Here are a few photos I took yesterday. I'm going to get some sleep now, but I'll take and post some more this evening.

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7

These are just basic photos of the exterior and a little of the interior. I'm going to do a complete photo workover this evening

I think you recvd some good advice to do thorough searches on this website.The manuals are here,do a seach for braingears and you should be able to link to them,then you can download if desired.I had a 300d and I loved the size and economy.You are lucky to have found this website,in my opinion if you put in the time,you will be able to answer all your question,best of luck on your new car.If I can give any advice for a first time Diesel owner it would be Keep the Oil changed ! Keep the fuel filters changed ,and the valves adjusted,Johnny

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85 300sd SOLD ,85 745i,95 740i,1972 Suburban,1938 International

How does the original owner buy the car new in 1984 for $4500?
These cars sold new for $30K+???

Bob
'82 300D

You're forgetting that they run $30k nowadays. Back in 1984, most vehicles sold for about $2000 brand new. My dad bought his Ford F100 pickup in 1983 brand new for $2500.

$4500 was outrageous in 1984, just as $30k to $50k is today.

circuit city wanted 80$ to run new wires for my speakers in my 300SD..I would DIY.

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Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Tim check out diesel giant, there is a good maintenance tip there for cleaning out the banjo bolt. It connects on the back of the manifold. Easy to do. Good Luck. Nice car too.

[QUOTE=TimGraham]I just may do that, but I will probably leave the antenna up permanently. Most modern cars don't use electric powered antennas anyways

The dealer can sell you the special lubricating cloths for the antenna for not too much $$.



[QUOTE]
I've gathered that reading the posts on this forum. I am already prepared for the almost inevitable line of bull***** from a mechanic about how I should covert the system. I have no plans in doing so.

Good - you'll be happier in the long run keeping it stock.

[QUOTE]
After driving it for awhile, I'm conviced I got a good deal. This is going to be my project car. I am paying my boss (a personal friend of mine) $1000 for the car as is.

Excellent deal!


[QUOTE]
As for the ALDA, I'll keep up my searching, but I am also going to purchase a service book on the car. I would assume the process would be in there, complete with pictures.

Try the online manuals for now at
http://mb.braingears.com/123_DISK2/program/matrix6.htm

[QUOTE]
3. Finding a way to make the dashboard / instrument cluster lights brighter. How the heck did anyone deal with this in 1984? It's just as dark now as it was then LOL.

You get used to it - the Germans have darker roads I think and don't need the glaring dash light displays we have in our vehicles. I wouldn't replace it until you try some of the instrument repair fixes outlined on this and other sites (try dieselgiant.com)

[QUOTE]
1. The glove compartment contained the original bill of sale. The first owner purchased the car in Lewisville, TX on Septemeber 10, 1984 for about $4,500

I am surprised at $4500 (typo??) for an '84 I'd expect it was more like $30-40,000 depending on options and location (maybe $4500 was the downpayment?) Even a 240D would have been $25k.

Hope we help you - congrats on your purchase.
John

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John Hughes, was in Landstuhl, Germany but currently in San Antonio, TX


1978 280CE Astral Silver now 59,xxx miles and counting "Silber-Kugel"
1986 300E Black Pearl Metallic 143,xxx miles 5-spd daily driver w/ blk leather "Schwarz-Schönheit"
1989 190E 2.6 (euro) 5-spd Desert Taupe 112,xxx kms Had to leave behind in Germany!!! "Helga"
1983 300D Pastel Beige now 312,xxx + miles SOLD

OBK#24

Man I blew it, look on this site under the DIY Articles, there is an excellent wright up on cleaning the Banjo bolt fittings. Hope this helps.

Here is a more comprehensive set of photos of my new diamond in the rough

The Climate Control Unit
The Engine
Side View
Engine Close Up
Front Interior
Back Interior
Original First Aid Kit 1
Original First Aid Kit 2
Original First Aid Kit 3
Back View
Instrument Cluster
Dashboard
Shifter & Window/Mirror Controls

Let me know what you guys think.

A few quick comments

Recent thread about how the blue dash cracks more than any other color
(Yes all the blue ones tend to do that but no one knows why)
a fitted dash mat at any flea market would cost no more than $20, a good fix for now. A new dash cap could come later.

For now a good sheepskin front seat cover set (either a cheap one at Costco or Walmart) or a nicer fitted one, will enable you to cover up the torn front seat issue for now, or you could pay extra and go for the fitted sheepskins (four pieces, one for each front seat surface) THEY REALLY WORK, they cool you in summer and warm you in winter...

The car looks really straight, and while I personally learnt the hard way about the chromed wheel arch mouldings (drilling holes promotes rust, not an issue in your state, and also, if one gets damaged, you have to replace the set of four, and since these are not OEM, they are getting hard to find for older cars, I put them on a '91 Volvo 740 which got bashed years later, NEVER would I buy those again)

Once you get caught up on what needs to be done to the car, all you will do is need to maintain it, and enjoy the MB safety and prestige (it is really a model built to a cost no object standard of quality) and diesel economy and think about whether to exercise the WVO fuel option, and know you got the car for absolute rock bottom price, when the prices are starting to rise...

You are off to an excellent start, I think as time goes on you will be glad you bought this car.

Good luck
Jim

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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)

I assumed that all of the dashes from vehicles of this era cracked over time, because they were made before heat resistant technology was available.

But either way, my dad's thoughts match yours about the dash mat, which is what I will go with for the time being.

I will definitely be getting seat covers, as the drivers seat has a tear on the left side that is down to some kind of animal hair, and it feels like steel wool on my back while driving LOL. I'm going to take care of as many of the low cost fixes as I can in the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Yeah, I've noticed that the very few people who are selling these wheels want at least $500 for the set. I will keep them for now, since they are undamaged, but if one or more of them does get damaged later, I will purchase a decent looking and low cost set of wheels for it.

Yeah, it'll take some time to fix the minor issues, but I'm hoping to restore it to as close to mint condition as possible. I may keep it, or I may sell it later on down the road when I am making enough money to afford something else. I haven't decided yet.

There are a coupla more mechanical problems that I have discovered along the way, but nothing too major:

It appears that the overflow hoses on three of my injectors are leaking diesel, which might account for how fast I'm using fuel. I've been told that getting new hose and fitting it is a low cost and easy DIY project. Can anyone back this up?

I discovered today at the gas station that I have a vacuum leak somewhere. Another MB owner (he has a 1981 300SD) told me that after he noticed that I was standing over an open hood and seeing I was confused as hell as to why the engine was still running and I was holding the keys in my hand. He showed me the kill switch, which worked fine. That's the first time it's done that, hopefully it won't do it too often LOL. I hope it's not too expensive to find and fix the leak. He is also the one who pointed out the leaking fuel injector overflow hoses to me.

I wonder what it would cost to put an entirely new engine into the car, if I wanted to do it in a few years. Does anyone know how much a new engine would cost, or if I could even find one? If the original engine isn't available, what would be a good replacement?

The fuel hose can be bought at the dealer, I just paid about $13-14 for a meter, enough to replace all the lines. Easy DIY fix.

Do a search in this forum on vacuum leaks, there is a ton of info. It's not usually hard or expensive to find/fix vacuum leaks, just a PITA. If you own one of these for long, you will get pretty good at it.

I don't know the cost of a new engine from MB, but you can get a good remanufactured long block for around $6K from Metric Motors (http://www.mercedesengines.net/products.asp?cat=40). You can get other reman engines for less money (i.e. http://www.adsitco.com/category.asp?CID=296 for around $4K).

Thanks for the info Craig

Nice car! Hope you can make it to the texas Meet!

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91 350SD
14 F150 Eco
19 Fusion Hybrid
11 GT500

Tim, to the best of my knowledge they really did cost 30+ thousand when new. I know it seems rediculous but the sd model was even a lot pricier. Have a harder look at your invoice. You will find them to be a detail kind of car with a tremendous amount managable by you using this forum. Not a car to run to garages with and pretty straightforward to work on. I would suggest compiling a list of things to check and repair. Try to keep it organized. Also becomes a reminder of what you have done already. Just get a fairly good size notebook. Parts in general are reasonable and many things can be replaced with used parts to further save money..Hope you enjoy your new aquisition. I suspect some people work on them so much an intimate bonding process ocurrs. Welcome to the site.