Got a deal on a rust free (except one spot on the left front lower fender) 79 300D that the owner gave up on. It wouldn’t start. New injectors and other parts were thrown at it by the seller. Checked over after buying it and the glow plug relay was shot. Jumped it and it fired right up. Im having it picked up tomorrow.

Heres a couple of pics. Its my first 123. Anything to lookout for?

Rust

pull the passenger side carpet front and back and try to remove the crumbling body insulation along where the floor meets with the inside rocker panel. If you see the ground then you might want to rethink your purchase.

Check for blow-by by doing the oil cap dance test.

Also obvious stuff like oil in coolant or mayo on the oil cap

This style of climate control likes to fail so check all functions of that too

Pop the hood and look in the pockets that the hood hinge/tension spring retracts into. Leaves and mung like to collect in there rusting out and causing water to get into the cabin. Water should drain freely through the hinge pocket then down and out the front wheel wells. Check the drain exit in the wheel wells too for leaves, dirt and clean that out.

That interior is a thing of beauty... very clean. I don't see the usual puckering of the vinyl on the door card either. Nice.

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1991 300D 2.5 "Rocinante"
2002 Golf TDI "Teen Spirit"
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1984 300D
1966 Mustang I6 3sp
1985 Mazda RX-7 GSLSE
1982 Toyota Supra
1977 Datsun 280z
1971 Datsun 240z

Just check over everything. That paint may come back really well but seal it after so it does not oxidize easily again.


The one thing I would do with my 77 300d. If a lot of highway use was intended. I would seriously consider installing the rear end from a 1981-1984 inclusive. Turbo engined 300d car. I think they came with a 3.46 where the 3.07 drops the engine revs somewhat on the highway.

Mine seems okay for power after I gave the fuel system a tune up. The valve clearances should also be checked unless the past owner said he did them. A lot of owners where not even aware they did not have hydraulic lifters. Treated well these non turbo engines might exceed the turbo versions in lifespan.

No rust there or anywhere structural I could find.

The pockets are clean. The interior is gorgeous. One crack on the dash pad is all I have seen so far.

I buffed one spot and its shined right up. I have a spare 1987 300 D diff laying around but Im sure its different.

Im going to go through this one stem to stern before putting any duty cycles on it.

Thanks all for the help so far.

Just found this. Service and fuel records all the way back to 1979.

Service and lubricate everything there's a lot to it all .

Remember to drain the torque converter whilst you're at it and flush the cooling system very thoroughly ~ drive it a few days and run the Klima I HVAC through all it's cycles as a tiny bit of crud that jambs the evil servo from hell is what will cause it to fail .

Don't forget to lube the hood hinges and grease the doors .

This one looks pretty good in spite of the rust hole, encapsulate it so it won't spread and enjoy driving it before selling it on ~ not a lot of these early ones in VGC left now .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Yes. Thats my plan.


The clock even works.

This Becker radio has a scan function that works. No blown speakers. I am liking this car so far.

Pulled the injectors to send them for service. Did a compression check. 400 plus across the board. Im soaking the cylinders in MMO for the duration the injectors are being dialed in. Then a full service.

The clocks almost never fail .

I have a Becker Mexico, I didn't know it has a scan feature ~ how do you do that ? .

Be very careful as these cars can be highly addictive .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

They are addictive. If you press the black bar with the becker mexico on it.

Thank you ! .

For fear of breaking a 40 year old bit of unobtanium plastic I would never have tried that .

I hope you get out and drive this car, I put on almost 800 miles every 7 days and really love the time spent in my various W123's .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better