After reading Daimler300CD's post on his expenses I thought I post at least a list of the things I have done since I aquired my mom's 84 300SD. Overall the car was very well maintained up until the last few years as my mom was ready to make her first new car purchase in 18 years. For example a "quickie" / cheap A/C recharge and compressor last summer cost me an entire new A/C system this year. You just can't cut corners on these cars without regretting it. Thank god for some great independents that can correct these things -
http://www.nineeleven.com/
At this point I'm comfortable that all the major mechanical issues have been addressed. I have some slight leaking on two injectors (not the hoses) that I'm still researching the best way to tackle. It bugs me more than I'm sure most owners (my clean engine!). I have some minor grabbyness with the front brakes (it's actually getting better the more I drive the car - probably just sat too long). I might address this next year with front wheel bearings, pads, rotors, new lines and sensors (you can tell, I don't like anything unaddressed when I tackle a job).
Besides the A/C work (and the vacuum pump and an oil return line that was tackled at the same trip to my favorite Dallas Independent, nine-eleven), I've done everything myself...
Services at 181,000 (I get the car)
Oil and Filter, new oil cap
Fuel Pre-Filter and Fuel Filter
Transmission service (fluid and filter)
Radiator flush, new upper and lower hoses and thermostat
Air filter, bracket and mounts, clean air filter housing
Motor mounts
Rear sway bar links
Rear brake lines and replace/bleed brake fluid
Power steering fluid and filter
Exhaust hangers
Passenger wiper arm
Diesel Purge (2 Cans)
Alternator Voltage Regulator (KAE)
Improved fuel hand pump (Bosch)
Improved valve cover breather tube
**************.com dash light upgrade, new rheostat, and clean gauges
New Fuel Sender
Hooked back up cigarette lighter and ashtray bulb and “octopus” light for center dash
Detailed engine (and some undercarriage)
front flex disk for good measure
rear motor / transmission mount
fix leaking rear diff (synthetic gear oil) & new diff mount
Leatherique Rear Seats (re-stitch one area)
Diesel Doctor (Fuel Treatment)
Rear window lift (nylon glide broken) driver’s side
Lubro Moly Diesel High Test (BioBar) (Fuel Treatment)
**New A/C Blower
**Rebuilt CCU (Climate Control Unit)
**Alignment
(**Major A/C Repair by Nine Eleven, oil return line from air assembly into pan, new vacuum pump)
182K
5 new Michelin tires (X-Ones) (the 5th is the spare)
Hella H4 Head Lights
183K
5 glow plugs (reamed holes)
Replace braided fuel lines between injectors
Serviced sunroof – cleaned, greased, new cable
New heater block cable
Replaced Air Assembly Bracket again
New fuel pre-filter
Another valve cover breather tube
183.9K
valve clearance, valve cover gasket
Replace oil pan
Oil change / filter
Lubro Moly Diesel High Test (BioBar) (Fuel Treatment)
4 new belts
transmission cooler lines
new radiator (my bad – I broke the original Behr)
new lower expansion tank hose
To be done
Wheel Bearings / front brakes
Leather Interior (when I win the lottery - sheesh - it's about $2K!)
I have to give credit to "the acadamy" (haha), this forum for all it's help, thomaspin's site, my parts discount at Park Place in Dallas (via membership w/ MB club of america!), Lance at Dick's Auto Parts in Dallas (my other parts hook-up), Nine-Eleven (independent in Dallas), **************.com, and my girlfriend for letting me spend endless weekends wrenching on "UBeR BLU."