I always enjoy reading the posts on this site. Thank you all for your sound advice. It has helped me to troubleshoot some of the problems on my 88 245 GL Swedish gem.

This past weekend I attempted to change the fuel filter. After an hour of struggling to get the old filter out (and wreaking of gasoline), I managed to install a new Bosch filter w/ the supplied copper seals. (Working by the curb isn't fun. I would give my left arm for a lift.) After I reinstalled the filter and fuel pump assembly, I started up the car and noticed it was leaking. I can't tell if it is leaking from the intake line from the fuel pump or from the copper seal. Is it common to crack the intake line when removing the filter because of the excessive force required to get the darn thing out? Should I look in the junkyard for this part or should I just hand over my wallet to the dealership?

Thanks in advance!

I just did this terrible job on my girlfriend's '89 240 this week. The bolts on both ends of the stupid thing were so tight that I ended up cutting the lines on both ends of the filter to get it out, then placing the thing in a bench vise, then reaming on it with about 4ft of pipes on the end of a wrachet, then only ripping the whole bolting assembly out of the filter housing, then finally clamping on to the nut which is supposed to be inside the filter and using the 4ft of pipe again and wahoo! So after all that unexpected excitement, I had to buy a bit of high pressure fuel line to go from the pump to the filter, and then since I only lost around an inch off the long line, i just pulled it a bit further towards the filter. Anyways, I'd drop the assembly down (since it's only 3 easy bolts) and give it a look. If a line is cracked or whatever, take the barbed part into a parts store and they'll find the right size of high pressure gas line for it. Hopefully it's just the small line going from pump to filter. It'll only be a buck or two if it's that. The bolts also might just be a bit loose. be careful tightening them! heck, i ripped the whole filter apart getting those bolts off....good luck!
Nate Gundy
--
'86 240DL, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways