Now that I'm hooked, we need a daily winter driver. I found a 1979 300td with 150k for $750. The owner says it may need a new vacuum pump, the ac is not working, and has some rust. I'll probably take a look at it tonight. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Anthony

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anthony
72 250

Ask the owner to have it cold when you get there.... no block heater,not started in several hours... then let the glowplugs glow about a minute.... if it starts like that and the rust is not too bad I don't see how you could go wrong for that money....If it is just the diaphram on the vacuum pump that is not a big problem... and you don't need the ac between now and summer... if you got 8 months use out of it at that price you are ahead of the game...
Trying to start it without block heater in the cold is sorta a cheap/fast and easy compression indicator... and compression is the major indicator of engine condition in these cars....

The only other thing that I have heard is to watch out for the rear suspension. The TDs had self levelling suspensions that had a hydraulic pump mounted on the blosk in the engine compartment I think.
If this system went bad then supposedly you couldn't convert to just normals shocks and this cost quite a bit to fix. Do a search on this forum for rear suspension AND TD and see what comes up.
Otherwise the price is right if you're into tinkering... and the motor is okay.

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'99 S420 - Mommies
'72 280SE 4.5 - looking to breathe life into it
'84 300SD Grey - Sold
'85 300SD Silver - Sold
'78 Ski Nautique

I've got the same suspension in my 82 240D, hydraulic pump and shocks and all. Mine seems to be working good so far, I just had it serviced about 6 months ago when I had the shocks replaced. The shop was REALLY suprised when a hose came out with the rear shocks! They had to call the local Mercedes guru to find out about them.

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Michael Roth

1982 300TDT Wagon
1982 240D Euro!, 4spd manual-Parts car now, dead engine
88 Jeep Grand Wagoneer-fixing up for offroading
1989 Ford F150 (rust bucket) For Sale!
1953 Dodge B-4F, 1 1/2 ton Stake Bed (new restoration project)

The 1979 300 td probably does not have the hyd suspension....