What exactly is going on in the engine compartment here?

HERE

Is this a motor with the infamous trap oxidizer or something?

Chris
'85 300SD

You are correct, it's a 1985 California Emissions model.

Ahhh...cool. Just kinda wigged me out seeing that weird little air cleaner in such an odd location.

Sure would make having to work on the turbo convenient tho

Thanks.

Chris
'85 300SD

Thank you for posting this picture! I saw another '85 for sale here in California and saw the very same set up. No one on the Benzworld forum had seen it either. I though the car I was looking at was the victim of some failed attempt to make it perform better or accident victim with a transplanted engine. Thanks again!

Looks like my 85 TD... Engine dumps into the CAT then into the turbo.. Most have had the old system changed to the newer CAT that is said not to harm the Turbo.. Air Cleaner is easy to remove and makes it easy to work on ALT and belts.. Really kind of nice.. Except for the darn CAT..

Ken