I originally had this posted in the audio section of this forum. Just happened to be there when I decided to ask this question. A canuk rightfully suggested I post this question and comment here. So this is a reposting of my original question.

I have a used but not used up 1982 300SD turbo. The shop manual on CD is about $100. I bought the CD for my 1968 200D. I am a little disappointed. There does not seem to be the level of detail I need. Can anyone comment on the shop manual for a 1982 300Sd turbo. I'd like some feed back before I take the plunge. I particularly need a good troubleshooting section, from symptom to cause.
Also:
I've been making and running in my 300 100% biodiesel derived from used fryer oil for the last year. The engine seems to run better and smoother, a little more umph and the odor of the exhaust actually makes you hungry. The Biodiesel site from Germany indicates the MB supports biodiesel. Any of you tried it?

Hi! Welcome to mercedesshop

I have not bought the CD manual yet. However, if I needed one, I'd start by going to E-bay and buying the paper manual. It's worth it I think.

Try searching for 'mercedes 126' or 'mercedes 300sd' or W126 and you'll find lots of good stuff.

There are some people on this site who are running bio diesel. If you search the site for biodiesel you'll get some results.

I have never seen a diesel run on one before. I'd really like to see one run on biodiesel.. either peanut oil or veg. oil. I just wanna smell it..

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

You should be able to buy a CD on EBay for less than $100. I think you're right about them not having everything you'd like to see plus they are a bit cumbersome to navigate around. That said they do have a lot of good info and are worth owning if you can get a deal. You will also probably want to get a Haynes manual too because if you have both you'll be covered on 95% of what you need to know. You can get the Haynes manual on EBay as well or at Classic Motorbooks. If you do much of any work yourself they'll pay for themselves many times over.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

Most of the stuff on EBay are copies of the cds.

I have the original ones for W123, and W124. I found them very useful when I first got my car because I hadnt worked on cars like these. I grew up around fords, so I knew how to do that kind of stuff, but mercedes hides screws so well, you have to learn where they put them.

Once you get the hang of benz, you dont really need it, but I think its worth having aroud because you can check specs and see what stuff fits in what cars, and you can figure out how to make special tools, etc.

Austin

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Current Stable:
1994 S500 v140, 210k miles, white with grey.

Former Mercedes in the Stable:
1983 300CD Turbo diesel 515k mi sold (rumor has it, that it has 750k miles on it now)
1984 300CD Turbo Diesel 150 k mi sold
1982 300D Turbo Diesel 225 sold
1987 300D Turbo Diesel 255k mi sold
1988 300 CE AMG Hammer 15k mi sold
1986 "300E" Amg Hammer 88k mi sold (it was really a 200, not even an E (124.020)
1992 500E 156k mi sold
etc.

Call me old fashioned, but I find the CD usefull only as a resting place for my coffee cup.

I can locate the info I am seeking in anly a minute or two in the paper manuals. Using the CD, it takes me ten or fifteen minutes to find the same info. Even longer to find the peripheral info on the same topic.

With the paper manuals, you can easily just flip though the pages and understand the layout and contents. With the CD, you have to know what you are looking for before you start.

For a 300SD, a complete set of manuals is a foot high. Chassis manual, engine manual, climate control manual, data book, electrical manual, etc. All of these are out of print, but readily available on the internet with a little searching.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

If you can find the paper manuals buy them at any cost. The CD's are a disgrace for the price. Imagine a well used manual that been knocking about in a shop for years, then scan it on a $50 crap scanner from office depot, save at the lowest resolution available and tada you have the MB CD's. If you are going to buy them only I would buy one of the $20 copies on ebay first. Thats all they are worth anyway.

I've never heard of biodiesel before. Where does one get it? I live in SW Montana.

I agree with roberth58. If you can find the MB shop paper manuals, GET THEM at any cost. I got a set of both chassis manuals and the engine manual for my 240d on E-bay for about $100. Well worth the time and money spent.

LOL thebern

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1982 240D 313,000 (4 speed)
1984 300CD 172,483
1985 German Shepherd Dog -Lacey- R.I.P.11/04/05

Hood Stars, Wrist Crowns and Obsession Dobs

I have three of the five MBZ manuals for 123 MBZs. I love just sitting and leafing through them on a night when TV is lousy. I also have the CD and it's like Chinese food, leaves you wanting more in an hour.

If you're interested in Biodiesel go to, www.greasecar.com . If after going there you want to really get into it, order the book there called, "From Fryer to Fuel Tank". Really great like the MBZ manuals. Has everything you'd need to do it yourself. plus where to get parts like three way valves for switching over to bio. In California restaurants have to change their cooking oil about every thre to five days and they pay someone else to .75 cent a gallon to take it away.

There can be some very real benefits to ownig and older diesel!!!!!!
Ben