I hate when that happens. Makes you believe in ghosts.
What methods have you used looking for the bolt? It is still there. Unless........

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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

if its the same on a 617 then I have an entire spare engine which should have those banjo bolts, I'll gladly grab one and send it to you if you want

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1982 300D (w123, "Grey Car")
1982 300D (w123, "Blue Car")
2001 Ford F150 "Clifford" (The Big Red Truck)
1997 Dodge Ram 2500 12V Cummins
1996 Dodge Ram 2500 12V Cummins
Previous Vehicles:
1995 E300D, 1980 300SD, 1992 Buick Century, 2005 Saturn Ion

Thanks for all the help guys! Got a bolt on the way. Apparently they're not available from Mercedes at all...

With my luck, my missing bolt will fall in my lap while I'm tightening down the replacement. I can't wait to fire this thing up.

It belonged to a woman who took great care of it, and when she passed, her son put it in the barn. The guy that bought it next drove it daily for 6 years, then stored it for 2 because of the leaking primer handle. He never had to fix anything on it so he didn't know what to do. I've been trying to buy it for 8 years and he finally ran out of space to keep it.

Just over 100k on it, and no, there's very little wear on the steering wheel!

Cool link! I'll keep these folks in mind.

Dan

You said it didn't hit the floor.....

Every time I have dropped nuts and washers in my engine, and they didn't hit the floor, I have always found them between the cross member and the engine. It helps to take the left front wheel off, and if you have a telescoping magnetic pick up tool that helps too. It seems everything collects there, even the fuel from the leak I can't find.

typically between the cross member and the oil pan.....

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Yep. Checked there. Found some tools and washers.
I received the bolt today and put the fuel system back together, but can't get it started!

Long story short, today I primed the fuel, new battery, new glow plugs. The light comes on, and it tries, but I just can't get it going.

And the start lever keeps getting stuck in the out position, just before it triggers the glow plugs.