DAS delivered my 'new' 300SD today, 173K miles, two owners, and it was an afternoon of ups and downs.

In the midday sun it looks glorious, Gold with Palomino interior - the paint is fresh, professional and of a very high standard.

No holes or rips in any of the leather upholstery, though it is a bit hard and dry in places - it's basking in Leatherique rejuvenator oil as I type. No cracks in the dash, one piece of dash wood trim is in the glove box, one other piece needs to be reglued.

Generally quite pleased with the cosmetics, it's off to the emissions test center so I can get the title and registration sorted out. First problem is that, though the drivers seat doesn't look bad, when I sat down I just kept on going! I guess I need to steal some of my son's tennis balls

Driving up the road shifting is reluctant and harsh, not a good start. Through the town and start to climb the first hill. Slower, and slower, and slower. Didn't want to downshift, no power up the hill. Picked up some Trans-X and diesel purge, what the heck.

Get back home, feeling a bit down.

Check the trans fluid, barely any sign of it on the dipstick. Add the whole bottle of Trans-x AND a quart of transmission fluid, now we're about where we ought to be.

Why is there a wet pool under the car? The engine is running so I can check the transmission fluid level, I happen to glance down at the injection pump and wonder what all that fluid is everywhere? There's some sort of plastic plunger bobbing up and down peeing fuel everywhere. I guess I now know what happens when someone else uses the manual pump to prime the fuel system and doesn't screw it back in. Fix that and then tweak the damper thing which helps smooth out the idle quite a bit.

Off to the test center again, shifting definitely better, power is somewhat better but still can't really make it up the hills. Back home again.

It now occurs to me to take a look at the in line fuel filter. Huh, I didn't know they made them in black! The spin on filter has the look of something that's been in place a loooong time. Down to NAPA where they have NAPA Gold filters in stock. About 10 minutes work and both filters have been changed, the spin on installed full of diesel purge just for good measure.

Now it's pretty dark and my son wants to open the last of his birthday presents but I persuade him to come for a ride with me. Dash lights don't work, that's OK I don't have any plates so who cares how fast I'm going.

BINGO!

Now we can actually accelerate up hill! Shifting is much better, but there's still a clunk from somewhere in back going into 4th.

I guess having to spend the last 12 days reading this forum whilst waiting for the car to arrive was a good thing. I'm now officially on my own oil burning Mercedes adventure.

Kevin

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'85 300SD

I too actually bought my 1984 300D today! Gave the guy a retainer of $500 until I the check I received clears the bank then I can give him the remainder.

Mine has 160K on it and is dark blue!

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

The gold/palomino color combination on the early swb 126 is one of those perfect color/car combos IMHO. Good luck with the car, and welcome to the fraternity.

Jerry