Also, when Mercedes-Benz decided to bring the "Baby Benz" into the US in 1984, all of the 190Ds had engine block (not dip-stick) heaters installed for cold weather starting. As the forumlation of diesel fuel has changed over the years ... now having far less parafin ... they have not been used in several years.
Ah..thanks..I misread the year in your original post..I thought it was 1974..MB had been selling a few diesels in the US for years..quirky little things..like the old SAABs..when you started them up..the vibration was so strong..felt like sitting in a mixmaster...when the gas crisis under Carter hit...oh, those lines..the MD diesels were suddenly the hottest cars in the country..they had 6 months waits..and those had the glow plug issues...expensive repairs...