but I don't.

My wife drives our 2008 E320 Bluetec. I almost never do and being an automotive Luddite, I don't like it. She also chooses to have it dealer-serviced rather than letting me f... it up. The question then: Do those things even have a preglow system? She just jumps in, turns the key and it always starts. For those few times I start it, I always pause (out of habit I guess) before I start.

It does have a pre-glow system, but the wait time is 0 seconds unless the temperature is below freezing. Welcome to modern diesels. There is a small pre-glow light in the upper left part of the clock face. In warmer weather it will light up and go out in a fraction of a second. Living in Texas, I've actually never seen it stay on.

Probably just as well letting the dealer service it. The engine requires an MB 229.51 specification oil such as Mobil1 5w-40 ESP Formula M. It's such a pain to find locally that I order from Amazon. The air and fuel filters are not difficult to change, but do require more disassembly to reach them than you might expect. I can't figure out how one would change the serpentine belt on this thing, it's hidden behind a bunch of junk on the front of the engine.

Thanks jc. I agree. Just pulling the engine cover off and looking in there makes me itch. I will NEVER give up my W123.