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.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

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

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

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!

__________________
Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

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!

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

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)

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)

__________________
Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

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)