The maxim is true "it will be the most expensive used car you've owned - unless you do the work yourself"....
In my case, I do what I can w/ limited ability, time and shop space/tools (in that order) and know when a job is bigger than me.
Nearly all these were.
If you look at the repair receipt in the photo album, you'll see I blacked out the parts cost and labor costs...I'm happy to share details offline on request, but suffice to say I believe I got a major break on parts and labor based on relationship and volume. Out of respect for honest mechanics everywhere who have to make a living like the rest of us, I figured it would be best not to set unrealistic expectations. :^)
Parts cost was 3x the labor cost (ymmv) and as also previously
stated, the parts - for what they are (MB luxury import), age
and relative criticality to the car's safe operation, are still ridiculously cheap, even list price.
So you ask, how's it running?
So far, all operational demons appear to be banished. The Bosch regulator seems to be doing its job (don't know if they attempted to clean any terminals or parts of the wiring harness)...no unusual weirdness in nighttime operation, just the usual weirdness. As before, car rides on rails at all speeds...amazing the difference, wobble on decel is gone, as is a weird wobble on hard acceleration as well (thought it was rear wheel drive related, apparently not).
Started nicely yest AM @ 20 F after an overnight outside, glow plugs on for about 15 sec, engine warmer not plugged to the grid...just need to hold a slightly increased idle long enough to get the fluids flowing, then settles into normally noisy cold idle. Started w/in half sec of cranking.
After another 20 mi or so, I filled w/ "fresh" tank of winterized(?) Shell diesel w/ my own special blend of StarTron, Cetane booster & MMO. Oil on the dipstick fresh from the sump was the cleanest I've ever seen in this car, which isn't saying much compared to a gasser :^)
Mileage report yet to come, last one was dismal @ 15MPG, likely due to lots of idling by me when starting/warming up and by shop during repairs, loss of fuel during filter changes, cold weather...etc...etc...etc...did not do new injectors this time...
Questions for the day (apologies if asked/answered previously):
1). Is there any ad-hoc anyone can tell determine if the turbo is or is not working (given there's no turbo gauge like my 33 y/o Saab99)?
2). Are there tests of the vacuum pump operation that can be done w/ unit in the car, engine running?
thx,
barton
--- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, BStromsoe <bstromsoe@...> wrote:
>
> You spent some serious money didn't you!
>
> brian from la verne, ca
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Barton <barton.fiske@...>
> To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, January 10, 2011 4:25:15 PM
> Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Sylvia - 1983 300 SD - Major maintenance down under -
> "glowing" results (so far)
>
>
> Last week, Sylvia went in to the shop for new glow plugs, to diagnose front end
> wobble on decel from 65-40 and the ongoing exorcism of
>
> the electrical demons.
>
> See my new Yahoo diesel_mercedes photo album for Sylvia here:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diesel_mercedes/photos/album/614318898/pic/2128952407/view
>
>
> Final repair and parts list includes:
>
> Remove/replace new (rebuilt) steering box (did not go seal kit route)
> 2x tie rods
> 2x ball joints
> 2x control arms
> Idler arm rebuild kit
> 2x fuel filters
> 5x new glow plugs
> 1x power steering reservoir seal
> 1x bosch voltage regulator - inspect wire harness, clean as needed
>
> oil change + filter
> high speed balance 4x new Michelins on 16" rims
> alignment
> MA State inspection
>
> Due to (ahem) budgetary constraints, had to stop here:
>
> still to be done:
>
> turbo is (still) venting oil into the air cleaner implying
> bad/warn turbo? anyone want to guesstimate parts/labor for
> this task?
>
> Car now drives like it's on rails (again). Still
> accelerates like a 250,000 year old dog but started
> like a brand new car @ 23F (not sure how "warm" it
> was when I picked it up at the shop, engine temp was below 40C).
>
> Headlights still fluctuate (as they always did) at
> reduced/increased revs, but all systems (interior, radio,
> climate control, turn signals, etc) stayed on and acted
> normal (so far) on 10 mi ride home.
>
> Car passed inspection (again) on first attempt.
>
> Hopefully all you'll hear from me soon enough will
> be silence (on these topics....)
>
> As to my request for locks/keys - the reason
> I'm looking for replacements is that I don't have
> the VIN # for the car they came from, (they are not
> original - I don't know why) so there's no new keys to make.
>
> Will be dragging a magnet in the gear selector
> black hole for sure tomorrow...who knows, maybe
> the key gremlins will yield the Ring that binds
> them all... :^)
>
> -Barton
>
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