I finally got a 300 D. I like the dark blue and tan interior color combo.

It is dirty and needs a lot of little fixes inside and out but it very rust free. I only found one rusty spot under a door; floors are great.

The interior is ok but the dash is near perfect. I expected to see a badly cracked dash give the selling price of the car. The black seat are not original.

The body is pretty good. I could not find any filler or rust. It even has the controversial wheel opening trim. I will be removing these. I like the look but not the rust risk.

The engine runs but needs to have the tank filter cleaned as it loses power off and on. It does have a lot of miles; 330,000 on the clock. The odometer and trip meter work.

I going to put a battery in it now and drive some. It has current stickers :-)

Here are some pics
1983 Mercedes 300 D Slideshow by TXCurbster | Photobucket

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1986 560 SEL
1960 Ranchero
1970 Cougar XR7
2002 Crown Vic Sport
1992 F150

I'd give the tank a treatment of biocide and change the filters. Usually after that the bacteria will come on through the filter and you are good to go.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Looks really nice for 330k !

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

I really needs some biocide bad and all three filters addressed.

Well. I put a battery in it and got it started. After a while it would idle so I drove up and down my dirt road. It is going to need a lot of work. LOL But I expected this. I am pretty happy that it even started. Some white smoke at first then it was not bad at all.


Next is to check the compression and get in on the lift and make a list.

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1986 560 SEL
1960 Ranchero
1970 Cougar XR7
2002 Crown Vic Sport
1992 F150

I wouldn't do a compression check yet, I would get everything cleaned out, new injectors, oil changes, valve adjustments and then after driving it for a while then do a compression check....with it in that condition, there is probably a lot of gunk needing to be burnt out..

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Inspect the Transmission Cooler Hoses, Engine Oil Cooler Hoses, the Driveshaft Rubber Flex Discs (on an Auto Trans the Front Flex Disc is hard to see you might need to remove the Support Plate to see it clearly) and the CV Rear Axle Boots (the original factory ones are filled with Oil and if a Boot Cracks the Oil leaks out).

Less troublesom but look at the Read Differential Support Rubber and look under the Car for Rust; especially on the Rear Trailing Arams (the bulk of the Arm is usually made of thin Sheet Metal.)

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thanks All for the great advise.
And a big thanks for this wiki:
PeachPartsWiki: Breaking into 123 trunk w/o breaking anything
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Trunk wont open and the key does not work in the trunk. It feels like there is a key broken off in the key hole as the key will only go in half way. I need a new set of keys anyway. The one key it came with it is very worn.
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I noticed some cowl vents are black. Is chrome a factory option?

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1986 560 SEL
1960 Ranchero
1970 Cougar XR7
2002 Crown Vic Sport
1992 F150

Is that '65 Ford in the garage anything special?

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

just a 2 door, sport roof, bench seat Galaxie 500 with a 390 4v. Wish I had a 427 XL version.

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1986 560 SEL
1960 Ranchero
1970 Cougar XR7
2002 Crown Vic Sport
1992 F150

Lol was just going to ask about the Galaxie, looks like a cool car! As does your W123. At least its quicker than the 289 Galaxie models.

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http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...ps988ecb84.jpg

1980 240D "Haley" - 266k mi | OM617.952 | 4-speed | Euro Propshaft | 2.88 Rear | Motor Out of Car
1994 E320 "Lauren" - 115k | As stock as they come
2010 Mazda Axela "Grace" - 32k | H&R Lowering Springs | K&N Air Filter

1981 RX7 - Sold and not really missed

Looking for a paint color suggestion for my 240D with Palimono MB-Tex interior!

That looks exactly like mine!

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1978 300D

I could not open the trunk with the wiki method. Just too much stuff in there to get access to the latch. Time for the drill and a new lock and key set.

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1986 560 SEL
1960 Ranchero
1970 Cougar XR7
2002 Crown Vic Sport
1992 F150

I got the turnk unlocked by appying vacuum with a hand powered vacuum pump hooked up to the yellow line with a green stripe. The line is located on the front passenger side floor against the rocker under a plastic cover. :-) non destructive.

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1986 560 SEL
1960 Ranchero
1970 Cougar XR7
2002 Crown Vic Sport
1992 F150

I was just admiring your initial picture.....the side view...and what really jumped out at me was the amazing amount of chrome on those cars. MB must have spent a small fortune putting chrome on those cars. Keep us updated. Nice project.

I had one- a Galaxie 7-Litre convertible with the 427. Wish I still had it.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.