Ordered a set of Russell Speed Bleeders from Summit Racing. They come in sets of two, so I ordered two sets. There are versions to fit all makes (Mercedes uses 8mm x 1.25).
What are they? Well, they are replacement bleeder valves for your calipers. They have a check valve built in them so that they let fluid out, but do not let air back in.
How do you use them? Replace all four bleeder valves with the speed bleeders. Tightened all of them (one on each caliper) and then open each one 1/4 turn. Fill your master cyl. up and pump the brakes 3 or 4 times. Fill the master cyl. up and repeat until you're satisfied all the air is out of your brakes. 3 or 4 cycles should do it. Make sure to top the resevoir off after every 3 or 4 pumps. You can even do this to flush your brake fluid. When you're finished, tighten all the bleeder valves and that's it. It makes cake work out of bleeding brakes and allows you to bleed all four brakes at once.

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85 300CD
83 300TD
78 240D (daughter)

I used speed bleeders once and they sucked air back in the system when I let off the pedal. I called and complained and they told me to use grease around the bleeder thread.......... it did work...
I put plastic hoses on each and ran them all to a jar. Worked slick. Then I found out about pressure bleeding and that's what I use now on all my stuff.



Bennett

I would assume that you need a small bottle and a hose at each of the wheels to prevent the fluid from running down the caliper and getting on the pads.

If you have to setup such a bottle, you don't need the speed bleeders. Just crack the regular bleeder and allow the hose to remain below the level of the fluid in the bottle. I normally bleed one wheel at a time, but, if I consume another bottle of horseradish, I can get two of them going at once.

Once I have two of them, it takes another five minutes to move the bottles to the other two wheels.

Not worth the investment and the risk of the speed bleeders.

In fact, the bottle works so well, that I normally don't even bother to setup the Easibleed unless I'm doing all four wheels.

Brian the one thing in my home that is completely safe is my current bottle of horseradish. Come to think of it an excellent place to conceal money would be underneath it. Have the hardest time remembering to grab a bottle when it runs out. Wife seems totally disinterested in replaceing it as well. Bleeder jars Hmm...

Yep, that's the problem. You get to have one bleeder jar every five years, if you are lucky. Do not under any circumstances, drop your bleeder bottle because you never know when you will be receiving its replacement.

Oh, and BTW, the horseradish bottle is specifically designed for you Canadians because you may expect snow for nine months of the year.
The bottle has a pronounced tendency to fall over and it can really use about six inches of snow to keep it where you place it.

I use the Motive Power Bleeder and I would say that's a much more reliable way to bleed your brakes. Check out the "EUROPEAN POWER BLEEDER" on http://www.motiveproducts.com/02bleeders.html

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

These are Russell brand and seem well designed. They come with thread sealant and as long as you only crack the bleeders 1/4 turn, there's little chance of air entering the brakes. The problem with a bleed hose submerged in a brake fluid bottle is that you are sucking dirty fluid back into the system everytime the pedel is released. Not to mention that this fluid is also absorbing moisture from the air unless that hose is tightly sealed to it. And one slip of the hose or bottle and air comes in and you have to start all over.
I have a power bleeder and MightyVac bleeder, but both are currently down. The mightyvac bleeder cup is not sealing and seems to be on backorder from my snap-on dealer and the pressure bleeder started giving me problems last week, so I decided to give these bleeders a shot and I'm very impressed. It's not something I would use at work because of stocking multiple valves and the repeat visits of future brake work not warranting the cost, but I will install them on all my personal vehicles.

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85 300CD
83 300TD
78 240D (daughter)

Geez, for the price and how often I do it (almost never), guess I will stick with the old fashioned way..

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

There's a way to bleed brakes using the Mity-Vac. You basically suck fluid and air out of the caliper instead of trying to push it out with the brake pedal. There's detailed instructions on how to do it in that book that comes with the tool.

I used that method last month to bleed the front brakes and I have to admit, it was faster and easier than other methods I've used.

-Alan

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2005 Audi A4 1.8T CVT -Silver/Black "Siegfried"

1982 300D - Silver/Blue "Ralph" -For Sale:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=852260

1989 VW Diesel Jetta Blue/Blue "Bodo" RIP

If you apply a layer of teflon tape around the threads on the bleeder valve stem, using the Mity Vac will pull less air thru the threads and make it a more efficient ordeal.
As for a make it yourself power bleeder, see:
http://www.bmw-m.net/TechProc/bleeder.htm

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!