123 Mercedes diesels ,Amazing Cars!
These are the cars Ive bought and sold that just needed some TLC.
1ST was a 79 300td ,parked and forgotten ,weathered tree frosting ,gotta love that,needed brakes and a valve adjustment.2 yrs driven no prob ,sold 400k plus
2nd 84 300d tree frosting,front end ties,oil lines ,and the linkage rubber ball fix,good for 3yrs so far ,260kish
3rd 88 190d trans shifting late into final gear,alot of trannie fluid services cleared out that prob,21/2 yrs sold 250kish
4th 78 300cd ebay special ,sold to me as a parts car ,coaxed her to run for a few more years, sold for cheap ,needed some more TLC 300KISH
5th 84 300cd found at the mechanic -british bills ,shining light brought me to this one ,walked across the lot and the sun hit the head lights like it was a holy experience ,towed it home ,finally got it started but 6 months later blew a head gasket ,now has a donor under the bonett and purring nicely.Thanks Bill.Fine example
6th 83 300cd downtown Houston was this MBs hauntes ,was tagged for towing ,needed interior ,paint not so bad,cigar smell was somewhat unpleasant,brakes were interesting on the drive home.200k plus with newer motor.
7th 84 300d found sitting with tires flat odoworking with 142k on the clock ,water vac and freshening up of the interior ,was a real find. 144k when sold /regret this one
8th 84 300cd a real beater from hail damage ,motor purrs,traded my 190d for it.Im going for a frt end rebuild to tighten her up on the road and hood decklid replace & repaint to freshen up her looks ,retrieved from the seller at a tow/storage lot.
My 9th will be today ,an 84 300cd sitting in waiting, this will be my last for awhile ,she has the interior needed ,great body,non driver as of yet.
The score is 6 non drivers and 3 drivers,I have alot of faith in those MB trannies also.
The confessions youve just heard or of a sane man repairing an insane car.

Cool history.

I've only had 2 so far and they both drove home.

I hope to find #3 soon and as long as it's rust free with a half decent interior, I don't mind if I have to tow it.

Good luck with #9.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

I got a long one, I believe i have We bought 15 and sold 12 Mercedes most of them were W123, a few W126 and one W124 so here is the history I have lost a few, restored a few and crush a few It a pain history:

Diesel Benz History.
1. 1977 300D, China Blue (first Benz), Lots of Dents, Rusty, Good engine and trans, Bad vacuum system, Sold it, 1 1/2 years later bought it back, Even worst condition, Restored it, Owned it for 6 months, Sold it, 4 Weeks later found out the owner Wrecked it totaled. 6,21,05 RIP

2 1982 300D, Grey, Sat at a parking lot with windows down for 1.5 Years, Brought it back to life, Good engine, Slipping Trans, Leaking Brake Cylinder, Sold

3 1982 300D Petrol Green, Engine Not running, Attempted to solve but fail, Replace engine with friends Rear ended 300SD, Ran Like cr@p Because turbo removed, 3 months later Figured what's wrong with the engine, Bad glow plugs, Sold the car but still have the engine...

4 1984 300D Beige, TurboDiesel, First turbodiesel, Came With car # 5,6,7 and 8 (about 5 others 3 not running 2 running), minor Rear end damage,Repaired, Runs great, Tranny Shifts Weirdly, the only PERFECT interior, Sold after 5 months of owning it.

5 1982 300D part Beige. Parts Stripped to the frame Crushed.

6 1984 300D (turbodiesel) Beige parts wrecked not able to restore crushed

7 1989 560 SEL White, Ran great got it for 1,000. Sold it

8 1984 300SD Sliver Parts, attempt to restore too much of rust....Crushed

9 1985 300SD Black, First Running S class, Bad trans, Fair engine, Ran like CR@P, Sold.

10 1983 300SD Sliver, this car came with with the 1984 300D Beige and other part car,electrical and Vacuum problem, VERY healthy engine and trans sold it. 4 months later Found this car in the junk yard PO said car wont start, junkyard mech said "starter went out"

11 1983 300SD Sliver part, Sold it, Current owner got it running...

12 1979 300D Dark Blue, The best ever owned, Ran like a champ, perfect interior, Sold

13 1984 300SD Grey, (mine) Got it for $750, Ran fair, Got mechanically restored, now cosmetic restoration underway. Current car.

14 1987 300SDL Light blue Our first 6 cylinder Diesel, 190K Mi, ran then loss compression for Cylinder 2 5 6 1. Problem head crack, Bought another engine for $3000, now runs like a champ, Currently developed electrical shortage

15 1995 E320 Sapphire blue Got it for 1k and a beat up jeep, Runs great but tranny slip.

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi

Number nines in the garage ,shes complete with all her parts just bad interior seats and window reg problems ,also needs a good cleaning up under the hood too..Im starting with the filthy engine first .The seller wasnt getting it started so tommorrow its fresh fuel in a can and a hot battery .Bonus is that I got it for nearly nothing and the tires are practically brand new.$460.Best deal Ive had yet if its a runner.

I need to show this to my family and friends. Then they will think 4 cars in the last 18 months is not so bad.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

After changing the oil and all the filters I was ready for the fuel prime ,no go.After new pump primer install ,No go ,battery weak.After new battery , no go ,Glow plugs arent working .Ok ,Ive got another $185 into the old car and finally got it running ,still need glow plugs so instead I just let the block heater warm up the engine abit .The old girl was blowing soot out at start up but Idled out nice .My next day of service will be on the brakes and interior,Oh joy .Alot of service catchup and some driving underneath her ,she'll be just fine.