Since it's a 1987, it IS self priming. All efforts to start it from here on out should be made with the accelerator firmly floored. The thing delivers the most fuel when the accelerator is completely depressed, and this will be an advantage in the priming process.

Did you fill the new filter with any fuel before screwing it up to the housing? If not, it takes a very long time to fill that thing dribble by dribble before the engine will start. Air in a diesel takes a long time to bleed out.

I recommend putting your foot on the floor, holding the engine in the start position for 15-20 seconds, letting the starter cool for quite a while, and then repeating until you finally get the thing started. A maximum of three or four times through this procedure *should* bear results.

The thing will start, the very first time, in a fairly shuddery way. It will have a few 'False' starts before it finally catches. Stay on the starter until the engine is at least up to idle RPM and trying to rev. You don't want to cook a starter, but backing off of it right before it catches for real is just slowing things down also. Maybe not quite to idle speed, but -- you know what I mean. Don't let the starter go until it's trying to actually run on its own and not just firing occasionally.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL