1984 - 300SD - Pasadena, CA - $9,990 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chrisbus · #1 05-09-2013, 09:02 PM

**CORRECTION: ASKING PRICE IS $7,500***

FOR SALE - 1984 300SD
201K miles
Ascot Grey exterior
Grey leather interior
Asking $7,500
Car is located in Pasadena, CA.

***WARNING - LONG POST AHEAD***

I purchased this car in May of 2009 from an auction guy, who had purchased the car several months earlier from the original owner. The car was purchased new at Johnson Motors, a now defunct Mercedes dealership here in Southern California.

The car had been very well cared for over its life, however it was obvious from the start that certain maintenance items had been put off. The body, interior, engine and transmission were in great shape, though. The original owner must have had sheep skin covers on the seats, because the leather looked almost new. I purchased the car with 161K on the odometer.

Over the past 4 years, I have paid my independent Mercedes mechanic, who I trust implicitly, over $14,000 in maintenance on the car, which has definitely caught up the deferred maintenance.

Following are some of the items that have been replaced: AC push button control & compressor, radiator & reservoir, alternator, power steering pump, hood pad, window switches, antenna, motor mounts, air filter bracket, belts, muffler hangers, steering tie rods, drag link, idler arm, rear sway bar links, brakes, shocks, front suspension ball joints

In addition, I've had oil & filter changes done every 3,000 miles and have done a diesel purge (including changing both fuel filters) every 5,000-7,500 miles. The valves have been adjusted and the injectors have been cleaned. The air filter has been changed every 7,500 miles. I replaced all of the fuses with the original copper type.

I've also done many improvements: seat padding repaired (all seats), A, B & C-pillar covers all replaced, dome lights and door lights all replaced, dashboard replaced (from a later model w126 with a passenger side air bag, so dash was modified to accomodate glove box), headlights updated to 2nd gen w126 model, wheels updated to 2nd gen w126 model (chrome, including spare), installed rear headrests, repaired front seat storage nets, added center rear window mounted stop lamp (genuine MB), replaced wood shifter surround, replaced fuel primer with newer type, replaced sun visors & brakets (from 91 560SEL), replaced entire windshield washing system, replaced floor mats with genuine MB, replaced cruise control amp (cruise works)

SEE MAINTENANCE LOG (BELOW PHOTOS) FOR COMPLETE LIST OF REPAIRS, MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENTS

I haven't had any work done on the AC since I replaced the push button control and compressor, right after I bought the car in 2009, and the AC has always worked very well. When the car is sitting still and idling, it doesn't cool as well as when it is being driven and the RPMs are higher, however I've had no problems with the car being nice and cool on the inside when it is over 100 degrees outside, as long as you're not sitting in stop and go traffic.

The dash is 100% crack free. The headliner is in good shape, though a bit discolored around the top edges of the doors (see photos).

Here are the remaining issues that I am aware of:

1. Rear window defroster inoperable. (I've been told that I need to replace the rear window to get it to work - there is supposedly power to the rear window)
2. Passenger side electric mirror moves in some, but not all directions.
3. The tires are nearing the end of their lives, though I've seen cars drive with much less tread.
4. The paint is in fair condition. If it isn't kept waxed, it is a bit faded, especially on the top surfaces, though there is no paint wearing through. As I said, when waxed, it actually looks pretty good. (see photos)
5. The trunk seal is cracked, though I haven't had any problems with leaking. (see photos)
6. The window and door seals are original and a bit dried out, but do not leak.
7. The rear bumper paint is faded, and the paint is scraped on the driver's side front and back bumper corners (see photos).

According to my mechanic, the following items need to be addressed at some point, though he's told me that they are low priority (I've taken care of all of the HIGH priority items):

1. Transmission oil cooler hoses are cracked
2. Front suspension upper control arms are worn (though I've done a bunch of other work on the suspension)
3. The rear flex line disc is cracked, as are the rear drive axle boots
4. There is a slight leak at the power steering pump, gear box & return hoses

All of the owner's manual documentation will be included, as well all of the service records from the time that I've owned the car. I have the original Becker radio (though not installed), and will include that, along with a few extra spare parts that I have, plus a couple of new, unopened spin on fuel filters and air filters.

I've put a lot of time, effort and money into this car, however I've recently gotten the itch for something new. I found an 86 300SDL with 98,000 miles and an immaculate interior and exterior due to being garaged all of its life. I purchased from an 80 year old man (the original owner) with a binder full of service records. The 617 engine certainly has its strong points over the 603 in my SDL, however the SDL is longer and quieter, and it gives me a new project to tackle.

Regarding my asking price...I am flexible, to a certain degree. I realize that I've paid a lot for maintenance when someone else could have done a lot of this work themselves and spent a lot less. I am confident that this car is in excellent condition and has many, many more miles left on it. I would love to keep it, but just can't afford a 4th car (I have two others, in addition to the new-to-me SDL). I only have garage parking for 2 cars, and have to pay to park anything else on the street.

ALSO, I am willing to offer a $300 credit towards new tires, of the buyer's choice, which I am happy to have installed locally. I have no doubt that this car could make it across the country with no problems, however if I were going to drive it, I'd feel more comfortable putting new tires on it first.

Car has a clean title, no rust and has never been smoked in.

I've got a bunch of pictures, a couple of videos, a copy of the Carfax report, which I pulled last week, along with the aforementioned maintenance log (SEE BELOW)

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

chrisbus · #2 05-09-2013, 09:07 PM

Videos:

1984 300SD - warm start - YouTube

1984 300SD - 201K miles - YouTube

chrisbus · #3 05-09-2013, 09:09 PM

Pictures 1

chrisbus · #4 05-09-2013, 09:19 PM

Pictures 2

chrisbus · #5 05-09-2013, 09:28 PM

Pictures 3

chrisbus · #6 05-09-2013, 09:40 PM

Pictures 4

chrisbus · #7 05-09-2013, 09:46 PM

Maintenance log

Phillytwotank · #8 05-09-2013, 10:26 PM

WoW!!

tyl604 · #9 05-10-2013, 09:56 PM

Are you missing a bolt in the bottom of one shock?

chrisbus · #10 05-10-2013, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyl604

Are you missing a bolt in the bottom of one shock?

SEE PHOTOS BELOW...

chrisbus · #11 05-11-2013, 02:17 PM

More suspension pics taken this morning. The shocks have a swivel bracket on the end that mounts down with bolts. The swivel bracket is attached to the shock with some sort of a metal shroud. (I'm sure I'm butchering the terminology) These are Bilstein shocks, and they have not been modified in any way. I don't see anything missing.

Jorn · #12 05-12-2013, 02:19 PM

What a beauty, love the color.

chrisbus · #13 05-17-2013, 11:16 PM

Bump

$7,990 OBO

littlehandegan · #14 05-19-2013, 08:57 PM

Beautiful car!

Did I read you paid $266 for a valve adjustment?

Dubyagee · #15 05-19-2013, 09:08 PM

Thousand dollar oil change?

Good looking car.