Don't Belive Everything You See - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Boardmonger · #1 10-11-2006, 02:03 AM

I belive this car was already posted but if anyone was thinking about it (I hope not) I found some big issues.

Ebay link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RARE-300D-EURO-4-SPEED-88Kmi-CALIFORNIA-BIO-DIESEL_W0QQitemZ190038597812QQihZ009QQcategoryZ6330QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The car is claimed to be a 1983 300d euro with a 4 speed manual transmission. I won't fight the 300d (it is a 5 cylinder) and the 4 speed (I see it) but this car is NOT a 1983 and this seller is CLUELESS

I ran the build number on the Vin site and found it is actually a 1980 300d sold in Munich. Paint and Interior match but this car is clearly is not an 83. Chances are the title says it is an 83 because that is when it was imported, probably after 2-3 years as a company car (always had few options, this car had 1, a becker radion) in Munich with a bunch of kilometers racked on and forever missing. Indications of an earlier model year include:
-Euro IP is the earlier style
-seats are pre-83
-window cranks are pre-83
-interior is pre-83 euro (83 and on there was no mb-tex incorporated)

The "records" for the car are a US turbodiesel owners manual and a reciept or 2. Owner says parking break light was on "because door was open". This car also has the nasty setup for the breather hose. They ran it to the top of the air filter like a US car then they make a custom line from the intake manifold down to the exhaust. My 81 euro had the same setup and removed it to bring it back to stock. This setup leads to very dirty oil filters, crazy buildup in the intake and oil is blown into and out of the exhaust. It makes no sense but it is there.

Also check out the 2 antenneas, one in front (from the factory) and the extra one in the rear.

Anyways as with any euro car the mileage is never accurate unless it has a working original euro speedo. This car reads 83k but it is easy to clean a car up and put in a low mileage odometer. This car has re-stuffed front seats and US bumpers and that is something I would not want and the seats shouldn't be redone at such a low claimed mileage.

Hopefully no one is fooled by this car and I feel bad if they are going to pay what the big suggests. As the title suggests, don't believe everything written and shown in photos. Most of us here are good and picking out flaws but many are new and this kind of car is very appealing.

Russian Vin Report:
VIN WDB12313010261663
Model 300 D
Chassis 12313010261663
Engine 617912 10 154171
Transmission 716005 00 896667
Order 0 - 226 00026
Approx. year 1980
Lights HELLA
Cab 29131
Dealer Munich branch (226)
Interior (cloth) fabric gray+blue or anthracite+blue (032)
Paint
934 china blue (T) (с 01.01.1979 по 31.12.1981)
Options
254 Becker radio Europa Kurier cassette (с 01.06.1978 по 30.11.1990)

bgkast · #2 10-11-2006, 02:21 AM

Sure is purdy though!

winmutt · #3 10-11-2006, 08:12 AM

Check the Dash. That is craaaaazy looking trim.I dont know about the antenna deal. Mine is in the rear. Also the whole emergency brakelight thing isnt that suprising. Debugging the euro to federal conversion is not fun. Check the euro lights out. Interesting AC setup. Is it just me or does that radiator look a little small? Where are the custom VIN plates? Odd for a Euro. Are you sure its an 80 not an 83? Its got the same kind of shutoff/no alda that mine has. (shutoff is a 190d valve)

#4 10-11-2006, 11:12 AM

The 'Euro' versions that I have always seen do not have the 'US' 5mph bumpers. Rather than a 'Euro converted for US' it looks to me more like a 'US converted to look like a Euro for US'. Either way I call it a mutt.

Boardmonger · #5 10-11-2006, 11:43 AM

It is a pre-83, look at the seats and the lights. Post-82 all euro 123's had square lights. Also the window cranks. The new style one are a bit fatter and have less chrome trim.

bhatt · #6 10-11-2006, 04:16 PM

Why are there two screws holding the vin plate on? I've never seen anything but rivets. And some cars they are just mounted on the door jamb -- no rivets or anything.

Are we to believe MB used two Philips screws (non-stainless steel judging from the rust!) to hold the VIN plate onto the car??

Neal

winmutt · #7 10-11-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhatt

Why are there two screws holding the vin plate on? I've never seen anything but rivets. And some cars they are just mounted on the door jamb -- no rivets or anything.

Are we to believe MB used two Philips screws (non-stainless steel judging from the rust!) to hold the VIN plate onto the car??

Neal

More than likely its an import thing. My vin plate is custom engraved with the vin and the importers name, but thats the one mounted on the door jamb. I would def check the vin on the bulkhead. To bad you cant see it in the pics.

I wonder about this car. If it passed inspection then a VIN plate would have been required in the window and on the door jamb.....

Why doesnt the hood even out with the corners of the fenders?

Boardmonger · #8 10-11-2006, 06:30 PM

My car's (2 euros) only have the vin on the door and have had no problem registering either in california.

winmutt, can you post some pictures of your car? Yours could also be an earlier year then you have thought.

punky · #9 10-11-2006, 06:50 PM

It sure is a pretty car. But, what's with the huge gap between the hood and the headlight surrounds. You can almost see the mounting screws,tabs anyway(the hood does appear to be closed.)

Monomer · #10 10-11-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

It sure is a pretty car. But, what's with the huge gap between the hood and the headlight surrounds. You can almost see the mounting screws,tabs anyway(the hood does appear to be closed.)

whats to say he didnt have the hood "popped" when the picture(s) were taken?

atleast, thats what it looks like to me.

#11 10-11-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boardmonger

Munich with a bunch of kilometers racked on and forever missing.

I'd bet those are the correct miles. The exhaust manifold has almost no "heat rust" on it.

It's also ether a late 80 or a true 83, the climate control has two sliders, a vertical A/C knob, and no york compressor.

PanzerSD · #12 10-11-2006, 11:02 PM

Well, I am a body man and I will tell you that those fenders and hood are NOT original, they are TYG knock offs that cost about 1/8th the price of a REAL fender, I have a pair on my 300SD and NOTHING lines up. I repaired a 300D a few months a go and we ordered all new front sheet metal AND headlamps. and it was all aftermarket and when it was done it looked JUST LIKE THAT.
ALL Auto manufacturers use rivets to attatch VIN plates, and they use special ones that aren't available anywhere...that car would fail an inspection here based SOLELY on the philips screws attatching the VIN plate...

It might be a "K" car.....Katrina car

PanzerSD · #13 10-11-2006, 11:04 PM

But I have to agree with Bgkast...it is a very sharp looking car...

Boardmonger · #14 10-12-2006, 12:50 AM

It is a california car, look at the sun plate, it has been in state since at least 1985.

I have the same sliders on my 81 and I think the AC is custom on this car. Didn't come up on the build sheet and look at the condenser and lines. It is easy to get the correct temp knob to make it all fit together.

Again I point to the seats. Pre-82 and they are clearly restuffed. Euro seats generally have LESS padding than the us seats and these are bulging.

bgkast · #15 10-12-2006, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got_The_Benz

Well, I am a body man and I will tell you that those fenders and hood are NOT original

The fact that it has a antenna in the euro location AND the US location also prove that it has had the rear fender replaced.