Im looking for a replacement fuel hose for my return line.I noticed mine has a pin hole leak. Is this just regular fuel line or a specific merc. part?

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1985 300sd

It's gotta be DIESEL RATED or it'll begin weeping in a month .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

would you know what size hose it takes?

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1985 300sd

Not off the top of my head, sorry .

Someone else here will or you can easily look it up on the parts page of this forum....

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

do you mean the cigar hose?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Diesel-Fuel-Injector-Pump-Return-Hose-Cigar-Hose-0009975152/233171329369?fits=Model%3A300SD&epid=112656722&hash=item364a182159:g:0m0AAOSwEjFXel6X

yes. ty

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1985 300sd

Easily available on ebay. "cigar hose".

you can use regular fuel hose sold by the foot.


All the euro models have this, not an issue.

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No, you can't .

Firstly, the "cigar hose"has a special shape to it and secondly, regular fuel hose gets very soft and fails after a month or so of diesel use......

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

New guy here. Thinking about buying 83-85 300sd... any words of advice when shopping? Will 35 year old age - kill that motor? Do I spend more for the Lower mileage one (80-120k?) or spend less on the 150-180k car-- knowing both will need lots of rubber/joints/bushings/etc. to be replaced.

seen a few with little puffs of smoke coming out of oil filler (when i take cap off)... is a little smoke- ok? Or deal breaker

any advice would be appreciated

Or am I crazy to think I can make one of these my DD?

I hate to disagree with your years of mechanic experience, but my experience is polar opposite



My two 300Ds have either never had a cigar hose (ok one was a 280 originally) or at least never had when I've owned them (apparently they were a US spec only thing?)


If fuel hose can handle petrol/gasoline it can handle diesel no problem. I suspect hose you've been buying is poor quality. I even use air hose as diesel fuel hose no problem. The same hose will swell and soften in petrol

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1978 300D, 373,000km 617.912, 711.113 5 speed, 7.5mm superpump, HX30W turbo...many, many years in the making....
1977 280> 300D - 500,000km+ (to be sold...)
1984 240TD>300TD 121,000 miles, *gone*
1977 250 parts car
1988 Toyota Corona 2.0D *gone*
1975 FJ45>HJ45
1981 200>240D (to be sold...)
1999 Hyundai Lantra 1.6 *gone*
1980s Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2 Forklift (the Mk2 engine hoist)
2001 Holden Rodeo 4JB1T 2WD

The hose thing may be a U.S.A. deal, I'm talking about top brands of hoses going soft or cracking and leaking when used for Diesel fuel .

Maybe NZ is different ? .

I've known a few who also claimed the engine ran fine without the special cigar hose, I also know many who claim it ran better after it was installed, removing a regular bit of 7MM Diesel rated hose....

I'm not an Engineer of any stripe so I try to avoid thinking I know better than those who are .

As far as making an old Mercedes Diesel into a daily driver, yes it can be done but even if you had a brandy new 1985 Mercedes, German cars in general are designed to need regular touching and this can get old if you're not an enthusiast to some extent .

Smoke coming out the oil filler isn't an issue, the cap dancing with the hot engine idling, is .

Look for RUST as it never sleeps and is the very most expensive to repair .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

What Nate said.
35 year old cars will require maintanence. Mileage means nothing on old rubber anymore. Either plan on doing it yourself or paying someone $$$$$ for the privilege. Parts are getting expensive. The good ol days of affordable plentiful parts are over.

I would treat a car like this as a toy and passion peice. Get a real daily driver beater to drive when the Benz is in dry dock.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Better choices for daily drivers than any thirty five year old car. You should also have a spare car if you have an old example..

To find a true low milage example is both hard and can be expensive.

Yes- I expect some downtime... Biggest question- is with low mile, Higher purchase price sd... will OM617 be rock solid- despite 35 yrs/age... or will there be issues there to- eating into my operating costs

I don't want to be shocked by Motor issues...
yes- I expect rubber/windows/seats/bushings to need attention

yes-I have a backup car as needed

also- looking at one with rebuilt trans-- any advice on that?