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  #1  
Old 06-06-2006, 05:22 PM
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1980 300 TD Wagon

Hello All........1st post.

I found a 1980 300 TD Wagon.........6/10 condition, 10 would be perfect. It looks really good driving/walking up to it, but when you get closer is when you start to notice imperfections. It has about 4 rust spots the size of a dime or smaller. The A/C & heat controls do not work.......only the defrost and it only blows heat. 2 power windows do not work. The fuel pedal moves about 2 inches or so before engine rpm increases. It has 128K on the odometer. I drove it today and it ran out good.......would get up to 70-75 mph if I stayed in it. It had an oil spot under it about 6" in diameter from sitting there a a couple months or so, but it started right up even though it hadn't been run in weeks. Tires are all 50% or better, rode very smooth, brakes were strong, steering felt a bit sloppy, but not too bad.

I say all this because the guy wants $1000 for it and I want to know if it is worth it based on what I have described. Please tell me what you think.

Waylan

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  #2  
Old 06-06-2006, 07:22 PM
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I would be VERY warry of the 128,000mi. I can't tell, you how many slipping odometers I have fixed on 123s. '80 is non turbo(you probably already knew that). The broken climate control can get expensive. In my opinion.... the 5cly TURBO engine is a much better engine for long running and cold starting.
RUST is RUST!! I personally feel you get alot more for your money by buying a better shape car for more money than thinking that you can "fix it up".
From a mechanics point of view....... I would steer clear.
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My Truck.. 2007 DODGE, 5.9 Cummins, 6spd stick, 4X4. My car..1977 240D, OTHER WHEELS...1955 VW Oval window bug, European Delivery (Holland) with a 1700cc, 2 barrel, Porsche drum brakes. 1939 WILLYS Pick-up. 1967 Triumph 200cc Tiger Cub. 1976 Honda 550F 4cyl Motor Cycle.
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  #3  
Old 06-06-2006, 07:28 PM
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Motorhead,

Have I seen you on dieseltruckresource.com? I frequent over there. I have a 98 12v quad cab short bed 5 speed 4x4.

Anyway, that is about what I've decided to do as well regarding the mercedes.

Is there a good place to find a good used mercedes, preferably turbo?

Waylan
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  #4  
Old 06-06-2006, 07:31 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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i am not sure why motor head thinks the turbo motor is better for long running and starting. my experience is the the non turbo is a bigger 240 motor so it is extremely long lived and cheaper to maintain than the turbo motor. of course the turbo motor has more power but that is the only advantage i see. the turbo motor is very long lived too but at 275k or so tends to need a head gasket. the non turbo prob wont need one at 500k which it should do easily if the oil is kept changed religeously.

the rust spots you mention dont seem significant unless they are just signs of much worse hidden by bondo. if that is so you should be able to see tell tale signs of a cheap repaint.

if it starts and runs well it is prob worth 1000. but it wouldn t hurt to offer less.

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.
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  #5  
Old 06-06-2006, 07:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by walexa07
Motorhead,

Have I seen you on dieseltruckresource.com? I frequent over there. I have a 98 12v quad cab short bed 5 speed 4x4.

Anyway, that is about what I've decided to do as well regarding the mercedes.

Is there a good place to find a good used mercedes, preferably turbo?

Waylan
Waylan, I am a member on TDR (turbo diesel register). I don't know where you live so it is hard to say where to look. Unless you can look, inspect,drive the car first, I would stay away from ebay (MY $.02 worth) You just have to keep looking for that special car and be there FIRST.
The '82 to 85 300's 123 bodies are nice cars. People also like the 126 model 300's I THINK that they were built '81 to '85. I hope I don't get flamed saying this but I have heard that the early 6cyl, 3ltr diesels had problems with cylinder heads. I have driven the 6 cyls and they do GO!!
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My Truck.. 2007 DODGE, 5.9 Cummins, 6spd stick, 4X4. My car..1977 240D, OTHER WHEELS...1955 VW Oval window bug, European Delivery (Holland) with a 1700cc, 2 barrel, Porsche drum brakes. 1939 WILLYS Pick-up. 1967 Triumph 200cc Tiger Cub. 1976 Honda 550F 4cyl Motor Cycle.
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  #6  
Old 06-06-2006, 08:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth
i am not sure why motor head thinks the turbo motor is better for long running and starting. my experience is the the non turbo is a bigger 240 motor so it is extremely long lived and cheaper to maintain than the turbo motor. of course the turbo motor has more power but that is the only advantage i see. the turbo motor is very long lived too but at 275k or so tends to need a head gasket. the non turbo prob wont need one at 500k which it should do easily if the oil is kept changed religeously.


tom w
tom w, I guess where I live, where ALOT of peoples driving is high speed freeway, I personally see the turbo as a better candidate for the highway. AGAIN this is personal observation. My '77 240D has only 145,000 mi and it can be hard starting in the winter. it also has alot more blow-by than the Turbo models that I have checked. All of the 240's and non turbo 300's that I have checked seem to have more blow-by and seem to be harder starting in the winter.
I like 240's for the simplicity..... manual windows, no climate control ect. But I also like the drivability that the turbo models have. I don't feel so under powered on the highway. Mind you that I drove a 1980 VW Dasher Diesel wagon for 19 years with a whopping 52HP. (48hp before I swapped the 1.5 with a 1.6ltr engine). I almost wish I had it back. After I put the 1.6 diesel and later an Audi diesel 5spd, I could get 44mpg.
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My Truck.. 2007 DODGE, 5.9 Cummins, 6spd stick, 4X4. My car..1977 240D, OTHER WHEELS...1955 VW Oval window bug, European Delivery (Holland) with a 1700cc, 2 barrel, Porsche drum brakes. 1939 WILLYS Pick-up. 1967 Triumph 200cc Tiger Cub. 1976 Honda 550F 4cyl Motor Cycle.
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  #7  
Old 06-06-2006, 11:11 PM
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Hmmmm, does it smoke, is it silver, is it in Florida?
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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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  #8  
Old 06-06-2006, 11:37 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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i think blowby is related to poor care not the fact that it is a turbo motor.

no arguement on the useful power though.

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.
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  #9  
Old 06-07-2006, 03:15 PM
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bump
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  #10  
Old 06-07-2006, 03:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyL
Hmmmm, does it smoke, is it silver, is it in Florida?

Hmmmm, does it smoke, is it silver, is it in Florida?
Bump.....
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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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  #11  
Old 06-07-2006, 03:48 PM
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I have a 1980 300TD and I love mine. The climate control system in these
(1979 and 1980)are a known problem. There are several ways to bypass it and you can allways fix it.(rather expensive) The rear hydraulics are expensive but pretty simple to understand and fix your self (real messy) The issue of turbo vs non well let me just say the car is not going to win any drag races thats for sure. Once you get used to it is is fine, keeps you from jumping out in traffic. All in all it sounds worth $1000.00
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  #12  
Old 06-07-2006, 04:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyL
Hmmmm, does it smoke, is it silver, is it in Florida?
Bump.....
No, it is yellow, and is in northeast louisiana.
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  #13  
Old 06-07-2006, 04:30 PM
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Posts: 9,675
Some 1980 wagons have the Climate Control III. 1980 was quite the transitional year with the wagons.
If the climate control buttons are horizontal that is better than if they are verticle.
All this doesn't really matter, if is certainly worth a grand. That doesn't mean you should certainly spend thousands to make it perfect. Some of these are just drivers, and solid cars, and are not worth it to spend all the $ even if you got the car free.
Determine you end goal, and shop accordingly.......
I don't mind the non turbos one bit. Lots of folks are happy with their 240's, and a 5 cyl NA definitely has more power than that.
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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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  #14  
Old 06-07-2006, 05:04 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyL
Some 1980 wagons have the Climate Control III. 1980 was quite the transitional year with the wagons.
If the climate control buttons are horizontal that is better than if they are verticle.
All this doesn't really matter, if is certainly worth a grand. That doesn't mean you should certainly spend thousands to make it perfect. Some of these are just drivers, and solid cars, and are not worth it to spend all the $ even if you got the car free.
Determine you end goal, and shop accordingly.......
I don't mind the non turbos one bit. Lots of folks are happy with their 240's, and a 5 cyl NA definitely has more power than that.
Thanks for the response. I think I'll get it. My end goal is to have a 2nd vehicle that is dependable. All I want to get working for sure is the windows for now. It would be nice to have temperature control even if the A/C doesn't work.......just so that I can have the vents blowing something besides hot air in the summertime.

Something I forgot to mention is that both times I ran it, after a mile of running hard it acted like it was starved for fuel.......air in the lines, or something. Does this sound like something a fuel filter and fresh fuel will fix?

One other thing.......is there a simple adjustment to get the accelerator pedal to engage quicker? I'd like answers to these questions before I purchase the car.

Waylan
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  #15  
Old 06-07-2006, 05:49 PM
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the pedal play should be!! adjustable with the cable. the A/c is questionable and yes if it is sitting it will starve for fuel change all the filters including the one in the tank. Dump and flush the tank and add fresh fuel.

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