Should I get this 92 300D 2.5 Turbo - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pdrayton · #1 08-09-2008, 09:41 PM

While I'm looking around for a Mercedes Anonymous group, I may as well buy another Mercedes, right?

I have an 83 240D (dual tank Bio and WVO)

I have an 84 300D on WVO

I (my wife) has a 92 300D 2.5 Turbo.

You'd think that's enough right?

But I 'happened' to see another 92 300D 2.5 for sale and had to take a look. They're pretty rare, and the best around IMHO, so I had to at least look. And of course I might as well take my testing equipment with.

Turns out the innards are in really good order - no injectors knocking or followers clattering, alternator charging fine, turbo pushing over 14psi when rat's nest EDS transducers and switches bypassed, boosting 9psi with the rat's nest doing it's evil work...etc...etc

The only problem is the tranny oil is brown and smells burnt. It shifts really well, firm but not sharp, no flaring. From what I know about tranny's (not much) that means the fluid and filter haven't been changed in a while. Is that correct or could it mean other more evil things?

Also, the car was warm when I got there, so didn't get to cold start it. I told the guy after I did all the tests (EDS test too - codes cleared but I forgot to check them again after riding around) that it is difficult to start when cold, right? (I was bluffing him to see what he would say) and he genuinely seemed to believe it didn't.

I gave him a deposit and said we'd see when I cold started it on monday.

Problems (apart from the tranny oil smelling burnt)

1. Paint is in poor shape, especially on the roof and hood. I don't care, I'm just trying to get an idea of a good price.

2. Has dented front fender and passenger front door. Not big dents, but noticeable. I'm all about drivability so I don't care.

Pluses:

Has a modern CD/Radio installed with an ipod jack! Yah!

Tires are good, one small spot of rust at the top of the rear windshield.

Everything else worked fine - ac, windows, seats, etc.

EDIT: Oh yes, the ignition key is a little funky. The 3 positions seem a little tenuous and you have to shift it to a 4th position to make it start. AND it has 187000 miles on it. I don't know if you can diddle these odometers or not, but it seems accurate.

What would you think is a good price? SHould I worry about the tranny fluid, or do the good shifts and performance of the tranny ease my troubled mind....

Thanks.

Oracle12345 · #2 08-09-2008, 09:47 PM

Burnt ATF is a sign of trouble for the transmission. Burnt ATF is a sign of the tranny overheating.

How would does the owener want?

I would pay 3 grand or less on it

Owning 3 mercedes is quite expensive imho

pdrayton · #3 08-09-2008, 11:06 PM

I heard that eventually if you don't change the fliter or fluid, it gets that burnt smell anyway, or is that a myth?

Got him down to $1500. On one hand it seem's like a good deal, just take a chance. On the other hand, what's going on, that's too cheap.

I'm planning on getting rid of the 84 300D, so that will only be 3 mercedes and one truck....scraping by....

compress ignite · #4 08-10-2008, 12:37 AM

I'd be all over that.

1.First thing,Call Brumos and order a new ignition tumbler and switch,as soon as
you take possession...The one that's in there is a Train Wreck waiting to happen.
2.Say the Tranny goes out and you have to ship it out to MZF (Peter Schmidt)
you've still got less than $3000.00 in that Mercedes.That's worst possible case.
An ATF change with REDLINE may make all the difference.

pdrayton · #5 08-10-2008, 11:19 AM

Thanks CI.

Why is it a "Train Wreck waiting to happen"? (capital T W). If I get another tumbler I'll be in the dreaded 2 keys for 1 car situation, I hate that! I'm guessing there's no RnR for the ignition switch?

What is redline? I was thinking I'd flush the tranny well, new filter, and then use mobil1 synthetic?

shingleback · #6 08-10-2008, 11:49 AM

If you provide a copy of your owner's registration showing the VIN, they will get you the right tumbler with key, cut to the original code. You will only have to carry one key and have a spare to put away. Win/win.

That tumbler in the car sounds like it is about to fail. If it does and you cannot turn it from off to pos 1 (to replace), you will be breaking out the sawzall!

For this price, I would be running over to pick it up. Change the tranny oil and filter and you will probably be fine.

Jeremy5848 · #7 08-10-2008, 12:14 PM

A W124 tumbler is easy to change. I did it with help from the forum. The tool needed you can make from a coathanger. [Side comment: what will we DIYers do when coathangers go digital???] Your dealer will want to see proof of registration and your ID. The tumbler and a new key will cost you about $100. If you get the car (and you should), it and a tranny flush should be your first projects.

If the fluid is as dark as you say, it would be good to get it all out. When you change the fluid yourself, draining the torque converter and the transmission, you miss some of the fluid. If you decide to change the fluid yourself, do it, drive the car for a few miles, and change it again. The second time don't change the filter.

A tranny place can break into the cooler lines and flush the entire system. They will also try to convince you that the tranny MUST be overhauled; ignore them until you see what the flush does.

Once you have clean fluid in the tranny you can see how it works.

pdrayton · #8 08-10-2008, 05:14 PM

Aha, I see I'm not the first with this issue. Good to know it is not a big job. Thanks for the info.

Yes, I'll take the registration and get the same key, that would be cool.

Also a good idea - flush and then flush again. My first project....

shingleback · #9 08-12-2008, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compress ignite

I'd be all over that.

1.First thing,Call Brumos and order a new ignition tumbler and switch,as soon as
you take possession...The one that's in there is a Train Wreck waiting to happen.
2.Say the Tranny goes out and you have to ship it out to MZF (Peter Schmidt)
you've still got less than $3000.00 in that Mercedes.That's worst possible case.
An ATF change with REDLINE may make all the difference.

Please tell me where I can contact Peter Schmidt, and where to send a trans.
Also, how to contact Brumos.
TIA

pdrayton · #10 08-12-2008, 11:20 AM

WEll, I bought the baby. I'll put up some pics later today.

Changed tranny fluid and filter (will drain again when I've run it a bit), changed oil and filter, and changing fuel filter.

I found a couple of things that I didn't check (naughty boy), but none are show stoppers so far.

1. Key doesn't work in the doors....hmmm. I've ordered a new tumbler which comes with the correct key for the original doors, so I'm hoping that will open the doors. Blonde moment - I couldn't get the key to lock the doors, so I thought, I know, I'll lock them manually and I opened the passenger front door, pushed down the door knob and closed the door. Doh! Luckily I had left the windows open and inch, and could use a piece of wire to open the doors again. Wife laughed at me on that one. Me too!

2. Oil pressure gauge only shows pressure above 2000rpm. Hmmmm, I don't know what that means but I'm hoping the new filter and oil fixes it. I don't know much about these things, anybody got some good news for me? Could that be the oil pump, or could it be a clogged filter bypassing or something?

Drives nicely though.

AC compressor was cutting in and out often, so I checked the pressures and low side was about 60 psi with compressor running. I think that's too high, even for R134a right? Anyway, I let it down to 40 and will see how it goes. I'll probably change it to ES-12 anyway.
Thanks

pdrayton · #11 08-12-2008, 11:21 AM

Shingleback,

Brumos is at (904) 724-1080. Ask for parts. David Lloyd is the guy I deal with, he's cool and very helpful and knowledgeable.

pmari · #12 08-12-2008, 09:22 PM

Great deal, I wouldn't of passed on it either

Sounds like a fluid neglected car. If it were me I'd put Auto Rx in the trannie, power steering pump,crank case and rear end then follow directions for each. Don't forget to change the brake fluid and coolant

You may want to try cleaning the A/C switches/connections down in the drivers wheel well. My A/C wouldn't enguage when I fist got my car. An MB indy trouble shot it from the klima cube down(no charge), no luck. Wanted me to come back to check the head unit. Did some searching on the list. Then some electrical cleaner/emory cloth and smack with the handle of a screw driver on the switches and the A/C has enguaged ever since.
The indy didn't believe me

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdrayton

2. Oil pressure gauge only shows pressure above 2000rpm. Hmmmm, I don't know what that means but I'm hoping the new filter and oil fixes it. I don't know much about these things, anybody got some good news for me? Could that be the oil pump, or could it be a clogged filter bypassing or something?

AC compressor was cutting in and out often, so I checked the pressures and low side was about 60 psi with compressor running. I think that's too high, even for R134a right? Anyway, I let it down to 40 and will see how it goes. I'll probably change it to ES-12 anyway.
Thanks

pdrayton · #13 08-12-2008, 11:03 PM

pmari, I looked at the site. Looks good. It's not snake oil I take it - you've used it and it has demontrateable results? would mobil1 synthetic not do much the same for the crank case?

I'm open to whatever to not have to replace the oil pump or whatever....

That auto-rx is not available at FLAPS? (friendly local auto parts stores)

And it goes in everything - PS pump, rear end, tranny, the whole sheebang?

sixto · #14 08-12-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shingleback

Please tell me where I can contact Peter Schmidt, and where to send a trans.

This is the Peter Schmid I know -

Peter Schmid Transmissions
1331 Rollins Rd
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 348-3990

google maps also shows this listing just down the peninsula -

Peter Schmid Transmission
1166 Independence Ave
Mountain View, CA 94043
(800) 356-3303

Maybe they moved?

Send your transmission to me. I can always use a core

Sixto
87 300D

compress ignite · #15 08-13-2008, 12:15 AM

Pdrayton,

The "Invisible Oil Pressure" at idle is a little spooky...
Old hardened o-rings on the oil filter central shaft will sometimes cause that.
And it's a super easy fix,I replace them just in case.
['you'd swear they were never any kind of rubber product originally...More
like a black ceramic-like substance baked onto the filter shaft.]

Redline Synthetic Oil Company...They make a fully synthetic ATF.
(There are really only three or four choices in synthetic ATF:Amsoil,
Mobil,Redline [Royal Purple may also offer an ATF] ) ['Cringe ...in
alphabetical order.]

YES, Sixto that's them in Burlingame ...Their website is under improvement.

SHINGLEBACK,

I went through this shipping problem with Brumos (Jacksonville,Florida) last week
they are not set up to ship international except to PR(San Juan).So the UPS
extra freight and customs duties would Kill You going North.
BUT Brumos is an excellent reference point,If I'm stumped on a parts question
they can usually answer it without scheduling an appointment with some one
in New Jersey.

However ******** Arizona will ship Canadian:

http://www.***************/

Also try IPS:

http://www.importpartsspec.com/cart/default

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