Yeah, I bought a 1984 300D for my daily commute since Hans was assasinated by a deer. I only need something to last a year or so and I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I didn't. The car is a one owner (owner's niece has driven it for the last couple of years) with meticulous records. Every scheduled and non-scheduled service performed at an MB dealer (I didn't know there was a 360k service). I drove it and was favorably impressed. It had been sitting for 2 weeks, yet started right up. Ran great on the hiway. Trans shifted better than Hans ever did - no slipping. Sunroof works, ac needs a charge (new hoses a couple of years ago), power antenna works. Has a bit of wheel well rust and paint is faded on hood and roof. Front seats have been covered since new and look new. I have the window sticker and it shows that the seats are leather - a $1000 option (total sticker price, $33,000). New radio and tires.

From the service history I find:

No work, other than routine service and a couple of modulators has EVER been done to the transmission. That's 400k on an original transmission and it still works great!

Engine had every MB recommended service up till 380k. They don't explain what they did in the records, but I'm assuming it might include injector cleaning, etc. They usually cost $5-900, not including oil changes and other service done at the same time. The only thing done to the engine, aside from motor mounts, air cleaner mounts, valve adjustments, etc. was a new timing chain installed at 340k (note: invoice is stamped " timing chains should be changed every 80,000 miles or severe damage may result"), the oil filter housing gasket replaced, oil cooler lines, and two vacuum pumps.

New brakes 4k ago.

Biggest problems over the life of the car:
Power antenna replaced 5 times.
Front brakes and pads replaced many times.
Water leak on passenger side (resealed windshield and trunk - still leaks)
AC system has had compressor replaced twice, several hoses and lots of R-12.
Two cruise control amps ($522 each).
RH halfshaft replaced at 330k.
Radiator at 320k.
Air cleaner mounts and bracket replaced many times.

Has recent new rack dampner pin ($222)


Has had oil changes every 3000 miles and uses less than a quart between changes.

Spare tire/wheel never mounted.

The niece loved the car, but decided to sell it when it hit 400k regardless of how well it was working. She bought a new VW TDI.

I would love to get this car to 500k on its original engine/transmission. I'm sure I'll have challenges ahead, and I'm grateful for this forum. I still have Hans as a parts car, so most of the mechanicals parts are at my house.


If I'm an idiot for buying this car, fire away!

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

Sounds like a good car to me. Condition trumps mileage, especially on an older car. Good for you.

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

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

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

I agree with Pete. Sounds good.

And i would bet the car doesn't "use" oil but leaks it.

The A/C works?!

can't believe the tranny has never been apart. Just goes to show what regular maintenance can do for the life of the tranny. And I'd bet they used dino fluid too and not a synthetic.

Cheers,

Bill

Wow! I don't know if it was a wise purchase or not- but it sure is interesting! If it ever dies it would be something to do an auto-autopsy on.

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

I don't know what you paid, but I suspect it was worth it just in parts.

Hey my goal is to go 800k or more with my car(no matter how many repairs).....but I am insane A million would be awesome.....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Tenknots-

This "new" car still has its original 400K injectors? And it runs OK? Verrrrrry interesting!

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

I don't have a reciept showing any injector work, so I believe they are original, though they may have been cleaned/serviced before.

Does anyone here have more miles than this?

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1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

sounds like a very good car to me... regular service and all the records etc is what makes it worth it, just keep up on those records for the car while you own it!

maybe I'll buy it off ya when ya do sell

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2003 VW Passat GLS 1.8t wagon 73k mi
1998 Dodge Dakota Sport 228k mi
1974 VW Karmann Ghia Coupe 74k mi (for sale)

Hey, I have every intention to keep my '83 300SD until it simply says "no more!"

Right now I'm at 284K and still going strong, no oil usage between 3K changes and I wouldn't hesitate to drive the car anywhere. Hell, if you could drive to Europe, you can bet it would have been there already!

If I am fortunate enough to get to 400K with my SD, I'm still not going to hesitate to hop in it and drive cross country. I've had that car for years now and it has proven itself to me time and time again. In fact, in honor of her 300K "anniversary" she will be receiving a new coat of DB930 Silverblue Metallic paint. Of course the paintwork will probably happen before winter so as to keep the body protected and rust free.

There have been many times when I thought about selling her (keyword: thought) and using my 1970 Jaguar as my daily hack but I can never bring myself to actually put the car up for sale. It's just been too damn reliable! And with the fresh paint, she'll be once again aesthetically beautiful too!

IMHO, there's no better daily driver than an old MB turbodiesel. There may be more beautiful cars out there, more sporty cars but none ever so trustworthy as a diesel Benz. And I think we all know that

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Regards,
Aaron

wow, great find.... worth every penny....

I am speechless

Do you realize you actually used the words "Jaguar" and "reliable" in the same paragraph?

OK. I'm gonna guess $2,000....

over or under?

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

i have thought about your car and here is what you ought to do...

I would write a letter and send it to every mercedes dealer in the country.

i think you could probably get 20k for this car since its had every dealer service... if i owned a dealership i would polish it up and put it in the show room and I would display all the dealer service stamps..... It would make a great sales tool....

+1
Excellent!