The primordial newbie post -1985 300CD

[utahgrease]

Hello, newbie here....

Before you think I won't use the search and read everything- I WILL!!! lol

But I want to tell you something about myself and ask a very simple question.

About me, my fingernails are clean, very clean. I am a pencil pusher. I have never changed oil, I have never done any car work. My wife pumps the gas. I am not kidding.

However, I really really like this car I got. 1985 Mercedes 300CD. It is pretty and I want to make it last for a looooong time.

So - my question:

In addition to all of the net forums I can find regarding Mercedes, Diesel and my car model, what is the single BEST book to start learning about 1) Mercedes 2) Diesel 3) Mercedes Diesel Car Maintainance and Repair ?

I have checked Amazon but I don't know enough to know what I don't know.

I humbly appreciate and thank all of you for any information you can provide.
(Remember ABSOLUTE Beginner)

-Utahgrease

[PC Dave]

Utahgrease, a couple of suggestions:

1. These aren't hard cars to work on, but you could make some mistakes if you've never even changed oil. Find a decent local mechanic to maintain your car while you learn, give you advice, etc. If you're around the Wasatch Front, I've been very happy with the generically named German Car Service in Salt Lake City (801-264-9911), at 4325 South 300 West just north of 4500 South, a couple of blocks from I-15 (it's across 3rd west from the McDonalds you can see from the 45th South exit). The guy who runs it is Melvin, son of Werner (now deceased), who ran Werner's before he retired. Werner's is the traditional large SLC Mercedes independent mechanic; I haven't used them, but they have a fine reputation. They're in the 3100 block of West Temple, east side of the street.

2. Get the Haynes manual for Mercedes Diesel cars (basically the W123 platform, which you have). The manual is available at most auto supply places, I got mine at the Autozone on State St. If you're cheap and patient, they show up on eBay regularly, I got an extra a couple of weeks ago for $.99 (plus shipping, alas).

3. Go to www.**************.com, and pick up their "Diesel Performance Tuning and Repair" manual. At $23, it's not cheap for what it is, but it's a good introduction to major issues with these cars, written for the newbie owner and with lots of pictures.

4. My best recommendation in your position would be to go to www.repairflix.com and pick up their two VHS tapes with multiple procedures, Mercedes 123 repair course 101 and Mercedes 123 repair course 102. This guy performs a number of specific MB 123 diesel maintenance and repair procedures on video, showing the parts and tools you need, and explaining it step by step. Production quality is a little amateurish (a guy and his buddy in his garage), but not too bad. His DVD's with individual procedures are priced at $10 or $15 each, but he's collected a couple of dozen of those procedures on two VHS tapes for $25 each. I think they're a bargain.

You'll learn a lot in this forum (by far the best one on the net, don't waste your time scouting out other ones), but many of the folks here have been fiddling with these cars for years, and don't realize the body of common assumed knowledge they're working with. The ************** manual and the Repairflix videos will at least give you context to understand what you're reading here. Ultimately you'll want to get the official MB repair manuals (the original paper manuals poorly digitized in .pdf format and sold as a 2 CD set) for the W123 chassis. You can buy it at the Garff parts dept. for $120 or so, or get copies off of eBay for $10, or go to the skinnerbox.steaky web site where somebody posted them all online. Right now, that might be a bit advanced for where you are.

What part of the state are you in?

[lino]

I would like to present you with the award for best post for a newcomer.
Here is your crown

That's just pure quality and decency.

[utahgrease]

lino- I will accept your crown and strive to remain worthy. I am afraid right now my head is not full enough and the crown will be worn around my neck.

PC Dave- that is EXACTLY what I needed and I have already started following your sage advice.

I live in Uintah Highlands....aka South Ogden but go east up to the mountains...

Thanks for your assistance and kind words,

Utahgrease