The saga of the ZUKER the 84' 300D , now for sale?
 

It's been awhile since ive posted guys, so hope all is well with you and your cars. This car was a dream of mine but the dream has come to an end as reality sets in.

I have wonderful stories to post about my car lately. The fact that she still starts easily and was SO solid all winter- no problems starting in the 5 degree nights of New England and she got me thru mounds of snow to go skiing and all that. She's been all over New England and to Canada and been SOLID as anybody could want. I wil miss her when she goes but it is time to pass her on to someone who can care for her better.

The good (and there's lots):

ALL NEW suspension bushings (and I mean ALL) replaced 2 years ago
NEW Brake stops
NEW Upper conrtol Arms
New Lower Control Arms
NEW ball joints (upper/lower)
NEW Steering bushings
NEW tie rod assemblies (both)
DIALED in Steering box with a minute amount of play
NEW Bilstein HD shocks 2 years ago, still fresh and responsive
new brake booster and all new hardlines to brakes
new hoses to front calipers
NEW (reman) rear calipers
NEW brake pads all around
NEW E-Code headlamps w/city lights and plastic protective coating
NEW remanufactured rear axles (BOTH installed last year)
NEW tires
NEW exhaust downpipe to mid muffler (last week)
NEW Mono Valve
NEW windshield & gasket installed by a PRO and not leaky AT ALL
constant oil changes, radiator flushes, power steering and transmission fluid changes
constant valve adjustments
NO major oil leaks
engine purrs like a happy kitten and the turbo is great!

THE BAD:
-fuel line leak under Driver side door (this is the straw)
-vacuume leak somewhere making for harsh shifts
-crappy front seat issues (rebuilt once but not a second time)
-general rust issues - fenders, etc. you know the deal with these cars. It is nothing major or structural just a repair I do not have funds for
-Driver side running lights do not function, mostlikely a bad ground
-broken antenna mast- motor works but top of mast is broken off
-no AC - compressor is not siezed but there is a leak somewhere in the line and there has been no conversion
- broken ODO , had been broken from the start
-front interior is a little rough but not too bad

So the bottom line is that I was planning to do a full resto but have run out of time, patience and money. I have so many parts and fluids to go along with the car that you can probably fill the trunk with the amount of crap I've accumulated.
I have a 24 gallon marine diesel tank and DC pump that you can take for a song - I was running biodiesel for 2 years until my suplier went under
I have invested over 6k into this car and I am done dumping cash into it.

I know this should be in the SALE area but I am looking for feed back too.
Should I sell this car or keep it, knowing I won't have the money to fix the body and one day it will be so bad she won't pass inspection. I really want this car to keep on - keepin' on, so that's why I'm considering a sale. It IS a great machine and I WILL be sad to see her go, but SOMEBODY who has the time and energy must be able to take care of her better than I can in the long run.
If you want Pics, let me know. I will consider a trade for a car that has no nagging issues, preferably diesel.
Cheers
B-

Well.....

Without seeing actual pictures, your description sounds like you have what is basically a very high mileage parts car.

Even if the car were free, the cost to do the body and cosmetics alone will exceed the final value of the car.

Sorry to have to say that, but remember, you cannot drive anything for free. New cars depreciate $6k as soon as you drive them off the lot.

Jim

parts car? please
 

if the car were undrivable, then it would be a parts car.
with a solid frame, good tranny, rebuilt suspension and many other plusses, some DIY'er should be able to tackle the rust issues and other small issues. And the fact that these engines run for a million miles?
Are you trying to devalue my vehicle and kill a potential sale?
YOU DICK! ;)

(now do you get the gist?)

an entirely uneducated buyer might pay $2000 for it depending on the area. I'm thinking more like $1200. What mileage did the ODO break at? - you should add this.

I'd be shocked if you even sold it in this climate.

sorry, hope I wasn't too much of a dick

To most on here, rust = parts car. Without pictures, I'm inclined to agree with the statement. In the least, it may be an excellent donor car for a good engine/tranny to stick in a rodbender or something. I'm in the same situation with my SD, good running engine, good transmission, but the rust will prevail...grrr New England! Good luck with your sale.

Dubmutant I find it totally unecessary to call jt20 a "dick". In fact it is very childish. He said nothing many were not already thinking. And he was being very polite. He is simply stating an opinion and even if this opinion isn't what you wanted to hear without pictures it does sound like a parts car.

a little name tossing gets the spirits riled!
 

Ahh. you all mis-interpert my sentiments!
If I had called JimFreesh anything other than a "Dick" it may have been a seroius insult.
How many times do you call your pals "dicks" for saying what they are thinking even tho you don't want to hear it.
I did not mean any personal offront Jim, and I thank you for your thoughts.
To all of you who think I was at all serious, please, this comment was meant in a joking fashion.

You all don't think I can tackle this? Really? Are we all really pessimists?

If the all thats bad that you listed, then its a fixer up project. All the items listed I could do.

Pictures would be nice

Anyways, I know someone who will buy it from me for $4500.00...Uncle SAM!
http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/

Hey Oracle- You know the car because you Fixed the rear brakes!

haha:)

wasnt a bad car to be honest but I think the 77 i picked up in december is in better shape.

I'd patch the fuel line and drive it as a winter beater for many years. :D

Now if I just had a summer car that I loved to drive and a place to store the 300D during the summer....
I'd prefer a car that I could drive all year long without fear of busting up too bad....oh, I have a 300D !

Ditto. Even a rusty MB is more solid and crash-worthy than most any other used car you can buy and operate for the same cost-per-mile...

My cost per mile is getting up pretty high right about now. I've needed to spend $1500 in the last 6 monhts already, and with this next batch of repairs- fuel line, electrical and vacuum, that is about what the budget will tolerate for the remainder of the year. Any more goes wrong and it cannot get repaired.

PawoSD- how to patch the fuel line? what gauge rubber fuel line to get and how to secure it? zip ties?