How common is this and how difficult is it i fix?

This 85 300SD looks pretty nice for the price:

Mercedes Benze 300sd turbo

It is not difficult technically but is physically difficult. Be sure if you do it to pm Roy (whunter here) about it as there is a locking device that holds the plug on the backside of it that is not mentioned in the haynes manual. Getting your hands in all the places necessary is a bit tough and you have to lay around inside the car upside down etc to do it.

It is something I would pay someone to do.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If its the same setup as the w123 it was quite a pain, I hired someone to do it, they spent 2-3 hours trying to figure it out when I came back I saw that they were manhandling the car and getting nowhere. I asked them to stop, had the car towed to my house and did the job from there myself. There is some kind of pin in the piece by the steering column that you can press when the key is put into acc. As the key couldn't be turned at all on my car all I did was drill out that pin. Now like I said this was in a w123, I hope this helps

It's really not that hard to to do. If you search this site for steering lock , there is a how-to somewhere. (Check this post: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/2995509-post18.html)

I was going to have to do it on my 300D, but somehow after many tries, I got the key to turn. If you are able to do that, then never turn it the other way - disconnect battery if necessary! Some have had luck getting key to turn by using a vibrator and maybe some lube in the cylinder.

Once key is turned, it is a simple matter to remove the tumbler cylinder. Insert needle into small hole on front) Replacing cylinder is one option but even although I bought a new cylinder, the method I used still works and I have not got around to changing it. I ground off the outside of the cylinder so the whole thing turns.

When I/you do change the cylinder, the steering lock can be disabled so this douesn't happen again. That is what you need to do if you cannot get that cylinder to turn once - it does require lying on back in footwell and grinding off a pin.

If car is priced low because of that problem, I would seriously consider it.

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

I agree that the car looks very nice in the pics, nice colour combo. And the situation is plausible, has happened to more than a few of us.

However, not being able to start it, it's a bit like a real estate agent showing you a house but not letting you go inside before you buy.

I had to have a shop do that job for me. Luckily they knew how. It was about 2.5 hrs labour if I recall, plus of course the new ignition keyswitch.

First time I have seen a Mercedes that looks that nice for sale in a trailer park.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

To make it run:
* You disconnect the vacuum to the shutoff valve.
* Jumper the glow plug relay for 30 seconds.
* Use a jumper wire from the top starter solenoid battery cable to the Philips screw (small wire) on the starter solenoid.


Or get a 12 Volt Remote Starter Switch to do this.
12 Volt Remote Starter Switch
* Jumper the glow plug relay for 30 seconds.
* Hit the button..


I have spare steering columns, and can cheat.

Disconnect the battery.
Pull the instrument cluster.
Look at the attached picture. (I use a battery Sawzall for the cut, from under the dash).
Disconnect the vacuum lines, if the valve interferes with column removal break it.
Disconnect and dismount the steering column.
Disconnect the old electric switch from the harness.
Install your spare steering column.
Connect the battery.
Total time should be 35 minutes.



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1985 300SD
1983 300D

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