Just purchased this 300d off an ad on craigslist in NJ. The car is remarkably clean. fairly recent paint but no rust. Odo at 177k. I've been lurking here for months researching the various diesel offerings. The wife wouldn't spring for the older style W123. We are an entirely diesel family now. 99 F350 with DTA-360 conversion, 04 F350 6.0l and now the 87 OM603.

Welcome to the forum. Something is wrong with the link to your photos.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

There I think I fixed it.

You fixed it alright, it's gone!

Well you'll now enjoy the luxury of a diesel that you can leave idling when you're at a bank or fast-food drive-through. Great cars, I've had a few and enjoyed every one, ... would still have them if I hadn't needed to down-size.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

click on the picture!

I see the small signature photo, I thought that you were linking to more.

177k miles is below average for these, if the seats show little to no wear it is often highway miles and good for a lot more.

Is this yours or your wife's? Color? Optioins? Love to see a larger photo (I'm a big '87 fan).

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

It's a metallic black, red interior all the usual stuff I guess. It has a late model set of AMG wheels on it and the headlights aren't the usual 87 fare. It's going to be the wife's DD. I can take some more pictures later. The engine is super clean and the transmission shifts great. I've already swapped filters on most everything. About the only thing detrimental is the oft-scourned "14" head and an old style vacuum pump. There are a few electrical glitches, dash lights don't work, speedo is bouncy at low speeds and a good 10 mph off when at highway speeds, and of course no cruise. The pump will be swapped asap. The rest can be fixed as i have time or patience. I also had to replace the shock on the belt tensioner as the bottom bushing was worn badly.

Try this...

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1987 Mercedes 300D

Sounds like nice colors, and you're on top of the necessary maintenance.

For the head, time to buy a couple of gallons of G-05 anti-freeze and distilled water, flush the system well if there's any question (I prefer water flush, if oil then some dish soap, no acids) of the coolant's quality, blow/wash the radiator clean on the outside and the condensor coil, the head will thank you (as will the heater core etc.). If the head is good it might last you another half-million miles ;~) Keep it happy and don't worry about it IMO. A new coolant expansioin tank/reservoir will have the silicate packate to keep your coolant in proper condition between changes, kind of pricey at $65+ but IMO good piece of mind.

Nice find, it's getting harder and harder to find these in good condition.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Congrats! Thats a nice looking '87 300D and your wife is so lucky!
Yes, that VacPump is a good thing to upgrade to the latest style, I've seen what happens when they let go, a SDL owner I met gave his car to his daughter for her wedding gift, it self destructed within 2 months, she kept driving even though it was making a "clicking noise" - it was towed in to a local Indy and the damage was severe, it basically totaled the engine.

My wife's d.d. is a silver '87 300D with red interior, MB Tex up front and leather rear because the front seats were cracking and one comment from her was that MB tex actually feels better (its softer than leather).
You have Euro headlights. Can't see closely but if the lower panels still have a small hole where the headlight wipers were you can buy blank panels and have them painted and it will look 100% Euro.
I have Euros on my '87 300D dd, Nautical Blue. See pictures on my Gallery.

RE: instrument cluster. Get a cluster (or just the housing if possible) off a later version W124 chassis and move your instruments over, that will really make a huge difference in the light output! The lucite channels that conduct light are improved over the early VDO design.
While your in there and have the cluster out, you might want to replace the outside temp display module, perhaps using a later style (body is the same shape but they have a different electrical plug, just look for the info on the Forum how they can be interchanged). They seem to go bad from sun shining on the LCD screen, if yours is fine then just wait a few years
I would avoid trying out LED's for this cluster, you don't need them if you have the later style besides that some people had bad luck with LED's burning their clusters (like charcoal!).

You might like to visit GSXR's website for performance info and lots of advise on regular maintenance buried in many of his posts on the Forum.
http://www.w124performance.com/ search out the mb pages
Unfortunately for me, my wife's 87 just blew either a head gasket or has the biggest cracked head imaginable, there's oil in the coolant so its time for me to bite the bullet and either replace the head, or the car. I had the #14 surfaced when I got the car about 8 years ago so its provided lots of use and a real pleasure to drive and I can work on it but probably leave the head replacement to my friend at the MB Garage, I am traveling these days and getting too busy to do a lot of wrenching!

DDH

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Very nice. Looks like someone installed '91-'93 bumpers also, matching lower body cladding will IMO tie them together nicely.

Are the tires 205s? 215s? Looks wider than stock, and likely 7" wheels. Many wheels don't work with the shape of the 124, those wheels definately do.

I'm not sure about the headlamps, look like one of the "crystal clear" aftermarket offerings that don't appeal to me, but do to others. If the're glass Euros then jackpot on that upgrade.

If you need any help spending money on the car let me know, I've got lots of experience there LOL.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

You guys know better than me about whats been swapped and what hasn't. I'm learning as I go here. There are still wiper holes there and the tires are only 195's. I do need both of the heated windshield washer nozzles, mine are gummed up and wont spray, pump works fine.

Try a needle to clean them, might do the job if it's wax/compound in them. They aim with a needle also. Otherwise, the nozzles aren't that expensive (I'm holding out until I do my '95 hood swap).

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff