1979 300TD 66K Miles - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Rich300TDMBZ · #1 01-20-2006, 01:47 AM

This is one nice looking 300TD. I wonder why somebody would buy a car in 1979, and just let it stay in the garage - this car averages usage of just over 2500 miles/year! Looks like it is a desirable car as the bidding is almost $10K.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-300-Series-300TD-WAGON-1979-Mercedes-Benz-300TD-300D-WAGON-66K-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6330QQitemZ4604604986QQrdZ1

speedy300Dturbo · #2 01-20-2006, 01:54 AM

Wow, heated seats in any 123 is a VERY rare option. He also has a nice 300SDL for sale that has the somewhat rare power-adjustable rear seat.

Diesel Giant · #3 01-20-2006, 05:25 AM

Having a car sit around is the worst thing possible. I would expect many repairs once it is driven.

#4 01-20-2006, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Giant

Having a car sit around is the worst thing possible. I would expect many repairs once it is driven.

It all depends on care. If it was owned by the proverbial granny-only-goes-to church-and-back then I'd buy it to be mostly for good looks and not expect 300k out of it. If it was in professional care/storage, then the sky is the limit.

But, that's what a PPI is for.

GSK11740 · #5 01-20-2006, 07:29 AM

I like the "Small defect, however notice how deep and shiny the paint is." and the "small defects" I see look like rust. Makes me wonder about what you can't see in the pictures.

Ramblin · #6 01-20-2006, 07:56 AM

It sure looks like low mileage from the door panels and other clean areas. It is hard to make a car look new if it isn't.

pawoSD · #7 01-20-2006, 08:23 AM

It could also have been owned by a very wealthy person for a long time, who had 5+ other cars to their name, and barely put any miles on them simply due to the numbers of cars they rotated between....

I'll bet its a likely reason....but WOW is that car clean (except for the paint flaws...), wshew.

Diesel Giant · #8 01-20-2006, 09:19 AM

If the car was kept in a vacuum chamber the whole time, engine lubricated and rotated every month, and a whole host of other items, then yes it may excape the ravages of time. Cars that are not driven very often tend to die an early death mileae wise when they are put into normal service.

On the othe hand, having one is a great place to start a good restoration and a lot less greasy to work on.

TX76513 · #9 01-20-2006, 09:21 AM

Wow everything does look great except for the engine bay and the brake pedal (wear) which does not seem to be consistent with the quality of everything else.

Diesel Giant · #10 01-20-2006, 09:26 AM

The only thing I dont like on that clean ride, is the oil pressure. Notice that at operating pressure it is below 30psi. While that is acceptable, an engine with the mileage as stated should be at over 40psi. Heck my coupe I just sold had better oil pressure at hot idle and had 215k miles on it.
Something smells here.

I like the car though.

riethoven · #11 01-20-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin

It sure looks like low mileage from the door panels and other clean areas. It is hard to make a car look new if it isn't.

I usually attribute heat to the wrinkling of the vinyl on the door panels, but they look really clean and only with minor wrinkling, but the vinyl around the window frames is all puckered up like it was exposed to alot of heat.

While I am being picky, take a look at the windshield gasket and see how cracked that is. I also would have thought that the engine would be cleaner than it is and it had some rust on the air cleaner housing.

I guess it is humid enough in Springfield MO. to make the rust grow, because that one on the fender is fairly significant, and looks like someone put POR on it to clean it up. It is strange that the other rust is right at the chrome trim.

But there is no doubt that this is a super clean car, but I would not be surprised that the mileage was clipped at some point in the car's life, and I have heard that carfax on these old cars is about worthless.

GSK11740 · #12 01-20-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Giant

The only thing I dont like on that clean ride, is the oil pressure. Notice that at operating pressure it is below 30psi. While that is acceptable, an engine with the mileage as stated should be at over 40psi. Heck my coupe I just sold had better oil pressure at hot idle and had 215k miles on it.
Something smells here.

I like the car though.

Good catch! My '79 300SD with 250K+ has better oil pressure at operating temperature. This car is starting to look like one of those "too good to be true" things.

Rich300TDMBZ · #13 01-20-2006, 01:53 PM

If I am looking for a 300TD, I would buy this one and save $6000. Hey! it has the neat cup holders - looks like it is from somebody in this forum. I also like the roof cross bars, useful and hard to find now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-300-Series-300-TD-Wagon-1983-Mercedes-300TD-Wagon-Diesel-Silver-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6330QQitemZ4606472201QQrdZ1

MTUpower · #14 01-20-2006, 08:31 PM

Ever notice how on egay the cars that go for alot of bucks are sold by dealers? The car listed is called "blue china'. Just a small thing, but the color is called china blue not blue china. Those that know the cars and really take care of them are not those that get the highest price when selling. It's obvious that many photo's and slick presentation is key to a high final bid- not a car that is in better shape and will last longer.

kjs300td · #15 01-20-2006, 10:44 PM

that car was on the web for sale this spring for $4500,00,I called the state motor dept.and got the name of the person who owned it last and they would not talk to me or answer my calls so I called the Mb dealer in the area for a record of service no help,the people who had it for sale talked about how great there service was so I asked them to call the last owner
and get records they only laughed at me for a stupid request on a $4500.
car I gave up and bought a 300td in calif something just smelled bad