new to MB- looking for advice on 81 300tdt. (engine photos) - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DrewGerhan · #16 03-26-2008, 09:23 AM

There is supposed to be a tach in place of the clock. Might want to kick up a few stones with your mechanic and/or previous owner....

JimmyL · #17 03-26-2008, 10:23 AM

I thought I remember owners of '81 wagons stating that they came with the large clock and not the clock/tach combo......

DrewGerhan · #18 03-26-2008, 10:34 AM

Jimmy, wouldn't a turbo wagon come with a tach though? I thought remembered this being the case. Although I could be wrong and it wouldn't be the first time....

JimmyL · #19 03-26-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungBenz

Jimmy, wouldn't a turbo wagon come with a tach though? I thought remembered this being the case. Although I could be wrong and it wouldn't be the first time....

That is why I remembered this. Since '81 was the first year of the turbo in the W123, I seem to remember a discussion of the fact that at first it was being outfitted with the instrument cluster they had going at the time which was big clock, no tach.
I'm not offering this as fact, just a recollection of a discussion of the subject....

MBeige · #20 03-26-2008, 10:48 AM

Our old '81 300TD-T had a large clock, no tach.

cityhix · #21 03-26-2008, 11:00 AM

I purchased my 300d after lurking here for awhile and I though I knew what to look for in regards to rust. A few weeks after purchase I finally realized the meaning of "rusted floorboards" and I keep finding soft, bubbled areas of undercoating. Between the rubber undercoating and sound dampening in the floor can lurk some extensive rust that you might not see with out poking around. My advice is to assume there is rot in the floor and make it your job to find it. I am perfectly happy with my purchase, though it took awhile for the sick feeling in my stomach to go away after discovering the rust. I now realize that I am probably the last owner of this vehicle unless I am willing to sell it at a Bear-Stearns price to someone who knows about the rust and doesn't care. Unless you like the idea of completely restoring the wagon, make absolutely sure you have an accurate inventory of the existing rust. Or, just go for it and have fun!

toomany MBZ · #22 03-26-2008, 05:17 PM

The pic is of the cluster I removed from my '82 300D. Maybe the '81 turbos didn't have a tach?
And yes, have a look under the carpets.

Lycoming-8 · #23 03-27-2008, 01:56 AM

Looks like that cluster has been customized. Has a mix of chrome and black centers on the needles!?! Believe that the stock unit for the 82 would have had all chrome centers, but they should at least all be the same.

toomany MBZ · #24 03-27-2008, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lycoming-8

Looks like that cluster has been customized. Has a mix of chrome and black centers on the needles!?! Believe that the stock unit for the 82 would have had all chrome centers, but they should at least all be the same.

Good point, never noticed. I had an '82 240 with silver centers, one of which fell off, and rolled around. That tach ('82 300) did work, for a while.
The 240 did not have a tach.

aaronkobi · #25 03-27-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cityhix

I purchased my 300d after lurking here for awhile and I though I knew what to look for in regards to rust. A few weeks after purchase I finally realized the meaning of "rusted floorboards" and I keep finding soft, bubbled areas of undercoating. Between the rubber undercoating and sound dampening in the floor can lurk some extensive rust that you might not see with out poking around. My advice is to assume there is rot in the floor and make it your job to find it.

I second that. I purchased my car with "zero floorboard rust" and when it was in the shop the first time, the mechanic noticed some older fiberglass patches that were peeling off. Once I started to pick at those, I discovered a lot of rust that went unnoticed when I purchased the car. The thick rubber undercoating hides the stuff very well and can even hold a floorpan together that is completely rusted out. I'd suggest bringing some sort of sharp pick, lifting the front and rear carpets out (they come out like floor mats) and poking around under there. Water accumulates in the REAR floorpans (lowest point of the car) so spend extra time looking in those areas. I love my 300TD, but may have kept looking if I knew the extent of the floor rust. Live and learn.