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  #1  
Old 09-14-2015, 06:56 AM
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New 81' 300D owner. Suggestions please

Well, yesterday I committed to purchase my first Mercedes. 127,000 miles on odo. Picking it up Wednesday. It has not been started for 4 or 5 years. Battery is dead wouldn't take charge overnight) so I couldn't turn it over but I did get fuel leaking at the primer pump on the first of 3 or 4 pumps. The crank rotates, so not frozen up. Any suggestions to get this started so I can get it on a trailer easier?
Clear coat is peeling. It rained the past day, wet rear floor (door/sunroof seals?). Minimal rust at jack holes, bottom of rear doors and low point of trunk.
Man, I sure hope I haven't wasted my $$ on a big headache!!

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Old 09-14-2015, 11:22 AM
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NA sedan.

you could attach a cable to the car, and tow it up to 25mph, and pull it into D to get it started...

or get a new battery so the starter will start the motor.
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Old 09-14-2015, 11:32 AM
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It will be hard to tow start by myself. I will probably just get a battery.
Any critical items that I should address before turning the key....... first time in 4-5 years?
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Old 09-14-2015, 11:45 AM
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The brakes also might very well be seized. Depending on the climate and storage conditions it was in over the years.

Odometers can be a real issue on these cars. If it truly only acquired 127k before put into storage. I would tend to expect the engine to still be really good.. Interior should still look like new other than deterioration of the padding if left out in the heat too much. At least at 127K that is. Your rust description indicates it may not be a southern car though. Anyways I hope it works out for the best for you.

Personally I would run a car check type of report on this car. Sometimes they are helpful and sometimes not. Some states have a lot of useful reporting in them and others next to none. Just to get a baseline on the car but the general condition is everything even if you find something you do not like. For example if the rust is minimal that is a real upside.

Last edited by barry12345; 09-14-2015 at 12:01 PM.
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  #5  
Old 09-14-2015, 12:42 PM
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I believe that I am buying from the 3rd owner (friend/acquaintance), he didn't drive it much before parking it. It has been outside here in NJ, east of Philly. I plan to haul it to Missouri this winter and hopefully get it into dependable driver condition. Maybe $700 is too much?
Thanks for the advice, iwill be back for more I am sure!
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Old 09-14-2015, 01:06 PM
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This is NOT an endorsement suggesting your purchase anything from him, but watch this Mercedes Source video on what he does when buying a "barn find" or otherwise finds a car that's been sitting for years. Mainly, he makes sure there is oil in the engine, starts it up, makes sure it can move under its own power and then confirms that the brakes aren't going to be dragging/locking up on his drive home.

Once he is home, as you should do too, he will do all the fluids and such. I think this video is part of a series he did on catching up an old Mercedes that has sat for a little while.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-bg8W2-HKE
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  #7  
Old 09-17-2015, 07:50 AM
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Brought it home yesterday. New Battery. Siphoned some fuel, looked good. Pumped the leaking primer 5-6 times. Coughed on the first cranking attempt, next one it fired right up, wooohooo! Sure made it easy to get on the trailer. Oil pressure right up to 3, never below 2.5. Starts and shuts down quick.
A couple of questions....the brake pad light is coming on, haven't looked at the front pads yet. Age, sitting?
I try to do a VIN check and I get either a 2001 E model or bad VIN number notice, what's going on here? It did come up as not stolen or complete loss though.
I will be starting on a complete fluid change soon. Any recommendations on the bleeder?
Thanks everyone. Excited about joining the Benz world!!
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Old 09-17-2015, 07:53 AM
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Just buy a new bleeder, they aren't much money. Sounds like you got a decent car. Congrats!

Welcome to the place to keep it running.
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Old 09-17-2015, 08:03 AM
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Stock or new style bleeder?
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Old 09-17-2015, 10:10 AM
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New style. I don't think the original style is still avail.
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..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #11  
Old 09-17-2015, 10:36 AM
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X2 on the primer pump. New style replacement. If it's leaking fuel, it'll leak air into the system when the engine is running.

The brake pad light comes on when the wear indicator is worn down and touches the rotor. It will also come on if rats have eaten the wires and they shorted to ground, or if the insulation was damaged by age or road debris. The only way to know is to pull the wheels off and do an inspection.
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  #12  
Old 09-17-2015, 10:44 AM
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You already won if you found an example in New Jersey with little rust. That area can be really hard on the 123d bodies.
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  #13  
Old 09-17-2015, 12:56 PM
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Brake pad light is only coming on when I use the brakes. No evidence of mice or other vermin....4, 6, or 8 legged variety! I will be checking the pads, front and rear, as I go through the fluids.
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Old 09-17-2015, 02:41 PM
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Keep us posted.
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  #15  
Old 09-17-2015, 04:23 PM
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I'll have time this weekend to start sorting this baby out. A few issues already, and I'm sure more that I will be asking for the proper solutions.
Thanks

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