New owner of 1987 300DT - upgrades questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

diesel_fan · #1 10-21-2008, 04:19 PM

Hello!
Recently purchased arctic white with blue MB-Tex 1987 300DT with 160K. All original. This is my first diesel and i am in love with this car!
I would like to hear your advice guys. I am planning to do some upgrades to this car and would like to check, if i missed anything.

Engine: Vacuum pump, W210 11-fins radiator fan with clutch, expansion tank, EGR remove for "testing".

Interior: Central locks pump, cluster, sunroof switch, steering wheel, door panels and dash with wood inserts

Exterior: I have an option to purchase lower body cladding (side panels), front and rear bumper covers and door handles with chrome inserts, but not sure how its going to look at this car. Have anybody did that? Would you recommend that (i understand that this is personal preference, but would like to hear your opinion)?

Also, i am planning to replace my dash panel (lots of cracks on it), but its hard to find blue cluster with glove box. I managed to find a black dash panel with wood inserts and with glove box, but is it possible to repaint it to blue color as my original?

Thanks in advance!

Jeremy5848 · #2 10-21-2008, 04:29 PM

While you are replacing the expansion tank, pull the right (passenger) side under-fender plastic filler panel and check the overflow tank and its hose. See this thread for details and pictures.

I also have a cracked blue dash and an uncracked replacement black dash. If you replace the top half of the glove box door, you will have a split black upper/blue lower dash, which doesn't look half bad. I plan to do mine that way and with a blue dash mat on top it won't show anyway.

While you have the dash out, consider replacing all of the climate control vent pods (the rubber diaphragms fail as they get old). There's enough work involved in the dash R&R that you won't want to do it again soon.

Jeremy

babymog · #3 10-21-2008, 08:02 PM

Like Jeremy I am planning to replace the upper dash with black, and leave the blue lower. The 2-tone dash is in all 124s except black and blue. I echo his climate-control pod suggestion.

Engine: Upgrading the head to a later casting is a positive move, less likely to have a crack problem, OTOH many never crack if not overheated. I wouldn't bother with the fan change, if your clutch is fine then leave it alone, they work great.

Exterior: Many possibilities, the body cladding is one thing I bought for my car, never installed it. Some day, I like the look, my '91 TE had it and it looked sharp as well as the bright-strip doorhandles. A better upgrade IMO is Bosch Euro lights and 400E corners (or Euro Bosch clear corners) like my picture above ^^, that one has the Euro wipers and fillers also which IMO are well worth it.

Interior? The storage armrest is nice, as is the center-console of the later 124 with the wood tambour-door lid. Leather wheel, good zebrano, a zebrano shift knob is IMO a very important detail in the interior, door panels and dash with zebrano, reading lamps in rear (option, can be pulled from a 126 / same part). The vacuum pump for central locks? I'm not sure what the upgrade is, does yours not work? There are at least three for the '87, one with Orthopedic seats, two without. Assuming you don't have orthopedic seats, the black lid and white lid pumps are incompatible (wired differently), be sure you get the same as in your car (under the rt-rear seat).

diesel_fan · #4 10-21-2008, 11:24 PM

Thank you, guys!

What is the average price for a used dash panel? The one i found - $100. Is it OK price?

TylerH860 · #5 10-21-2008, 11:27 PM

I've never seen an '87 300DT.... Wow! You must have a one off creation from Mercedes...

Paging JimmyL. Paging Jimmy "Wagonmaster" L for a quick correction and Chad's photoshop image.

Jeremy5848 · #6 10-21-2008, 11:31 PM

That's probably a reasonable price for an uncracked dash. I paid about $50 for mine but that was at Pick and Pull, so I also had to invest two hours of my own time in removing the dash from an '88 300E gasser plus more time reading DIY threads here.

Do you also have to pay for shipping? That can add a lot more than you might think. Shippers tend to charge more because of the size of the box needed so you will pay as if it weighed 40 or 50 pounds. It will take a box 18x18x60 inches or so to hold a dash safely.

Jeremy

sixto · #7 10-21-2008, 11:57 PM

Top of your list should be Euro headlights! The best are original 500E/E500 units followed by original equipment Hella or Bosch units. Even the cheaper Depo and terrible quality TYC units provide more useful lighting than the DOT junk these cars came with.

Have we established that the trap oxidizer recall was performed on your car?

The radiator in these cars is pretty much disposable. It's good insurance to get a new one every 5 years. One telltale of an updated radiator is an aluminum sleeve in the upper hose fitting. You can be thankful the overflow line attaches to the engine rather than the radiator. A lot of otherwise fine 123 and 126 radiators are reduced to junk because the overflow fitting on the radiator breaks off when someone indavertently leans on it.

If you enjoy driving, upgrading to the sport package available on later 124s might be worthwhile. The sport package is mostly suspension and possibly brake upgrades. There's also front seats with bigger bolsters and possibly a rear bench with a center console (4 place seating) a la 500E/E500. DaveM/gsxr can give you the low down.

Sixto
87 300D

diesel_fan · #8 10-22-2008, 02:55 PM

Trap oxidizer was removed. Previous owner of this car is Mercedes mechanic in reputable shop in Austin and took a good care of the engine. No leaks. AC is cold. All vacuum gadgets under dash where replaced recently. All service and maintenance records, but nothing major was change on this car. Original # 14 head, original tranny, original vacuum pump. Exterior is very good for its age; interior is OK (except cracked dash panel from Texas sun). I was told by PO, that @ 60K first owner of this car accidentally put a gasoline in it and bent a rod. Car was sold to the owner of this Mercedes shop, engine was rebuilt, and a few years ago, when owner sold his shop, this car was purchased by one of the mechanics there.
Tranny is shifting OK, except from 1st to 2nd gear, its shifts too hard. Its only happens if I am accelerating slowly. Very annoying in the traffic. If I am accelerating hard - its shifts OK. Any taught on that? I heard about K1 kit - will it help? Vacuum system looks ok, but I have not test it completely.
I am trying to do some preventive maintenance, such as vacuum pump replace, LuboMolly diesel purge, new radiator and heater hoses, citric acid flush, new expansion tanks and, possibly, W210 fan and clutch to keep this engine cool.
Dash panel I found for $100 is Pick and Pull price.
Will try to negotiate that price a little…

Thanks a lot for your inputs, guys!
This forum is awesome!

Jeremy5848 · #9 10-22-2008, 03:29 PM

In July 2008 I paid $53.99 for P&P #250 "Dash Assembly Complete (No Rad)." Make sure yours is not charging you for dash + instruments, it's easy for the cashier to accidentally push the wrong button as there are several choices under "dash" for them to pick (and pull) from.

Edit: I paid another $12.99 for P&P #206-1 "Glove Box Door."

Euro headlights are great – look better, work better. Even before I had a Mercedes I thought the plastic surrounds looked cheesy and the little wipers silly. I found a set of Hella lamps here in this forum – another member had purchased them new for a project but had never used them.

If you can get Euro-style lamps from a later W124 at Pick and Pull you will save mucho bucks – new, you are looking at $500 or more. Note that a little bit of wiring will be required and the corners must be changed also so get the whole package at the junkyard.

My car "after." I happen to believe that this is one of the better looking cars on the road.

The under-headlamp panels must be changed for the version that does not have wiper holes. Your dealer can get them (about $13 each in primer, paint to match your car) or maybe you can find a set in the junkyard.

Jeremy

diesel_fan · #10 10-22-2008, 03:43 PM

Yes, euro headlights looks very good... I need to call my friend in Europe and check, if he can get me pair of these for cheap...
I found a place that sells new OEM Pierburg vacuum pump for $195 - is it a good price?

Jeremy5848 · #11 10-22-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel_fan

Yes, euro headlights looks very good... I need to call my friend in Europe and check, if he can get me pair of these for cheap...
I found a place that sells new OEM Pierburg vacuum pump for $195 - is it a good price?

A true Pierburg for $200 is a good price, they are usually $300+. Can you get two at that price, let me know???

Jeremy

babymog · #12 10-22-2008, 05:08 PM

Although $100 is high for a P&P dash, it is cheaper than you'll find elsewhere and about the price to ship one cross-country. I've sold a couple for $100 each plus shipping.

As far as headlamps, if you're going to do it, do it right. Bosch Euro plus Bosch clear Euro corners, plus Euro wipers and filler panels. It just doesn't look right without the proper wipers IMO, All high-line Mercedes have them, and they really do a nice job of cleaning the fog & headlamp.