It sounds like my 1998 E300 TurboDiesel does have, according to Rick Miley, the block heater already installed. Let's assume this is true. My vehicle is out of warranty. Is it difficult to D.I.Y. the cord installation?

No. If you have or buy the MB cord, it's a simple plug in. You need some nylon wire-ties to attach the cord to things so the cord runs to the front of the car (or whereever you want to plug into 110Volts).

Hi All,

There is a GERMAN company called WEBASTO that makes a combustion heater which can heat air or coolant (dif modls). But the heater will use your diesel from the tank to keep the engine or the pass comp warm! There is a thermostat as well as a timer to control the heater. Some timers are soph enough for 7 day 4x progs! just like your home thermostat. Should put in a bat buddy to keep the drain manageable else a second bat.

Warm toasty at a stakeout or even when tailgating!

Most of the big rigs in colder climes overseas have em but it is catching on here as well.

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Diesel-Lover
STABLEs STAR MEMBERS
190, 220-Missgreatly
E300D95-Smoothassilk

http://www.webasto-thermo.com/

I called Rusty at http://parts.mbz.org and was told that the entension cord for the block heater is $13.27 plus shipping. I have search the engine compartment of my 1998 E300 but cannot locate this block heater, probably because I do not know what to look for! Is this something I can see from above or do I need to be under the car to see it?

this one is from a w124. look for a black plastic cap.

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g-wagen

Is that the whole blockheater, or just the fitting which the heater fits into???

the heater part

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g-wagen

where the cord goes and the cap that covers the prongs.

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g-wagen

If standing at the front bumper looking into the motor, should the block heater be on the engine block towards the left (passenger side)? Should it be visible from above or do I have to climb under the car, remove the plastic cover and access from the bottom?

The extension cord is cheap and I would like to do this myself, but I need to locate the heater first. I called the local MB dealer and they told me it would be 1 hour of labor ($80) to install. This seems a bit much, based on my readings here.

I am a bit embarrassed to be asking such questions. I feel like an idiot for not being able to locate this heater.

Not sure where it is on the E300. On my 123s and my 201, the block heater is on the passenger side of the engine, just ahead of and above the starter. Not sure if MB kept it there for the E300. It will be in a "plug" for the cooling system in the block (below the head)--there are probably 3-4 such plugs in the cooling system. Only one will have the block heater (if it's installed). The others will have hex-head (allen wrench) dummy plugs. If you took out the dummy plugs, the coolant would drain out of the block.

I should add that the block heater should be visible from above (but then I don't think I've ever seen the engine compartment on an E300).

Hey fellas,

Is it harmful to the engine or block heater itself to leave it plugged in for prolonged periods of time? I havent driven my 350SDL for a couple of days and have had it plugged in around the clock.

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Frank
84 500SEL EURO 101K ( JUST LIKE MY 1ST WIFE. GLAD TO GET RID OF HER! )
85 300D 310K (sold)
90 350SDL 184K sold
83 300D 118K (sold)
88 300E 153k (sold)
93 400E 105K (sold)

I've read some claims of corrosion around the heating element if the block heater is left plugged in for a prolonged period of time. Not sure if it's true, having never pulled mine out to look. I have left mine plugged in for a couple days, and it still seemed to heat the block, so I think this corrosion takes years of moderate to heavy use....

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

The cord on my '81 300TD's block heater is looking worse for the wear and I think that it needs to be replaced.
You see, I use my work light as an extension cord and the other morning I found that it had rolled off the bumper and was dangling there, placing some strain on the block heater cord...sure enough, the heater hadn't worked: car started but it took a few moments to even out and sound nice.