opinions of this car 4 sale, 87 300d - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jobadiah · #1 01-19-2012, 02:47 PM

it's for sale not far from me, i haven't seen it yet, is the thermostat housing a problem area? i know to search thru the forum to find out which head and where to look for the number. any input is appreciated thanks

Mercedes 300D Turbo

bipolardave · #2 01-19-2012, 03:08 PM

Heater motor not working? On a W115 I'd walk as it's a very time consuming and expensive fix. Dunno about this W124.

Coolant leak at thermostat? Leaky gasket? Loose bolts? Cracked gooseneck (if it has one)?

At least he's not posting that it's run for a million miles and gets 40mpg.

That being said: no radio and no speedo means that it probably wasn't well cared for. My logic is that if an owner keeps even the simple things in good condition they would, by default, be conscientious enough to stay on top of maintenance and the other major systems as well.

vstech · #3 01-19-2012, 03:12 PM

... if it's got a coolant leak, the head is likely cracked as the PO has driven it low on coolant... walk away, unless you can get him down below 1000.00

BodhiBenz1987 · #4 01-19-2012, 05:35 PM

I wouldn't necessarily say the coolant leak means it's been driven low on coolant. Mine had a tiny leak from that gasket for a while but the effect on the coolant level was very slight. I replaced the thermostat and gasket and it hasn't leaked since, so I'm guessing it was the gasket. On this guy's car, it could be a gasket, improperly tightened bolts, warped housing, lose hose on the housing neck ... I'd check out how "minor" the leak is and go from there. At least the guy seems to disclose the car's problems rather than the usual sugar-coated ad. Given that it needs a couple things (I wouldn't last long without a blower motor, and a speedometer is nice to have), I'd probably try to talk down that price. Especially if it has rust, too.

ah-kay · #5 01-19-2012, 06:38 PM

I would have gone for it if the car was in San Diego, even though my wife will disown me. The thermostat housing is under the cross pipe. There is no gasket between housing and the block but a gasket embedded in the thermostat. It is possible that gasket is worn, easy fix. Or add a gasket between the housing and the block.

The others are just cosmetic or nice to have, nothing stops the car from running. There is a write-up to fix almost everything here. I would negotiate from $1.8K up.

Good luck.

jobadiah · #6 01-19-2012, 11:24 PM

It's funny what I read above, wife disowning, that's what would probably happen to me when/if i say I'm gonna look at another one! Thanks guys

sixto · #7 01-20-2012, 12:14 AM

Any chance of a PPI? Test drive it after 5:30pm on Saturday then return early on Sunday to feel the upper radiator hose before the car has been started. There shouldn't be any pressure in the cooling system. Remove the reservoir cap and listen for a rush of air to confirm.

Most of the electrical problems could be fuses.

Is the side trim body color? It should be black for that model year. Check if it's been repainted and if so why.

There's an 87 300D buyer's guide floating around the archives.

Sixto
87 300D

1977busman · #8 01-20-2012, 08:17 AM

I would run, not walk away, unless its under 1000. All of the small issues do add up, and a 87 with any issues with coolant or cooling is a big red flag to me.

Ether · #9 01-20-2012, 08:50 AM

If the ad description is a true representation of the cars condition I don't see anything to scare you away. If you can confirm that the coolant leak is only at the thermostat housing (sixto has a good suggestion on that) then that and everything else is fixable.