As some of you already know, I've purchased my first MB diesel
less than a week ago. I can't wait to start doing some maintenance
work, such as changing both the engine oil and the transmission oil,
which I'd like to do right away, just to be on the safe side... and
start familiarizing myself with the car in the process.

There's only a small problem. For the time being, I do not have access to close garage space and specialized tools such as a floor jack. Eventually, I
will... But as of now, I only have some open garage space that I could use
for a few hours a day, when my friend's car is not parked in it.

So I was wondering if there are shortcuts to lifting the car... such as
parking the car with the wheels of one side on a high curb, for instance, or using some sort of side supports you can drive your car over and thus raise
it from the ground... Or some similar ways to get around this obstacle.

If any of you can contribute some useful ideas, by all means, please do.

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

They have those ramps you can drive up.
I personally never get under there unless it is jacked up or blocked up by at least two different methods.
Those things weigh too much to mess around!

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Think Alternative Energy!
300CD '80 (now gone but not forgotten...)

Let me endorse JJ's remarks. Drive it up on the ramps, then set a jack stand in a strategic location on both sides. In case the ramps collapse.

I've been using ramps for years, and I do have a floor jack. The ramps make jobs like fluid changes and such much easier. The jack and stands are for when the wheel must come off, or for lowering the unbolted fuel tank.

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Alan the Radio Guy
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Amateur Radio Station N7CEU
1985 300CD 199,000 and still rolling

See if you can find some good old ramps that clearly show what they can withstand...
Dad has some that he has had since he was 17 and they stand up quite well agaist most anything. I just don't like the newer/thinner ones that are sometimes available now...scary.

I don't need to jack my car up to change the oil. The W123 is probably the same way knowing MB. You should not ever go under a car that is not sitting on a proper jack stand, or large blocks of wood. Use the tire jack to jack up the car and put a jack stand under the jack pad and you should be set. Don't forget to put a block of wood or a proper chock behind at least one tire, two are better.

Remember your life could be resting on how the car is supported.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I scored some folding wheel chalks on ebay a while back for like 12 bucks.
They are super cool and are a lifesaver when you are jacking the car on a loose surface (like gravel) with the tire changing jack.
Anyone who has went to change a tire in the gravel will understand what I am talking about...
The other rear tire slides (no matter the brake setting) and your car ends up on the ground

Bad times for rear dust shields behind the rotors...not that i have ever eben there or done that

I like floor jacks

I made these little wooden ramps out of 2x6 lumber (see attached photo). They get the car up off the ground just enough to slide under it comfortably for most repairs, and they are easy to drive up onto, unlike those rickety storebought metal ramps (they scare me sometimes). You could make these wooden ramps even taller if you wanted more room, and you could use four to raise the whole car.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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'81 300TD turbo <<sold 12/05 to another diesel nut

For oil changes, I don't jack up the car at all ... just slide under. Requires some contorting on my part, but it's fairly easy for me. If you can fit that way, it might simplify that job a lot!

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

I used to be able to scoot right under ... guess my tires have worn out, don't fit under that well anymore

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

Here's how I like to work on my cars.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

I drive the Mercedesaurus up on some new plastic ramps I bought. Won't rust and hold 5k lbs each. Makes it a bit easier. I have to change the oil every 2 months, so each time I get better at it. Yesterday only used one rag and two latex gloves.

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

I have two sets of ancient metal ramps, they never really work well for me, they always slide out when I'm trying to get the car up on them.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

How did the Honda end up on a tree? Someone took a little off road trip it seems!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Nah! They used it in case the car fell off the blocks!

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

The Rhino Ramps I bought don't work worth a hoot on my smooth garage floor. The car pushes them forward. I had to drill 4 holes into the slab, place some bolt anchors in the floor and bolt some angle iron to the floor to get them to work. The angle iron works great and is removeable.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)