Cabernet 300D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rrgrassi · #1 07-10-2006, 03:01 PM

I just put a deposit down on an 82 300D. It has 216k, but seems to run really well. There is a little blowby, as the oil cap did a minor dance, but the car drove really well, no pulling to any side going downw the road, or in braking. No flairing in the tranny, but it would bark the tires between 1st and second. Windows and sunroof work, with no abnormal noises. A/C is nice and cold. I did not see any indications of a 134 conversion. Cruise works, has a replacement Kenwood radio. Paint looks good, but need some clearcoat touch up here and there. It is peeled a little at the top of the door, so I suspect a repaint. It is not noticable until you get right up on it. Vacuum system seems ok, locks work and the engine shuts down about 1-2 seconds after turning off the key. I did not notice any signs of engine oil in the air cleaner.

This will be my first MB! I am waiting approval for the loan to go through.

After I get the car, are there any things I need to be aware of, besides doing a complete fluid and filter change?

The A/C does have the crappy GM R4 compressor, so I will be looking for a way to mount an A6 on it when the time warrants that.

So, now get ready for the possibilty of a flood of questions. I do take the time to read all the new posts, and have gleaned lots of great info here. Luckily I do understand cars and I do have some diesel experience from owning a John Deere diesel tractor. This was a 3 cylinder, non turbo, but it is what started my love for diesel engines. A friend of mine had an 82 300D that he sold in '97. It had over 500K miles on it.

Jim B. · #2 07-10-2006, 04:25 PM

They look really nice in that color. I hope the car is rust free-at least it won't get worse in Texas. The records that come with the car would helpful in figuring when to next change the fluids. If it didn't have records, I would change the oil, and the coolant. Check the brake fluid and if it hasn'tt been changed for years and years, you could change that too!!

You are lucky to have a lender for a Mercedes that old. My first attempt at getting a loan for a Mercedes diesel (a '77 model) failed becaue my credit union wouldn't give a loan for a car out of the Kelly Blue book, and I had to get an Olds 88 instead- which I really didn't want to do...

Jim

Maroon 300D · #3 07-10-2006, 04:53 PM

It seems like you're in pretty good shape as you already know the color is 'cabernet red.' If you didn't realize that, you might have called it 'maroon' in your site ID...I understand some people have done that!

As for things to look out for, a couple of things I can think of: If you get water in the rear footwells it could be from either windshield, the trunk, or the firewall; it's not necessarily from the sunroof and probably isn't.

If you change your own oil, you will probably accidentally disconnect vacuum lines whilst changing the filter. Don't be surprised or alarmed when you need to push the stop lever to shut the engine down after changing the oil the first time.

Have fun!

rrgrassi · #4 07-10-2006, 05:59 PM

The loan is coming from a dreaded home equity loan, but we also are adding a car port and stuff like that. The car is a bonus, but I have to sell my M/C, which is not a big deal, as I bought the M/C to save fuel. Well, now I will have to drive a lot, and did not want to spend $25k on a VW TDI again, so I wanted a reliable MB diesel. The best part is the MB gets about the same fuel milage as the M/C. Hmmm...safer to drive a car, and great mileage to go with it. Plus, no catalyst and computer like the TDI. I like to work on my own vehicles, so thsi should be a great way to go, I think.

The Cabernet is a pretty color. I have always liked that type color as well. And, the car is rust and bondo free!

techguy512 · #5 07-10-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maroon 300D

you're in pretty good shape as you already know the color is 'cabernet red.'

I've never heard of 'cabernet red'. I know of the following reds:

Maroon, code 501
Signal Red, code 568
Mesa Red, code 585 (my favorite)

Bob
'82 300D (Petrol Blue-Green Metallic, code 877)

Veloce300DT · #6 07-10-2006, 06:58 PM

Cabernet Red is a rarer metallic burgundy color.. much like Cabernet itself...
Its Code is DB587. Also called Pajettrot

In my Colors brochures spanning from 1980-84 they do not list it, MB does not list the Pearl Black either. I see that on the w123 from time to time as well. Cabernet Red, English Red, & Pearl Black must have been special order paints for the w123,

Red colors offered on W123 cars include..

Mesa Red- DB585
Orient Red- DB501 (the color of my baby)
Signal Red-DB568 (Signalrot/Hellrot)
English Red- DB504 (Englischrot)
Desert Red- DB540 (Barolo Red/Baraolorot)

techguy512 · #7 07-10-2006, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veloce300DT

Cabernet Red ...
Its Code is DB587. Also called Pajettrot

I don't show Cabernet showing up until 1985. In 1982, 1983, and 1984 it
was called ... get ready for it ... Maroon, code 501.

In 1985 Maroon was dropped for Cabernet (code 587) and Desert Red
(code 540)

techguy512 · #8 07-10-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techguy512

I don't show Cabernet showing up until 1985. In 1982, 1983, and 1984 it
was called ... get ready for it ... Maroon, code 501.

Bad form...quoting myself. Thinking about this, what really matters is the color code.
"Orient Red", Maroon, "desert red" will always be confusing titles that change from
year to year and country to country. The codes, however, remain constant. That's what
we should focus on....

Veloce300DT · #9 07-10-2006, 09:00 PM

Good point, there were quite a few shades of red offered..... in 1985 Desert Red was the closest relative to the discontinued DB501 Orient Red. Desert Red DB540 was a tad darker than DB501. Cabernet DB587 was the first Metallic shade of red to be offered on w123 cars in 1985.

However, DB587 Cabernet Red is a color I have seen on Pre-1985 W123 cars.. which is questionable... In 1985 DB587 was offered as a standard metallic color in the books, but prior to that it shows up nowhere in the books, yet I have seen it on a 1984 300D..... its more likely that the car had been prefessionally repianted in DB587 rather than being originally equipped with that color since it was not formally avail. in 1984. But who knows...

I have seen a good handful of 1984 300D's in OE Black Pearl or Pearl Black... cant find the code for it, but my friend owned an 84 300D in this color... which also does not appear in the books. Its darker than anthracite, lighter than black, and is metallic. A gentleman down the street from me has 400K plus miles on an 84 Pearl Black 300D.

MB color offerings are quite complex. I have a 1996 C280 that my father ordered in DB888 Beryll Blue/ Teal, which was not offered in 1996 as an option. It was used up until 1994 or 1995. But regardless of that, the car was finished in it per request by my father. So it wouldnt surprise me if there had also been some "Special Order" paint colors specified for customers on w123 cars.