Hello everyone!

My name is Josh and I live in the greater DC area. I recently picked up a 1984 non-turbo 300D. This is my first diesel and my first Mercedes. I have a passion for all types of cars and I am looking forward to this new project.

Dieter (as he is now called) was previously owned by the same owner for the past 28 years. The owner before him had the car for a year, worked for the World Bank and moved back to Germany. I have a large pile of receipts showing the life history of the car and what has been cared for during its life. I am happy that I found a very clean example with only a few rust issues (none through the floors, thank God).

I am intending on separtating fom the military in June and taking this car on a round country road trip. The general plan is to go to the Grand Canyon, up to Yellow Stone and then to Mt. Rushmore and back. It will be about 6,000 miles round trip and will take two weeks.

Since I have owned the car, I have fixed the rear break pads form squeeking, fitted new speakers and serviced the fuel sending unit so that it works correctly (the guage works now). I have also replaced the chrome grill and headlights. I want to do a clean out of the fuel tank, diesel purge and change of the filters soon as well as an oil change. I have new rear shocks and rear swaybar endlinks on order and I will be fitting those this week. I also have the tools to do a valve adjustment soon too.

I have learned a lot from this and other forums and well as from **************.com. What are some of the major component issues that I can correct and replace now to make this a memorable trip because of the places that we are going to see and not because I gambled it on on 29 year old car?

I don't have a ton of pictures yet, but here are a few.













Thanks for any advice and input and I look forward to your replies.

- DC Josh

Welcome to the club! Check your flex discs. One of mine is cracking and you can't see them until you get it up on ramps/stands and get under there with a flashlight. Looks like you got a good car there.

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1985 300d smoke silver/red int. (204k) <--Sadie the 80's Mercedes from Hades!
1985 300TD 587 cabernet red/155 Creme (143k)
2007 Ford Expedition EL (54k)

"Seems to me you bought a hobby... not a car" - My dad.

Welcome to the forum, Josh.

Are you sure your car is a 1984 300D? If so, then I'm guessing it's a true Euro --- or someone has done several mods to it. I noticed the manual windows, deleted toggle switches in the center dash area, center console, etc.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Oh ma [EDIT: Yes, I meant "Oh man!".], a Euro! Sounds to me like you've got all the bases covered -- definitely check that flex disc, though. Also, Pelican Parts (the forum's sponsor) has some of the best prices on good-quality parts around, as well as helpful staff. I would definitely order from them.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I was surprised to see the lack of wood. Everything is black. I'm not as familiar with all the different configurations of these cars though.

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1985 300d smoke silver/red int. (204k) <--Sadie the 80's Mercedes from Hades!
1985 300TD 587 cabernet red/155 Creme (143k)
2007 Ford Expedition EL (54k)

"Seems to me you bought a hobby... not a car" - My dad.

Nice colour and should be easy to match paint the rust repairs. How many killometers or miles are indicated? Your projected trip sounds nice.

You have good grasp of things up front.

Take a voltage regulator with you, ten minute swap in a parking lot, just in case.

Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW

One of the top four.

A friend bought one of these and drove it home across country. Washington state to Virginia.

His two issues were a clogged fuel system and a worn out voltage regulator.

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83 SD

84 CD

Welcome to the forum, I'm a newb myself and I'm already in love with old MB's and I don't even own a car, just the OM617, haha.

That is one clean looking 300D. I love the color, too. Should give you some more years of good service if you treat him right.

Good advice on checking that flex disc. Don't want that thing to crap out on you on your trip. When I get out of the service I plan on taking a trip like you, but that's going to be a while from now, haha.

(Don't know if this is appropriate, and I'm not trying to peddle goods...)
If you find your flex disc is shot, let me know. I have one on a tranny I pulled that is like new and I'll make you a swinging deal on it. Should be cheap to ship in a flat rate box. I'm not using it and it's just sitting there looking at me. PM me and let me know...

Interesting car you have there. Welcome!

...you must be a man of wealth and taste!

The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil

Welcome!

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[GONE] - 1995 Mercedes E300 Diesel - 130k miles - Smoke Silver (702) over Mushroom leather (265) - Bladder blasting, coast-to-coast work machine.

Sweet ride. Love that shifter.

Thanks for the advise on the flex discs. I will check the receipts for when the last time one the set was replaced, but I am assuming never. It looks like a common fail point and I may be proactive and just replace them for piece of mind.

It has over 200,000 miles (I don't have the exact number right now), but they are original and the odometer actually works, which is nice.

When I first started this project, I had actually picked up a 1985 300CD for $900. When I got it home, I realized that it was more work than I wanted (Stuck sunroof, power antenna not working, window regulator issues, paint, floor pans) I sold it in less than a week for an actual small profit!

When I saw this one with manual windows, sunroof and antenna, I knew it needed me!
Also, the cruise control lever is in German and when I went to insure it, the insurance company told me it was a 'grey market car'. Also, doing the 'euro' headlight conversion was a snap, all the wires were there.

The only thing that I did not like was the lack of the turbo, but I think of it now as one less thing to go wrong.

There are a few rust spots that I plan on giving the POR-15 and fiberglass treatment and then hit it with a can of custom color spray paint.

The plan for the car is to not win any car shows, but to get us there in style and have an adventure.

Right now, the transmission is where I want to focus my attention. Mainly, it seams to shift late into 3rd or 4th (I'm not sure which one) and it has a noticable clunk when it does engage. It goes into park, reverse and drive just fine, no lag. I have been reading about vacuum issues with the transmission and adjusting the cables. Where can I get more information on that?

Thanks again all!

- DC Josh

How can I test mine to know what the issues may be?

Welcome!
the stars before the .com means you tried to mention a competing forum that's not allowed.

lemme know if you want a euro wood shifter and center console... odd to see a euro with the TypeII climate control... also let me know if you want to swap that out...

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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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

No test that I'm aware of. It works...

The battery light will glow when running. Its failing…

No battery charge. It's failed…

You can use a multimeter on the battery terminals to see what voltage you have, measure both at rest (~12 v) and with the engine running (~14 v).

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83 SD

84 CD