I hope someone out there can help me with this. I have found a beautiful 300CD but I know nothing about them. I have been looking for a 300E and a friend of mine located this 300CD. The interior is PERFECT and the exterior has only a few dings. The price is good and the mileage very low. The orig owner was a doctor and it was dealer maintained. It's an auto. The family says it's a turbo diesel.

Can someone help me with basic info like hp/tq ratings. Since the car is well under 100,000 miles I assume the engine if in good condition should last me quite a while? A local dealership may check it our for me and I'll call them on Monday.

I'm not concerned about the age. Hell, my 944 that I just sold was a 1983.

But, what about things like the a/c? This would be my daily driver so if anyone knows about major problems I should be concerned about please let me know. If you have any general info or if you own a MB with this engine please send any thoughts.

I know NOTHING about this year so anything will be new to me so please don't think anything is too trivial. Feel free to e-mail me direct at REBrooks@iwon.com

Thanks all.

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Thanks,
Ron Brooks

Ron:

Diesels are, uh, different. Are you prepared to be an oddball? Lots of company here, but not mainstream anymore. Diesel luxury cars were an 80's thing.

That aside, you will need to be obsessive about fuel -- diesel is different, smelly, you can't always count on finding it (less of a problem today, as everyone seems to drive diesel pickups), and all brands are not the same.

However, the 28 mpg you should get will make up for that.

Horsepower is, I think, 120 or so with about 150 ft/lbs torque for the 5 cylinder 617 engine, 149/195 for the 87 603 six, and 120/150 for the 88 on 602 5 cylinder. I can't be more specific since you didn't mention the year.

Diesels are notoriously slow on takeoff, you really have to stuff your foot in it for the first few feet. Once they get rolling, you won't notice.

They rattle some and vibrate -- not a car where you won't know if the engine is running or not at idle! May take some getting used to. Ride is excellent, handling very nice, you can sit in it all day on the highway in comfort.

A/C is not too big a problem, but you will probably eventually need to change to 134a if it hasn't been done, and there are a few problems with the climate control eventually, but remember, you will easily put 300,000 miles on this thing if the oil is changed regularly.

If it is in good shape now, the engine will last until long after you are tired of the car, and in fact will probably outlive the body. Ditto for the tranny, they usually run 250,000 miles without anything but regular fluid changes.

The other things you may run into are leaking windshield gaskets, plugged sunroof drains, and dying door gaskets. The rubber dies, and needs to be replaced. The window gaskets are the most important, as water inside the car rapidly rusts the floors out, not good.

Repairs can be pricey, but hey, on a 20 year old car with 300,000 miles, something will eventually need fixed! Still cheaper than a new car.

The key to keeping a Benz is regular maintenance. Take it to a good shop on schedule (or do it yourself) and make sure they do the entire maintenance, not just oil changes. As my mechanic says -- "Benz is just like Porsche -- maintain them by the book and they last forever. Cheat on the maintenance and the die in a year"

If the pre-purchase inspection shows no serious problems, the worst that could happen is that you won't like it and will want to sell it -- you will be mobbed by folks from this site to get it!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

I like my 300CD. However I must admit that I prefer colder A/C in this summer heat. The A/C works but it is not in the same league as a Toyota's A/C for instance.

The seatbacks are controlled by vacuum make sure that works.
Try releasing the seatbacks and see if they lock back into place

The rear quarter windows are a pain to fix and parts are expensive and hard to come by. make sure they work.

BTW, If you need to haul people find the four door! Let me have the 2-door heheh

good luck!

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

Thanks for the reply. The car is an 84 300CD

__________________
Thanks,
Ron Brooks

It has the 617 5 then.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

That's 120 horsepower and 170 lb/ft of torque. The slowness on takeoff can be easily resolved by richening the ALDA (aneroid compensator). I have some pictures on my website to clarify.

I'd like to know about that CD if you don't buy it. Always looking to add a CD to the lineup.

Craig

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1994 E420, Pearl Black/Black. 2.82 rear diff., AMG front spoiler, painted lower half. SOLD

1972 & 1974 BMW 2002tii's.