Greetings All:

I've been posting on some forums over at MBNZ.com about getting a W126. However, being a past owner of several W123 diesels (and a very happy past owner, I should add), I've also been looking around for a 300D. Found one on Ebay that apparently has only 79K on it and the pics are excellent from what I can see. It's gold with tan interior.

Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1874432550

Any thoughts from experienced buyers? Is it possible this one is really "gold"? I'd really appreciate any feedback you might have. I'm in Northern California and the car is in Southern California, so this seems sort of tempting.

The price looks like it might be a little high, but other than that, it looks like a nice car. The only concern that I have is where the owner states that it starts good in hot/cold weather, are they talking about Southern California cold weather, or the extreme cold of Northern Climates.

About the car: I'm told it was a local SoCal car, so the "cold" must refer to a chilly night in Palm Springs at best. However, it can get down into the 30's there, so perhaps that's not as inaccurate as it might sound.

The only problem I really see is that it's got only one Carfax record (clear otherwise) and that's a recent mileage/title statement. Complete blank before that. Yes, in CA diesels don't go through the whole smog check, but I'd think there would be a record of -something- before that, especially on an '84.

I may watch this one for a bit.

Thanks for your reply!

Cordially,
OneTwoSix

Formerly owned cars: '77 300D, '78 280SE, '81 300D, '96 190E.

My experience with severe cold starts with a diesel is only with Case tractors years ago. We owned two case 300 series diesels that would start fine unless it was below 0f. Then they would start after a few tries after pumping so much raw fuel smoke out the pipe I expected the barn to explode when they did fire up. My 300d has been in temps as low as 20f and started with no problem as long as the plugs were working. Colder than that who knows, I hope I don't have to find out

r u in this bidding?-----Almost over 8,000 with over two days left. I just posted about a car this same seller had about a month ago. It was an '82 I believe...looked good with those exact rims, he had just purchased from e-bay. He would only let me check it out at a specific shop...metric motors in cypress...I passed---too rich for my blood, and I wanted to take car to Enrique. This is the highest amount I've seen a 300d-t get to in the few months I've been watching their prices. Keep the prices up...Fine with me.

I don't care how many miles are on it, after 20 years things are going to wear out, and need replacing.


Can you imagine what $5,000 could do for a $3,000 car.

Aloha

I ran the VIN # through autocheck.com for you and it came back with no records on this car. They will normally have more information than carfax. You may want to ask the seller to check the VIN # to make sure he listed it correctly on the auction.


From autocheck.com


The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) you submitted has been analyzed and summary detail information on your car is shown below.
VIN: WDBAB33A0EA090500
Year: 1984
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: 300 Series 300D-T
Style/Body: 4 Door Sedan
Engine: 3.0L I-5 FI Tbo Dsl
Country of Assembly: Germany
AutoCheck Record Summary:
AutoCheck has located 0 records in the National Vehicle Database for this vehicle.
At this time we are unable to provide any vehicle history for the VIN you have requested. Please check back at a later date when information may be available.

It does look like a very nice car!!! Although I don't think I would spend that much money on a car that didn't have maintenance records and I would insist on having the car inspected by a mechanic I trusted. Good Luck!!!

Hello folks....

No, I'm not bidding on this one. As of tonight, the auction is closed and the winner will walk away with this (fools?)gold 300D for "only" 7,705.00, which is waaaaaaaay to high for a mystery car.

And thanks for the autocheck link, dieseldork! Very nice of you to run the VIN there. Didn't know about that one. Carfax has one record only on this car, and it's a recent title reg from about two years ago with no odometer reading at all.

Here's the only thing Carfax said about it:

DATE REPORTED: 03/24/2000

ODOMETER READING: [blank]

INFORMATION SOURCE:
California Motor Vehicle Dept.
Santa Clarita, CA

What's funny about all this is how obvious the scams are out there in hindsight. Not saying this is one, but it seems like it to me in some way. I mean, there are many reputable folks out there that -know- a Benznut like myself will pay incredible top-dollar for a really fine, clean, records-rich, well-maintained Mercedes. I know such a car will last half of forever if I continue to take care of it and just keep it away from meteorites and such.

But to make claims on a car, post pics (one of which does not look right to me) and, as 1stimer said, apparently restrict the manner and kind of inspections....well, sheesh. I may originally be from the hills, but I do know an honest deal when I see one. And this one wasn't it, far as I can tell.

Tell y'all one thing, though: I may just have to buy a diesel for sure, considering all the help I got around here. It pays to have nice folks about when you've got a question or know enough to answer one. Thanks again!

Cordially,
OneTwoSix, still looking....