$100 Mercedes-NOT
 

1983 300SD MB. Sat in a carport for 1/2 a decade, then under a tarp in a florida backyard for another decade. A buddy pulled it out for $100 and sold to me at same. It would not turn over, but body had no rust and although the interior needed a major steam cleaning it was in great shape. All the electrical worked when I connected a battery (windows, lights, horn, wipers, seats etc)-so for $100 I figured I had a real deal--NOT!

Rebuilt tranny, new injectors, glow plugs, battery, lift/fuel pump, fluids filters....etc my running total is $2695 (so far). I still need tires (dry rot), hoses, belts, brakesetc..

My wife groaned when another Mercedes joined our driveway, as all our current MBs are running. However she figures it is better off me screwing around with a 26 year old car then the other type of 26 year old.

My biggest issue is getting the hard water stains off -without destrying the paint. I have tried all types of cleaners polishers- so far only Simple Green works-but damn it takes a LOT of elbow grease! Any old paint and body men out there with a better idea?

lol is that blood on the side there?

If that's a white car as it appears in the pics, SoftScrub followed by a good wax should do it.

Who shot my car?
 

Oracle1234-Well this is south Florida-so I can understand why you might think that was blood on the side of my car.

kingdoc1-the car is white , what is soft scrub? Where do you get it ?

Nothing more expensive...

I know the saying, too...BUT. He has a brand new transmission, etc... and is still under 3K. The exterior looks damn good from the pictures. What's the interior like? Did it clean up nicely?

So what... you buy a well-maintained example for 4500 and still have a good chance of having to rebuild a tranny or replace other expensive parts in the future, plus the general maintenance of a 25 year old car regardless of the previous owners care.

I worry about a car sitting for that long, though.

Keep us posted.

How low is the mileage if it sat for a decade?

Nothing more expensive..
 

166K on odometer

Interior should clean up nicely. I am getting ready to pull the front seats and "restuff" them. With seats out it will be easier to stream clean the carpet to get the tropic smell out. (Dashboard even had the little plastic Jesus on it) The body is in remarkable shape.

This is defineately a "project/hobby" car and after AC and other repairs I hope to come in under $4500

166K and sat for 15 years. I just find it hard to believe all the relatively available decent-mileaged cars on e-bay and craigslist. Considering the common problem of broken odometers coupled with the ease in which one can replace the clusters, mileage is almost becoming a moot point. It doesn't matter. Condition is everything, and I'll bet you end up with a beautiful looking and driving machine for a very reasonable amount of money. Keep up the hard work!

so my question is, what made you say it needed a transmission and an ip? were they just leaking?

Pretty good looking car for $2700. Can we see pictures of the motor and the inside? I just got an email from Becker today and they are advertising a rebuilt radio for your car for $175 - so I think you have value way in excess of cost.

There is some stuff called RustOut - you can use it on laundry to remove rust stains... I bet you the cost of the bottle it will work for ya!! Get it in the laundry aisle or at Lowes / HomeDepot

going backward fast
 

tdelaurier-thanks for the tip on RustOut. I shall give it a try

I replaced the IP after the sugestion from my MB indy when I could'nt get the engine to fire-it did the trick. Injectors really F'd up with alge and other stuff(I drained cleaned the diesel tank). After the engine finally got running the car would only go in reverse. A friend rebuilt the tranny-I just handed him tools, parts and cold drinks.

I cleaned out the engine bay today & replaced the battery tray. The air cleaner bracket is broken, but none were available at the local boneyard. Also I clean/painted the air cleaner housing. As soon as all is spic n span I will post pictures.

Thanks for all the good thoughts, I will keep updating.

If you take any of the seats apart...and they are leather ... this is the time to extend the life by a huge amount by applying some kind of conditioning oil to the backside..
Applying it to the front of a finished leather.. which upholstery leather is... does not penetrate to the fibers which will be responsible for its final deterioration...
If it IS leather let me know and I will recommend something for it...

I would suggest a mild polishing compound applied by hand with a damp sponge or cloth. You can also use a buffing wheel but have to be careful that you don't over-do it and polish right through the paint. The polishing compounds have abrasives in them and there are harder and softer kinds. Start with the softer kind and experiment, going to more abrasive versions only if necessary. I find that even the mildest will take off an amazing amount of stuff. For hard water stains you might also try something like Limeaway. Again, experiment in a small area first.

I found the best thing to clean water spots off of glass was a polishing compound made for cleaning the glass-ceramic windows in wood stoves. It is called "White Off" and is made by Rutland in Rutland, VT and sold by wood stove stores. It saved my outside rear-view mirrors.

Jeremy