In this long quest to find a nice Mercedes diesel, I have located and purchased what many people would call a cream puff. It is a 1984 300sd with 80k that has been in storage for the last 5 years. The current owner is taking the car to the MB dealer this week to have it checked out before I pick it up. Everything works on this car. He has all the records! The back seat has never been sat in. The paint and interior looks like it just rolled off of the boat. What can I say except that I hope it makes it all the way home on a 1000 mile journey with no problems. If anyone has any advice on things I should watch for or do before beginning I would appreciate any and all words of wisdom. I do plan on putting some cetane booster in and filling it up right away with fresh fuel, not knowing how old the fuel is. He did say that the fuel filter was changed within the last 2 months. It has been driven less than 5000 miles since 1996. This car should keep the wife happy now. She doesn't like driving the TDI beetle, she says it's to small.

I would replace the engine oil, brake fluid and radiator coolant replaced before I drove it home.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

You should also probally change the fuel filters once you get the car home, since I am sure there is all sorts of crude in the fuel from sitting so long, and the long drive should losen it up.

It would be worth it for you to pay on your own to have the dealer change the oil and filter when it goes in for checkup. Maybe the seller will pay for this, but if he won't, you should.

You should also get to the brake fluid, coolant, transmission fluid/filter, power steering fluid, differential gear oil and so on when you can.

You might get by with driving home on most of the current fluids - but oil and filter I'd get done before the trip.

It could also be worth it on the trip to have an extra set of fuel filters (particularly the little plastic pre-filter) and necessary tools to replace them if needed.

I hope you can post a picture when you get it home and detailed.

Ken300D

The MB dealer is changing the oil and the owner is paying for it along with the checkup. I will pick up some extra fuel filters and take along my tools just in case. I hope they don't give me to much trouble at the airport. I really don't want to check my toolbox. It really isn't made for air travel.

Wow, Dieseldork that sounds like a nice car. Hopefully my search will end with such good results. Post pictures when you get it so we can see it.

At minimum, you neeeed to change the brake fluid.

It has been sitting for 5 years, and the brake fluid is like a sponge for absorbing water.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Oh yeah - and brake fluid change is also a MUST! Just what the last man said.

Pictures!!! Congrats. You'll love that car.

At least - change oil, filter.

Best possible scenario:
Mobil 1 Delvac Oil and new filter.
Mobil 1 ATF (be certain torque converter is drained as well as transmission) and new transmission filter
Mobil 1 ATF in power steering and new power steering fluid filter
Mobil 1 gear oil in differential
Flush coolant system.
Have the EGR vacuum line plugged (if mechanic won't then install a BB: see archives).
Have the overboost protection unit (and attached lines - including banjo bolt at rear of intake manifold) cleaned.

Change oil (stay with Mobil1 from here on) and filter, differential oil, transmission fluid and filter soon after trip home.

Assume regular service intervals from then on. Man will she be clean. You will be giving this dreamboat the best possible opportunity to perform at her very best for a long, long time

I was reading in some old post that it is rare to find a 1984 300sd with a driver's side airbag and ABS. Just how rare is this? My car has both

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I think 1984 was the first year for both of these options in the United States. I don't think many people at this time wanted these options because they were very expensive. I know that ABS was an option in Europe in the late 1970s.

just trying to get the hang of this picture thing!!

another look

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That's a nice looking car, how much did you end up paying for it, if you don't mind me asking?