Alternatively, you could find a used charging station. I picked up this one with a nice built in vacuum pump, gauges and hoses I used on my car for $50. It's a decent rolling toolbox too.

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1980 240d
1999 SL500

The old refrigerator compressor is the way to go--old refrigerators are cheap if not free and all you need is a fitting that will attach to the hose on your manifold gage set and some epoxy or solder and you are in business. Plus, when it quits working, you don't feel bad taking it to the dump where it was headed in the first place!

Awe, man. There's gonna be some sour grape action up in here.

I could have one-upped you, but I passed on buying the reclamation system that a local pawn shop had for $150. I seriously thought about it, because I'm really supposed to use one, but figured to heck with it. If I need to drain an r12 system, I'll just let a shop suck it out. It's worth money to them, and saves me the trouble of maintaining yet another piece of equipment. Besides, I have plenty of virgin refrigerant on hand.

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- K.C.Adams

'77 300D Euro Delivery
OM617 turbo / 4-speed swap
404 Milanbraun Metallic / 134 Dattel MB-Tex

Current status:
* Undergoing body work

My '77 300D progress thread