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  #1  
Old 01-14-2003, 04:27 PM
Gagnonb
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Question 1987 300TDT Shopping

I am currently in the market for a 300TD. Found an 87 at a Merc Dealership about 900Kms from where I live. It has 225305Kms (140k miles)on it. Apparently Interior and Exterior is in excellent cond no rust only a few door dings. It was apparently owned by a guy who lived in an area with some dirt roads, consiquently the fuel tank is dented and the underbody was quite dirty when they received it on trade. It had one collision in 1990 that cost $5023.23 Canadian(aprox$3200US) to repair. They are asking $16900 (11000US).

My questions are: Would rough dirt roads significantly effect the long term dependability(suspension,motor, transmission). They offered to let me talk to the service technician by phone. I have an inspection report with the following noted as sould be kept under observation, oil leak on engine, transmision oil leak and rear diff leak. What specific questions should I ask the service tech to help me determine if this one is worth the 8-10 hour drive to look at.

If this wasn't a TD I would not be willing to make this trip but with so few TD's around I have to consider them all. I read on a post that there were only aprox 1000 of these sold in the US for 1987, my guess is in Canada this # is significantly less considering the entire country buys less new cars than the state of California every year.
Thanks for any advice you can give
Brad

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  #2  
Old 01-14-2003, 06:28 PM
acarlson
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AS A FELLOW CANUCK , AND FORMER MERCEDES BENZ SALESMAN..... THE PRICE SOUNDS HIGH???? I HAVE 1987 300D WHICH I PAID $4000.00 (2600.00 US) A GOOD DEAL, BUT NOT THE NORM.... ANY WAY THE PRICE RANGE , SHOULD BE $8000.00 TO $12000.00 CANADIAN......FOR A GOOD ONE............. I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND A GUY HAD JUST BOUGHT 1984 300CD FOR $12000.00 ???? I WAS STUNNED ..... IT HAD LOTS OF MILES TOO.... (MORE MONEY THAN BRAINS!!! ) ......... ART IN REGINA....
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  #3  
Old 01-14-2003, 07:00 PM
Gagnonb
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Hi Art
Do you ever see any good 300TD's out your way 123's or 124's.

$12k is pretty steep for a cd, saw one in Kelowna at christmas excellent cond with low km's for $8k O.B.O.

I'm in Prince George so unfortunatly the closest dealer is 8 hours away(Edmonton, Kelowna or Vancouver) let alone any mercedes diesel private sale's
Brad
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  #4  
Old 01-15-2003, 03:48 AM
426benz
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I've seen a few for sale in Vancouver from 16k to 28k.. I bought ours in Seattle for 8k US, by the time I got it into Vancouver with taxes, it ran about 12k Canadian but our car had 200k miles on the clock. There was a 87 300dt for sale locally in Bellingham for 6500 US. Love the car, tons of power, spent a few dollars on it, tranny and other stuff but it is well worth the money.
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  #5  
Old 01-15-2003, 03:50 AM
RYT867
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Just purchased mine on 12/27/02 and paid high, I admit it and await all the ribbing I will get. However it came with a complete service history and had mucho bucks spent on it in repairs and maintenance. I am in the same situation here in Hawaii. There are VERY few older diesels on the road, and can tell you that in 1999 only TWO E Class diesels sold in all of Honolulu. Its not that there aren't many Mercedes here, there are a ton of 'em. Diesels are not popular cars here and are very hard to come by. I couldn't bring myself to get one on Ebay yet, but maybe the next one....happy motoring however your quest turns out!
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  #6  
Old 01-15-2003, 09:00 PM
acarlson
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BRAD, IN P.G. HAVE YOU HEARD OF JANKE AUTO TECH IN VERNON BC ?. TRY HIM ...... SEEMS TO KNOW CARS AROUND THAT AREA( BOUGHT PARTS OFF HIM IN THE LAST 17 YEARS OF DRIVING MERCEDES ).....YOU WILL ALWAYS PAY MORE AT THE DEALERSHIP....... NO DOUBT..... BECAUSE YOU PAY MORE DOES NOT MEAN ITS A BETTER CAR..... BUT THEY WILL BACK IT UP........ ILL KEEP MY EYES OUT FOR WHAT YOU NEED........AC........
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  #7  
Old 01-16-2003, 01:12 AM
Gagnonb
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Thanks AC

I would really apreaciate the headsup if you see one. If your in B.C you can always give me a call toll free at home 1-866-302-6889

I have not heard of JANKE AUTO TECH but I will give him a call this week. I am through Vernon every few months as most of our family is in Kelowna. I hear you on the dealer issue my preference is private but so few of the Tdiesel Wagons are available. Turns out this one I was going to go down and look at may already be sold. The dam thing just went on the lot Tuesday, anyways they are getting back to me thursday morning to tell me if it's gone or not. The description of the dirt and dents on the underbody concerns me especially if I have to pay 16K dealer or not. Where are you located? How long have you had your 300TD?
brad
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  #8  
Old 01-16-2003, 03:22 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: California
Posts: 2,068
Here's one for sale in Oregon, if you don't mind driving a little distance. Good price, miles aren't too high.

http://www.craigslist.org/sfo/sfc/car/7973948.html
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  #9  
Old 01-16-2003, 11:15 PM
acarlson
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BRAD , AC IS IN REGINA........ HAD THE 87 300TD FOR 1 YEAR.....IT WAS NOT A MINT CAR ,BUT IT WAS REFLECTED IN THE PRICE. PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT LOOK AFTER IT ...... I SPENT ABOUT $400.00 ON ITEMS...... HAD A 190E BEFORE AND THOUGHT WAS A BIT SMALL ...... HAD IT FOR 9 YEARS, SPENT ABOUT $1800.00 IN PARTS AND SERVICE , TIMING CHAIN ETC. .... VERY GOOD CAR......MUCH CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN THAN A CHEVY....AC
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  #10  
Old 01-17-2003, 12:06 AM
Gagnonb
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Off to check the one at the dealer tomorrow 10 hours at least with a 6 month old(I really want a diesel wagon). It didn't sell the people bought a newer Volvo sedan instead, suckers.

Thanks for the line on the one in Oregon "speedy300D". I did talk to him and he put some pics up here if anyone is looking for one that needs abit of work.
http://www.g-mg.com/pics/300TD/
It need's a water pump & brakes right away. As well it needs, AC, drivers window, sunroof,and some trim repaired. Taking into account exchange, parts & labor for the stuff I have to get fixed down there, it just does not work for me. It is a great color.

Anyone have any words of wisdom before I go at 5AM tomorrow.
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  #11  
Old 01-17-2003, 06:05 PM
acarlson
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GOOD LUCK, I HOPE ITS GOOD AND YOU MAKE A DEAL!!!!!!!!! PLEASANT MOTORING......................... AC (ART)
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  #12  
Old 01-17-2003, 07:43 PM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
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I don't get the Bush-Cheney 1984 bumper sticker on the Oregon TD.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD
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  #13  
Old 01-22-2003, 02:24 PM
Gagnonb
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Made the trip to look at the 124 300TDT at the Mercedes dealer

Exterior looked good & as well the Interior.

I got them to put it on a lift so I could look at the undercarraige. As I suspected there was bits of bottoming out damage all over after years of off road travel. There was rust on the wells of the rear 1/4's. Lower rad support damage and minor rust. Serious rust penetration on the right hand side, looked like old damage that had developed into an in for water. I was poking around the hole and the salsesman told me to peel off undercoating if I wanted to, stuck my finger in gave it a yank and exposed a 4-6inch hole. One of the jack points looked questionable as well. Mechanicallly underneth it looked relativly good, except a transmission leak.

Took it for a drive. When I put it in drive I was on an incline and when I let off the brake I rolled back unless I gave it significant fuel. For the first 10 min of driving it smoked significantly when under load (Is this normall with this engine??) IT was not a smooth drive at all, it seems like I was on and off the fuel constantly to keep it going a steady speed (Under 50MPH) is this normal with this engine?? Above 50MPH and when it was warm it did drive nice with no or little smoke under load.

Anyways it comes down to "I Hate Rust" The 1/4 wells I could deal with but not the 4-6inch hole that was probably far more significant if you really dug in. Transmission I was also not confident about. Besides they weren't giving it away by any means.

All in all it was worth the trip because we got to drive a # of 300TE 124 wagons with 6's and 4's gas. Has anyone imported one from Japan?? We ran across an 87 300TE with a 4, that was not to bad that was just imported.
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  #14  
Old 01-22-2003, 03:48 PM
sixto's Avatar
smoke gets in your eyes
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Eastern TN
Posts: 20,841
The 300TDT is a tad slower, a tad noisier and vibrates at idle a tad more than a 300TE. Otherwise you shouldn't be able to tell the difference. A puff of smoke when you step on it is acceptable if not normal. In this case I suspect it needs a new glow plug or two.

A 300TE with a 4 is a 200T/E or a 230TE. Is there a 260TE? Is there a 250TD turbo?

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD
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  #15  
Old 01-22-2003, 06:45 PM
acarlson
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BRAD , MY 87300TD SMOKES MORE THAN MY 1980 300D FOR SOME REASON....... TEND TO MISFIRE LONGER( WARMING UP) THE DEALERSHIP CAR SOUNDS LIKE A TYPICAL USED CAR ..... NEEDING SOME STUFF...... AT LEAST YOU HAD A LOOK AT IT!!!! DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE WAGON??? NICE 87300TD SEDAN IN BC. AUTO TRADER FOR $9500.00 WITH ONLY 90,000 KMS ON IT......................................................... AC

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