Potential Problems?????

[Colorado220]

My dad and I are going to go look at a 1985 300 D!!! W123 style..... it has a 176,000 miles and is a one owner.....Asking $2500... What should we look for? what are common problems? We are going to sell his 86 190 E 2.3 if we but this diesel!!!!! Any tips? ideas?

I hate to sound like a di¢k, but do a search. There are alot of recent threads on this subject.

[Colorado220]

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

I hate to sound like a di¢k, but do a search. There are alot of recent threads on this subject.

I have been........ Just was looking for more ideas etc....... Trying to get as much info as possible!

Just the usual. How well it starts when the engine is cold, rust around the jack points, rust in the fender wells, fust on the floors, runst under the seats, oil leaks, maintenance records, irregular tire wear patterns, wandering on the road, low power, smoke, working sunroof, working power antenna, water damage under the carpets, working speedo, how well the tranny shifts, etc.

[Sbean]

How about the blowby test where you loosen the oil filler cap and watch how much it jiggles at idle?

[retx]

maybe someone (a moderator??) could put together a "What to look for in a used Mercedes" sticky. i know i could have used it in October.

[Colorado220]

Originally Posted by Sbean

How about the blowby test where you loosen the oil filler cap and watch how much it jiggles at idle?

[Biodiesel300TD]

Do some searching of the forum. But here's what I look for.

1. Make sure it starts cold.
2. Check under all the floor mats for rust.
3. Check the whole car for rust, especially the drains in the engine bay.
4. Don't be too scared if it shifts roughly. Bad shifting CAN be vacuum related, but not always.
5. Look at the smoke if there is any when it starts up. If it's white things are okay, if it's blue it's burning oil, which may or may not be a big problem.
6. Look at all the typical things when looking at a car. Fluid leaks and such.

[estod]

I like to get a handle on how the PO viewed maintenance .... by asking naive questions such as "are these cars hard to maintain" or "how often do you have to change the oil in this kind of car" ...."does it take special oil, or can you use regular oil". You'd be amazed at how much the average person will tell you if you smile, act friendly, and ask questions that make it sound like you don't know anything about cars.

I once had a guy who wanted to sell an older wagon give me an embarrassed grin when asked the oil change question and confess that he was very forgetful about changing it, and had no idea how long it had been since he had done so. I did a brief test drive, thanked him for his time, and said I had a couple more to look at before I picked one (true, though I knew I wouldn't be picking his). I ended up with one that had a great (well-maintained) engine, but needed front suspension work. I rebuilt the suspension and brakes, changed the belts and hoses, plugs & wires, flushed the coolant, and drove the car --- which I bought @114,000 --- 75,000 trouble-free miles. Not bad for a 79 Tempest wagon.

So try to get the seller to tell you about his or her car -- he or she probably will!

[85 DSEL]

Did anybody mention, cruise control AND climate control functions?

Don't be terribly disappointed if these two items do not function properly/at all.

Wish my cruise worked. Someday I'll take the time...