Welcome to the forum, John. We've all been where you are at some point in our lives, especially when entering the world of Mercedes diesels. Over time, you'll find that these vehicles are relatively easy to diagnose and repair, especially compared to more modern vehicles with tons of electronic and computerized equipment.
As others have said, be patient, ask questions, and read, read, read. The
DIY articles are an excellent resource for learning the step-by-step function and repair of various components. Also, I have found the explosion diagrams in the EPC to be extremely helpful for learning and understanding how these vehicles work. The same explosion diagrams are also available on this
Russian MB site.
Keep us updated as you get to know your wagon.