I just briefly drove an '84 300d with 160K or so on the clock. minimal jack point rust, original owner sedan. sunroof works, ac doesn't, (new compressor supposedly in deal) no evidence of plugged drainage for hood hinges, sunroof pan etc. no apparent fuel leaks at injectors or elsewhere, looks like oil leaks or spills at back of block on passenger side, cold started pretty easily with not much smoke, will not turn off with key, must use stop lever in engine bay, seemed slow to get going (I havn't driven alot of these cars) but I could feel the turbo and acceleration assocated with that, letting off on the go pedal induced some semi rough tranny down shifting......minimal rust for this area (new england) asking $1400. no smoke out of valve cover after drive at idle....Any body care to offer quick thoughts? my conversation to date has been with a friend of the owner who has been driving it during recent history. I doubt there will be a good paper trail for maintenace but am lead to believe the owner who I hope to talk to shortly has had routine maintainance done. My position currently is to consider buying it for gradual sorting into my primary trranportation with two tank WVO sytem.

Any quick thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Rob M Concord, MA

Alos had a metallic rattle at idle that would go away if you leaned on the air cleaner

for $1400 I'd say buy it

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Jim

Likely the oil on the engine passenger side is related to the rattle. The aircleaner bracket is broken, so its rattling around. Allowing oil to leak from the air/oil seperator in the air cleaner.

I'd offer $1000 or maybe $900. But I'd be willing to pay $1400 if I were looking for another one.

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'84 300CD Turbo 132k (Anthracite Grey) - WVO - My daily driver - Recently named coo-coo-coupe by my daughter.
'84 300D Turbo 240k (Anthracite Grey) - Garage Queen
'83 300D Turbo 220k (Orient Red) - WVO - Wifes daily driver

I'm not a certified mechanic, but I did stay at a HolidayInn Express last night.

Jump on it! but as Mr. Stein said "I'd offer him something lower, maybe $1k and see if he bites."

Sounds like some minor problems to attend to. Vacuum leak somewhere causing it to NOT shut off. Missing nuts or something loose from the air cleaner housing. Since you state that you haven't driven these cars before, the slow acceleration is probably normal. Most people who are used to driving a gasser and then drive a 300D, feel as though they are putzing along. Once you get used to it, you wont even notice it.

Post some pics if you have them.

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Frank
84 500SEL EURO 101K ( JUST LIKE MY 1ST WIFE. GLAD TO GET RID OF HER! )
85 300D 310K (sold)
90 350SDL 184K sold
83 300D 118K (sold)
88 300E 153k (sold)
93 400E 105K (sold)

You've got a vaccum leak which will cause poor to zero signal to the transmission resulting in hard shifts. More vaccum, less harshness. Your vaccum leak is also causing the engine shutoff to not work properly. The vaccum assisted door locks should also not be working properly due to the vaccum leak. The air cleaner bracket is broken which can also effect the oil separator fitting causing the oil to leak past the drain pipe and down the passenger side of the engine.

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

Could be a good deal especially with the vacuum problem of not shutting off. This makes the car worth less unless you tell the seller that it's no big deal and easy to fix

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

At that kind of mileage, the ball joints are getting tired - See if they have been replaced already. Same goes for other suspension/steering stuff.

Worst case scenario with the lack of vacuum, is that the vacuum pump needs rebuilding - See if you get any kind of vacuum from the one of the T's before it goes into the brake booster.

Check the radiator fluid in the reservoir - Make sure there isn't any sort of contaminant in there, or that the fluid itself is groady.

Have Fun!

-Larry

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I havn't bought it yet but I picked it up at 6:30AM. I have a tough schedule but am going to try to get it to an indy/MB shop for a look on the lift. This morniong the throttle was sticking in stop and go traffic and that got my blood going....Looks like slop in the linkage on first peak. Whjen the car is coasting to a stop as it gets to slow/idle speed the tranny clunks. and the clunk is heavy and not so much loud as it is heavy the whole car feels it. The sellar suggested it needed ball joints and I was going to replace those during my return to service effort....Coolant resevoir/fluid looks food. It also turns out that its an '85 instead of an '84....Still a 123 no?

Thnaks for any furhter thoughts you can lend....I have a few hours I figure to decide....Rob M Concord, MA

I've heard that a change to a better transmission (possibly with a vac amplifier) was done by 85. I really don't know if that's true but maybe someone who knows for sure will chime in. That would be a considerable plus. Ball joints are easy BTW, I can't believe how I dreaded doing the job when it was so easy. Look for structural rust underneath in the frame, all around wheel wells, behind headlights, where front sway bar goes through body, floorboards, at bottom of trunk, inside trunk under rear window, bumper mounts, under door trim. Check for excessive blowby at idle.

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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue"

"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

listen, look, .........and duck.

85 is a 123. Find out if the trap oxidizer has been delt with. The clunk could also be flex discs. Make sure to take a good look at them when its up on the lift.

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'84 300CD Turbo 132k (Anthracite Grey) - WVO - My daily driver - Recently named coo-coo-coupe by my daughter.
'84 300D Turbo 240k (Anthracite Grey) - Garage Queen
'83 300D Turbo 220k (Orient Red) - WVO - Wifes daily driver

I'm not a certified mechanic, but I did stay at a HolidayInn Express last night.

So if I call a MB dealer wit the VIN they should be able to tell if the trap ox has been updated?

for an '85 300D with 168K miles if the recall hadn't been done The dealer will STILL replace the trap and possibly turbo and exhaust when I bring it in? FOR NO CHARGE? (That is to say if I buy the car)

anyone? getting close to decision time....is there a throttle return spring as part of the linkage? The throtle is stickin gon this car.

Rob M Concord, MA

return spring. look under the linkage at the firewall end.

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Currently leaning towards passing. If the car remains available after the weekend I may renew my pursuit. the odometer was turning but very slowely compared to distance travelled. Now I'm second guessing the mileage.....Arg used car pursuit can be very stressful.....Thanks for your tips and commments I'll prolly return to lurk search and learn mode now.....
Rob M
Concord, MA

I thought the trap oxidizers weren't introduced until '86 on the 124 model?

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)