Well as an early birthday present...I received a 76 300D that is in pretty solid shape...all original with 78k miles.

Only issues I'm unsure of how to deal with right now...being that I'm more accustomed to standard gas MBs...

Car idles roughly and what I would consider to be very loudly. It is missing the hood pad/damper (assuming it came with one stock) but I'm not sure how much that would really quiet this down...it sounds like a Diesel truck

There is plenty of get-up and go and things smooth out around 10mph I suppose.

Significant surge in idle when put into park after driving that instills a bit of fear in me, as though the engine will continue climbing in RPMs, but the car then shuts off fine for the most part.

Beyond those two issues, I'm only concerned about the somewhat slack steering and gearbox (Automatic)

The front seats appear to have issues with their tracking. The driver's seat falls into a comfortable position for me...but neither seat is able to hold fore/aft adjustments...

This thing is pretty sweet with VERY minimal rust that I could easily handle and the interior is in nice shape with only the front seat springs nearing death...will probably try the pool noodle fix on those.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

The car probably need rebuilt fuel injectors, that will quieten down the motor.

Yes your car should have had a hood pad, they are still available at a decent price.

Sounds like your idle it turned up a bit to high, lower the idle and it should stop increasing in RPM at idle. I had the same issue...

As for the seats, you'll have to pull them and see why the lever is not holding the seat in place.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Check the steering coupler if it's causing the slack steering. The shift rod bushings are probably worn or missing which is causing the slack in your shifter.

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With best regards

Al

Thanks for the input...I'll have to poke around next weekend with it.

I removed and cleaned up the instrument cluster and the gauge class which made a nice bit of improvement in appearance and visibility - though the gas/temp/etc gauge is missing its outer chrome ring so I'll have to check ebay and some parts retailers for that. And I have addressed the tracking issues with the seats by cleaning and de-corroding the tracks.

Next weekend's plan is to remove the front seats and work on their padding and spray pain the lower frame rails black. Then check out the steering coupler. Then I'll probably try to clean up the engine bay before I look at some of the more in-depth mechanical issues...

Might take it in to the local MB shop for a once over...

In the future I want to replace the rocker panels on both sides to deal with some of the rust/bondo that the previous owner slapped on there then I'll sand and treat the two small rust spots near some of the trim...

In the long run I'd like to get the car painted in a sterling silver blue color which should work well with the caps and blue interior...but that will be far down the line since I'd like to get a nice paint job...and I want to address some of the cosmetics inside immediately following mechanical tweakings...

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1985 MB 380SL
2003 Jaguar X-Type

Well my sojourn into the diesel world will be short lived fellow forumites...

I picked up the 300d over the past weekend and felt like it was a pretty decent deal despite the work needed...

Sometime Monday evening the seller calls me about the keys that he had left on the key ring and his license plates (which I was to mail out on Tuesday with the keys)...he then mentions that he wants to buy the car back because his parents (the seller was in his 40s) wanted to give the car to their niece when he went back to Germany...

So...I'm selling him the car back for the price I paid tonight...

No real money lost...just about an hour of time fixing up the instrument cluster...

Adios 300d...I hardly knew ye...

But...it frees up some funds to pick up a vintage gasser from a forum member that is much nicer than the d...so I can't complain

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1985 MB 380SL
2003 Jaguar X-Type

Unusual ending to a purchase. Since the odometer only reads to 100k and starts again. Some of your description may have indicated that odometer had rolled at least once. A 78k example should not have developed loose steering yet on average. Also rust in a 114 body can be worse than a 123 body. Best of luck with the gas car.

Wow, that is the shortest ownership I`ve see here . hope your gasser pruchase lasts longer .

Us Diesel nuts will still be here when you come back.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works