FS: 1979 300SD in Northern IN - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

WANT '71 280SEL · #1 12-29-2004, 01:10 AM

I am now selling my '79 300SD. I bought it a year and a half ago and since have done a lot of work to it. I bought it with 185k miles and it now has 220k miles. The interior is in great condition except the rear seat which has a slight sag in the MB-Tex, which is quite normal for a 116. In fact, I have the rear seat out and it shopws the back pad as being replaced in '98. Also, in the records, NEW calipers were installed in '98 by Midas. I'm pretty sure they were knew since each caliper was $250 just for the part. you know how those places are, you take the car in for an oil change and come out with a $1,000 repair bill. Anyways, the original owner bought the car in Chicago then shortly after moved to Louisiana. She then moved back to Ft. Wayne, IN in '92. I bought it from her. She was a nurse and school teacher and her husband was a doctor. I don't know anything about the husband except the metal tags in the glovebox said "Dr. __________" (of course with the name filled in.) She took good care of it and had a $900 service right before I bought it which included a new NAPA battery, rear shocks, rear control links, and ALL fluids. I spoke with the mechanic who's always maintained it and he said she's always brought it in for regular fluid changes, etc. I just changed the oil and am in the process of installing a thermostat and another GP. I replaced all of them last year, but one just went out, grrr. They were all Berus, but who knows? The car has always started great. Work that I've performed has included: (order from most recent)
-new thermostat and GP
-steering coupling
-new driver's door seal
-all fuel filters replaced
-new starter
-new block heater
-windshield seal
-motor mounts
-A/C has alreayd been converted so I topped up with r-134a and as of yet can't find any leaks. It works pretty well actually...
-exhaust bracket up front that attaches to bell housing and had a piece of pipe added in where the exhaust had hung down thus creased so had a crack in it from the lack of support from the broken bracket
-front brake pads w/ sensors (mintex?, they're suppose to be dustless, but naturally...)
-oil cooler (used) and steering damper
-oil pan
-body work, body guy used some bondo but (is now showing slight crack just by the wheel well if you're picky)
-complete front-end suspension rebuild which included:
tie rod ends, upper control arms, lower ball joints and sway bar bushings, repacked bearings
-CD/PM3 player installed
-front speakers replaced with Pioneer 4"x6"'s, sound decent. That was about all I could get to fit. They cost around $60 for the set.
-ACC servo (used)

I'm sure I'm leaving things out, but by looking at the list you can really come to the conclusion that I really loved this car and took very good care of it. I just changed the oil BTW about 500 miles ago.

Now for the things it needs:
-has some rust in rockers, that's really the most severe of it, you can live with it if you wanted, really can't even notice the holes unless you look. The rust is mainly in the front of the rockers. Also, some is into the very bottom of the fenders. It's not as bad as it sounds, but I'm trying to be extremely honest as I have expected other sellers to be with me.
-tires are mis-matched because I didn't want to buy new ones until the whole suspension had been rebuilt, which it has now, but I've run out of time and must sell it. It had Michelins when I bought it...
-as of right now, the wheel is cocked slightly to the left when going straight. When I did the coupling I didn't do good enough of a job marking the splines so it's off a toother at the box. Consider this to have been fixed by the time of sale.
-could probably use a valve adjustment. I last did them at 200k miles and now I can't find one of my ************** wrenches. I'll throw in the one that I do have though and maybe if you contacted them they'd send you just one for less $$$.
-the ALDA has never been adjusted, so I don't know if that would need adjusted at all? The car has PLENTY of power. I had always heard the 116 SD's are faster than the 126's, don't know why (lack of ever having an EGR perhaps) The car will spin the tires when shifting into second gear sometimes even when dry, so I'd leave the power issue alone.
-I get about 25mpg highway and about 20 in town. Not that this is bad, it seems to be normal and realistic. No, no one actually ever gets 35 mpg on these, no matter what they say on ebay
-cruise control doesn't work (the amp is in the trunk waiting to be resoldered but I need to sell this ASAP, so cruise is up to you. It's been rebuilt in the past as it has a rebuilt sticker on the amp.
-dash has a few cracks just starting

Some other notes: The heater works fine unlike many other 116's and drives FANTASTICLY! You would not believe how this thing feels as 100^(I've only had it up to 110, about all it had...) The car also has genuine sheep skin covers on the front although the front seats are in excellent shape. you can have them if you want at no extra cost. Also, I was in the middle of restoring the rear dash so I have the carpet off and haven't found replacement carpet though I haven't really looked that hard. I trashed the rear speakers in the process so you'd have to find some which you would want to do anyways. I have 3 or 4 extra floor mats she had custom made that say "Mercedes," of course those are included as well. The interior wood is in great shape considering what it usually looks like, especially around the vents, etc. you even get my custom-made cup holder that's made out of oak! It holds 2 huge drinks and is a MUST!

As I said before, I've tried my best to describe just about everything fairly and honestly. The only reason I'm selling is because I found an '87 300SDL for a good deal and couldn't pass it up. I really planned to hang onto this car forever, that is until I saw the SDL of course. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to PM or email me. I'll post some pics tomorrow of both the interior and exterior including rust, etc.

I'm asking $1400 obo, so I'm open to offers. I really want to sell this because my dad won't let me drive or work on the SDL until this is sold since he knows I'd try to keep both.

Thanks
David

P.S.
The car is in Fort Wayne, IN, BTW. I'd drive to meet anyone who'd like to look at it, just let me know.

Dr. J · #2 12-29-2004, 07:05 PM

Do you have service records and owner's books? I'm just south of Indy - would you consider delivering it to me? Last question - what is the bottom dollar? Thanks for a reply.

dieslpwr · #3 01-03-2005, 08:50 AM

David I sent you a pm.
Thanks Chad

#4 01-07-2005, 10:17 PM

Is she still available?

WANT '71 280SEL · #5 02-06-2005, 10:35 PM

I thought I had the car sold until he bought a car a coupled days before we could meet up.

So, I went out and took some pics today. I don't want to sell it but I need to make room, my parents are getting sick of insuring 2 cars of mine plus I need the money. I didn't wash the car or anything; I was just bored and decided to go out and take some quick pics.

Here they are....

Thanks
David

WANT '71 280SEL · #6 02-06-2005, 10:45 PM

one more. This is of the bondo and you can see the cracking. If I were you I'd just get the chrome fender trim and be done with it or fix it, it's up to you.

WANT '71 280SEL · #7 02-08-2005, 12:13 PM

Anyone interested at $1200? The car has been very well taken care of and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it around the world (if there were a bridge naturally).
Thanks
David

WANT '71 280SEL · #8 02-15-2005, 08:02 AM

Still for sale...

David

WANT '71 280SEL · #9 02-23-2005, 11:10 AM

I'm putting an aux. waterpump on this weekend.

Thanks
David

mespe · #10 03-05-2005, 09:20 AM

if available I might be interested

WANT '71 280SEL · #11 03-06-2005, 05:33 PM

It's still available.

PM or email me for more info.

Thanks
David

WANT '71 280SEL · #12 03-08-2005, 06:23 PM

$1,000 FIRM! If it doesn't sell here real soon I'll sell it locally. Really, if you don't mind some rust it's a great car. I get compliments all the time, especially when filling up.

Thanks
David