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  #1  
Old 11-26-2005, 04:02 PM
yellowbenz's Avatar
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Location: Columbia, Missouri
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Just looked at an 85 300...

Hello,

Looked at a 1985 300 td today. Listed at 141000 but the odometer is not working. Cosmetics are excellent. No rust. Electric windows and vacuum locks work as does the sunroof. No evident leaks. Starts easily. Test drive reveals some issues though. Noticed that this car has a hard shift from first to second and each shift unless I let up on the throttle. Also, it seemed to have a low rpm knock with intial acceleration. Not evident when the engine is not under load ( ie revving when in park). Some grunge around the thermostat/hose. Maintained oil pressure at 3 bar. He uses 30 wt oil. No timing chain work in the 9 years he has owned the car. Engine remarkably clean so I would guess he has powerwashed it. Car owned by a smoker. Can you ever get that smell out of the upholstery/rug? He wants 3000 but would take 2500. Anybody have any thoughts especially with regards to the engine/ transmission?

Thanks

Kevin
1979 MB 240D Manual

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  #2  
Old 11-26-2005, 04:25 PM
phidauex's Avatar
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Location: St. Louis, MO
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Just to clarify, are you looking at a 300TD (which is the station wagon) or are you looking at a 300D Turbo (which is the sedan)? The pricing would be different between the two, and it'll give us a better idea of what you are looking at.

peace,
sam
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  #3  
Old 11-26-2005, 04:33 PM
Craig
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I would be most concerned about the "low rpm knock." If you're serious about making an offer, I would consider getting a pre-purchase inspection from a good independent MB shop or a dealer. Once you know what you're dealing with you can make an informed decision.

Regarding the smoke smell, I don't know if there is anyway to totally get rid of it. IMHO, all smoker's cars should be crushed.....with the smoker inside.
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  #4  
Old 11-26-2005, 04:47 PM
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300 turbo diesel

Sorry,

Yes it is a 300 turbo diesel. Also, it had a wicked knock in the back end sounding like something rattling around in the trunk. I don't have the option of getting an opinion from an MB savvy mechanic because of my geographic location (smallsville usa). Anybody know the web address for that st. louis based MB site that also has a classified section?

Thanks,

Kevin
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  #5  
Old 11-26-2005, 07:55 PM
ImBroke's Avatar
Diesel way of Life
 
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Location: Cleveland, NY
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
IMHO, all smoker's cars should be crushed.....with the smoker inside.
Ouch, that hurts! Glad I quit two years ago.. lol
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  #6  
Old 11-26-2005, 08:02 PM
Craig
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ImBroke
Ouch, that hurts! Glad I quit two years ago.. lol
See, not only is it good for you, it keeps you from being crushed.
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  #7  
Old 11-26-2005, 09:24 PM
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Smells like Diesel..
 
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Thumbs up

I bet if you drive around with a skunk in the backseat for an hour or so, you won't smell cigarette smoke any longer.....

also reading this and I'd rather have a not so perfect body with a solid engine and tranny; vs rust free and knockin' and slipping....

Pass unless you can find a good indy to check it out for you....
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  #8  
Old 11-26-2005, 10:11 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Location: Lafayette Indiana
Posts: 38,613
knocking in back

may be a loose shock.
if so it is an easy fix. sometimes a tricky diagnosis.


tom w
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  #9  
Old 11-26-2005, 10:53 PM
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Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 261
yellowbenz,

The "knocking" in the back could also be the rear half shafts, which are not cheap, especially if you don't do the work yourself. I know because my mechanical ineptitude just forced me to drop some $$$ paying someone else to do this on mine. It was worth it, though; I HATED that sound!

IMHO, the car sounds like it has enough issues to warrant a PPI before dropping $2500.

Just my $0.02...there are others here far more knowledgeable than I...

-Chris
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'06 Mercedes E350 station wagon (silver/black)
'85 Mercedes 300D (black pearl/palomino)
'85 Mercedes 300SD (smoke silver/burgundy)
'79 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

'05 Toyota Camry (because always running is nice)

'85 Mercedes 300D sold back to orig. owner 8-1-06
'84 Volvo 264GL Diesel, owned 2000-2013
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  #10  
Old 11-26-2005, 11:00 PM
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Semi hijack

Quote:
Originally Posted by Volvo Diesel
-Chris
I pulled up behind a Volvo diesel wagon just last Thursday. Under acceleration that thing spewed black smoke like a freight train. Little old guy driving.... I came oh so close to buying one a year and a half ago, and am still very intrigued by them. (I know, I'm a glutton for punishment....)
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Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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  #11  
Old 11-27-2005, 12:22 PM
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Semi-hijak pt. II

Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyL
I pulled up behind a Volvo diesel wagon just last Thursday. Under acceleration that thing spewed black smoke like a freight train. Little old guy driving.... I came oh so close to buying one a year and a half ago, and am still very intrigued by them. (I know, I'm a glutton for punishment....)
JimmyL,

The Volvos do seem to smoke a bit more than the M-Bs; one with a tired injection pump or improperly set injection timing can really black out an intersection if you jump on the accelerator. If you find a well maintained one w/o any rust, it would be a fun project car, no doubt...I use mine as a daily driver and really love it, but they're certainly not for everyone. Every once in a while a nice speciment turns up on E-bay but, sadly, most of them are pretty crapped out now...
I notice you live in the DFW area...if you are ever in San Antonio or Austin for any reason and have some time to kill, let me know and you can drive / look under the hood of mine. They're interesting machines...for true gluttons only, of course...

-Chris
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'06 Mercedes E350 station wagon (silver/black)
'85 Mercedes 300D (black pearl/palomino)
'85 Mercedes 300SD (smoke silver/burgundy)
'79 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

'05 Toyota Camry (because always running is nice)

'85 Mercedes 300D sold back to orig. owner 8-1-06
'84 Volvo 264GL Diesel, owned 2000-2013
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  #12  
Old 11-28-2005, 01:26 AM
JimmyL's Avatar
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I'd be happy to take you up on that one. The one I drove last summer was a 5 speed, but of course the overdrive button seemed bad. In the middle of the test drive I turned on the right blinker and the car totally lost all power. In the middle of the road with the tatoo'd sales girl I found the oxidized fuse and we were back on our way. Wish I had bought that wagon, but wasn't going to pay near the $1000 bucks they wanted.
Do you do all the work on your's, or have you found someone that actually works on these?
I was looking for a "brick" when I stumbled on my first diesel MB. The rest is history.......and costly........



Quote:
Originally Posted by Volvo Diesel
JimmyL,

The Volvos do seem to smoke a bit more than the M-Bs; one with a tired injection pump or improperly set injection timing can really black out an intersection if you jump on the accelerator. If you find a well maintained one w/o any rust, it would be a fun project car, no doubt...I use mine as a daily driver and really love it, but they're certainly not for everyone. Every once in a while a nice speciment turns up on E-bay but, sadly, most of them are pretty crapped out now...
I notice you live in the DFW area...if you are ever in San Antonio or Austin for any reason and have some time to kill, let me know and you can drive / look under the hood of mine. They're interesting machines...for true gluttons only, of course...

-Chris
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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John
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  #13  
Old 11-28-2005, 01:48 AM
KDHBenz's Avatar
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Posts: 89
Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowbenz
...Car owned by a smoker. Can you ever get that smell out of the upholstery/rug?...
The rug should be easy enough to take care of...just yank it all out and steam clean it, making sure to clean and deodorize the pads underneath as well as thoroughly cleaning the floor itself, dash, door panels, EVERYTHING! If it has a leather interior, however, that is what is likely holding the smokey smell the most. That and the headliner. But there is some hope...

I would recommend several treatments with Leatherique Rejuvinator Oil and Prestine Clean. Also, if they "treated" the leather with Armor All, you'll have to hit it HARD with a Scotch Brite pad and a 50/50 solution of alcohol & ammonia prior to oiling it. Check out the Web site at the aforementioned link. This stuff really does work and it works GOOD!!! The key to returning the leather smell is to get the leather back to where it's pliable and breathing once again...
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  #14  
Old 11-29-2005, 10:59 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 261
Total Hijak...sorry yellowbenz!

Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyL
I'd be happy to take you up on that one. The one I drove last summer was a 5 speed, but of course the overdrive button seemed bad. In the middle of the test drive I turned on the right blinker and the car totally lost all power. In the middle of the road with the tatoo'd sales girl I found the oxidized fuse and we were back on our way. Wish I had bought that wagon, but wasn't going to pay near the $1000 bucks they wanted.
Do you do all the work on your's, or have you found someone that actually works on these?
I was looking for a "brick" when I stumbled on my first diesel MB. The rest is history.......and costly........
JimmyL-
HERE'S YOUR CHANCE, MAN!!!
...and right down the highway in Houston, too!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volvo-240-DIESEL-1983-VOLVO-240-DIESEL-NEW-TIMING-BELT-CARFAX-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ31877QQitemZ4593972479QQrdZ1

Only concern I have: looks like maybe some rust down where rear mud-flaps meet rear quarterpanels--common place for Volvo rust. On the upside: pretty clean interior, straight body, dealer plates, and if the timing and injection pump belts really were just changed, you just saved the $800 in preventative maintenance you usually have to do the minute you buy one of these things.

No I don't do my own work on mine, sadly. A very nice fellow in Austin services mine and has for years. He has a '84 Volvo Diesel wagon- dark blue with all the Turbo trim pieces and rims--quite !!

-Chris
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Christopher
'06 Mercedes E350 station wagon (silver/black)
'85 Mercedes 300D (black pearl/palomino)
'85 Mercedes 300SD (smoke silver/burgundy)
'79 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

'05 Toyota Camry (because always running is nice)

'85 Mercedes 300D sold back to orig. owner 8-1-06
'84 Volvo 264GL Diesel, owned 2000-2013
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  #15  
Old 11-29-2005, 11:58 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: North central Texas
Posts: 2,596
Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowbenz
Sorry,

Yes it is a 300 turbo diesel. Also, it had a wicked knock in the back end sounding like something rattling around in the trunk. I don't have the option of getting an opinion from an MB savvy mechanic because of my geographic location (smallsville usa). Anybody know the web address for that st. louis based MB site that also has a classified section?

Thanks,

Kevin
Knock from the rear of this car is most likely worn sway bar links. Easy, cheap fix.
Check by grabing the end on the rear sway bar and shaking it up and down. No slack should be felt at the plastic link. Yes, plastic.
Knock in engine is some concern. Does the knock keep a good tempo? Or, is it random? Good tempo knock is not good.
Hard shifts are common. Proper transmission adjustment, maintenence may help that.
$2500 sounds fair but I'd say make an offer your comfortable with.
Smoke smell will go away in a couple of years if you leave the windows down all the time.
Good luck!

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