from the cord to the heater, because as time goes on the heater gets tarnish and the connection goes bad.
I do this a lot on my connectors on both my Volvo and Mercedes..

are block heater normally installed in older models too? I'm wanting to put one in my 83 300D. Where is the element located or where would I have to install it? In a freeze plug?

there is a threaded hole in the block above the starter which the block heater can be screwed into. "All" you have to do first is remove the threaded plug

__________________
'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

thanks for the reply. I'm "on the hunt".

Needed some blue wrench, right? I just learned that my '85 300TD doesn't have a Block Heater. My '79 does and I wish I had driven it to Texas and back, it was pretty rough starting one day last week when it was down to 25 degrees. I tried once to install a BH in a W123 300D, I had a big hex wrench in the plug and with a long extension pipe I was able to lift the engine up off the mounts (including tranny) but it never broke free. I figured it wasn't worth busting my back in order to install a heater I probably never needed. What a job! OTOH if I lived in colder climates I would have gone for the torch. Still, a terrible job! I am happy that MB is installing them at the factory now, have one in my '87 300D in case I ever drive back in the cold belt.....Brrrrrrrr!
1971 220 (gas) 4-spd manual 106441
1979 300TD w/ ’85 turbo engine 296650
1983 300D 243280
1985 300TD 223470
1987 300D 262300

__________________
'00 E320 (wifes car), '95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I would almost say don't even try this job without the following:

-A good allen wrench (19mm) and a cheater bar (lenthen's the handle lenght of the allen wrench
-A reasonably hot torch
-Perhaps some ice?
-A BFH (Big f'in hammer)
-Perhaps some penetrating lube.

When you put the heater and adapter in, do us a favor and put a dab of anti-seeze on it

I would advise against using Phil under certain CIRCUMCISIONS tho.

Mainly when it is a prophylactic part order. For instance, if I think one of the 5 hoses is leaking and so I order all 5. Well, I am a cheap bastard and if I can get away with changing 3, I will return the other two. It would probably cause more problems to do than going to your local shop and buying all 5 and later returning 2. Not sure what his take on it is but I would think it would be an inconvenience for him.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I'd put some grease on/in the connector at the block heater-mine was getting a little corroded looking (%$#! road salt!); I'd be tempted to anti-seize the element if I ever had to take it out.

__________________
1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

Thanks again for this document!

It has been two years since you put it up, but it is still helping people out. I looked up and thought I saw the plug cover, but after doing a quick search, finding your thread, then reading/looking I was sure that I was in the right spot.

Thanks again!

-Jim

__________________
1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

Bump and a little info.

From what I just read on another thread there is a good reason for the different prices on the cords.
$70 at the MB dealer - extra heavy wire, with heat shielding insulation, with retaining screws.
$32 at the MB dealer - heavy wire, no heat shield insulation, with retaining screws.
$14 from fastlane - regular wire, no heat shield insulation, no retaining screws.

I have the one from fastlane and it works fine for me. If I was going to do it again the only change I would make would be to put some silicone sealant around the plug to seal out junk and help act as a retaining screw.

-Jim

__________________
1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

Here is the cord with the retaining ring, insulation and plug cover. I didn't get it from the dealer.

Chris

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Here it is installed.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

I wire tied mine as well.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

All done.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

Mine had quite a bit of corrosion after 20 years. I sprayed it out with brake cleaner and let it dry before I hooked it up. How did I know if it worked? I could here it running almost as soon as I plugged it in.

Chris

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss