Need Help- I'm Buying a 1990 300d Wagon

[Clifford]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a 1990 300d Wagon with 186k miles on it. Anyone out there with experience with this model? What should I look for? The owner bought it in 1994 and has all the work receipts on it. I plan to drive up next week and take a look at it. He's told me that everything works on it except the windows in the back. He told me that his kids held the glass down while pushing the switch.

It a 5 speed manual trans. with A/C and a third seat (main reason we are serious about this car). He says it has no rust and interior is in good shape. Regular service with oil changes etc..

Anything I should be aware of?? HELP ANYONE!!!

Clifford

[sixto]

Not a US car right? Turbo or not? Best thing to do would be to have a prepurchase inspection done by a reputable MB independent or a dealer.

The window probably needs a $10 part and an hour of DIY time. Otherwise figure on $150-200 depending on where you are.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

[psfred]

Normal W124 stuff -- brakes, links in the rear (about due), sagging struts in the self-leveling, etc.

Rear door windows are kinda a weak point on this car -- if the linkage is working, the wires flex in the doors and break. Cheapo plastic part on the lift mechanism will prevent the windoes from working, too.

Check for rust in the jack points. Repairable, but not free.

Must start and run fine, must not consume oil. The 602 engine doesn't seem to suffer the bent rod syndrome, so if it doesn't drink oil, it's probably fine.

Rock hard rear suspension is a need for new nitrogen cells for the self-leveling.

Proably needs a new front flex disk.

Probably also need new engine mounts if not already done.

Peter

[sixto]

Peter, how do you know it has a 602? 300D 2.5 is a North America thing. It's a 250D/TD outside of NA.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

[Clifford]

Thanks for the help!

We are living in the South of France, a recent move from So. California. In CA we owned two 84 300d's, one sedan, the other was a wagon. Both were in great shape and at the time I thought I'd never sell them. In fact when we sold them (in less than 1 hour!) we had different parties argueing as to who was going to get the cars!

Here the 123's are very sought after. Rust is a hugh problem as in the states. The 123's are more of a collector's car with people looking for different color's etc... The 124's are what the 123's were maybe 15 yr's ago?? There are plenty of them around but we are looking specifically for a wagon with a third seat which are hard to find. You are taxed by the weight and number of seats in the car and families are smaller here.

I'm very familiar with the 123's but the 124's are a different story. I've read some thread's and I get mixed views but mainly it seems that the 124's have more "stuff" on them that will in time break. Also here in Europe, there seems to be no discount parts houses like in the states. Maybe I'll have to find them though.

I'm driving up to Amsterdam next week then I plan to train it over to Germany to look at the 300d. I'll let you know the outcome and thanks for the info.

Is the suspension system on the 124's similar to the 123's? On our 123 wagon we replaced the nitrogen cylinders and the leveling system which I did myself.

How difficult is it to work on the 124's, in general?

Again, thanks for all the info and the help!

Cliff