The 300D that I saved today
 

I have lived at my current residence for about 8 years. During all of that time there has been an '82 300D sitting in the drive next to me. I had tried to buy this car from the neighbor a few years back but he said he wanted $4,000 (so I passed).

The other day I saw a tow truck that said crusher on the side pull up so I ran out. He said the guy sold it to him for $400 and that it was really more of a hassle to him than it was worth. He let me take it for what he paid (or what he said he paid).

Anyway I aired the tires up and towed it next door to my place. I swapped a battery out of my '83 and turned the key. It cranked for less than a second and fired up.

If this is not a testament to the durability of these cars I do not know what is. I was fully prepared to be cranking for at least a min but didn't really think it would start. I'm not exactly sure how long it has been sitting but it was due for its last oil change 4/20/96.

It is in OK shape. It has 162,000 on the odo. It was dirty as can be but a quick wash really made me feel better about the purchase. The interior is spottless. The under body and floorpans are perfect but it has a bit of rust in the usual spots on the body.

I really just wanted to share this engineering marvel with the forum but I guess I would appreciate any advice for maintenance to preform on a car that has been sitting for so long. I will obviously change out all fluids, do a valve adjustment, new belts and put some fresh diesel in it. So far the only problem with it is that the electric windows do not want to operate.

Thanks in Advance for any advice and happy driving, Alex

Wow. Good save!! :eek:

Way to say a good car...I have done this several times now. At least some parts can be salvaged for others if the entire thing cannot be. Then it can be crushed!

For that price, I'd be half-tempted to conduct an experiment. Do absolutely nothing to it and just start driving it. See how long it lasts.

Would love to see some pictures.

This reminds me of a yellow W123 I have seen in a driveway for years. Today I stopped, got out, and looked at it. It is a 300CD. Both front and back left tires are flat and they look like they have been that way for a long time. Next time I need to knock on the door and see if anyone is home. I have often gone out of my way to pass by, hoping I would see someone outside. Never have. The car has not moved for a long time. I have always had a liking for yellow cars. Not small yellow cars but big classic yellow cars. I think it was inspired by the movie "The Yellow Rolls Royce" that I remember seeing when I was a kid. I'll have to get up my nerve and knock on the door. I suspect some old guy or woman will hobble over to the door and I'll have to shout so they can hear me. Maybe they will tell me to do them a favor and haul it away, especially when they see how well I take care of my car.

Richard

Did this neighbor ever use the car?

Also do they still live there? (I would imagine that it's going to be kinda funny for them to watch you driving the car they didn't seem to care about)

The neighbor never drove it. It sat parked between a tree an his garage. There was a dirt covering over the fill valves on some of the tires.

There are probably hundreds of things to check. Two things that come to mind are:

1. The rubber brake hoses so one does not burst on you.
2. Also look at the rubber fuel lines going from the tank to the metal fuel line. They are likely dry rotted.

What a waste of a car to do something like that! Especially to an engine with 162k on it!

If it has been sitting there idle for that long, you should be able to go to Google Maps, type in the address and you will be able to see the car.

Change the filters and fluids and be on your way.

Wow, nice timing. Always good to hear of a nice old car finding a good home instead of being smashed.:)

the window switches prob'ly need to be cleaned out. i'd want to get it up on a lift w/ a good tech to inspect everything mentioned and more.

Clean the fuel sender and fuel tank
 

If it has sat a long time you almost certainly will have to deal with a lot of microbial action (i.e. gunk) in the fuel system. When a car sits a long time the heating and cooling of the days/seasons causes condensation of water in the tank, and microbes blossom at the fuel/water interface. An amazing amount of sludge will develop. You'll probably need to pull the fuel sender to clean it, and also probably have the whole fuel tank cleaned. Neither of these jobs is exactly fun, but if you don't get a handle on it you'll find yourself stranded by the side of the road with a plugged fuel filter at some point (don't ask me how I know).

Kurt

Good work!!

Another 123 lives on :D