I finally found that 300D wagon: Thanks to all - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Richard Eldridge · #1 03-04-2003, 10:12 AM

There aren't all that many 300D turbo wagons in this country, and every year there are fewer, so I was happy to have found a really nice white (my favorite color for cars) right here in this forum. The only catch is that I had to go up to Atlanta (Greyhound, 17 hours) and drive it back. I also got to visit with my daughter, whom I hadn't seen for 2 years, in her new apartment. She has just decided to start a pet sitting and dogwalking business there, in the event that you live in near the part of Atlanta near the Carter Center.

The drive home was uneventful. The car rides and runs very smoothly and I found myself going up to 85 mph without even noticing the speed. It handles almost like my 1990 300D, except for the brakes, which are good, but not ABS.

After $3.75 at the Quickee do it yourself carwash in Ocala, where we stopped over, it looked about three years newer. It was too cold in Atlanta to wash any cars without freezing. White cars need washing more than others, but that MBZ paint always comes through.

I need to get the AC looked at, as something isn't working right, and before any long trips, to put a booster to assist reception on the nifty AIWA MP3 radio that previous owner Will Chao installed. Somehow it gets out of range of NPR faster than the Blaupunkt unit on my other car.

There is a small tear in the front passenger seat, which I think I will try to fix with a scrap of leather and glue and then perhaps cover with sheepskins.

The driver's seat is sort of hard to adjust and feels like maybe a spring broke in the slider control, and the glove box door lid needs a little work. I will first try using JB Weld and my trusty Dremel tool on the stripped screwhole.

I didn't expect to find a new 1985 car, but there is nothing on this that cannot be fixed reasonably well. I'll take it to Helmut and see what he says. Of course, he always tells everyone to bring a prospective car to him to check it out prior to purchase, but that isn't normall possible, what with insurance regulations and liability and such.

I registered this car in my name just after the Tax Collector's office opened in Tavares.

Many thanks to all of you who told me about other wagons. As a way of finding the Mercedes that you always wanted, this Forum is hard to beat.

If any of you are ever going up I-95 and want to see huge amounts of military aircraft for free, or perhaps just visit your tax dolars at work, do not miss the Aviation Museum near Warner Robins at Robins AFB. Much more about airplanes than I ever expect I shall need to know. There is even an exhibit about a retired Georgia officer who walked the entire Great Wall of China. It includes aerial photos.

last123 · #2 03-04-2003, 06:22 PM

Glad to hear about your new purchase. I hope it affords you years of happy motoring.

I live near there, and I don't have any pets. But a bunch of my friends that live in the area have dogs. You might forward you daughter this link: www.atlantabostons.com. That's my buddies goofy site where he and his canine crew post photos of the pets. I suggest she emails him since he knows lots of people with dogs and maybe she could even put something up on his site. She can tell him I sent her.

Richard Eldridge · #3 03-04-2003, 07:40 PM

Thanks a lot, I'll tell her

Turns out that the AC works fine, I think I must have been pushing the wrong buttons

#4 03-05-2003, 05:32 PM

You shoulda stopped by Gainesville and met up with some of us. My family has 4 MB diesels and I know there are a couple more people in or around G'vlle. Coulda had a small GTG. Post pics when you can. I actually live in Newberry, but I just put Gainesville in my location spot because it's a more known town (100,000 +/- versus 3,000 +/- people)

-Jamie

last123 · #5 03-05-2003, 07:58 PM

My girlfriend's from Williston, right around the corner from you. We both live here in Atlanta now, but we come down there fairly often. Her sister needed a car after she left a job where she'd had a company car for years. She asked me for help. She said since I always talked about how great the diesel Mercedes are, she'd like to get one. We found her a nice '95 E300 Diesel. We haven't been down to visit their parents since she got hers, so we always took my '85 300D. But next time it will be her turn to drive in the new(er) one. Their mom has a Honda Odyssey that she loves, but now she wants a diesel Benz!
Everyone's got the diesel bug:
Dad was first with the '83 300SD (he'd had many Mercedes before this one). He had it from '85 until '99, when he sold it to me (my first Mercedes, though I'd had several diesel VWs, and always loved them). I drove it until it had 385k, and sold it. He got his '87 300D after that. I bought a '85 300D after the SD. My friend Eric loved it, and got a '77 300D. His dad loved his, and bought a really nice '84 300SD. Eric brought his dad's 300SD for Amanda (my girl's sister) to drive. Our lead on a low miles 300SD fell through, and we found her the E300 Diesel. My dad bought another, a '76 240D for a nice second driver. My friend Chuck rode in my car, and went out and bought himself a '84 300D as a second car. It's out of control. There's about three more people that I'm currently trying to convert. I feel like an automotive missionary from the Black Forest.

Richard Eldridge · #6 03-05-2003, 11:59 PM

A Gettogether would be fun someday. I will try to remember to mentions when I am coming up I-95/I-75.

This time we were pretty pressed for time. We took the Greyhound up (17 hours) and spent some time with my daughter and then spent two days coming back, stopping to sleep in Ocala and to transfer the title in Tavares.

One ambition is top drive up to the Maritimes in Canada one summer and across Canada to Alaska another summer.

I like to drive. I'm not all that fond of the bus. I absolutely hate flying.

#7 03-06-2003, 05:09 PM

Sure, a GTG will sound great some time. When were ready for it, when can plan it out perfectly and anyone who wants to come, can come. Just need to pick out a nice place to do it at. There are some nice scenic/historic places within very short distances from G'vlle.

-Jamie

irianjim · #8 03-08-2003, 12:46 PM

Richard,

Congratulations on your purchase. Sounds like you got a great car and had a good time to boot.

You mentioned you were going to try a seat repair. I had a similar problem with my 300D's front driver seat. I took the car to an auto trim shop and they replaced the ripped panel in the seat and replaced the padding in the seat. It was only $54 dollars and was probably the most cost effective repair I've made on the car. It matches perfectly. Just an idea for you anyway if you can find a good trim shop near you.

Good luck.

Jim