Good evening all. I am new to this forum from Tampa Bay Florida. I am in need of some help prior to buying a 1983 Mercedes Benz 300SD. I went to go look at one the other day and it looked fine. Its a 1983 300SD with 133,000 2 owner car. no rust, straight body, coolant tank had no rust, leather had no rips, car started fine. Though there was a small little light on the dash that is a circle with 6 little hash marks around it. When pressing the brakes, this light would start to flicker. I looked it up and it said something about brake wear sensor light. Is this a major problem? Please help someone, as I am about to go buy this car tuesday morning for $2200. I included the link to the car below. Also the drivers side seat switch doesn't seem to be working, does it work off of vacuum or off of electricity? Does someone know where I can get a cheap used one that works?


1983 Mercedes 300SD Turbo Diesel

The light means you need new brake pads and sensors. The seat is electric so it could be the switch or simply a fuse has failed. I would be wary of buying a car with these known issues from a dealer since if these are obvious then I would bet there are some hidden issues as well. The car does looks nice in the pictures though and the price is not bad.

^ Well put.

Maybe just the switch has failed, there are tiny plastic levers behind it.

Any car of this age will have an issue or two.

It does present well, but beware of "trick" photography, taken from just the right angle, etc.

That dealer may not know much about these cars, but maybe so.

Keep us posted.

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83 SD

84 CD

Look under the seat for rust on the mechanism. .. pads are a normal wear item easily changed with pliers and a screwdriver.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Nice car. I would delete the link. It may be gone when you call back.

Seats are MBTex, not leather. Tex wears better.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Welcome. My daughter is buying my 85 300SD from me at present. Nice cars.

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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.

^^^This.



To the OP:
I would want to have a good look around the car 360 degrees. If you can get it on a rack, that would aid in having a good look at the car easier too. Good luck with the inspection.