I'll probably be posting this one on E-bay soon, but I thought I'd put it up here first.

I'd like to get a $1000 for it. Between the engine, transmission, dashboard and sundry wagon specific parts (e.g. SLS) it ought to be worth that. Consider it a parts car that you could transport across the country on its own power.

Here's the text I wrote for the E-bay auction:


Up for auction is my 1985 Mercedes Benz Series 300 TD Turbo Diesel Station Wagon. I’ve owned this car since 2004, and have put about 30,000 miles on it in that time. I have performed all the maintenance and repairs on this car personally, and have kept meticulous records. It has 168,888 miles on it and the odometer is correct and functional.

I recently, performed the following basic maintenance items:
Oil and filter change (Shell Rotella-T 15w40, Hengst oil filter)
New primary and secondary fuel filters (Hengst)
Valve adjustment
Coolant flush and fill (MB coolant)
New air filter (Hengst)

In addition, I have done all the major maintenance item in the last couple years, including:
Coolant system degrease and citric acid flush
IP timing,
Cam timing
SLS flush fill, and filter
Power Steering flush, fill and filter
Replace Transmission fluid (including torque converter) and filter
Replace the rear differential fluid

This car is a very well mannered highway cruiser. It will readily hold its own at modern highway speeds, and even after 22 years it still gets the original EPA estimated fuel economy (22-25 mpg). While I don’t drive this way regularly, I’ve had it up over 100 mph and it just eats up the road.

Overall, the car is in very good mechanical condition. The engine has excellent, even compression, and runs very well. It has no serious leaks and consumes less than a half quart of oil between oil changes (3,000 miles). The transmission shifts smoothly, and running gear is tight and responsive. The rear self leveling suspension (SLS) works perfectly. Aside from a couple of interior bulbs, all the lights, gauges and power windows work properly. The cruise control works. When I bought the car, the previous owner had recently replaced the air conditioner compressor, but never re-charged the AC system (R-134). So, the automatic climate control doesn’t blow cold, but it will produce massive quantities of eyeball melting heat.

The only known mechanical problems are that the rear brakes need to be replaced (including calipers, rotors and pads). The front brakes still have more than enough power to stop this car on a dime. Also, the rear window wiper recently stopped working, and I accidentally broke off the power antenna mast (the motor still works though). The tires are pretty beat.

Cosmetically, this car is really showing its age. While it is complete and intact inside and out, it is from the north east and there is rust on pretty much every body panel (see the pictures). The ivory paint is faded and oxidized. Structurally however, the car is still sound (including the floors, subframe and rear trailing arms). There are no water leaks into the passenger/cargo cabin. The MB tex java interior (often mistaken for palamino) is also complete and showing its age with sunfaded pink tones, coffee stains and the like. Its not thrashed like some interiors I’ve seen, and with some elbow grease and household cleaners its appearance could be dramatically improved. I’ve “noodled” the front seats and they are comfortable with good posterior support. THE DASH IS NOT CRACKED. I have a full set of wood trim for the dash, but its not glued down. I’ve left it off thinking that someone may want to buy this car to strip for parts and that would be the right time properly re-glue the wood trim. I’ve done it on my other 300TD, with excellent results.

I know this car inside and out, so please don’t hesitate to ask any questions. While I will do my very best to honestly represent the car to the best of my abilities, I strongly encourage you to view this car in person before you bid.

The w123 body Mercedes Benz with a 617.952 engine (5 cylinder, 3.0L turbo diesel) is regarded by many as one of the most reliable vehicles ever engineered, and I would agree. With proper maintenance, these cars will provide faithful service for a long time. However, despite what others E-bay sellers may claim these cars DO NOT get 30 to 40 mpg, and only in extremely rare cases do they go a million miles (and never on the original engine). Also, running waste vegetable oil through these engines without a good two tank setup, including fuel heaters and very high quality filters is a very good way to kill you injector pump. Do yourself a huge favor and stay away from L0vecraft and other single tank vegetable oil conversions. Running on high quality biodiesel, on the other hand, should present no problem for this car. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to you.

here are a few pics of the car. The rust is bad at the rear wheel wells and jack points, but the floors are solid. Pretty much every body panel has some rust on it. Unless you were really skilled at rust repair, consider it either a reliable beater or a drivable parts car.

Very interested... sent you a PM.

That particular model is great. I love mine. Good luck with selling it.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Did you sell this car? Seems like a real good bargain for $1,000.

I just bought a similar 300TD for a grand, and it needs new accumulators and the rust seems maybe worse.

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1995 E320 (2009 - current)
1985 300TD Turbo black (2007-current)
1983 300TD Turbo red (2008-2009)
1972 280SE (2004-2007)
1977 300CD (2003-2004)
1976 240D (1999-2003)

I am waiting on a deposit check from another forum member.

So, I would say, yes it is sold.

If things change, I'll repost.

still forsale?

Sold, to me.

Sold today.