FS: 1976 115 300D with 4-speed conversion

[54dan]

Hey all,

I'm not driving my old 115 300D 4-speed manual conversion anymore and it needs to go to someone who can have some fun with it. I've owned the car since 2011 and I did the 4-speed conversion with 240D parts probably 5 years ago. All MBZ 115 parts were used and new master cylinder, hose, and slave cylinder were used. I replaced the slave cylinder recently as it was leaking.

I also replaced the injector nozzles with Monarch ones and set pop pressure when I got the car.

Car has faded paint and a straight body. There is typical rust creeping around in the floorboards - the PO patched a hole in the left rear floor with an aluminum piece. The trunk floor was rusty but still there, so I painted it with Miracle Paint years ago. I have frankly ignored the other rust in the floor and not poked at it. I'll try to get it up in the air and take some pics this weekend.

Other issues:

* Heater fan inop; ambient airflow is kinda sufficient here in SC.
* A/C nonfunctional but I have a new York compressor that goes with it.
* Engine has more blowby than I wish it did; cap will sit on the hole and chatter around (ie, it won't blow off). Engine starts easily in any temp we get here in SC, compression was in the 350 range when I checked years ago, and it makes good power on the road without excessive smoke or oil use.
* Dash is cracked as typical. But, I have a perfect complete dash to go with it and two covers if you don't get to it right away. You could replace the dash when you do the heater blower (that was my plan).

The car is a nice driver and I'd probably trust it to go anywhere. That said, it's not perfect by any means.

I have several boxes of parts to go with it as well as a spare 4-speed trans that I picked up somewhere. You can have all the old auto trans stuff if you want as well; it worked and shifted fine when I took it out.

I'm in upstate SC, near where SC meets GA and NC.

Let me know what else you need to know. I'll try to check back here but haven't been following the forums for a long time.

Asking $1500.

-Dan

[biopete]

I like that color. Someone will get a fun car and a good deal.

[JimFreeh]

I've known Dan for some years and bought his other auto to manual diesel conversion (85 300TD) a couple of years ago.

Dan's work was well researched and employed factory parts, not to mention a high level of attention to detail. So far, we have encountered no significant issues with the car or the driveline. Proof of process was driving the wagon from SC to VA without a hiccup.

Knowing Dan, I feel he has a tendency to under describe and overdeliver, in other words, he is very forthcoming about any weakness with the car.

Linda and I enjoy driving the wagon, the 5 cylinder engine has the push my 220Ds and 240Ds lacked. Much more fun than the auto!

And..... that uncracked dash ought to be worth something, all my W114 coupes had damaged dashes, this dash hung in my shop for 25 years, never got around to installing it on my coupes, then suddenly the coupes were all gone, sniff!

[t walgamuth]

it looks tidy.

[biopete]

Did anyone snag this Dan? This is tempting. If I got this it would make 3 w115s for me. I can’t drive that many. Someone should snag this deal.

[biopete]

Nice wagon Jim!

[JimFreeh]

Originally Posted by biopete

Nice wagon Jim!

Back in 93, I gave Linda an 87 300TD. She happily drove it for 14 years, until I replaced it with a 95 E320 wagon. She loved the fact that it was both a diesel and a wagon, so much so, that she continued to drive it for a couple of years after we bought the replacement 95.

After driving the 95 for ten years, the kids were grown and we didn't have the need for the rear seat seat, so she went back to diesels, with an 05 CDI, and a few years ago, the current diesel, the 14 E250 bluetec.

I had known Dan's conversions for several years, and gave him a bunch of W115 and W123 goodies that I had stashed away. I had scrapped a 79 280TE, and gave Dan the euro stuff to install on his wagon.

Sometime later, a group of us we sitting in Mark's shop drinking beer when Dan mentions that he was thinking about selling the MBs. Ten minutes later, I had struck a deal to buy the wagon. Just needed to get it from SC to VA. Dan offered to bring it over if we would give him a ride back. Done!

Got the car back, surprised Linda, and she loved the car. She finally got her diesel wagon again. Only problem is I want to paint it, she prefers the patina.

Jim

[54dan]

Hey all,

Yes, the 300D was sold to (stolen by) a local craigslist buyer.

Sadly, I don't think it found nearly as good of a home as the 300TD did with Jim. I love that story and I'm so glad that one worked out that way!

Many thanks for the kind words, and all of the help over the years, Jim!

-Dan