Okay, so after enduring a bloodletting at the shop I have resolved to do as much as possible myself. That being said, I have an engineering type mind but also do well learning from books. I had someone give me a copy of Glenn's Mercedes Benz Repair & Tune-up Guide: Performance & Mechanical Specifications 180-190-200-219-220-250-300-600 Fuel Injection/Diesel Injection. It is only 150 pages long. Does anyone have any good recommendations about shop manuals that would be good for a 1981 300TD? I have poked around but there doesn't seem to be a definitive best. Is this in fact the case? I have a 2000 VW Jetta TDI and I have the Bentley Service manual for that. It seems to include just about everything. Is there something comparable for the Benz?
Also I have attached a picture of a part I know I need to install.

I can't for the life of me think of the part name and hence I can't find any guide for where it goes. If anyone could give me a quick tutorial on where that goes and any tricks on how to install if that applies. If not I'm sure I can figure it out or ask questions once I'm started. Thanks for the help!

-Jeremiah

Attached Thumbnails

 

That's a rear sway bar link to the trailing arm.
The Hanes manual for the w123 series is decent (the car they use for the teardown is a 300TD) but there are large gaps in the info (almost nothing on the vac system). It's also a little patronizing--"this job should be left to a professional."
The MB service CD's for the w123 are ok: more complete information, but presented in a convoluted fashion--also, some of the diagrams and pics are very unclear.
Really, this forum is the best place for info.
Good luck!

__________________
1999 E320 4matic really nice Wagon 135k
1981 300TD loud, rattling family car 180k (TGI sold!)
1985 500SEL gas guzzler 220k (sold)
1978 300D my first Turtlediesel (sold)437k

Factory shop manuals are available in several volumes (body, engine, electrical, AC, transmission, maintenance, ...) in hardcopy or all together except the transmission and volume in poor quality scans on CD. Phil can probably get you the FSM on CD. Keep an eye on the parts forum and eBay for hardcopy manuals. If you don't have a PC in your garage, driveway or wherever you work on your car, the Haynes manual is pretty good.

That white plastic part looks like a rear swaybar link.

Sixto
87 300D

stay w/ the FSM as stated.. too many poor translations in the other service manuals.

ask Forcedinduction for a cd, or buy a paper copy.

__________________

Thanks for the name of that part. Already found a picture and have a good idea of where it goes. Looks to be a pretty easy job. Thanks for the advice on the manual. I'm sending a PM now.

Yes, ten minute job, most which is removing the wheel.

__________________
83 SD

84 CD

Last time I did it I did not have to remove the wheel iirc.

__________________
the sooner you start... the sooner you'll get done If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. Its always simpler to tell the truth...
2007 Honda Accord EX
2007 Honda Accord SE V6
96 C220
97 Explorer - Found Another Home
2000 Honda Accord V6 - Found Another Home
85 300D - Found Another Home
84 300D - Found Another Home
80 300TD - Found Another Home
Previous cars:
96 Caravan
87 Camry
84 Cressida
82 Vanagon
80 Fiesta
78 Nova
Ford Cortina
Opel Kadet
68 Kombi
Contessa