BlueBabyBenz: Reader's Digest explanation of Power Service is that they have three basic chemicals: cleaner/lubricant, cetane boost, and a thinning (anti-gel) agent. The gray bottle is mostly cleaner with a little cetane boost. The white bottle is all three, meaning very little cleaner/lubricant as compared to the grey bottle. Their web site shows all the available combinations. I mix my own fuel (#1/#2) because I have real winters, so I only need the grey bottle. Most other climates can get away with the white bottle for the winter (except January in Chicago, but we'll deal with that in November). Try shopping a farm supply store.

Volkl42: At the top of the screen click FastLane, Online Catalog, 1976, Mercedes, 240D. Type in block heater in the search. You may want to compare price with the dealer. A tank heater is just that: a cylinder about 4x8in that you install between block and heater manifold. Block heater is an easier route, in my opinion. As far as the manual goes, I'm quite satisfied with the CD I bought from this web site. The best $100 I've spent on daBenz. And don't sweat being new to diesels. You'll learn that it's the way to go once you become a fuel fanatic.

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daBenz - 1970 220D

I should have mentioned earlier... These cars do not tolerate cheap tires very well. Plan on putting Bridgestones or Michelins or some other high quality tires on it.

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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

the MBCA magazine has a lot of stuff buried back in the classifieds that you will find useful...particularly out-of-print manuals, handbooks, and other stuff. Also parts and services.

I will have to take a look at the Star next time I go home. Actually, the back of the star is where we found this car.

And yet another post. I know this impeading on another thread, but what kind of speeds can we expect for our drive home. it will be mainly flatland. Is there any recommended speed for long distance cruising? And MPG, what kind of mpg can we expect? This is a great forum you have going here, much better than the one on the MBCA site. Thanks for all the input you guys have given me.

It will cruise comfortably at 70, although it will be pretty noisy. Mileage should be a bit over 30. Be sure your tires are in good shape. Mine fishtailed pretty bad until I put better tires on it. I will send you a spreadsheet with some MB part numbers for basic maintenance items. When are you picking it up?

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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

Volk42,

I bought about 3 months ago 240D 76 stick shift with supposedly about 130K miles on it. After replacements the filters and fluids I took it for 800 miles spin from Sacramento to LA area and back on I-5. With full throttle all the time it went easily 85-90 mph in the valley but in the mountains sometimes did not do better than 55-60 mph. I got no more than about 20 miles per gallon and still have a soot stains on the trunk lid.

the things I learned for three months of ownership:

1. There are much fewer 115 cars around than 123, and not all parts are interchangeable, so even in Kragen they ordered for me fuel filter for 123... The good thing about 115 that they are simpler than 123 (and of course much, much cooler . And you can turn around literrally on the spot...

2. Be prepared to replace any original rubber part which are still there. That is including fuel lines, hydraulics, transmission and engine mounts.. I did not replace mounts yet and the car shivers badly when shutting off the engine and shifting gears.

3. How it was said here before, the most expensive thing is a cheap mercedes. That is either in money if you pay to repair and maintain it or in your time if you do it yourself. I imagine that fixing it up in a well equipped garage with plenty of tools and time would be fun, but if you like me going to do it on the street between end of work and sunset, you gonna have a mixed feelings about it after all... Recently I took the car to the Mercedes-specialized shop for discount oil change recently and I had to show to "europian Mercedes-certified auto tech" ($65 per hour) how to start it up ...

Palangi, thanks for the part numbers. Now let's hope I won't need most of them I will be picking up the car on October 19th. It's quite a ways away, I can't wait.