I’m a noob thinking about buying a ‘79 240D 4 spd manual. I found this site a couple weeks ago and have been studying up as much as possible. This forum is the best I’ve found anywhere. Many of my questions have already been answered, but here are a couple I’m still wondering about.

(1)When I was driving the car I really had to jam the brake pedal almost to the floor to get the car to stop. Is that normal for these? The brake fluid was up to level in the reservoir. The owner said it had been sitting a while and probably just had algae on the pads. Not sure I believe it. Could be master cylinder? Something else? What kind of costs could be associated with the repair?

(2)The car has quite a bit of rust. The bottom of the trunk is mostly rusted away, but other areas seem ok. It’s been repainted, so hard to know for sure. Where are the places to check for rust that would make the car undrivable?

(3)There was a filter that was not hooked up. I’m not sure what it does, maybe dewatering the fuel? It’s a big cylinder with a clear bottom located behind the washer fluid reservoir. Could you tell me what it’s for? It hasn’t be hooked up for at least ten years. Could that be a problem?

The motor runs, not much else works though, no AC (“bad blower”), no vacuum system, no radio, clock and speedometer don’t work. Odometer quit at 80,000. 6 out of 10 interior, lots of rust. $2000. This is my first car purchase. Thanks for any advice!

@ $2000 it a very expensive parts car. Run, don't walk, away from this one. As a New MB owner, the last thing you want is something like this. If the trunk is rusted out, so is the frame(or not far behind). The car is not appraised on sentimental value. Where are you located at. there may be a forum member in your area to help with locating a good Benz.

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

JackG, Thanks for your opinion. I'm in Puerto Rico. If anybody is here, that would be great. Used cars are generally more expensive here. Maybe I made it sound worse than it is. Attached are some photos. Unfortunately, I didn't take any underneath. What kind of rust would make the frame undrivable? You can see the filter behind the washer fluid resevior. It hasn't been hooked up and I'm not sure what it does or if it is important.

Attached Thumbnails

       

From what little I know of this car, two thumbs down. $2000 is about $1990 too much. Sorry, I'm sure you want this, but maybe you should pass.

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83 SD

84 CD

That car looks pretty rust. I wouldn't buy it. I still have a rusty old burden of a diesel that I'm trying to pass on to someone else. It's interesting how a couple of those pictures can make that car look so nice.

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"There are a lot of pebbles on the beach, but there's a Little Rock in Arkansas."

Logan

1983 300D Turbodiesel
1976 300D Rustdiesel

How many miles on it? The only truly fatal looking rust area is the passenger side front wheel well around the shock absorber. If that shock lets go, you've got big trouble. But if it aint too far gone, can be reinforced. Check where the steering gearbox bolts to driver's side too. Also put it on a lift and inspect driveshaft bearing supports and subframe mounts for rust. Otherwise nobody has ever seen frame rails rusted so far through that the w123 becomes undrivable. Rust paranoia here at mainland USA is granny state conspiracy.

Dunno car values in Puerto Rico, or whats comparable for $2000 down there, or how many 240D's you've got on the Island. But engine, tranny and drivetrain oughta be no problemo assuming low mileage. Meanwhile soft brake pedal is usually the master cylinder and that's a cheap'n easy fix. Finally regarding the mystery filter hook up, if its that huge thing behind the windhsield washer then it looks like it dont belong there at all.

I wouldn't touch it with that much rust. If it's that bad in the trunk it is likely bad in many other places.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13