So as I pumped 60-odd dollars into my tank, it occurred to me that there was nothing to prevent someone of low morals from stealing my car's precious fuel (I've disabled my vacuum-locking system).

I have a locking cap on my gas car but I don't think that would fit the mouth on my 240D. Is anyone using a locking cap on their vehicle?

__________________
1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

It might be motivation to fix those vacuum leaks, right?

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
No longer selling Cluster Needles Paint
No longer selling New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

MB locking fuel fillers caps are rare, but available. They pop up on eBay from time to time.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Fix the vacuum system, MB already provided you with a locking fuel door.

The vacuum system on that car is pretty simple, it shouldn't be to hard to find the leak/s.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The part number for the fuel cap is 123-471-02-30, it comes with two keys.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Great! Thanks!

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1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

Did the 300CD come with a locking fuel filler door? Mine doesn't seem to have one, and I haven't been able to locate any switch to operate one either.

Problem with the locking fuel filler door is that most of them can be pried open with a big screwdriver - doing lots of ugly damage to your bodywork and paint in the process. A locking cap on the other hand is a bit tougher to defeat, and if they try they are at least somewhat less likely to damage the body in the process.

I think I'm going to look for one of those locking caps myself. Wonder if anybody made an aftermarket? Probably not - who ever thought diesel would be expensive enough for 20 gallons or less to be worth stealing?

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown

On mine, the fuel door locks when you lock the doors and vice-versa...

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Paranoid thinking.........If someone tried to steal the little bit of diesel from an MB it would probably be some punk trying to put it in a gasser. Then you could laugh when their car became disabled on the side of the road.

Besides, it would be much easier to crawl under the car and disconnect the flex hose at the bottom of the tank rather than try and pry open the fuel door......OOPS, I believe I just gave away my secret.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Is that really a problem? Do you really think a gas thief will pry it open with a screwdriver? My bet is that he'd take his business to the next car...

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

You know, I never thought of trying to open it when the doors were locked. I just tried it and lo and behold, it is locked up tight!

Here's one for you though. I also tried unlocking the doors (from the driver's side) to see if it would unlock and it didn't! Weird! The passenger side door unlocked automatically as it should, but the filler door remained locked. Is there some trick to it? Every time I've gone to put fuel in it it has been unlocked - which is why I didn't even realize it automatically locked. Is there an emergency release or something?

The last thing I want to have happen is to pull into a station to fill up and find I can't get the filler door open!

__________________
1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown

If they will hijack a fuel truck, anything is possible. There have been reports of fuel thieves punching holes in fuel tanks as well.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

At my work they dont even take the cap off.....they punch two 3/8" dia drill holes in the tank with a battery operated drill. One to catch fuel from and the other as a vent. When thier 5gal can is filled they leave and let the rest drain into the gutter.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Where exactly do you work?

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Try double twisting the key in the door and see if that unlocks the fuel door. If not, try the central lock/unlock button inside. I also think there' s way to get at it from inside the trunk but I don't know if that carries back to your model year...

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250