Well,I may have found a spare for the heir(my 85 300 d cream color).Its an 1983 300 d with 256k miles.It has had a rebuild of the tranny about 25k ago.It did not smoke or the exhaust shake.

Now the cons-Apparently the current owner did his own vacuum rebuild.I do not believe successful.Engine almost did not shut off,no power windows or locks.Brakes were scraping (metal on metal-he has receipt for new calipers).Couple of dash cracks and drivers seat has seen better days.Sunroof does not work(he has repair kit).

He wants $500.00 and get it out of his driveway.

I believe it will make it to Enrique (for through check) but thats not till Monday and 125 miles away.Tell me what to look out for(real bad signs).I see fuel leaks around top(fuel lines) and actually see cracks in vacuum lines (no biggie).As well the downshift button or thing underneath the accelerator(am I suppose to use that?) does not work.

Thank you

The things you listed are not uncommon for such an old car... and most were minor to fix also.... if it runs good without too much smoke and shifts ok,,,,, then $500 is pocket change.... of course, if you get a way to do a compression check that would tell you alot in terms of overall engine condition...

Mrdhh,

You are getting a driveable car for a parts car price.

One easy, quick compression check is to get the engine as cold as a possible and start it. If it fires off quickly and runs reasonable, the compression is in decent shape.

Then get the engine hot and check the oil pressure. It shouldn't be less than 1 BAR (15PSI) at idle.

BTW, power windows are electical and have no relationship to the vacuum system.

P E H

Sounds like the typical condition of an older benz -- "too expensive" to maintian properly, so the let it go until it isn't safe to drive....

You will need brakes -- pads and rotors, fronts for sure, probably rears too -- in spite of the new calipers, if they put new calipers on thin rotors, they need to be rebuilt again when the pads hit the springs and the pistons cock.

Probably need a new main vac line, the plastic fitting is shot. The shutoff failure is most likely a vac leak, although it can also be a bad shutoff solenoid. A vac pump isn't all that big a deal.

Non-working door locks is probably a bad diaphram or to -- plan on replacing all of them, they are $5 each from Performance Analysis in Tenn. Also check for broken vac lines. Performance Analysis has those, too, but they are EXPENSIVE, I'm looking for some rigid tubing the correct size.

No power windows means the fuses are bad or blown, or the relay is bad, not a huge fix, either. I find it hard to believe all the window motors are shot.

It will also need window gaskets, probably some drain cleaning, and a seat cover, maybe pad.

If it runs and drives well, $500 ain't bad.

Peter

__________________
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!

"If it runs and drives well, $500 ain't bad." --psfred

Even if does not, and has to be trailered home.... the fact that it is a clone parts car for one you are driving makes it potentially worth more to you than to others...

( LOL, I have TWO spare ,same color even, 1981 sube station wagons for my (former) driver ) Being able to go out in the yard and take my time to take off a replacement part is really nice...