HELP! Buying a 1976 300D

[jwrinne]

New to MB Diesels and am looking for input.

Looking at a W115 300D with 133k on the clock. Redone upholstery and the only rust I can find is under the front driver's headlight and the battery tray. Floorboards and trunk look phenomenal!

So the rear doors don't open due to door locks that won't disengage, a couple windows won't roll down along with a non-op sunroof. Seems to be a fuel leak from one of the injectors, the power steering is nonexistent, along with a possible dragging brake caliper since it dives to the right under braking.

I think we can pick it up for around $1000 and the body is VERY clean along with a great interior.

Is it worth the trouble? Is it up for daily driver usage?

[diametricalbenz]

It sounds decent for $1000. If the body and the interior is fine everything else is fixable which is part of the fun.

Check the jack points and check for bondo. There's also some chrome trim at the base of the rocker panels just behind the wheel arches but before the door. Water accumulates there and thus rust forms.

Check the motor for blowby as well. You can unscrew the oil cap while it is running. But rest it back on the locking detents. If you see no movement, great, if it bobbles around with a little crankcase mist that's okay but if it blows off that's not good.

Be aware that the odometers are notorious for failing and so 133k is a ballpark figure. If it concerns you verify it against a GPS to see if it's recording trip and vehicle mileage readings.

It can be a daily driver although if you live in a hilly or excessively agressive driver part of the country it may be an issue for you. I like W115's and foolishly dumped money into mine but I enjoy it's intuitive almost all manual controls, ergonomics and clean /8 design.

[79Mercy]

I got my 76 300D a little over a year ago for about that price. Very little rust but it needed front end work(tierods, drag link, stuff like that). Within a couple months of slowly working on it, she became my daily driver. I have put 12K on it and it hasnt been a bit of trouble.

I say you should go for it, rust free examples are getting harder to find.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by jwrinne

Is it worth the trouble? Is it up for daily driver usage?

I would go for it, jwrinne.

But remember - an automobile of this vintage (age) will need work - occasional or otherwise. I do not want to dampen your passion to own a Mercedes-Benz diesel automobile - just pointing out the reality of it's age....

[jwrinne]

Thanks for the reinforcement guys! I'm gonna have it checked out by a local independent MB repair shop so I know exactly what I'm getting into with it mechanically.

Any ideas on the rear door locks? Inside lever moves, outside button moves, door lock won't pull up and doors won't budge.