Peachparts approved listing number: 255828

Some of this is copied and pasted from the thread in DD about the car, but I also added quite a bit of information.

Since getting my dealer's license I pretty regularly attend the local dealer only auction here in town. Outside of the normal Cs and Es made in the last decade there really isn't many MBs that come up. This one was a great exception

I overslept a bit and arrived late to the auction, which was already in full swing. They run 5 auctions simultaneously all in one building with 50-100 running through each lane. I made sure there wasn't anything coming up immediate, and went out to the frozen parking lot to make my rounds. With temperature in the teens quite a few auction cars don't have strong enough batteries to crank or good enough tires to hold air. In each row there's one golf cart assigned who's full time job is to jump and air up tires as the cars get close to going on the block, and these guys were working frantically.

I was surprised to stumble upon this 1981 300SD with a Silver Blue metallic exterior over blue leather interior. It was just about time for it to pull up on the block, and the "jumper" was struggling to figure out the hood latches to open it. I assisted, pointing out to him the 2 latches on either side of the grill, and the hood rose with ease. He quickly hooked up his box, jumped in the car, and started cranking it without glowing. I was about to tell him to stop and point out the glow sequence, but the car fired up on the second or third revolution. Considering it had sat overnight in the teens, I found it amazing. He got out and said, "it runs like s*it," and moved on to the next car. I didn't bother responding because I barely had time to do a quick look-over and run it through the gears before the driver came to roll it up on the block.

It didn't take long for all the cylinders to fire evenly and the gray smoke out the exhaust to ease up. When she crossed the block a few dealers glanced at the information sheet hanging on the mirror, saw the 220k on her and made an about face. I was the only one that wanted it, and since it was a dealer trade in and not a wholesaler they just wanted to unload.

After winning the auction I had to leave to do some other work, returning 4 hours later to pick her up. I got a ride out in one of the jumper golf carts just in case, but it wasn't necessary. After one glow she fired right up and drove flawlessly for the 15 miles of mostly highway back to my shop. While the heater worked well, I noticed the car wasn't rising to full operating temperature, which I'm guessing is a stuck open thermostat. All the seat adjustments work on the drivers side except forward and back, and all the adjustments on the passenger seat work except the backrest. Driver's side window is dead, the rest functional. The car tracked perfectly straight, the turbo spooling and shifting perfect. Brakes and steering were firm.

I have since tinkered with the car a bit and given it a detailed look over. I don't have the time to completely sort this car out nor is it economically feasible for me to farm out the work so I'll throw it out here to hopefully find a forum deal hunter who has the time to put in a little sweat equity.

Oil is right on the full mark. A little seepage around the valve cover gasket but underneath looks clean. I did notice the oil cooler line is seeping as well, leaving a couple dime size drips where it sits overnight. Nothing alarming as of now.

A new thermostat has the car running at perfect operating temperature with good heat. I drained the radiator as well and refilled. I also replaced the CCU which revived all the climate control operation. AC looks to have a new compressor and R134 conversion but the clutch is not pulling back. I have not checked for a charge.

The brake fluid is a little low, and I can tell detect a little mush in the pedal. I will top off for now and a new Master Cylinder is on its way. Still stops firm and straight, and doesn't effect driveablility at all at this point.

The suspension looks to have been freshened up at some point. I can't find any dry rot in any of the bushings and the shocks are very nice. The negatives here is a leaking ball joint on the front left and a small leak from the power steering pump which leaves approximately a 2-3 inch mark overnight. Axle boots looking to be original but are in nice shape. Steering is nice and tight and the car runs down the road at 70 very smoothly.

Thanks to some swapped window switches all 4 power windows work, along with the sunroof. Only the left rear is making the imminent regulator failure rattle. The tach and instruments are fully functional, and the lighting works now that I replaced the rheostat, though a few bulbs are burned out. Cruise control is inoperative. I replaced the driver's side seat switch which revived the forward and back motion, but this switch is flaky on the height adjustment. The passenger seat switch works but the tab has broken off for the seat back adjustment. With the button removed the switch is accessible and easy to adjust. The original becker in the car is not turning on.

The body on this car is impressive. The only rust I could find was a bb size bubble that hasn't broken through the paint on the front fender and a nickle size surface browning visible when you open the trunk and look at the right corner of the seal sill. Paint is burnt on the roof and hood, and it appears the trunk and rear quarters were repainted at some point, with some peeling on the trunk around the Mercedes crest trunk badge. I suspected rear end damage, but couldn't find any evidence of damage looking underneath the bumper and in the spare tire well. While the trim on the bumper was bent, that appeared to be a low speed impact that didn't effect anything else. I've concluded that since the rear glass was replaced at some point that perhaps something fell on the rear area of the car. Passenger rear door has a dent but otherwise no body damage outside of a few dings here and there. In the trunk is an unused spare (perfect finish and original Pirelli tire). The blue interior is worn in, but the seats are free of tears and still comfortable. It has that nice old saddle feel, good patina. The wood is all very nice. The dash is cracked, but I found a matching blue fabric cover which I will include.

While I've laid out alot of stuff I believe nothing is in imminent danger of leaving you stranded and I wouldn't be scared driving this thing anywhere. In the glove box was a maintenance book stamped until the space ran out. Considering the very good health of the body, engine, and drivetrain, this car has alot going for it.

I'm thinking $1600 is a good price to forum members for it. That includes a 30 day tag (with proof of insurance) to get it anywhere you want to go. My craigslist at will be priced higher and quite a bit more vague as too many details most folks eyes glaze over. I've laid out honestly everything I know with this ad, so it had to be verbose.

These are the photos I have of it now. More to come later. Any good spirited discussion is welcome. Thanks for looking.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Nice car for the price!

PM Sent... On behalf of my parents.

__________________
1983 Benz 240D - 263,060 (Current)
1983 Cadillac DeVille - 130,000 (Scrapped - Stupid HT4100)
1992 Dodge B350 - 150,000 (Sold)
1984 Mazda 626 - 299,997 (Scrapped)

Very interested... My olds van is about done and this is a good replacement.

How is the transmission performing?

Thx

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Perfect. Smooth shifts and spot on gear selection.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Dangya Tyler! Where was this when I was shopping for one?

__________________
1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".

Thinking hard

That is so much car for the $$$$$!!
Will show this to my customer who is looking for a good 2nd car......
I've actually told him about the Buick in the background.

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Deposit accepted from qs23. Sale pending Sunday.

__________________
1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Tyler I know you probably got this at Mid America but - is that beater auction on Saturday still happening in S Wichita?

__________________
BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

A very nice daily-driver/workhorse for the right person!

(NOT TO MENTION IT'S IDENTICAL TO MY '83 300SD drove to 305K in '99)







.

I'll second that in a big way.

Kudos to Tyler for selling at a reasonable price. I'm jealous as hell. It's my favourite colour combo (you never see it on an SD here in Canada, just on gassers).

Cheers

__________________


Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Don't you wish you would've kept it?

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Yes. For several tens of thousands of miles more - then sold it. Mine had a lot of life in it at 305K, with more to go in '99. The '99 300 ETD is just fine though.