Hello everyone. I'm George, from Iowa... and I'm sorry to say that my first post here is the beginning of the end (for now).

I've been browsing your very helpful forum for awhile now, since shortly after I bought my 1983 300SD. All the advice I needed to keep it running and make repairs or adjustments along the way was so readily available that I haven't had to create an account to ask questions or for more detail. I want to thank you all for that.

My 300SD served me well, and until shortly before I parked it, was one of the best buys I've ever made. With over 250,000 miles on the odometer, and a few parts and many adjustments, it served me well for far less coin that I've ever spent on a vehicle.

But after dumping more money into it than I wanted to, another car (Lincoln) in better shape and with far fewer miles pulled me away from daily driving the old 300SD. It got used less and less, and I've hesitated selling it, it's a good old car... but it has a few issues that I've neither the time nor inclination to address. And keeping it parked has created a couple new ones.

The car is still road-worthy (except plates and insurance) until the temps fall below freezing, then you'll want to bundle up quite warmly. Still, I hesitate selling the car as a used car. I feel much safer selling it as a parts car. What I would hate to see, is selling this old guy to the scrap yard.

I'm in the process of digging into my receipts for the dates and mileages of the most recent parts, so whoever is interested has a better idea of some of the really good, almost new, parts on it.

So, now that you know all that... here's my question: Should the posting be under cars for sale or used parts forum? Or is the old ride not worth anyone's consideration?

I did post it on Craigslist once, about a year and half ago -- so I put some images in a Google Drive folder, if you want to take a look and let me know where to post it. There's a file with other information about the car but I will be taking more recent photos and updating that information again before I post it for sale. The files are here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_SvEpDRs7m1WEJYa0ZsU1VHRm8

And moderators, I hope that I've not done anything against the rules by dropping that link - if so, please feel free to remove it.

Again, thank you to everyone who has helped me live with my Mercedes while I enjoyed it. Hopefully, it will help make someone else happy now. And should I happen upon another MB, I'll know where to come for help. :-)

Hey George,

Sounds like you had a great run with the car. I would create a post in the 'Cars for Sale' section. I'm sure many people would still be interested in your 300SD. Are you going to be starting a new project?


-Dmitry

Not in the near future. Focus has shifted to another hobby that is draining the discretionary budget.

Also, thank you for the advice. I'm currently going over the details and trying to ensure I'm not forgetting anything. I'm hoping to get some updated pics over the weekend, and we're going to drop the battery back in and start 'er up to check things out. This summer was busy and the old thing sat all summer long without being started and driven.

It did give me a nice run... and a good education in some of the different systems MB employed vs the American vehicles I'm so used to. But I'm not doing it justice by letting it sit mostly unused, so it's time to send it to a better home.

I'd throw it in the "cars" section.
Start the ad with all the major things wrong (no heat?) between that and the low price, most people should get the idea that the price is low for a reason. I like the format "the good...the bad...the ugly" - it makes it easier to list out all of your 'findings'.

Big problems (engine or trans) should be in the title:
If there is a problem with the engine and trans (engine starts ? how does it start when under 32* outside? Does the trans shift ok to all 4 gears ?)
Example: "1983 300SD, 250k, drives but shifts hard" or "...no heat or AC"

Lots of people need a cheap car just to get to work, and while I hate to see an old MB go from bad to worse, it is still a machine, and if someone can buy that cheap, and use it to get/keep a job/family/custody/off-drugs, then that is the best possible outcome.
As much as we love these, a car a still a machine, a material good, and we should never feel bad to treat one as such.

-John

__________________
2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

I'm looking for a cheap rust bucket with a decent engine for my 300CD. What are we talking price wise? The engine and possibly the transmission is all I will be using. Might scavenge some odd ball parts but the rest will be going to the scrappers.

A rust bucket which runs would fit the bill nicely. Transportation and or shipping costs have been the major hang up with getting an engine.

__________________
“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Looked at your photos. It's not a parts car in my opinion, but a daily driver. The problems you list may consume someone's time to get corrected but none seem major.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Agreed. Way too nice to be a parts car. I looked at the issues list and none are major. The wheel bearing is the toughest fix, but still not horrible. Glow plugs and windows are easy.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Looks like you got some interest going Let's keep this thing running guys!


-Dmitry