Looked at a 300D Sunday! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 01-05-2004, 02:41 PM

I saw an ad in the paper for an 1985 300D California car with 168k on it. It was close and only listed for $1600. It was a rainy Sunday morning so I went and looked at it. First I was really surprised at the condition. It was grey with a black MB tex interior. The wood was close to perfect, the peice on the glove box was broken, the seats were good no rips, cracks. There were a few small trim pieces off here and there but overall very nice. The exterior paint needed a buff jub and there was a little rust under the rear bumper. All the windows and sunroof worked.

Mechanicals: It was in the low 40's and the car had sat all night. There was no block heater on this car. It fired off instantly after the glow plugs were on for like 15sec. No smoke, idled nicely. Oil pressure pegged on 3 bar. This car is owned by a MB mechanic who is selling it because he bought an SDL.

The bad: This is a Cal. car complete with EGR and Cal. style air cleaner. But it has been it CT since 1996 according to pretty good service records. The cruise control and AC don't work. There is a clunk comeing from the back. Aslo the steering rack needs to be replaced. It is harder to turn the wheel left then it is to turn it right. Not noticeable on the road but when sitting you can tell. Owner offered to split cost of repair. The car also felt very slugish. Even the owner said it felt slugish. You had to floor the peddle to go and keep it down. It almost felt like the turbo was not spooling up. It would only go up to 4k before it would shift. I think these engines should spool up to like 4.8k?

Other than these issues it drove nice with good firm shifts. I have a few questions though. Can the steering wheels be adjusted on these cars? My knee kept hitting it. And there is no room down by the peddle's my shoes kept hitting something. These two things made it kind of uncomfortable to drive. Also do you have to keep the peddle down to the floor all of the time? I thought it was a very good car for the money, even though it is not the model I really want if I could have gotten comfortable behind the wheel I would probably have bought it. I think I will keep looking for the right W126.

1stimer · #2 01-05-2004, 05:21 PM

When I was looking I found there was no extra room in the 126. There is an adjustment on the seat that tilts it back. Not the wheel which tilts the back of the seat, but a lever which makes the whole seat kind of move down and back, which I need because I am 6 foot 7. I'm not explaining this well, but if I fit in the 123 then anyone can and I hate to see you exclude a car if the right seat adjustment would help. Good luck.

84300DT · #3 01-05-2004, 05:26 PM

you should def. not have to floor the car to get it going if the engine is at operating temperature.
the seat has a height adjustment. makes a big difference.
drive mine on sunday and you'll see!

Hatterasguy · #4 01-05-2004, 09:18 PM

84300DT It was idleing for a good 20 min. Before we took it for a run it was up to temp. I think either the fuel or air filters were dirty or the egr was acting up. It started up and idled to well to have low compression. I am thinking about buying it. I will go and look at it tomarow, I want to check the floor pans for rust and drive and look over it one more time. I think I might offer him $1,300. It could be a good winter project. All of the basics seem solid. If I put maybe $1,500 into it I think I will have a solid car. thank you for the offer I will take you up on it Sunday. You can drive my Camry if you want. That way I will have a MB diesel for 3k instead of like 7k-8k for an SDL. I can spend the difference on fly rods and stocks!

fahrgewehr2 · #5 01-06-2004, 01:15 AM

I say go for it if you can get it for 1300 bucks. Mechanic owned=good thing. Even if its not perfect, it will be an excellent platform to learn on, which is half the fun, right?

I read all the car related posts on this forum and see you post quite often. You NEED a Mercedes!

Mike

PS- anthrazite on black- that color combo really looks the business.

84300DT · #6 01-06-2004, 08:14 AM

well for 1300 or even 1500 you really cannot go wrong .. and with another 1500 well, you'll prolly end up with a nice rig

hmm, perhaps we'll get to see your 'new' MB at the gtg! , instead of the camry (no offense:p )

Hatterasguy · #7 01-06-2004, 12:29 PM

fahrgewehr2 yes I need a MB so bad. 84300DT if I do buy it I will not be driveing it until March. I want time to fully sort it out and let the roads get de-salted first. I think it could be a good first MB and learning project. If it cost me 3k in the end and I drive it for 5-6 years then sell it for 1k. Thats great!

84300DT · #8 01-06-2004, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hatterasguy
fahrgewehr2 yes I need a MB so bad. 84300DT if I do buy it I will not be driveing it until March. I want time to fully sort it out and let the roads get de-salted first. I think it could be a good first MB and learning project. If it cost me 3k in the end and I drive it for 5-6 years then sell it for 1k. Thats great!

hope it works out! anyhow i believe you could get a temporary paper license plate at the DMV with just the title and ins. card.