This topic has come up again and again, but there are so many answers and options when I do a search, I am a bit overwhelmed.

I live in the Hoboken/Jersey City area and am looking for a quality shop for my very first MB, Cherry Red '82 300CD. Eventually, I want to convert it to run of vegetable oil, but for now, I am going to try to run it on biodiesel. I would love a reputable shop who will not be scared to help me take care of it once the conversion is finished. I also want to do a lot of the work myself and have a mechanic who is willing to nurse me along.

Suggestions/advice welcome?

have you prepared the vehicle for bio diesel? You'd better look into that unless you have stock in fuel filters. Your best bet is to educate yourself as much as possible in bio diesel and veggie/fat etc. burners so that you can work with the mechanic and answer questions that he may have.

You'll sooner find Jimmy Hoffa than a hippy mechanic.

No offense...I am going to buy bio diesel equipment very soon. Between heating my home and selling fuel, it'll pay for itself in less than 2 years.