I have owned a 300SD 1985 for the past 3 years. Always wanted a wagon and just found one. It's a 1985 it has 109,000 miles on it. Took it for a ride. Felt good. Shifted fine. Put the ac on but it didn't blow cold... all the windows worked, needs new tires. No rust to speak of. Real leather seats. Vehicle has been in a garage for a few years, smells musty, moldy. You can see some powdery residue on the seats etc..

How do you get rid of that smell and what's causing it?

What's a wagon of that year, in that condition worth? Interior has many cosmetic problems but, I am looking for a car to drive to and from work....

is $2500.00 too much? I would like to get it for $2000, since I have to get tires and repair the ac....... there might be other issues popping up once I get it...

Had tons of things to fix with the 300 SD, so I learned my lesson on that purchase....

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1985 300SD

$2k doesn't sound unreasonable.

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I choose to be happy, even when the Mercedes is being awkward, lol

Will I be able to get rid of mold, mildew odor? Don't think I could enjoy driving the vehicle with that type of smell. Is sunlight and open windows with a good cleaning of the interior enough or are there other procedures needed to get rid of that? Have not had this type of issue before.

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1985 300SD

I'd remove the floor mats (of course) but also the carpet sections and give them a good cleaning. Clean out under the seats and any other 'soft goods' in the car. In the rear of the car, clean out the spare tire well, and the other side too.

I also add a bug silica bag to my interiors, you can find them at Bass Pro Shops and other such places.

I wonder if the horsehair padding is causing some your odors. On my 85 wagon, it's falling apart.

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John Breslin
93 500E, 92 500E, 86 190E 16V, 62 220SEb
Music City Chapter MBCA

might be the padding, but I saw a powdery film on many leather surfaces. The garage is under a canopy of large trees, so the area is dark and dank. The garage itself has an odor too.

Thinking of bringing the vehicle to a shop for a lookover, not sure how the current owner will be feeling about that request...

Note: heard a strong chirp when starting the car, hope it's not a starter problem...

Battery was not charged enough for restarting it, so I could not try starting the wagon again. It's charging and they will start and park it later tonight...

Wanted to load the tail end with some weight ( me and another person) and have someone start it to see if it activated the hydraulic system... will have to do that next time

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1985 300SD

Strong chirp when starting could be a loose alternator belt(if the battery is flat, then there will be quite a load on the alternator).

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I choose to be happy, even when the Mercedes is being awkward, lol

Just went through the mold and mildew drill, and the key is to get the interior dry dry dry and clean. Sunlight will help, cleaning with a mild acidic solution like vinegar diluted in water will help. There are very few products that truly kill mold and mildew, but if you dry it out and put the car back in operation (sunlight) the smell will retreat.

If you want to go the chemical route, Microban makes some very nice products but they are pricey. Once you get the AC going, get a "Boat Bomb" from West Marine, about $10, and set that puppy off while leaving the car running, AC on recirculate, and leave that state going for about 30 minutes or so.

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Respectfully,
/s/
M. Dillon
'87 124.193 (300TD) "White Whale", ~392k miles, 3.5l IP fitted
'95 124.131 (E300) "Sapphire", 380k miles
'73 Balboa 20 "Sanctification"
Charleston SC

I would suspect that you have moisture in the padding under the floor mats and carpet. Lift it up and I bet it is rotten, soggy and a mess. Get right down to the metal and I bet you will find rusted floors ready to fall out. I really would be suspect of any old car that was parked under a lean to or whatever for a number of years. My guess is that the smell is in there to stay. Remember the car is worth about $500.00 as junk and the way you describe it, it is maybe one level above that. Show them $1000.00 in green stuff and I bet you own the car! Then take it from there, if you can drive it and be happy you got a good deal, if it goes the other way and you don't spend to much on too fast, you can junk it and only be out $500.00.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Dont forget to look at the rear shock area for fluid leaks,these cars came with a Hydraulic rear shock system for heavier back cabin hauling ,it uses a fluid reservior located aside the engine area and remember the engine is also specific to the wagon due to the hydralic pump at the frt of the motor.If leaks are located each shock will cost north of $300.The idea to get it inspected by a german mechanic who knows these cars is your best alternative ,he can give you a real cost to fix a given problem without scratching his head first.

I found that mine was worth more before I bought it. Once I had it, it rapidly lost value no matter how much money I put into it . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

wagons are desirable...if they are in good shape....it it's rusting out it's just a parts car...

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1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

Unfortunately I'll go x2 on this. If it smells that strong then you probably have a leaky w123 (voice of experience). You need to get this thing off the ground and examine it underneath.

Cars that sit for any length of time in the northeast without a really good explanation (for example an estate thing) are suspect to me from word go.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Will look into it more. And will get it to someone who knows mercedes. I don't think they would mind me getting some expert advice. BTW, it's not rusty like a rust bucket at all, just smells...

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1985 300SD

if the vehicle has truly been garaged for years, the must could be simple mildew from unconditioned garage humidity. very easy to clean and deal with.
standard "barn find" stuff.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I brought an 85 wagon in a little worst conditon a couple years ago for under 1K. Drove it home and it had sat for 3 years full of water. No rust but it did stink.

Even my low milage 300D had a funk from the years and years it was used so little.

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On the hunt...
1985 300D----Sold
1985 300TD---Sold
1983 300SD---Sold