1982 300SD - what to look for... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MercFan · #1 10-26-2009, 10:25 AM

Found a 1982 300SD on CL - if I can verify all the info that's being claimed this could be what I'm looking for....

The seller claims 59K 'original' miles - supposedly fresh from estate sale. He claims the car is clean, and it was one of 2 Benzes an older couple had owned. Supposedly everything works - it's been garaged, but sat for over 2 yrs. He claims that it was started often to keep it running... The person who purchased it from the estate sale (sounds pretty young) is having an MB dealer replace all the fluids in the car... The asking price $3600.

Haven't seen the photos yet or the VIN - waiting for them (anxiously...

- besides rust, rotted tires, filters, hoses, A/C - what else should I look for on an '82 SD?!

Wish me luck -
James

Outofworkjoe · #2 10-26-2009, 10:31 AM

Maint records for that type of money,working A/C unit,front end,rear axle boots.

MercFan · #3 10-26-2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outofworkjoe

Maint records for that type of money,working A/C unit,front end,rear axle boots.

Yeah... it's not the cheapest Benz I've seen for sale.. but it it by far the lowest mileage - IF indeed the mileage is as stated. I'm waiting for photos and VIN number, so I can run a Carfax on it. Any other way to verify the mileage?! If the car is what the seller says it is then I'd be willing to pay a bit more for it. Not sure '82 is a good year for these cars - transmissions, suspensions, any known issues with these, anybody?!

oldsinner111 · #4 10-26-2009, 11:06 AM

remember age rots rubber hoses,brakelines,jack points,all suspension.sitting can flatten wheel bearing.check oil cooler lines,fuel,flex disks,trans seals.window,trunk,door seals.vac lines,and rubber tees,climate servos.plastic also rots

MercFan · #5 10-26-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

remember age rots rubber hoses,brakelines,jack points,all suspension.sitting can flatten wheel bearing.check oil cooler lines,fuel,flex disks,trans seals.window,trunk,door seals.vac lines,and rubber tees,climate servos.plastic also rots

This car has the 'evil' Servo?!

Outofworkjoe · #6 10-26-2009, 11:25 AM

Car Fax is the best way,also check the maint records.Its very easy to replace the dash on these as you know.

ImBroke · #7 10-26-2009, 11:26 AM

Shouldn't have the "evil" servo. I think he meant run the CCU through all the ranges and make sure the little servos behind the panel switch the vac to open the appropriate vents. If it's clean, it should easily be worth at least 3k.

oldsinner111 · #8 10-26-2009, 12:15 PM

servo's that open air flaps i need all four over $300.

polarisrmk · #9 10-26-2009, 02:07 PM

Expensive ABS sensors! check that there is no ABS light on and that the ABS is functioning.

X2 on the climate control servos

make sure the viscous fan works$$$

Check that it doesn't overheat! Look at the condition of the coolant

um um um .... and and ..... transmission fluid

Whiskeydan · #10 10-26-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarisrmk

Expensive ABS sensors! check that there is no ABS light on and that the ABS is functioning.

X2 on the climate control servos

make sure the viscous fan works$$$

Check that it doesn't overheat! Look at the condition of the coolant

um um um .... and and ..... transmission fluid

No ABS on the '82 W126.

I'd expect to find a non working odometer stuck at 59K.

Be prepared to start replacing rubber bushings in the suspension. They're gonna fall apart pretty fast at this age.

polarisrmk · #11 10-26-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whiskeydan

No ABS on the '82 W126.

I'd expect to find a non working odometer stuck at 59K.

Be prepared to start replacing rubber bushings in the suspension. They're gonna fall apart pretty fast at this age.

oh yes der.... thanks

Dont check ABS sensors it wont have them!

MercFan · #12 10-26-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarisrmk

make sure the viscous fan works$$$

I'm assuming you mean the fan clutch on the cooling fan, right?!

barry123400 · #13 10-26-2009, 04:00 PM

Be careful. If it where 59k miles it is cheap at his price in my opinion. The car should look pretty well new inside. If it turns out you are seriously interested make sure to have the car checked out well.

A car such as this at that price should have sold almost instantly if genuine. So be careful. I would not have to advertise it to sell it. There would be people waiting. Still it could be a fairly good car.

MercFan · #14 10-26-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

Be careful. If it where 59k miles it is cheap at his price in my opinion. The car should look pretty well new inside. If it turns out you are seriously interested make sure to have the car checked out well.

A car such as this at that price should have sold almost instantly if genuine. So be careful. I would not have to advertise it to sell it. There would be people waiting. Still it could be a fairly good car.

Yeah... there is SOMETHING weird here... I've seen average looking cars with 150,xxx miles on the clock for nearly 10K on CL..... they guy selling it is either trying to pull some tricks, or he indeed doesn't realize what he has... he did state in his CL ad that the car had 6 cylinders...

... typed the whole ad in capitals, using short, partial sentences - not well refined. I asked him for some photos and a VIN number over the phone but so far he's not been in a hurry to deliver either one. He said he's had some interest in people test driving it but he refused until the fluid have all been changed... If his story checks out this could be a good find - though I've never been that lucky before...

The car is about 1 hr from the MB shop that I'd want to do the PPI - he may have a hard time driving 1+ hrs to do this check for me... that's not working in my favor. Let's see what happens - will report back.

MercFan · #15 10-26-2009, 09:59 PM

Frustrated - I spoke with the seller last night and asked for few photos of the car and the VIN. Waited all day today - called him this afternoon. He promptly returned the call and said that they would send the photos and VIN number right away. 4 hrs later still nothing... I don't feel like begging him to sell me this car.

Thing is - this is not an isolated case of sellers not calling back. I cannot believe how many messages and emails I've sent to get info about vehicles - I maybe get answers to one of of 6-7 inquiries - though I see the same cars get advertised over and over on CL... amazing - guess I just don't understand the sellers that are tying to sell their cars but are not attentive enough to answer the call when a buyer is calling with green-dollars in hand... once again trying to buy a car long-distance is proving to be very frustrating experience...