Well after two months of looking I finally bought my car. It's an '83 300SD. The story on it is that while the chassis has 272K miles, the motor only has 110K. Apparently the person who owned it before the cat I bought it from took it to a quickey oil change place and they didn't get the drain plug all the way tight. So, they had to buy him a new motor!

I picked the car up last Thursday in Grand Rapids, and drove it home here to The Peoples Republic of Ann Arbor with no problems. While driving home in winds that were blowing across the highway at 40 mph, the Benz hardly budged while all of these "cute utes" [CR-V's Rav-4's etc] were all over the place. All ready I'm loving this beast. It rolled down the highway 80mph with no worries.

Here comes the {not so} fun part. My aunt who is a district manager for JnJ Pharmaceuticals calls me because she is in town and wants to get together for dinner. So, wanting to show off the new ride I pick her up and take her two dinner. Two hours later when we come out, the thing would not start. The person I bought it from had said that the glow plugs needed to be replaced, but, I didn't think it was the same day. The outside temp was in the upper 30's for reference purposes.

Well after an hour of trying, I called a taxi, dropped my aunt off at her hotel and me back at the office where I still had my other car parked.

Next day tryed to get the car started again, no luck. Had to call the tow truck and have it taken to a shop. I would have prefered to do the work myself, but, there is no way a truck could back up into the steep narrow driveway I have.

Yesterday I get the call that the car is ready to go! Four of the five glow plugs were shot, the valves were way out of adjustment, the throttle linkage was out of adjustment, plus a few other little things. Total bill $350 for the repairs, $2K for the car. Bigest kick so far with the new ride? Closing the doors and hearing that solid THUNK sound!

This list has been very helpful in pointing out what things to look for and situations to avoid, thanks to everyone for your good words!

Anyway, enough words, here is a link to a pic of the car. I wont take up everyones bandwidth by putting the pic in this message.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=880795&a=13866996&p=55180542&Sequence=0&res=high

__________________
The Duke
President
Raoul Duke Media LLC
95 Honda RS 125 (Sold)
87 Yamaha TZR 250
83 300SD (Gone)
92 Nissan Crapfinder (For Sale)
USGPRU #66
COMPoST #130

Nice looking car! Enjoy the quality and ride of your W126, it ages well like fine wine

People's Republic of Ann Arbor!?! I thougth it was People's Republic of Madison (where I reside). LOL!

You can also call Ann Arbor, the Berkley of the north, as we more conservative types like to call Madison, Berkley of the midwest. Or Madison: 78 square miles surrounded by reality. OK, enough of that.

Enjoy!

Ditto's on that!

Wish I'd found that deal!

Guess you went to Auto-Strasse. They are good people.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Actually I used Quality Motors on Washtinaw on Ypsitucky. Hubert came recomended from a friend who's dad has owned over 100 Mercedes in his life. Had a few at Medowbrook over the years. Good guy with reasonable prices.

__________________
The Duke
President
Raoul Duke Media LLC
95 Honda RS 125 (Sold)
87 Yamaha TZR 250
83 300SD (Gone)
92 Nissan Crapfinder (For Sale)
USGPRU #66
COMPoST #130

You have euro lights and some type of wierd (i think aftermarket) mb rims on there.. never saw them before. They are like a deep dish version of the 15" s-class rims from 86 to 91.

To me they look like the stock 15 hole 124 wheels from the late 80s. Real pain to clean.

- Jim

Just watch out for those Michigan potholes!

I've got a stack of 6 slot and 15 slot rims that are paper weights now because of hitting potholes.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

You know about those Michigan potholes. My dad bent a rim on his 140 hitting a good one. He lives in the Traverse City area - and the roads up there generally aren't as frost-heaved as those downstate.

- Jim