They have plenty of possible places to leak. Most that are not closely maintained will leak and you can smell it.

But its usually fairly simple to fix. The classic things to leak are the return fuel loops from injector to injector. Down lower on the driver's side of the engine there is a fuel primer pump that gets leaky when old and with use. In the back under the tank are a few more rubber lines that can leak when old.

I'd say don't let a whiff of diesel fuel take you out of the deal.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles