Please no mean replys to this


Im new to this website. Ive owned my 300D turbo for 2 1/2 years, but ive never really done any research. I bought it off a "slick" guy who lied about a LOT of it.

heres about my car
1985 300D turbo with 208000 miles. great condition (from what ive seen of them) now to the stupid questions...

Whats the body style thing, and how do i know what style mine is?
What are the colors, i say beige, people say there are 3 diffrent beiges (inside)?
What is my exterior color?
Is it worth fixing my minor problems and keeping it over selling it? (vacuum, armature)
and is there a way to make it more reliable in the winter? (i live in colorado, and it gets darn cold, and sometimes wont start even with heater)

sry for the stupid questions, but family is pressuring me to sell it, and im sad about that because i LOVE this car...
Kenni
'85 300D turbo - FOR SALE

I did not see any reference in your post as to why your family is pressuring you to sell the car. Some, friends of mine included, think that any car with over 100K miles is on its last legs. However, the car you have will last much longer than that. If the only problems you are having are vacuum and hard to start in cold weather, you should be able to sort out these in short order by help from this forum.

How handy are you as a do-it-yourselfer? What has been checked so far?

Hard starting in cold weather may be related to a couple of things. Glow plugs would be one and valve adjustment would be the other. Glow plugs are as easy as spark plugs and valve adjustment together should not take much more than 2 hours labor.

What kind of vacuum problems are you having? You mentioned armature, did you mean alternator? What are its symptoms?

Also, your body style is a W123 series. Interior colors can be matched up at www.worlduph.com I think a google search of "mercedes paint colors" should put you on the actual "name" of the paint color. However, some here will probably be able to name it right off.

Welcome to the forum!
Sam

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

If it's a 300D and not 300SD then you have a 123. Make sure all 5 glow plugs are working properly and if it's plugged in it should start. Mine started all but twice last winter. Post a picture and I'm sure someone will respond to your color question. I've decided not to fix my vacuum door lock problems. Mine shuts off so to me its not worth the time. I have long arms and can reach all the door locks.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

If i have people to walk me through things, i can do just about anything... dated a mechanic for awhile, so i know some basics. Also husbands grandfather worked for penziol for a long time, so he can help with anything.

They want me to sell because of the starting in the winter, i have 2 babies, and i need something that will start EVERY try. Also the miles, and the nickle and diming problems.

I had someone fix the starter (hubby who knows NOTHING about cars chose the guy while i wasnt home) and he screwed up BAD 3 times. finally decided I had a dead spot in the armature and replaced it with a WRONG SIZE one. so it doesnt turn over every time i turn the key, always starts after 2-3 tries.
I had it looked at by a guy who LOVES older cars, and he said it was in great shape as far as cosmeticaly, and said my jump from first to second was great in my car.

I took it to a shop and guy said glow plugs were fine, but i needed new hoses from injectors. $25 later new hoses. and he said the vacuum was bad (car wouldnt shut off for 2 weeks) found a kink in the oil filter (i dont know how this is possible) and he pulled it out. Slowly things are coming back together, all but 1 door locks, trunk works again, and car shuts off after 5 seconds hesitation.

Also ( BAD me) i havent done any routine matinence on this car since i got it at 150K, and now its at 208K. what should i do, and please say i can do it all myself. Hubby got new car and every penny has to go to car payments.
Thanks for everything guys
Kenni
'85 300D turbo - FOR SALE

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yeah, this one really is stupid.. lol
are all MBs made in Germany?

Hey Alison,
A lot of the maintenance on these cars can be done with minimul expense.
valve adjustment, repack bearings, filters, glowplugs, etc...

IF you can do it yourself that is. If you have to pay for repairs then it can easily run into a lot of money.

I think the first step would be to get a service manual. The Haynes is a good one to start with. It has great info on valves, filters and checking glowplugs. checking chain stretch.

A lot of this is in the DIY sticky here on this site also.

that's a sharp looking ride. a little cleaning and a coat of wax. I wouldn't let anyone talk me into selling it based on looks and somewhat poor performance.

Just my 2c

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

Thanks alot. I keep thinking if i sell this car im going to regret it for a long LONG LONG time. so far shes cost me very little. and the mother in law *we live with her due to money issues* wont let me say no, im not selling it, so ive talked her into letting me put 4500 on the for sale sign. I hope thats really high lol.

anyone in colorado that would do me the HUGE favor of checking out my car and giving me an opion?
Kenni
'85 300D turbo - FOR SALE (kinda) lol

If you are anywhere near Denver, Stu Ritter has a very well known shop and is well respected here and on other boards. You might think about an overall inspection from HIM and then go from there. Stu Ritter Mercedes Benz Technician. He would be the benchmark for quality repair. That being said, did you know that your glowplug system (helps start the car) will continue to glow AFTER the red light on the dash goes out? I'm betting that the hard starting can be greatly helped if you keep the glowplugs burning a bit longer. They will continue to glow up to about 1 minute. Try that first. You can gets tons of info using the search function on this web site.

You've used the term armature, which can be a part on the alternator OR the starter. Of which are you referring?

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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)

i had the starter rebuilt. and he said its that one.

Sounds like you havn't had the valves done in more then 50 thousand miles. It is recommended to be done every 15000-20000 on these engines. I guarantee a valve adjustment will solve 91% of your starting issues. Fairly easy to do and free if you have wrenches.

Valve Adjustment DIY page

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

or Stu could do it when he gave it a once over and let you know how some basic upkeep can keep it nice. Good luck, if you really like it but have to sell it, you should ask at least 7K

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

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

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

If Stu can't get you in, I'm up north of Denver and do a lot of specialty work on 123 chassis diesels. Am well known in the biodiesel crowd for being a decent wrench on these (even teach diesel mechanics classes for CU Biodiesel.)

Anyway, most of what your car needs you CAN do with some guidance. You're definitely starting in the right place.

http://www.coloradobiodiesel.com

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol

where are you at north? im in the boulder "area." and what would you charge me for a look over?

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Kenni
'85 300D turbo
208K miles
FOR SALE (kinda)

I'm also in the Boulder "area". Am a member of Boulder Biodiesel (look up my mechanics tips on their website) and work on most of the 123's in the town.

I normally charge $48 to go over a customers car and make all the recommendations, some they can do, some that should be done ASAP, some that "should" be done soon, but they can schedule a time in the future to have done.

You can call at the website # or PM me and I'll send my email so we can converse about it.

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1984 300D Turbo - 4-speed manual conversion, mid-level resto

1983 300D - parts car

1979 300TD Auto - Parts car.

1985 300D Auto - Wrecked/Parts.


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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carrol