Need advice on 300D stick shift
 

Advice on 300D stick shift

I just came across an 1977 300 D stick shift it has the 5 cylinder engine from factory it’s an European car all his life the car has been in California according to the records but I have never seen a 300D with a stick shift and I will like some advice from the members before I jump on the car, how can I check if it’s a gray market car the car has current California registration. So any input on the car will be greatly appreciated (the car runs very good) and I think the price is right. :confused: :confused:

good place to start
 

heres the russian vin decoder, its a big help and works best w/ euro vins.

mine was grey market imported in 1991. I'm always on the lookout for another one.

yeah, it is prob
 

a euro. and if it is it might have the small bumpers, which look cool but offer little protection. i would ask my insurance co to run the vin before buying in case they have a problem insuring it. otherwise, i owned a 280e euro and had not problems getting parts for it as most everything is the same as us spec that you will ever need to deal with.

it also could be a conversion like mine.

good luck

tom w

I saw one that came in to our shop once, an 83 I think- US bumpers but was non turbo, had manual climate control, cloth seats and rear seat headrests.

I just came home with it
 

I just came home with it, needs a little restoration work I like the power it's a non turbo Euro model with the small bumpers, cloth and MB tex seats, manual crank windows the paint is not original but looks good the Europa radio works but the speakers need to be replaced also the headliner needs to be replaced, and the handle for the sun roof is very hard to turn I was really surprised to see that the A/C works well, on the ID tag it has the name of what I believe was the original owner who brought the car here, the odo shows 203000 miles but who knows if this is close to actual, all gauges work so I will be busy for some time with my “new” 300 D. I will check the Russian site for the VIN, hope I can get some info.
Thanks for the info to all the members.

sounds nice
 

the non turbo will be satisfyingly quick to drive as compared to the 240, with the longivity of a non turbo 240, and all the simplicity of a 240. since the air works that is a bonus. if the engine has had good care no reason it cant go 4 to 500k miles. if the speedo is in miles it prob has been changed.

good luck with it

tom w

Time now to change the signature, huh?

Yes the speedo is on miles, when I check the engine there is no blow by noticeable only a very small amount, I just check the undercarriage it has a new tail muffler but it needs the rubber o rings the glow plugs are the old type in series but it starts relatively fast so I will leave it like that for the moment tomorrow I will change the fluids and check the front suspension and the vacuum lock.

Good idea as soon as is ready I will do that Thanks for the idea

A conversion by the dealer or shop or the PO? how to tell? the guy that sold it to me has a 80 DT also Euro with 4 speed stick on it, but looks like a poor conversion I didn't really pay atention to the wagon, looks like it's been sitting for a long time (rusty and flat tires) he bought the wagon as a donor for his 82 US wagon.

This one is manual also but no back seats headrest I have a 79 300D as parts car with the US bumpers but I like the Euro look on this pistachio green car ( also like the color)

well yeah
 

the green (a lot like apple green, right?) is cool. actually your car is pretty sure to be euro since i have never seen a us spec car that color. also if it has the euro bumpers it is unlikely that someone did all that conversion work. the eruo bumpers would be a tricky conversion because of the funky rubber ends on the us model that cover so much paint. it is a place to catch water and rust not to mention the faded paint under it.

the euros seem to have a lot less rust protction so if your car is clean i would consider having it ziebarted. i have done this with several old benzes with good success. it even worked wonders on a california clean 115 that i had a few years back. we ziebarted it painted it and drove it in our salty indiana winters for several years with pretty good results.

tom w

what do they do to ziebart them?

our 240D came with the ziebart sticker and those yellow Z plugs on the doors. Its the one with the most rust now.

well
 

they drill those little holes then fill the rocker panels with salt water....

just kidding. they spray all hidden areas with asphaltic spray which is supposed to prevent rust. however, the job will vary with the integrity of the local franchise and the skill of the operator. i have checked my cars many times and found areas not treated. when i had my suburban done i pulled the panels in the back so they could reach the inner fenders better. i also checked the leading edge of the hood since that is where those subs tended to rust.

so your rusty one may have come from michigan or cleveland or it might have been treated by an unskilled or lazy tech.

good luck

tom w

I got a 80 30D from a guy 2 yaers ago was shipped over to cal in 1987 its a gray market car and has 340k on it runs like new no oil leaks smooth running
has a 4spd trans I think that was comon set up for the euro cars.I like mine alot. I put in a/c from a 78 from a junk yard. for its a non climate control, and the a/c just went rite in.you can get the info off the vin# and the dealer can tell you what you got.when I get parts I tell them its a 300TD and it all fits.