Gettin rid of 83 300sd if anyone is interested - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

showme · #1 12-23-2011, 12:41 PM

I inherited an 83 300sd last winter and the wife has demanded that i rid our front curb of it asap. (As in, last summer or sooner).

I know this isn't the sales forum, but it is the "old diesel heads" forum, so I thought I'd throw it out there, just in case.

I put it on CL, and a guy drove 3 hours, only to have the engine start knocking when he got here.

So, I've dropped the price to $550 to recoup my 400 mile towing trip and the parts and time I've invested in it.

Here's the list- First of all, it has no rust.
Good tires and spare. Euro headlights.
Power seats, windows and sunroof all work.
Interior is clean, but the seats are a bit worn.
I've changed the oil & filter, both fuel filters, belts, turbo drain tube and grommet\O-rings and the check valve next to that inlet.
New K&N style air filter (the type that was on there already), and removed the oil pan to make sure the uptake screen was clean and good.
The transmission and engine were good last spring (last time I drove it), but the engine is now knocking and the tranny gets 1st and reverse, but won't upshift.

Some of you guys seemed pretty certain that the throttle linkage needs adjustment, so that's what I'm going with.
Anyway, aside from some faded paint, it's a pretty clean car, from the engine compartment to the trunk.
The previous owner used it for his daily driver, and it has a lot of newer parts on it, including motor mounts, engine shocks, hoses, etc.
Rear cv joints need replaced, but other than that and fading paint in a few places, it's a pretty decent car.

I just need it gone.

The wife has been real patient, but she says she doesn't want it out there past Christmas.
I don't blame her.
If I can get $550 out of it, it will recoup the parts and towing expense, and about half of the labor I've put into it.
If anyone is interested, either reply to this or send me an email.
I can call you if you give me your number and you're interested.
I live about an hour south of St. Louis, Missouri.
It will need to be towed due to the shifting problem.
If it's within a hundred miles of here, I'd be willing to have it towed for you with my AAA.
Thanks, guys.
Lee Butcher

vstech · #2 12-23-2011, 09:24 PM

MUST... resist...urge to buy another car...

I SOOOOOO want to come get that car... I've got the engine for it, and rust free... mmmmmm no chance you can wait until after the 30th of Jan?

ROLLGUY · #3 12-23-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

MUST... resist...urge to buy another car...

I SOOOOOO want to come get that car... I've got the engine for it, and rust free... mmmmmm no chance you can wait until after the 30th of Jan?

You must resist!!!
That will not solve his problem, as he will still need to keep the car at his place because we all know you can't keep it at yours!

showme · #4 12-23-2011, 11:05 PM

Maybe he can keep it somewhere between my place and his! Somewhere 100 miles or less from here would work.

vstech · #5 12-23-2011, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

You must resist!!!
That will not solve his problem, as he will still need to keep the car at his place because we all know you can't keep it at yours!

... I could keep it if I insure and register it... I'd just have to have the time, and swap the engine, and get everything else out of the yard, and work, and um... uh....

showme · #6 12-23-2011, 11:16 PM

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I just rebuilt the vacuum pump (OEM kit) a few weeks ago. Another hundred bucks and half day cussing. (At least I know how to rebuild a vac pump now, anyway.)

Rooster300SD · #7 12-24-2011, 01:46 AM

Where are you in MO?
I have family in KC.

Jeff

showme · #8 12-27-2011, 12:59 PM

Sorry, Jeff, our internet was down for a few days. I am in Missouri, about an hour south of St. Louis.

piccolovic · #9 12-27-2011, 01:26 PM

Sure the engine knock isn't just a fouled injector from the bad fuel out there?

showme · #10 12-27-2011, 03:24 PM

No, I'm not sure. Actually, I thought that could be the problem when I got it, but I've put Diesel 911 and Lucas injector cleaner in it along with new fuel. But that could very well be a possibility. But I'm done fiddling with it. I would be overjoyed if someone bought it from me and came back and told me that it was an easy fix. It really is a great little car, and I know the PO took very good care of it. Like I told someone else last week, I've tinkered with it quite a bit and I'm pretty well tinkered out on this one. I never intended it to be mine for long, but it's got to go, and I've dropped the price down to the point that I'll lose part of what I've invested in it. Breaking even is ok. Losing money and continuing to put my time and dollars into it doesn't appeal to me. December in Missouri is not a time that I would want to start tearing into the injectors. Not without a garage, anyway.

piccolovic · #11 12-27-2011, 03:35 PM

I have friend who may be interested, and may be coming through your town with a flatbed, deadheading back up to South Dakota.

Sounds like your vacuum lines for the tranny are screwed up, if not totally sucking air (disconnected) if it's not shifting. When did that start? And, was in in conjunction with recent repair/maintenance?

showme · #12 12-27-2011, 06:20 PM

It seemed to be shifting ok last spring, but then the vac pump rebuild was just done in the last 3 weeks. I didn't want to have to tell people they would have to get out and use the manual shut off under the hood, and that was taken care of when I rebuilt the pump. I thought about the possibility of it having a "weak link" somewhere that may have messed up when the vacuum pump was back up to full capacity, but as I said, I've worked as much on this as I'm going to. Somebody else will have to solve this problem. I've got enough to to with the "81. I would be happy to show it to anybody that wants to look at it, but $550 is as low as the price is going to get.

showme · #13 12-27-2011, 06:31 PM

Don't know if I mentioned this, but the car has set in front of the house since I got it in late February. I only drove it once or twice, and not very far then. It's plates California plates expired in May, and it has set dormant, except for a few times when I fired it up to make sure the battery was still good. So, yeah, it's been sitting unused until I tried it out after the vac pump rebuild.

E150GT · #14 12-27-2011, 07:53 PM

That is my cars twin. Wish I had the spare cash for this one. It would be kinda cool to have two of the same car.

ROLLGUY · #15 12-28-2011, 11:42 AM

I had a knocking problem on my 300CD a few years back. It was in fact a bad rod bearing, as it ran perfect, but the oil smelled burnt. I replaced the engine, and soon after the sound came back. I thought I had another rod knock in the second engine. The difference was that it did not idle right this time. If I was a betting man, I would have put money on a bad rod, as it sounded identical. However, the oil was not burnt smelling, so I was hoping it was just injector nailing. A trip to the wrecking yard for a $25.00 set of injectors, and the sound went away! Wheeew, what a sigh of relief to only spend $25.00 and a few hours work and not have to replace another engine!