Items to keep in the car at all times
 

What items, beyond the every-car basics like jumper cables, should I keep in my 1982 Mercedes 300D? I started a list already, but what else should a car of this age have on hand at all times?

Basic metric socket wrench set including 10mm and 13mm
Multi tool

Vise grips
Fuses
Fuel Prefilter
A few #8 10mm Stainless steel nuts, bolts, washers
A few pairs of rubber gloves
Duct Tape
A gallon of premixed coolant and a funnel
WD-40

Wd40? As a starting aid or for lube?

Spin on filter and zip ties, injector return lines, diesel rated motor oil...

A quart of ATF for the trans and PS or fuel or filter primer

A few spare light bulbs

A cheap/free HF multimeter

A bright flash light

A spare belt (s)

An old moving blanket/pad to lay on

Flares

Here are some items that are typically overlooked but can be critical:

80A glow plug relay strip fuse.

5 lug bolts of correct size for spare wheel (if different than road wheels) and an extendable lug wrench with correct socket size for ease of use.

Extra set of single filament 21w bulbs. Worst case, use one or both reverse bulbs as a spare for the brake lights and rear turn signals.

Extra fuel filler cap, which can double as an oil filler cap if either gets lost.

Bright LED flashlight (my LED Maglite w/ the same batteries still works after many years of storage in my glovebox). Some units are programmable to flash "SOS" in an emergency at night.

Fire extinguisher.

Extra key (I carry a duplicate brass key in my wallet at all times).

Portable jump starter - typically also has an air compressor.

Full Set of Fan Belts
Combination Wrenches (plus larger ones for adjusting belts) &
3/8" Drive Socket Set
1/2" Impact
Driver (w/2 Li Batteries)
17mm Impact Socket (wheel studs)
Plastic Wheel Chocks
Full Set of Screw Drivers
Fuses (about a jillion of them)
Spare Bulbs (at least one of each in Tupperware container)
VOM (cheap/free HF Model)
LED Flashlight
LED Magnetic Mount Light
Spare Key (magnetic mounted box under car)
Flat Repair Kit & Battery Powered Compressor
Zip Ties (about 10-20)
Moving Blanket
Hand Wipes
Mechanics Gloves & 9 Mil Nitrile Gloves
Diesel Additive
And last, but by no means least, the tool bag that I take into Junk Yards.

Based on previous posts, I'll probably add coolant, PS Fluid, Trans Fluid & Fire Extinguisher.

At all times?
 

Your trunk may not be big enough to keep all that recommended stuff in it. It can all be replaced with one Auto Club or credit card. Depending where you are, I doubt that you will be able to perform a lot of the maintenance roadside anyway.

Better yet, get your car reliable enough so you can confidently go anywhere. I am not a collector but just like to drive and maintain old oil burner Benz. My current daily driver is an 83 with 319000 miles and nothing is in the trunk but the factory tool kit. In the four years I have had it I have only had to call for help once due to my own stupidity for leaving the headlights on.

But, this is not about me. Your results may vary.

I only load when going on a trip and then only jumper cables, filters, return line, trans fluid (because of a known leak), oil because of valve cover leak and tools to do the install. The 617 never stops and has always started unless the filters were clogged or battery wasn't charged. Random break downs are few even at 250,000 and 160,000 mi.

That doesn't mean there aren't repairs needed or projects, just that the drive train is beautiful.

Tito's, cranberry juice and your iphone.

I strongly second this.

I can see having a few extra bulbs, fuses, maybe even an accessory belt if you are going on a looooooong road trip.

If there are any questionable parts on your car, you should change them BEFORE you leave.

Whiskey and hot towels. . . Always a staple of older movies.

Lawyers , guns and money. . Warren Zevon

You should probably have 2 levels of stuff, traveling long distance ( more stuff ) and local ( general quick fix stuff. )

In the end, I change parts when they get near the end of expected service life to prevent unannounced breakdowns rather than waiting for something to break.

I replace things before they break,knowing their failure rate do to mileage or age.That way I'm not forced to buy parts at inflated prices,or bound by snail mail.

This post has great advice! The whole wrong size lug bolts issue temporarily sidelined my car when it was being driven by someone else at the time, due to me not knowing that the lug bolts weren't a "one size fits all" kind of deal!

Also, I did not know that the oil cap & fuel filler cap could be interchanged if needed. Very cool!

I noticed you mentioned a fire extinguisher. To me, this is one of the single most important things everybody should keep in their vehicle, regardless if it is gas or diesel fueled. Fire is non discriminatory in that regard, and will consume a vehicle in short order, when a 10 dollar fire extinguisher could've saved an expensive car!

I would recommend a co2 fire extinguisher. There's no corrosive residue, and they can be blown into the intake to shut off a runaway diesel!

Sent from my MB886 using Tapatalk

Travel Supplies
 

In addition to the clear plastic fuel intake screen , I always carry a spare clamp for it as I occasionally drop one but -only- if it's pitch black out side and I'm over gravel....

The complete factory tool kit contains the ?23? MM wrench necessary to change the secondary fuel filter but that's a rare need .

Wheel chocks are very important because you cannot chose where you're going to need to change a flat tire .

I only carry perfect spares , never old bald junk tires because you never know how far you're going to need to go on it .

I can't imagine having a non matching spare road wheel ~ that's foolish as wheels are cheap .

We travel far and wide in our old Mercedes diesels , they're far from show queens or restored but rarely have any serious issues because I take the time to look around under the hood every fillup....

Be PRO ACTIVE not re active ~ it's cheaper , easier and SWMBO won't yell at you in the odd chance it gives any troubles .