Would you turn down a free car? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimFreeh · #1 11-19-2015, 04:09 PM

I've been trying to prepare for retirement and a cross country move next year, and have been trimming the fleet (MB and non MB).

So..... I'm on leave and visiting my family in Tucson, AZ. (Mom, siblings, daughter), when we have lunch with an old family friend. He's been a MB dieselhead for many years, and recently sold his home (4 car garage) and moved into smaller digs.

I enquired what he was doing with his cars, and he told me he was looking to get rid of one of them. He wanted it to go to an appreciative home. Even though I need another like a hole in the head, I had to ask, how much?

Here's the zinger. Free. No charge.
Well, given my last name, he was singing my song.

So the next day, my cousin Tim and I went down to the storage building where the car was. The paint was flat (not a surprise in Tucson), but the car is rust free and no big dents. The interior was decent as well, except for the usual cracked dash. Car looked stock, down to the round headlights and Becker GP radio. The antenna worked, as well as the A/C. It had been sitting for two months, we hooked up the battery, cranked it over and it started right up. Sounded great for 229K. Drove it around the lot a bit, needs a tranny mount/ front flex disc, but otherwise ran and drove smoothly. Called my daughter up and told her we were dropping off a spare car, drove it over to her place and parked it under the carport.

Now, to get it registered and insured, then address the issues next time I'm out for a visit. It's driveable as is, but I'm picky, so I want it to be right. Nice set of Michelins on it as well.

It all happened so fast I didn't get a chance to take pictures, and now I'm trying to get my daughter to send me some...

The really cool thing is what the car is...... It's an 85 300TD, silver with a creme interior. Surprisingly, even my wife was happy, she has always missed her 87 300TD. Ironically, it is also the third silver MB wagon in a row for us.

Jim

MagicBus · #2 11-19-2015, 04:36 PM

Congrats on the free wagon. I'm curious - how can you tell, from a test drive, that it needs a flex disc and transmission mount?

Skid Row Joe · #3 11-19-2015, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicBus

Congrats on the free wagon. I'm curious - how can you tell, from a test drive, that it needs a flex disc and transmission mount?

Great Q !

I'm all ears on learning the answer from Jim.....

JimFreeh · #4 11-20-2015, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicBus

Congrats on the free wagon. I'm curious - how can you tell, from a test drive, that it needs a flex disc and transmission mount?

Well, I knew from conversation that the front pair of mounts had been replaced recently. The vibration at idle indicated motor mounts or trans mount. When driving the car on the street, the driveline banged when the trans downshifted, which can be either the trans mount or the front flex disk.

Since I'm going to be maintaining the car remotely for the next year, I'll bring both items with me and change them out when I'm out next.

Jim

daw_two · #5 11-19-2015, 04:37 PM

congrats. I would not turn a free car, either.

mach4 · #6 11-19-2015, 05:07 PM

Great find - you made the right decision...

Skid Row Joe · #7 11-19-2015, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

I've been trying to prepare for retirement and a cross country move next year, and have been trimming the fleet (MB and non MB).

So..... I'm on leave and visiting my family in Tucson, AZ. (Mom, siblings, daughter), when we have lunch with an old family friend. He's been a MB dieselhead for many years, and recently sold his home (4 car garage) and moved into smaller digs.

I enquired what he was doing with his cars, and he told me he was looking to get rid of one of them. He wanted it to go to an appreciative home. Even though I need another like a hole in the head, I had to ask, how much?

Here's the zinger. Free. No charge.
Well, given my last name, he was singing my song.

So the next day, my cousin Tim and I went down to the storage building where the car was. The paint was flat (not a surprise in Tucson), but the car is rust free and no big dents. The interior was decent as well, except for the usual cracked dash. Car looked stock, down to the round headlights and Becker GP radio. The antenna worked, as well as the A/C. It had been sitting for two months, we hooked up the battery, cranked it over and it started right up. Sounded great for 229K. Drove it around the lot a bit, needs a tranny mount/ front flex disc, but otherwise ran and drove smoothly. Called my daughter up and told her we were dropping off a spare car, drove it over to her place and parked it under the carport.

Now, to get it registered and insured, then address the issues next time I'm out for a visit. It's driveable as is, but I'm picky, so I want it to be right. Nice set of Michelins on it as well.

It all happened so fast I didn't get a chance to take pictures, and now I'm trying to get my daughter to send me some...

The really cool thing is what the car is...... It's an 85 300TD, silver with a creme interior. Surprisingly, even my wife was happy, she has always missed her 87 300TD. Ironically, it is also the third silver MB wagon in a row for us.

Jim

Yes, I would turn down a free car - provided I didn't want it.

I've given away two cars - one was worth close to $10K and the other was worth scrap, and I had to pay for the tow truck!

Sounds like you're enjoying the experience of getting a free car. Thanks for relating the experience here! Mazel tov !

zu! · #8 11-19-2015, 06:51 PM

I was approached by a lady at a gas station. She wanted to give me 2 300Ds. One was working and the other a parts car.

Why? Because, she said, I looked like a good father (my 3 girls were all laughing and joking in the car) and I had good taste in vehicles (I was in my own 300D.

I wish someone gave me a wagon though

that's a good one! I could never find a rust-free 123 wagon.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

vstech · #9 11-19-2015, 08:15 PM

A Grand Prix radio in an 85 TD? That's odd... Should be the Europa or later model...

We just GOTTA have pix ya know...

Sounds like you are the grand praise winner of the cheap wagon club to me... ( ha, autocorrect changed prize to praise, and I like it...)

Get some deep wax on that dead paint ASAP, take care of it, and let's get some PICTURES!

JimFreeh · #10 11-20-2015, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

A Grand Prix radio in an 85 TD? That's odd... Should be the Europa or later model...

Same radio that was in my 83 300D and 83 300SD. Same button layout as the GP radios in W124 series up to the early nineties, but a smaller LCD display. These early radios also had a feature that would allow you to program in an auto turn on at a specific time. Wouldn't want to miss Rush....

Jim

jay_bob · #11 12-01-2015, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Same radio that was in my 83 300D and 83 300SD. Same button layout as the GP radios in W124 series up to the early nineties, but a smaller LCD display. These early radios also had a feature that would allow you to program in an auto turn on at a specific time. Wouldn't want to miss Rush....

Jim

That would be the 612. It was the upgraded radio in later 123s. The base radio was the analog 599 (the "Europa").

With the 124/2nd gen 126 they went to the 754 and 780 one piece radios.

optimusprime · #12 02-02-2016, 02:16 PM

This was a free one I never thought i would need another car .But i took it on and now a few grand less but still spending to get it mint.

JimFreeh · #13 02-02-2016, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by optimusprime

This was a free one I never thought i would need another car .But i took it on and now a few grand less but still spending to get it mint.

For some of us, old Mercedes come around and we cannot repress the urge to "feed" them.

I think it's very similar to certain women who own a large number of cats...

Jim