I am thinking of buying this car with 90K miles, service records, one owner..dealer is aking $9900 but will probably take $7500....what should I look for? any unique problems? I have owned about 6 1984-85 300Ds and enjoyed them......is the acceleration better than the old ones? still the same engine? Thanks!

this is a completely different motor. it is a 2.5 liter 5 cyl. it has less torque than the 617 you are used to and carries a higher axle ratio, so it is, i found slower to accelerate than the 3 liter five turbo but will cruise at 80 to 85 once wound up. and deilver 30 mpg... more if you drive slower.

they are very nice riding and handling cars. they are not nearly as easy to work on as the 123 chassis and there are issues with the evap unit (the underdash hvac unit). the ac inside the car equip is a lot harder to get at and more prone to failure. big ac repair bills caused me to sell my very clean 124 300d with only 129,ooo miles and i went back to 123 and 126 chassis cars.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

thanks, TW..I am going to check it out tomorrow! I appreciate the help!

If you can, hold out for a 1987 300D, with the O603

I owned a 92 300D for about 100K. I sold it at 205K, if my memory serves me correctly.

Over that time I needed to:

1) Replace front left and right ball joints
2) Replace front left and right tie rods
3) Replace front and rear sway bushings
4) Replace all four brakes and rotors
5) Replace the radiator, hoses and t-stat
6) Replace the vaccum pump for the door locks and the lock actuator for the driver side door
7) Replace one front electric fan

The only work I was not able to do myself was the ball joints - and I am very much a novice home mechanic.

A good friend of mine still owns the car. It now has 235K on it. So far, he has needed to do the brakes again, replace a sending unit for the electric fans, rebuild the odometer ($250 from the dealer), and replace the rear links. He is 66 years old, another amateur, and has done all the work himself - except the odometer.

Every now and then I get the chance to drive her again. The car looks and runs better then it did when I bough it over 135K ago!!

Just make sure you buy a good one.

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1996 (W210) E300D 86K - Traded in for a Lexus
1992 (W124) 300D 2.5 Turbo 202K - Sold
1983 (W123) 300D, 146K - Sold
1970 280S, 263K - Sold - Beginning of addiction