I am looking at a 1980 300SD that's for sale locally. Everything seems to be okay on it except that it has oil in the vacuum lines. So my question is: What is the best route taken to rectify this problem? Should I rebuild the vacuum pump as a start? How can I get the oil out of the vacuum lines?

Peter Koskinen
Chapel Hill, NC
prkbikes@bellsouth.net

At some point after oil starts to leak from the vacuum pump you lose the vacuum... which works all sorts of things in your car... including the brake boost... I lost mine about a month after I got my car... very quick and I was 50 miles from home.. could barely bring car to stop at stop signs.. lots of pressure required...
Mine was not showing oil in the lines... it tore very quickly with no warning.
I suggest that as soon as you get it home you fix this... and do your fluid checks and change outs per the manual...and put three new fuel filters on it.... and be sure the front wheels bearings are properly lubed.
Also start as soon as you get your car trying to find a paper Mercedes shop manual ... you can use the online manual ( do search for ' skinnerbox' on this site) for the turbo engine.. but I don't think the two chassis , electrical, AC/heating , maintenance manuals are online... so paper copies are really nice to have of those... in mean time the Haynes manual is ok.. but lacks a lot of things...