I just installed a zerostart lower rad hose heater in my son's 240d the other day. It seems to be working fine. Although the weather has not been severely cold, he had to crank his car 3 x on the glow plugs to start it last cold spell. It now fires over on the first glow plug cycle. Also his alternator bracket tensioning fork was being bent and kept slacking the alternator belt. Today I welded a bit of mild steel on the top of the bracket, once I got the bracket forks at a 90 degree angle to the tensioning theaded rod. Stick welded it, worked like a charm. I wet a towel and wrapped the surrounding areas with battery and alt unplugged.
I surprised myself because the weld was so clean. I was gonna use a mig, but not practiced much. The stick was handier and I've done plenty of stick welding. No flux to crack off! May have been the cold temps. I don't know, but the welding went well. Tightened up the alt again, and no problems. he's 17 today with his now, senior drivers license.

where can i get the lower hose heater for 1983 300 d ? how to install it ? thank you.

DieselGiant has the whole set up for sale on his website. I bought a Zerostart off Ebay for about $15. Took me about half an hour to install it int he existing hose. I think the size is 1 1/2".

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13