I'm test driving a friends 1979 E300td tomorrow. He inherited it from his dad last year and doesn't know a whole lot about it. I saw it a few months ago and it looked okay from a driveby but it had no battery at the time. He says it starts first time with the new battery. I don't know much more then that. Any ideas of it's value. Anything I should look for?

The wagon's rear shocks should work properly with the hydraulics.

Does it have service records?
Trans OK ?

How many miles?

Check the condition of the rubber boots on the rear axle halves. make sure they are not cracked open.

Interior in good shape??
a/c working??

Good car even if it has no turbo.

$500 to $1400 depending on shape etc.

good luck. tell us more

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
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1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

there would not be an e300td in 79, either you have the wrong year or the wrong letters. take it to a mb specialty shop and get it checked out by someone who knows benzes. you could then come back here with a list for us diesel geeks to ponder with you.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Actually 1979 was the first year for the 300TD, 123.190.

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

for some reason the Calif dept of motor vehicles categorizes the 300D (my 1979) as an E300 on the car reg cert.
Perhaps this is so in other states ergo the I.D. issue. ???

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

That is some of it, but the main problem is that for whatever reason, a lot of 123 owners feel they have to designate the fact that they have a turbo by placing a "t" in the designation. There's a bunch of them on this site and it's been discussed at length here. Even though the year designates the engine, they have to call a 300D turbo a 300DT, you see that one a lot. And you even have some people that use a small case t, as in 300Dt. I don't like it for reasons just like this - it's confusing and incorrect - but hey, to each their own. Because of this "bastardization" of the ID's, we really don't know whether he's even talking about a wagon...

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

I tried a brief test drive today. I may be wrong on the ID. We are all on the road so we pass each other notes or speak on the phone. I'm not sure of anything to tell you the truth. I Believe it's a '79. It's a five cylinder, non-turbo diesel wagon. It's had fresh paint in it's recent (5 years maybe) history although I found a few bubbles near some trim pieces. It started but not without a couple tries. I don't believe all the glow plugs are functioning. After starting, it had very little smoke including during heavy accelleration. Once running, it ran well and had no unusual noises. It has A/C but I'm unsure how well it works. No radio. Had a sunroof but it had a metal piece welded in it's place. Professionally done but the indentation where it was is there. Not objectionable. It has an auto tranny that seemed to function normally. Interior in fair but not great condition. No rips or tears but could use some work. I was looking for another car but don't necessarily want a project. I told him I'd get back to him. Maybe I'll take it to a MB indy that works on my E300d and see what he thinks. I can have this one for $600.

The year doesn't always designate the engine. All 300Ds from 1982-1985 may have been sold as turbocharged models only in the U.S, but that does not mean they were in other countries. They weren't turbocharged on other countries, so using 300DT is correct terminology that MB uses to desginate the turbocharged 300Ds from those that are not. So to call it bastardization is truly incorrect. Here is a screenshot from the Mercedes-Benz Owners Online vehicle profile page so you can see for yourself.

-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

how many miles on odometer?

price seems ok. depends on what you want to use it fer...........

good luck.

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD