Quick Advice - going to look at a wagon in the AM
 

Tomorrow morning I'm going to look at an 81 wagon that has:

-5 cylinder Turbo diesel mated to a 4 speed manual

- power windows

-manual sunroof

-jump seats

- Does this sound like a normial combo????

I've been away from MB's (and the forum) for a few years and am staging a return with my $1000 '85 300D and maybe this wagon....any thoughts, suggestions, comments are welcome

81 TD did have the turbo, I think...but the transmission would have been added. All wagon's sunroofs were manual

do you have a VIN? You can run it on the russion site or EPC to find out original options.

Are you going to look in NH?
I think that is probably a forum member's car. Or at least nhdoc has one.
A 1981 TD never came with a manual. In fact, there wasn't a W123 OM617 produced with a manual ever. Probably a transmission from a 240D. Not a bad combo, but look out for vibrations unless shifting pretty high up the rpm range; the 240D flywheel isn't heavy enough to not drop the rpms fairly quickly between gears.
Look out for the normal things: rust, body damage, suspension, etc. It's too warm out now to really check the compression by doing a cold start, but check blowby. There's probably 500 threads on here where advice is given for looking at a new car. Service records are worth their weight in gold.

It IS my car he's coming to look at!

After all, how many 300TDs are there in NE with a 4 speed manual?

I have told what I know about it...yeah the 4 speed is a conversion. It drives nicely now and I have repaired lots of the little stuff that was unworking when I bought it like the vacuum locks, dash lights, power antenna, tailgate struts, cluster lighting, valve adjustment, new VC gasket, all filters, fluids, thermostat, hoses, injectors, lift pump, primer pump, new A/C hose and complete R12 recharge, stopped about 90% of the oil leaks, cleaned out the sunroof drains, etc, etc, etc.

Well, wouldn't you know.
Good to buy from a forum member, as you know they actually appreciate their vehicles.
I doubt there's more than 20 manual W123 wagons in the entire country, and I remember almost bidding on the one you have a while back.

Cool!

Small(er) world - see you in the AM:D

Rob M