1982 MB 300D Turbo Automatic, located in Chicago. Looking for $1500 OBO.

Odometer is stuck at around 315k miles, I would estimate the actual mileage at about 350k-375k. Odometer worked when I got the car, but has moved very little in the last 6 or 7 years.

I bought the car in 2002 with 290k on it. A reputable shop rebuilt the engine when the car had about 190k on it. The water pump went out, PO didn’t notice and continued driving. He said the damage was not fatal and he had it rebuilt by a MB shop (I probably still have the receipt he gave me). I’ve never had any issues with the engine whatsoever. Starts every time, even in Chicago winters without the block heater plugged in. Leaks a little oil, probably a little tranny fluid too. I had a big oil leak last year and it was just a crack in the upper silver housing (where the oil cap is), and I replaced it. I replaced the glow plugs 5 or 6 years ago. The steering box was replaced with a rebuilt about 4 years ago, no problem with it since.

The body is in great shape for someone who needs panels or is looking for a restoration. The car was originally purchased in PA, but only spent a few years there before it moved to Atlanta GA. That’s where it spent the majority of its life, with the original owner and then his adult son. That’s who I bought the car from in 2002, when I lived in Asheville, NC. So it has been a southern car for most of its life, other than the last 5 years that I have been living in Chicago. So there is no cancerous rust, although I’m starting to see some small spots of surface rust in some places.

-Exterior is not terrible, considering how old it is. One small dent near the DS front turn-signal, someone barely sideswiped it while parked on a side-street. I replaced the TS but never popped the dent out. Looks like easy work for a body man. Paint is not original, but is the original color. The PO had it re-sprayed once, at one of those cheap places, probably in the 90s. Not terrible by any means but nothing special. I think all of the trim is there. One strip slightly damaged by the sideswipe hit&run. Full-size spare. The spare rim is beautiful, and the tire may be the original spare. I had to use it last year and that may have been the first time. Original jack included, too.

-Interior is a little rough but not terrible. Drivers seat ripped, a few cracks in the dash but not the worst I’ve seen. Carpet looks original, and shows its age.

-Needs a lot of front-end work: Upper and lower ball joints/control arm bushings. The part that I think is called the guide-rod bushing definitely needs to be replaced on both sides. I replaced the tie-rods and the steering bushing recently, hoping that would get me a little further down the road and improve the clunking, which it did for a while. But there is a lot of creaking and clunking in the front end. It needs a front end rebuild badly.
-Front brakes may need a little work, I slapped some new pads on there recently in a speedy driveway job, but something may be a little off. Stops fine, all breaks are engaging, I just think one might be rubbing very slightly. The rear brakes were repaired a couple years ago, with probably only a few thousand miles driven since.
-I had the transmission rebuilt ($1700) about 6 years ago. I think they replaced all the bands, or at least 3. It has worked fine since, but I did have to have it serviced a couple of years ago, can’t remember the part that was replaced but I probably have the receipt somewhere.
-Differential whine is pretty substantial. It has always made noise, but has gotten gradually worse over the years.
-Cruise control does not work.
-AC does not work. Heat works, but the climate controller in the dash is not perfect. Sometimes it doesn’t want to blow and takes a little fiddling.
-Front windshield cracked, seal leaks a tiny bit too. Crack does not affect the driver's vision. Rear windshield leaks as well, into the trunk. This might actually be the trunk seal, or both. Sunroof still works, and doesn’t leak.
-One of the rear windows does not work, other 3 do.
-Power antenna works. Aftermarket CD player has terrible radio reception and CDs skip constantly, but it does have an aux input for MP3 or iPod. 4 aftermarket speakers, all working.
-Rear bumper fell off on one side, held on with a ratchet strap.
-I have never done any maintenance to the cooling system, but it has never gotten close to overheating.
-I have never done any maintenance to the exhaust system, but it seems fine to me.
-Tachometer does not work, hasn’t since I bought it.
-Turbo works, never did anything to it.

The good:
Three-owner car, mostly lived in the south-east.
Starts, runs and stops! With the front suspension issues, I would recommend trailering if going more than an hour or so. It’s kind of squirrely at highway speeds. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it made it to California either. The thing just won’t die, has been the most dependable car I’ve ever owned.

-Yes, I have used biodiesel in this car, for 3 or 4 years. I changed some of the hoses over to Viton and had no problems. I haven't used BD for the last 5 years (since moving to Chicago), other than the 10-15% in all diesel fuel in my area during summer months. Has never run on straight oil.

Extras:
Fuel filters, oil filters, new “cigar” fuel hose, Haynes manual, full-sized spare on matching rim in excellent condition. Might be a few other spare/extra parts. Anything I've got goes with the car.

Not in a huge hurry to sell, but I'll consider any offers. My opening asking price could be high, I don't really know. I'd rather start too high than too low. So make an offer if you're at all interested. All I can say is no!

Bump and a price decrease! $1200 OBO. Anyone? Anyone? Runs like a champ!

Bump with a price decrease!

I might have a buyer for you, but would need to make 2 calls. can tell you this evening for sure.

I am in Michigan so some kind of weekend arrangements can be made.

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Thanks Strelnik!

Any help is much appreciated. I love this car and want it to go to someone who has some use for it and appreciates it as much as I have. I'll unleash it on the craigslist masses and parts scavengers if I don't get rid of it sometime soon, let me know if you find any interested parties!

-jb

Someone asked about the extent of the rust and condition of the undercarriage, so I took some more pics. Pretty good for a 30 year old car!

The worst part is the just behind the rear drivers-side wheel, first picture. The same spot on the opposite side also, but not as bad. The rust on the front is not as major, somewhere between heavy surface rust and light pitting. No cancer around the jack points.