabled/junked W123's.

Replaced the passenger side motor mount. No trouble getting the 3 socket head cap screws off. No rust on them at all. I did have a hard time getting the air filter off without destroying it. Any trick to it saving the filter while pulling it?

Old mount next to the new


Has a Mercedes logo.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked