Hi everyone! This last weekend I picked up a used 1993 300D Turbo with 197k miles on it for $4800. It's in great shape with only a few issues I'll ask about later (dealer gave it a good bill of health).

Right now I have just two general questions.

1) Is there anything I should know about this car and a Mercedes in general for a newbie like me (I’ve already read some of the other threads related to this type of question but I thought I should ask)?

2) Is there anything I should know about owning a diesel as I've never had one before?

Thanks,
PaulW

1)i have almost the same car with the same miles, heres a list of the stuff ive replaced in the last 20k miles or so:

AC compressor
AC evaporator coil
AC fan motor
shocks/struts all around
cylinder head (whoa)
rebuilt turbo

thats just the stuff i remember. 200k miles seems like when you have to just start replacing stuff, so i hope youre up to it!

2)dont put gas in it

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

Paul, try to stay current on all maintenance. Review schedule. Read the diesel forums.

You'll quickly learn that diesels and Mercedes are very costly to repair when big things start to fail. Start a slush fund

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1998 W210 diesel (wiped out by a texter)
Baum spring compressor "for rent"

Ok you guys are freaking me out! No I am not up to replacing all that stuff! Maybe I should just sell now. :S


PaulW

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1993 300D 2.5 Turbo Diesel - 201k miles

Give it a little time. Cars don't run forever, not even MBz diesels. Find out if the car is going to be well-behaved.

Do you know the previous owner, history of this car, etc.?

$200 and that's my final offer!

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

Yes I know the previous owner and have complete maintenance history. It has always been serviced at the MB Dealership in Tucson, AZ and they said the previous owner has taken very good care of the car and had all maintenence performed. I need to dig into the history more on a car this age there is a lot! For good or bad I really trusted the dealership and there knowledge of the car and its life.
It seems the only major thing that has been replaced is the radiator two times.

Paul

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1993 300D 2.5 Turbo Diesel - 201k miles

okay $400 but that's my final offer!

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

well, that's a little different if you have that much info. Let's hope he took very good care and tended to the things that needed to be done.


Good luck with it, it may turn out very well for you.

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1998 W210 diesel (wiped out by a texter)
Baum spring compressor "for rent"

Moon is a cheapskate and will nickle and dime you all day. Just ignore him. How about 400 dollars and ten cents? Do not forget to change the oil at the prescribed intervals as you go along. The fuel savings will help lessen maintenance and repair costs to some extent plus you are probably at the low end of the depreciation cycle. That has some value as well. Unfortunatly your model is not trouble free but in reality most cars are not either. Or spend a lot for reliability and watch monthly depreciation hammer you. Study the posts relating to this year and model in the archives. You can keep the car as you probably brought it reasonably enough to resell at some future date for what you paid or even make a little profit. You may grow to like it as well. We do not always do the seemingly logical thing in life but as we get older sometimes we appreciate the fact we did it anyways. The irony is 15 years from now you can use it as emotional blackmail thing when you drive say a KIA. You can tell your out of control teenagers that you would still be driving mercedes cars if they had not financially drained you for example. Think out of the box. Another favorite perspective of mine is in general 50 years from now it will not mater what you did. Some people report very little in the way of problems on this model as well. Try to establish a connection by word of mouth with a good independent mercedes mechanic in your area and generally keep clear of the dealership unless he has a good reputation and charges fairly. Most I believe do not but I am biased to some extent. Generally one way or another we pay to own cars. Not many of us escape if any. On the bright side the weather is going to be great for the next while. So get out there to drive and enjoy the car. If you want to trade to reduce your anxiety I can deliver a 123 mercedes car that is good for a million miles and gets 40 mpg. It's previous owner was a little old lady that drove cab for the past 30 years but now that she has retired the car had to go. Do not concern yourself with the history and even the suction cup marks on the roof polished right out. Plus as an added bonus the car was never still long enough to attract rust. Remember a deal like this does not come along every day. It is hard to find a car of this quality other than on ebay! You could be a lot worse off if you had brought one there as well remember. Another bright side perhaps. I forgot to add as well that you did not purchase the dreaded to some extent 3.5 litre block so count your blessings. Best of luck.

even with all the money ive put into it, there is no car id rather drive in the world, new, used or even the batmobile (well ok, it would be my weekender) i know youll love your car. i know that every time i barrow someones new car i find myself thinking "what a piece of junk!". even with all the mega repairs ive done, ive still only got like 15k in it including what i paid and its like new. so i could either drive this for what i paid, or a Kia. you made the right choice, its totally worth it.

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

Hey it looks like we have similar taste in cars! Thanks for the words of encouragement. On a side note yesterday I filled up for the first time, calculated mileage.... 30 MPG!! Rock on!! Now I can't wait to convert to veggie oil in a few months.

Paul

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1993 300D 2.5 Turbo Diesel - 201k miles

Good car and easy to work on....enjoy

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1993 300D 2.5L 240,000+ miles

whoa, dont get started on veggie oil, youll never hear the end of it. the dinosaurs here are dead set against it, especiall against people who bought a diesel benz just so they could run it on SVO/WVO. me, i dont have a problem with it, its your car do whatever you want. but im not gunna switch to veggie until were in a 'road warrior' type situation, i think ive got enough bacon drippings saved up in my freezer to make it to barter town.

rock on indeed, ive gotten 34mpg on the highway doing 80 (no traffic). im sure your car will be great, just make sure you have plenty of cash on hand all the time, nothing ever seems to break when you do!

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1991 300 D 2.5 Turbo, 220k
also in the family:
1981 240 D 185k
1991 350 SD 185k
2006 S 500
2005 SLK 350

Hey Paul and welcome to the fourms! There is so much info here for you to absorb that you could read for several lifetimes. Always ask if there is something we can help you with.

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair