So I went to a different mechanic to get my valves adjusted. This mechanic is a buddy of my dads so he's pretty cool.

Well he called us to take a look at some stuff, many of you know I have a horrid power steering leak, well that leak just happens to be dripping all over my left front brake line eating away at it and my brand new tie rod end. After making some calls, he couldn't find the seals and stuff to do it, we have to go to some random place to get it fixed which is going to be like 200-300$ Another thing he pointed out was that my front brakes pads are close to being medal on medal.

Upon further inspection, my clutch line AND master cylinder need replacing ASAP and i'm still leaking oil from my injection pump, which sucks. He said we're looking at a 1000$ to get it up to 100% driving wise.

It sure feels like 100% when I drive but he showed me everything on the lift, so I know he's being truthful. On a lighter note the valve adjustment went great! He said I had two loose valves and two tight valves :/ and that it was at a REALLY bad point. He also changed the bigger fuel filter which was covered with gunk. The only thing was I had a hiccup today after the Valve Adjustment. Was idling at a stop light and the engine thudded and ran ruff for a split second and went back to normal. Which was weird. I drove it on the freeway and it's fine, so I don't know what that was, but I'm hoping it won't happen again lol :S

I need to quit my computer job and get a better one. I'm still making payments for the last 1000$ job I had done and now need to get this stuff fixed up. It'll be so worth it though.

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2007 BMW 328XI

$2,000 to get an old neglected diesel back to optimal mechanical parameters sounds about right to me, especially if you're farming out the work.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Most of the things you need done could be done yourself. These cars are so stinking easy to work on and this forum has the best information! Brakes are a piece of cake to do. I would try and locate a junkyard power steering pump and slap it on. I believe that its just a bolt on affair. Whats wrong with the master cylinder? Is it working ok? leaking fluid? why does he say its bad? Is the clutch line leaking too? I love these cars because they are very inexpensive if you know what you are doing. A cheap tool kit can go a long way.

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1979 240D with a 617 turbo diesel.

It's cheaper if you do the work yourself.

And I think your brakes are approaching a metal on metal condition, unless you have a Navy Achievement that's about to start rubbing on a Good Conduct

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I didn't know what it would cost when I took this car in, but like I said it's well worth it. It'll probably be a tad more with little stuff I eventually want to do to it, cosmetically and stuff like a new fuel sender.....

Any thoughts on what that hiccuping might have been?

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2007 BMW 328XI

Maybe a little air in the fuel system from the fuel filter change. If it doesn't do it again I wouldn't worry about it.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

I'd LOVE to do all the work myself, but i'm so worried about messing things up... I have never done serious work to a car, and I'd hate to experiment with this car. The only major thing I did to the 220 was change the shut off switch on the Injector Pump lol it's something right?

I was told, that the gearbox is very difficult to do. You have to be careful with all the bearings that are in there or something. I'd give the Master Cylinder a shot, I was always afraid of bleeding the brakes, but after having the pedal sink down and a brake line so loose that there was no pressure in the system which literally left me with no brakes. I don't really fear it that much anymore.

Thinking more about it, i'm hesitant with the gearbox only. From what I heard. Not to mention the fact that i'd love to stop dealing with mechanics... I have such a bad taste in my mouth from them.

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2007 BMW 328XI

I farm out all the big jobs, but try to at least attempt to the the minor to medium jobs. There have been many instances well documented on the forum where I screwed something up, but it never cost me anything other than time and frustration.These little rinky dink secondary things will nickel and dime you to the poorhouse if you don't do it yourself, not to mention the amount of time it will sit at a shop when you need transportation.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

That's 100% true, I can do the MS and everything else, but I'm afraid of that gearbox. sigh, almost wish I didn't have power steering, I say that... until I actually get in a car without it

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2007 BMW 328XI

I had a Dodge Dart and a Suzuki Samurai without power steering. In the Sammy I never missed it. In the Dodge I only missed it when I had to parallel park, and that was after I tossed the slant six and dropped in a 360 V8.

Is it your power steering pump or the actual steering box leaking?

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

A great place to learn is the junkyard. Practice bleeding brakes with water...

take stuff apart..... get a tan..?

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I actually will do that!!!! There happens to be a 220 in my local junkyard too! Plus, the 4th is 1/2 off sale day there!!! woOt

Yeah here, you don't get a tan, you just burst into flames... lol

Might check out the gearbox too, see what it looks like.

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2007 BMW 328XI

Jordan,

Please understand everyone on this board did not "come" as an expert. You are associated with many individuals with 100's & 100's of hours experience. You are just starting where many of us have been.

I delayed tackling fuel problems, as I did not want to remove the intake manifold on my '99. Got to where I was stalling in busy intersections and I was crankin the starter way toooo much. I researched, read, got perpared and started. I look back now and with added confidence to move on.

Do the small stuff, save your money, invest in quality tools, becareful, be cautious, be patient, you too will grow with the MB experience. This is your car and you will do fine.
Get stuck, PM me and I will call you to coach you thru, from what little I know.
Best of luck

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Gary
Experience is something you get, Just after you needed it....
'99 E300 295K, '83 300D 220K, '75 240D 185K sold
'80 MCI Bus Conv DD 6V92TA, w/4 cyl. Kubota diesel GenSet 12.5KW

Thank you, I really appreciate that. I'm just going to start slow as you said, I feel I can do everything but the PS gearbox. That still has me hesitant but I'll further that when I check out the one at the junk yard.

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2007 BMW 328XI

Jordan,
I would get the MB shop manual. The CD version is what I have. I have rebuilt both the Power Steering pump and the PS gear box. The pump is fairly easy. The gear box wasn't to bad, but I have had some previous experiance rebuilding stuff. As the previous poster said we all start somewhere. I would try and see where the leak is coming from. Maybe you just need to replace the hoses. Also, look at the cost of rebuilt components. I'd also get a Chilton's Manual or Haynes. They aren't the best, but OK on some of the maintanence stuff etc. I don't consider my 240D 4spd that hard to work on. It is a bit different in some respects, than other cars. I think every car, truck or vehicle has its quirks as far as wrenching on them. I learned by nessescity. Cars were gobbling up my paycheck(s). It was either work on them, starve or not go to work. There were more than a few weekends, it was work on the car or else. This was years ago and not on the 240D. Good luck, and more than a few people will help you out here. You have a huge advantage over when I started out trying to learn. First the internet, second digital cameras (take pictures), and this and other websites.
Also, as has been pointed out, you need to figure out what you can work on and what you need to farm out. As far as the transmission, I would consider pulling it out yourself, if it needs rebuilt and have someone rebuild it. Is it manual or auto?
Tom