MBDiesel.net - An Owner's Journey

Within the last week, we've installed Euro headlamps, installed a CD player to replace the one that was stolen, replaced the clutch slave cylinder, verified that all external lights are functioning properly, and I topped it all off by installing a new hoodpad. I hope to have some pictures in the next few days. That 3M 08090 Super Trim Adhesive is great stuff - I probably used a good portion of 2 cans. The car is nearly ready to come home!

We took the 280S to Birmingham over the weekend, and caught a nice big rock in the windshield for our efforts. We did, however, have a great time otherwise. The 280S performed admirably, but I still need to remove the carb and give it a thorough cleaning.

This evening was an oil changing frenzy - the 300SD and 300TD both got oil changes (7.5 and 7 quarts of Rotella-T 15w40, respectively), and we even warmed up the 240D and did it's first oil change with the new motor (another 6 quarts of Rotella). The new motor has about 18 miles on it, and about an hour or so of runtime. Saw a few small bits of metal in the filter - a good thing, in this case, as it means the engine is breaking in. I also replaced the rubber gasket for the oil filler cap on all three cars.

Donna drove the 240D for the first time with the new motor - she was wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Even after a few long months out of the manual transmission saddle, she had no problems readjusting to the extra pedal and handshaker. Good for her!

Had some idiot stall their car in front of me and roll back into the 280S this morning. It wasn't like I was creeping up on the car or anything - I could see over the hood of the 280S and under the rear bumper of the car in front of me - ample stopping room at the light.

But, sure enough, the light turned green and the car stalled and slowly started to roll back into me. At least the driver had the decency to turn on the hazards to let me know that they were a hazard to me and my car - heavens, it was all up to me to avoid that little fracas, and I failed miserably!

Stalling the car is part of learning to drive a stick. Heck, it still happens to me on occasion. I can still get a little jittery starting on very steep inclines, and that's probably going to stick around for a few more months at least - me and the handshaker do not have a long and illustrious history. Nearly everytime I drive stick after a long hiatus, I have to relearn a few things due to too long behind a slushbox.

But I know where the brake pedal resides on the floorboard.

On the plus side, there was no damage to the car at all. I've pushed on the bumper harder moving the car a few inches back in the parking lot to get room for a floorjack.

Posted the pictures of the work done on the 240D on Saturday here.

Also, the 280S got new tie rods and an alignment today. I would've taken pictures, but it took me longer to carry the floorjack, jackstands, and tools downstairs than it did to replace them. I really need to get better about taking pictures...

Things are looking well for the 240D. The cooling system and exhaust were buttoned up today. We might have a bad clutch slave cylinder, and the thermostat seems to be a little sticky - issues that can be ironed out later.

Joe - nice to meet you today, hope all goes well with your '90 2.5. I told Mat to expect a call from you early next week.

I'll post pics of today's goings-on tomorrow. Now, I'm going to get some sleep.

All accessories are bolted up on the 240D, all that's left now is the radiator, hoses, and thermostat housing, and then bolting on the exhaust. I'll have some more pictures to post this weekend.

Attempted to attach the engine accessories Wednesday night, but was thwarted a bit. A/C compressor went on fine and dandy, alternator was not happy. First, the replacement bolts I had procured were 16mm instead of 17mm - they fit fine, and had the same threads, but it would drive me bonkers knowing they were in there. Worse still, the alternator/water pump belt we got from the same place was a 1000mm belt - which would be fine if the 240D didn't have a manual transmission. Manny tranny cars need a 1030mm belt.

Of course, we realized this *after* the A/C compressor was already belted, tensioned, and tightened. That's the way these things work sometimes.

Tomorrow is oil change and valve adjustment for the 300SD. Maybe I'll take some more pictures.

Got a message from Karl at 300series.com. He was cruising the net and came across the site and invited me to check his out. He's got a lot of good info an write-ups on his site pertaining to w123s, you should go check it out.

Installed the driveshaft in the 240D this evening, so now the car can move under it's own power. Good tool to have when doing flex discs? Box-end non-offset 17mm wrench. Fits right through the holes in the transmission cross member to catch and hold the nut on the flex disc bolt. Sure, in a pinch an open-end wrench would work, but it'll only take one rounded nut to break that habit.

Anyhow. Drove the car around the shop building this evening. That's a torquey little motor in there! The old motor never had that much torque off idle. This evening it felt more like the 280S than a 240D. If I can get back out to the car tomorrow, I will be installing the accessories. After that, cooling system. Plenty of other things left on the laundry list, but accessories, cooling system, and exhaust means the car can come back home.