Patsy,
With that info. I will have to say I don't have that sys.. The only thing on the front of my eng. with oil lines going to it is the power steering pump. Well it was a shot anyways. Speaking of power steering pump, what type of fluid do you have in yours? Some say to use ATF others say some special mineral oil, while others say regular p/s fluid. I checked the color of mine today, and it appears to be gold in color. So it's definetly not ATF, but I have never had to buy p/s fluid before, so I don't know what color it would be. While I had the cover off I found my p/s filter and it was dirty, I guess. This is the first car I ahve owned that had a p/s filter. I plan on changing it just for the piece of mind.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Rick, I was hoping you had some hybrid luxury version, darn.

I think what radio you have tells you how much the original owner wanted to spend on luxury items. I have the rather crappy Becker Europa with 3 presets. The other two are AM..
I would like to put a cd changer in the trunk, except every time I open the trunk, water pours out of the "drain holes" in the lid. My trunk flys open if I don't hold it carefully when opening. Is there some adjustment or gas filled cartridge? It can take your head off.

I am going to purchase a passenger rear view mirror someday. I have a triangular chrome panel that fills the space that the mirror would be in. I really cannot stand not having that mirror.

I am afraid of the power steering fluid myself. Mine is also gold, my manual specifies ATF. I can only think that we both have had the system refilled at some point with power steering fluid. I don't want to put anything in there because I don't want to curse the system. I would love to change my filter. I am unclear as to how to properly check the fluid. I could not imagine checking it with the engine running which I don't think is the procedure. I read doing that on this board. Mine would slosh out all over everything. I put my radiator cap on top of the air cleaner while filling the system. The vibration of the engine caused the cap to literally explode. It was in 4 pieces scattered...

On my car when you remove the p/s lid, it kind of pops up due to the spring that is under it. The spring is about 3" tall. I used a clean phillips screw driver to raise the filter. It's easy to get it out. As far as the fluid level goes, the Haynes book (W123) says to fill it up to just below the lip. You're right about my Mitsubishi radio. Like I mentioned earlier they cut corners on the interior and such, but not under the hood.
The procedure for checking the fluid is with the eng. off after the fluid is warmed up, like after driving it.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

My '80 300SD has the 85mph speedo (WITH needle constantly buried), MB-Tex seats, no right side mirror, no sunroof. Obviuosly no power seats, and the only options on mine were the Becker Mexico w/casette ($670) and Inca Red Metallic paint (kind of an orange color, which some dumbass painted over at some point in time before my acquisition). I've owned it going on five years and have loved every minute driving it. The VIN is 11612012017221, it was manufactured in 11/79 but is an '80 model (no idle knob on dash). Mileage is 192,XXX and still going strong.

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Regards,
Aaron

Rickjordan,

All 300SD's from 1978 to 1980 came from the factory standard with MB-Tex. Velour and leather was optional. If your seats do not have the perforated pleats I am almost 100% sure that the upholstery is not original. Strange since MB-Tex is almost indistructible. All 116 cars came with manual outside mirrors, RH side optional.
As for the cruise lever, I am sure the switch was replaced with one from an euro donor car. All US cars had legends for the cruise in english. Incidently, the last 116 production car was a 300SD which I believe MBZ kept for their museum in Stuttgardt.
Hope info helps.
Regards,
Joe Brasileiro
1980 450SEL
1987 Jaguar XJ6

My son who lives at home owns a 1980 300sd I own a 1978 and 1979 300sd all CA cars no rust will be around another 25 years. How rare is it too have all three years.
Dave Sid San Jose CA

Mattdave,

I don't know how rare it is but I have all 3 years 300SD. Too bad, only one of mine is in rust free condition. He other 2 are sacrificed to keep the good one rust free. But they were in that condition when I bought them for a low price and they are being used for the intended purpose of keeping the good one plus thw 300SDL and 300SEL6.3 in almost perfect condition.

There's only one way you can preserve a car around here and that is not to drive it on the salt covered roads in the winter.

P E H