Have possible well maintained 1983 300D in sights. 1 issue is the current owner says AC has no leaks but was told by his mechanic that the compressor bracket needs to be replaced and it is a $500. job. The owner uses this car up north a few hundred miles / year for car shows in past 5 years only.....so he is selling it "as is". It is in otherwise NICE shape.

I cannot find anything on what is involved in replacing a compressor bracket.
Anyone have description of labor , or pics I would be grateful.

Thanks!

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

The compressor bracket is a casting bolted to the side of the motor. There are two or three bolts that hold it on and it comes off fairly easy once the compressor is out of the way.

You have to remove the compressor which requires recovering the refrigerant and opening up the system. In that process you have to carefully measure the oil that drains out of the compressor so you know how much to put back in. Once you have the system open the list of 'while you're in there' things is the receiver/drier and the expansion valve. If you pull those you're better off flushing the system and starting fresh with the factory oil fill instead of trying to guess how much came out of each component.

With all that said I'm really surprised that the bracket would be broken. Maybe the word 'bracket' means something different to the seller than it does to me. If you do need the casting I may have one kicking around the garage.

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'82 300D - Light Ivory, 2nd Owner (Back in the wind April 2013!)

'95 E300D - White, grey interior. (Suffering from stuck/broken glow plugs)

Deuteronomy 22:4-
"Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again."

With all the Sanden retrofit kits I have installed, I have several of those brackets as well. There is a reason it is broken (if in fact that is the case), and it could be the compressor rattling it to pieces. You may just want to go with a Sanden if you get the car, and not even bother with the R4 or it's bracket.....Rich

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

I have a spare bracket too, from a used engine I bought, plus I will have another when I install RollGuy's Sanden bracket on my son's car (if he ever drives it home). As mentioned, it is a rugged cast aluminum casting so we wonder how it could be broken. Post photos. Perhaps you have something else like a York compressor from another M-B model.