Merry Christmas to me and my 300D!
 

I just bought a 1985 300 D turbo last Tues. The next day I found one piece of paper in the glove box that reads "Trap oxidizer replacement" will be performed at no cost to the owner. The maintenence records shown that the last replacement was in 1994!
I took the car in today for engine steam clean appt and mentioned the trap oxidizer to my "assigned service rep". He told me I didn't need a new trap, I did not say anything (what do I know?), he left to check my car I guess. He returned 5 min later and told me that I will be getting a new trap AND a new TURBO charger!!!!
I asked if there was a cost and he said no but they need to order the trap and charger etc. so I need to come back.
How much do one of these puppies cost?!!!? I can't believe my luck and blessings! I only took it to the dealer b/c of that little note in the glove box and to get her cleaned up, but Sophia (btw I named her) is getting so much in return! New turbo charger, does it mean that Sophia will be whistling soon?
Happy happy!
Frankie

If the trap was already replaced you don't really need to replace it again. One time deal.
However if you get a new turbo out of it, let 'em replace it again. Just hope they don't screw something up in the process. Today's MB techs are better at replacing relays and sensors than actual mechanical work.

why
 

are you getting a new turbo for free? I might just have to drop by my local dealer and ask them if they have anything they want to give away to me.:D

Amazing, huh?! Talk about good PR. . . .but I'm not quite foolish enough to plan on going to the dealer service dept for most of my car needs. I have an indy MBZ mech who is honest and pretty good! I would recommend him first.
Good point d.Delano, I will request, nicely, a mechanic who knows the ole' diesels to replace the trap and charger.
Here I am ready to sink loads of money to upkeep and restore Sophia and today, what a nice surprise. Does a new turbo charger normally make the engine whistle?
Frankie

The whistle is the trubo spooling up.

If you do not want the new turbo, I'll take it off your hands! :D If the old turbo is functioning properly, you could ask the dealer to give you the old part, then sell it on ebay, or keep it for a spare.

Um, no thanks. I'll take the new turbo! Nice try. Great idea though, I do think that the old turbo is functioning but probably needs a rebuild. If you lived closer RRGrassi, I'd let you have at it, really. So the whistling that my other turbo did was a good thing? Sophia doesn't whistle right now.

If my indy mechanic gives me a good report card on Sophia after doing her valve adjustment, major maintenence (overdue), maybe I'll store it for him till he wants it. Those MBZ mechs are ALWAYS rebuilding stuff, putting it in their current project car then selling for a little extra $$. That, my friend would show customer loyalty! AND Christmas spirit of giving. I will think on it more before talking.
To me, Ebay can be a PIA.

Thats a real nice Christmas present!

Nice indeed.

You've had to have noticed the turbo whistle before, it's unmistakable on most big truck diesels and TDIs. I love the whistle on my TDI, but have never heard any whistle from my 300TDT. I just figured not all turbos whistle.

The trap ox seems to make the turbo whistle more. Because i used to be able to hear it on my 87 when i had the trap ox in there. Now that its out and just have a hallow pipe with the catalyst somewhere below the car, i cant hear the whistling.

The catalyst converter they replace the trap ox with in the late W123's looks like a trap ox but isnt. My guess is that the football looking thing makes the turbo whistling louder.

I liked the whistle in my other Benz but I sold it 6 weeks ago.
Hey Greasybenz I saw you on the other thread for the wagon. Did you end up buying it, that wagon that you say you really NEED? How big are y'alls driveways for all these cars?? How do you like your fattywagon so far this winter?
I'm trying to figure out the fuel filter heater wiring. It doesn't specify on their website and they are no longer selling products but the pictorials are still up.
Head scratcher whether and how I will hook it up to the battery or the fuse box. I bought copper wire and aluminum tape for the coil. I might get more help tomorrow, my neighbor is electric certified auto mechanic and he wants to look at it. Then there will be two head scratchings.
Greasybenz, do you have fuel hose heaters"triple bypass" or fuel filter heaters with your fattywagon?
Cheers,
Frankie

Does a new trap and turbo charger slightly improve the fuel MPG? When I bought "Sophia" last week, the only bummer besides finding the rust damage atop the sunroof, is that the fuel econo was only 21mpg. :( :( I read that the average for those years is 25mpg. There is a small fuel leak from the tank strainer that my indy mech found and he'll fix it soon but I'm hoping that a new, better working turbo will help a little too.
Anyone know?
Frankie

I think we would all like details on how you got a free turbo. I would like one of those for my 300SD and would like to know what I would have to do.

Yeah I don't have the trap ox. I just get the throaty, "this ain't your grandma's diesel" sound, which I like very much :)

That leak is likely your problem.

"He returned 5 min later and told me that I will be getting a new trap AND a new TURBO charger!!!!"

Is this all being replaced because of a recall or something?