Well,

After getting real disgusted with the wagen selection that was around I decided I had one of two choices.

Wait for a perfect wagen and pay top dollar, or get one that looked like it had good bones, for a fair/low price and do the work myself and KNOW what *I* had done.

One day on eBay I went to eBay Motors, selected MB, then 300, then "going, going, gone" -- and there it was...

So, a new adventure begins...

Take a look here:
www.propertytaxtalk.com/benz.html

And let me know what you think.

Thanks,

WD... although I guess now I should have thought about my User ID!

Congrats! Hope it turns out to be a good one for ya
BTW, I think the mods can change your user name for ya.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

Thanks...

Should prove to be fun. I figure, worse case scenario, I have to do a rebuild on the motor due to bad compression and send the trans out to be rebuilt.

A good friend of mine has a transmission shop that loves BYOT (bring your own trans) jobs. Walk in - put trans on bench - walk out - walk back in, load rebuilt trans into truck - pay - drive.

No storage for him, no nothing...

The engine, from everything I'm reading shouldn't be very hard to rebuild. I've done a few Volvo rebuilds... granted -- not diesel, but same tight toleraces, etc.

Thanks for the confident vote.

WD

Congradulations on the new arrival.
A wise old MB tech once told me to just let the engines go until they won't start anymore, then get serious about a rebuild.
Had that happen a couple of years back. I put a used into it, not real happy with that either.
Well good dieseling. I wouldn't give it up without a fight myself.

Y'know, in spite of the sagging rear end, cancer, and few missing parts, I'm drooling over that car (as much as I love my sedan, I've always wanted a wagon with the 3rd rear seat). How much did she set you back?

BTW, I'm 99% sure that the "splits" on the armrests are actually reflections of the sun from the chrome trim piece that surrounds the point where the armrest meets the door panel.

Also, how sure are you that it's actually an '83? I was under the impression that all '83's have the 85mph speedo...?

Congratulations on the purchase!

I don't think so... my 1983 240D has a 100mph speedo, and I think the 300Ds have a 120 mph speedo.

I believe 82 was the transistion year.

__________________
Nick
*****
2002 Sprinter 2500 140" High Roof :

Old Deis,

Thanks for the encouraging words. -- It's an "extra car" so what you're saying is pretty much exactly what I plan. I'm going to drive it for a while -- and then when (if) things get bad... I'll pull the engine and trans... send the trans out, rebuild the engine... and put it all back together. It's sort of a "fun" project. I think my dad will get a kick out of it too.

I was telling him about the method behind doing the timing belt and he was in love. He's an advid hater of timing belts, and thinks chains are the ONLY way to go.

Thanks again.
--------------------------------------------------
The Warden,

Thanks to you too... I hope you're right about the "splits" but I'm ok with it either way.

I paid $3200 delivered in my driveway. (It had to be shipped).
Not sure about the speedo issue you talk of. Here's the carfax info:
Year/Make/Model: 1983 MERCEDES BENZ 300 TDT
Body Style: STATION WAGON
Engine: 3.0L L5 TURBO DIESEL
Fuel: DIESEL
Driveline: REAR WHEEL DRIVE
Manufactured in: GERMANY
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks again for all support. If anyone sees anything in any of the pictures that are of a concern, PLEASE tell me, don't worry about raining on my parade -- There's not much I can't fix.

Looks like a pretty fair deal. I like the color.

You can fix the sagging pockets with bungee cord, just unscrew the screw at the botom of the seatback panel and slide it out.

The suspension might just need some new spheres.

Good luck!

__________________
Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

"Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana"
---Marx (Groucho)

Congratulations 'Gottadiesel'! :p Lovey is lufley, as my German neighbour likes to say. I like that colour combination. Nice job on the website. THanking mercedesshop was a nice touch.

Okay, I'll bite... what's a peach pie dealer?? I thought I knew, till you said, 'Don't be afraid to ask'. :p

Did you find more rust? In the pictures it looks like nothing that can't be dealt with.

I LOVE wagons, and I'm glad you got one. You'll be one less person to compete with on ebay. Who did you use for shipping, btw? That is a good price, if it included the shipping.

Enjoy!

__________________
Natalie

jassz,

Thanks for more kind words!
The name is special to me...

To be very honest I don't think I would have bought the car if not for this forum -- and that's no BS... that's the truth. between the books, CD, and ALL of the help here, I honestly think I can solve any problem that comes down the road.

Glad -somebody- finnaly asked about the pie. A "peach pie dealer" is what I call an eBayer that has a high rating, and then when you investigate you find out the 75%+ of the rating comes from him buying "receipies" (i.e. peach pie is the big one that these people use) for $.45, $.48 etc. Basically they are BUYING ratings for pennies... it is a REAL scam... that needs to be dealt with.

So, did you bid on that one too? The seller had the auction end @ 5:xx PM ish on a FRIDAY night -- so naturally, most people are rushing home, etc. NOT waiting for an auction to end. I think I just got VERY lucky. I was kind of hoping somebody here would say, "I went and looked at that sled -- what a piece of junk" -- at least I could brace myself.

The $3200 included the shipping and everything! I used the shipper that eBay recommends... I forget the name...

Thanks again.

One more thing... since it looks like plenty of people have looked... does anyone know what's up with the green wire?



Look from the dip-stick to the firewall...

Thanks again...

WannaDiesel -- soon-to-be GottaDiesel

No one else asked so I have to. What is a Peach Pie Dealer?

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

jassz asked first.

A "peach pie dealer" is what I call an eBayer that has a high rating, and then when you investigate you find out the 75%+ of the rating comes from him buying "receipies" (i.e. peach pie is the big one that these people use) for $.45, $.48 etc. Basically they are BUYING ratings for pennies... it is a REAL scam... that needs to be dealt with.

You named your car "Lovey". Like what Mr. Howell called Mrs. Howell on Gilligans Island? Yeesh. Get that name "legally changed".

Isn't Mrs Howell the only one left? Didn't the Skipper murder Mary Ann, then Ginger committed suicide in Viet Nam or something like that? j/k

With that paint color I'd go with Blondie or "Blondi" looks more Germanic for some reason, although I think that was Hitlers dog's name or something, if you can deal with that. (speaking of dogs how about "Ol Yeller"?)
But "Lovey"? I'd call it "Mrs Howell" before that.

Sorry for the rant, rare occasion kinda thing.

Gilly

PS You'll be calling it "Lovey" all right, when you have to replace the oil filter housing gasket or something brutal like that.

Lovey is the name -- I have a good, loyal dog named Lovey -- old, smart, and very tough. The name stays. :p

Thanks again to everyone for the "Welcome"