I do have an update! So still no news on the transporter, but I will be sure to call tomorrow to get some details. Since my last post, I got the title, bill of sale and a key in the mail!!! I expect it to ship out some time next week. I am unbelievably excited about this! I also got a bunch of pictures. They are below.

Thanks for the tip, I was already leaning towards StateFarm so I am askign for a quote. There is also an insurance company right in town, so I will find out what sort of rate and coverage I could get from them. Having an agent just a block away would be unreal, and they are good people--I bowl with one of them and I am cat sitting for them in a couple weeks.

I'll be sure to post more updates as info becomes available.

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Beautiful car! It's great to have the excitement of your first car; makes it even better that it is such a beauty.

Looks like a good one!

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

Thank you! Yes I am very excited to see it in person (as soon as sunday/monday). For now, I'll just look at the pictures...

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Loaded up and truckin'! Looks good. I'm guessing the dark green paint is original. I like that color. Cool that it has the RH side view mirror.

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- Greg -
1973 220D, The Prodigal Benz
1974 240D

Got some stuff to put on your list of things to do after you get the car. Fluids - You should change all of them:

- Coolant, along with a good flush. Drain the block too, by removing the plug that's near the starter;
- Engine oil and filter. And make sure you have both filters in the canister, the big fine filter and the mesh screen that fits above it;
- Transmission;
- Brakes and clutch (if stick shift - I forget);
- Rear differential, which is often overlooked for years.

You might also get into replacing all the fuel hoses and filters (2). See how the radiator and heater hoses are, too.

Belts wouldn't hurt, either.

You're going to be a busy bee for a while!

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- Greg -
1973 220D, The Prodigal Benz
1974 240D

You may have already done this: ask the seller to give you any and all service records for the car.

Thanks for the list! Fluids were the first thing I was gonna get to with the valve adjustment and the speedo.

I'm pretty sure its original paint, though I'm not sure of the paint code. The car is comming with touchup paint so that should have more details.

I did ask for maintenance records. They have everything from the time they owned it I think--about 7 years? I don't recall exactly. But they will be in the glove box when it arrives.

There were so many more paint options back then. That is a rare and awesome color for a 115.
Change those oil cooler hoses! (Also drain the oil cooler when you change the oil. A good 3/4 quart of dirty oil sits in there).

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

D-825 deep green?

The paint code will be on a small plate on the radiator cross member.

Hopefully unimportant but the cl ad for that car is still up.

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

I'll add oil cooler hoses to my list! You're right gmog, I'm gonna be pretty busy for a while! I'm pretty excited for it though, should be interesting stuff to work on/learn.

I also noticed that ad was still up, but I think its unimportant at the moment. I don't think I would have made it this far if it were a scam. I honestly think they just forgot about it. I am calling the transporter today to figure out how he wants me to pay him, so hopefully I get an estimate of when it may arrive!

it's fun being a voyeur, wish i could get a new car too.

Having owned and worked on 37 Mercedes since 1980 the 220D, 240D and 300D are among my favorites.

If it has not been posted here yet:
Pick up a few cans of Lubro Molly Diesel Purge to clean out your injection system. There are some nice tutorials here as well as on Diesel Giant: Mercedes Diesel Maintenance tips

I owned one 240D that had 450,000 miles on her and a guy bought it from me for the same price I paid for it, saying he wanted the novelty of owing a classic with high mileage. I received the badges from Mercedes for it.

My first benz was a 220D. Loved it. First mechanical order of business learn to adjust the valves.

Enjoy

Mark

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91 300GD SWB with transplanted 87 OM603 turbo motor

The car arrived!!

Overall it looks solid. There is definitely more to do on the interior than I expected... it has cracks in the dash and some of the other hard plastic pieces, some holes in the back seat. The black turny nobs for seat adjustment are loose, the parking brake release knob snapped but works, I'm not quite sure how to get the after market radio working, and there's a bit of a stale smell in the car (maybe due to the cigarette butts in the ash tray...any idea how to open that up to get them out more easily?) and the instrument cluster is loose, and the carpets are pretty gross.

As far at the inner workings go, it seems fairly okay. There's a little oil leakage here and there but nothing out of the ordinary, none of the tubes/cables appear overly stale. I called the mechanic today to try to set up an inspection. Hopefully he doesn't turn up something too outlandish.

The exterior also looks okay. No severe dents. Some scratches here and there and the one rust hole in the rear left tire well is a little more than they described, but it doesn't seem to stretch too far in (fingers crossed). There are a few other small bubbling patches here and there, but luckily enough the car came with touchup paint so I will sand those down, cover them with some miracle paint and then touch it up. The trunk panel has some holes and fading in the paint too. The seals are a bit stale but didn't leak when I washed the car. The chrome is also a bit faded, any tips on bringing that back?

This car is definitely a project. Its a little more than I expected I'd have to do right off the bat, but I'm definitely still happy with the purchase. At $4,000, I kinda wish I'd gotten to that brown one from earlier a little faster, but it still feels worth it. I am very excited to get into it, and I really hope I'm able to get it looking and running better and better as I get to know it.
I'll be sure to let you know what the mechanic has to say about it. From here, any tips on getting the interior and exterior looking nicer would be pretty cool.

Thanks again for your help so far! The search has ended but the project is still just beginning... (should I make another thread now or keep this one going?)

Cool! More pics!

If you still have it, save the center disc out of the brake release knob. You can get a brand new knob but the new discs that come in them are more modern looking, lacking the chromed/aluminum ring. You can remove the new disc and insert the old one to keep the look. You might find an original. I found a brand new one on eBarf. Pelican could probably get it for you, too. I think people don't know to pull the knob, and they twist it and break it. Happened to me when I had a body shop do some work on the '74.

How does it drive/ride?

As for refurbing the interior and exterior stuff, I'd start some different threads on each subject you want to cover. That way those topics will be more searchable.

Are the seat cushions shot? They used horse hair padding originally, and that stuff produces its own unique, musty smell. Look under the front seats. if there's a bunch of brown, dusty, hairly looking stuff down there it's the pads coming apart. The seats will also feel "crunchy". I just re-stuffed the seats in the '74 and that got rid of the old padding smell. I used 1" foam and dacron to replace the horsehair under the original MB Tex covers. Shoulda taken some pics of that project . . .

Get some pics and start some more threads!

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- Greg -
1973 220D, The Prodigal Benz
1974 240D