Cam followers (tappets) $29.50 each from my local indy and parts source -- there are 12, so total would be $354. The cam has to come out to replace them -- a pain with these cars, you really need the special holddown tool. I'd figure a couple hours labor all told, plus the parts.

I'd go for it -- I paid $5000 for my 300d and don't feel terribly raped -- had to fix the sunroof, it has a crap paint job, and I have a bad feeling about the head gasket, but otherwise not bad.

Tappet problems are very common on this head -- my mechanic says run it until it really gets loud or give performance trouble, then replace them all. The gas engines use the same ones, but it is possible to replace them individually, so that is what he does.

Rough initial idle cold is often a glow plug problem -- the resistance element in the pencil plugs can short to the side near the tip, and cause the tip to be cold -- draws the correct current, but won't fire the fuel since the hot spot is about a quarter inch up the plug. You can tell when you take them out because there will be a blister on the plug where the element shorted. The Volvo does this all the time -- about half will be toast whenever I look at them! Speaking of which, I need to check them again -- getting hard to start cold (again!!).

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!