Selling my 300CD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Holson Adi · #1 07-07-2003, 08:20 AM

Well it's gotta go. Main reason being it costs too much to have two cars and with my dad occasionally using the car, he does not like the 300CD?!

The 300CD has 192k mi. and it has a LOT of new parts in it.

alternator (Bosch rebuilt)
shocks all around (Bilstein Comforts)
subframe bushings
oil pan and oil pan gasket
rear brake pads, and front rotors

9/10 wood
very clean interior

new engine mounts and transmission mount
new idler arm and tie rods + four wheel alignment

The brake fluid, p/s fluid+filter, rear end oil were all replaced about a year ago.
Flushed the cooling system last year in winter
valve adjustment a few hundred miles ago + new valve cover gasket
transmission shifts nicely and engine starts in one crank.
Mobil1 Synthetic ATF and filter just a few hundred miles ago.
fuel filters are clean

new belts
new hood pad
new thermostat
new aux. fan and switches
new parking brake shoes
a rebuilt left rear caliper
replaced the pinion seal (rear differential)
new Pilkington windshield
rear windshield seal (took care of water leaks)
Pioneer radio and speakers
i must add the rear windows work
and the vacuum seatbacks lock are working.
Mobil 1 Delvac used for engine oil.

the driveshaft was rebuilt and the bearing, and the mount were replaced along with both flex discs.
(driveshaft busihing, driveshaft support, center bearing)

Things to take care of:

some rust spots around the windshield (needs to be taken care of)
some rust spots on the front spoiler and the driver's side just became a hole

not so perfect paint job
the left door's out of alignment
sunroof needs a new cable
two cracks in the dash
some oil leaks from the engine
A/C needs : compressor, expansion valve and high side hose.

i spent too much money on a car that was not worth spending money on. But that's allright, it never left me stranded, never overheated, always started - very reliable and dependable car.
oh and it doesn't shake at idle

I don't drive the car enough (have only put 6000 mi. since I bought it last year).

BTW, if you live around here and have something to trade (90's toyota or any other econobox ) let me know.

I prefer to do sales w/ people in Boston or around here.

My asking price is $3250 - Just don't wanna see it all rusted out and beat up in a few years.. so I don't wanna try Ebay or papers...

that is with the Euro headlights and four nearly new ASA 15-hole replicas w/ like-new Michelin MXV4 Plus tires

If you don't want them I guess we can negotiate on the price. I'd like to keep 'em in case I get another 123

leathermang · #2 07-07-2003, 09:46 AM

That is a beautiful car.... Your dad needs to be on medication .

mechmagcn · #3 07-07-2003, 04:55 PM

Now if I can talk the Ol lady into letting me buy it. My nephew lives in Tyngsboro, could just send him to pick it up.

Holson Adi · #4 07-07-2003, 05:11 PM

leathermang - you're right.. he does...

I have to add that the A/C does work and blows cold when it's filled up. I found out where the leaks are coming from when I had Hatch and Sons (www.hatchandsons.com) check out the car as a bonus from buying a car from them.

They diagnosed that the biggest leak is from the compressor (could be resealed but he advises against it). The high side hose shows a lil leak too, so does the expansion valve (very small but it does leak). I'm guessing if you replace the compressor or reseal it, it would hold charger for a good while.

The climate control also works... surprisingly. It knows when to adjust (although it seems to always think it's warmer than it really is in the cabin...)

over the year that i owned it, I've bought a lot of new little parts:

vacuum lock elements (all of them)
little rubber pieces here and there
worn out knobs
new grille shell and strips
rebuilt hirschmann antenna
...to name a few of them...

the more I think about how much i've spent (just because I enjoy fixing these little things) makes me want to keep it and get rid of the E420 instead haha :p

#5 07-07-2003, 06:29 PM

I'm seriously interested, and have no problem with the asking price. You've done a great job of bringing the car up back to "like-new". (Don't we all wish!) I'm gradually working on my two, learning to DYI, as well as taking them to our local MB guru.

Question - given your location and miserable winters and salty highways, what's the body condition under that paint job? Has the car always been garaged? Babied in winter?

Question - does the sunroof open and close, or is it non functional pending the new cable?

Question - what't the VIN so I can CarFax?

My sedan had complete rust restoration and repaint 10 years ago by the PO, was then garaged and driven only in fair weather, but has cancer on the fringes. My wagon was a Maryland car, has only the slightest rust around one of the jack holes. Salt does take it's toll.

I'd have to give up the sedan, take the same bite you are. I don't need three mercedes, a subaru, and three motorcycles!

Off the forum, email me at gregDOTmartinATacdDOTnet

Holson Adi · #6 07-07-2003, 10:20 PM

Condition under the paint, I must say that it really isn't rust-free but it's still better than even some newer cars (1990 W124's when I was looking) that i've seen here. Obviously the chassis especially the front area is pretty rust free because it gets a nice coating of oil...

(oil leaks)

There are surface rust 'speckles' under the rear taillights area (they're like dots .5-1.0 cm in diameter)

so that u dont find surprises, I've plugged some vacuum lines that control the EGR and that's helped the car shift nicely! It's kinda firm but 2-3-4 are smooth. Only 1-2 is not Lexus smooth.

sunroof does not open nor close. When I got the car it was missing a sunroof motor and the bracket so I found those pieces and bolted them on. I was going to replace the cable this summer but summer classes took priority. The old chewed up sunroof cable is still attached... if I don't sell the car I'll be fixing it next.

However, I did fix those rear windows and as long as you watch them as they roll up (and not keep pressing the button when they're already closed).

as to babying it in Winter.. yes I do. Last winter (TERRIBLE), I only drove the car on snow like once I think. After that as soon as the roads were dry I washed the car and cleaned the wheel wells as best as I could. (Yes... washed it in 30F weather hehe.. im crazy but then again im young)

The car's also garaged. Never sat outside last winter.

Also,
I have a binder full of receipts, gas bills... weird lil stuff, etc. related to the car.

carfax..
WDBAB53A2DB003846 is the VIN number.. I still have Carfax so I've uploaded it. Just click on the following link:

http://users.rcn.com/holsonyap/300cd_t.htm

somehow Carfax is supposed to expire today... while I'm at it. Anybody want carfax before it expires...? (talk about timing)

the car started great last winter. However it never sat outside so I don't really know. Two years ago, winter was pretty mild and the car always started even in the coldest morning but it was outside back then so the sun heated things up nicely before I cranked the engine.
I'd say it might need new glow plugs but I don't know. It never failed to start but it ran rough for a minute or two.

diesel don · #7 07-07-2003, 11:01 PM

Sweet looking car but just added two new ones. Working on our fifth daily driver....

Don

#8 07-07-2003, 11:04 PM

I've been looking over your previous postings re this car.

Seems like you've had much the same problems we all have had, not knowing what's normal and and annoying but non-critical, and what's a major issue and how soon it must be attended to.

What's with your oil leaks? Some oil on the drive seems "normal" for these diesels. How frequently do you have to add oil.. Kudos on the Delvac; I use Mobil 1.

Are the rear windows now reliable, or just currently working?!

How about your earlier concern with front suspension, e.g. lower control arms?

Re rust and paint - is this the original paint? If it's this good and nothing ugly has been hidden, fine. One of the first places to rust out seems to be the jack points. How do they look? I'll have to look over your photo gallery more closely.

Re your binder of receipts, etc., do you have stuff from the PO's? I lucked out on my cars, and 12--15 years of service history on both.

I have been looking off and on for a 300cd. Closest thing to a diesel sports car!

(Still sniffing!)

Holson Adi · #9 07-07-2003, 11:12 PM

I changed my oil in February this year and I've topped it up once and it's been 2000+ mi. since the oil change.

I have the gallon of Delvac 1 and I never really took account of how much I had to put. last time it was down to a lil more than half-way between min and max. But after the oil change it was only filled up to about 3mm from the max line.

I really don't know what leaks. I had the dealer (LONG time ago when I was a noob) check it out and they said "rear and front main seal and valve cover" not very informative and just said "thousands of $$ to fix" so I just lived w/ it.

I think the rear windows are actually reliable! I've used them a lot when it's hot in summer and when it was nice in the very short spring.

Lower control arms squeaked but not anymore... I've decided that I'm just gonna leave them alone for now.

It's not original paint. I believe it had been repainted. After looking at my jack points im pretty sure that the PO had the rust spots around them fixed. However the driver's side front jack has started bubbling again!!

I don't have stuff from the PO. I feel kinda bummed out now that I still bought this car but I guess it's been reliable.

diesel sports car

hehehe I guess the coupe adds to that 'feel'

But I honestly think the W124 250D Turbos are really sweet diesels

they just don't look as good as the 123 I think...

it still amazes me whenever I look at the 123 compared to my E420...the 300CD just looks cooler!

Holson Adi · #10 07-07-2003, 11:37 PM

I bought some Turtle Wax foam carpet cleaner stuff and the interior now smells nice. I cleaned the trunk too. Also did the door panels, seats, etc. anything vinly... almost. I'll be doing the rear seats if I have time

comparing this pic to my previous pics... I'm kinda happy of the work I did hehe..

93*F + Dry air also helped dry the carpets quickly!

In the next pic you could see the rust + the crack in the dash

agplate · #11 07-09-2003, 11:26 AM

Hi Holson-
check your PM's.

Holson Adi · #12 07-09-2003, 03:29 PM

Another thing to add:

I've never had the compression on any cylinders checked but the engine fires up on the first usually or sometimes second crank after a glow cycle. If that says anything about compression.

If anybody so desires to have older stuff put back in..

I still have the following:

Old school Alpine Radio (you could pull the whole unit out supposedly for anti-theft reasons...)

The 14" Bundt cake alloy wheels (not in the best shape otherwise i wouldn't have bought the 15's) with like new Michelin Rainforce tires (195/70/14TR)

the DOT headlights (pitted headlight doors, and pitted fog lights) with a pair of decently new Sylvania Blue Vision

6024 sealed beams.

I'd like someone to buy it and fix the A/C himself (would cost $1500+ for me to have a dealer fix it w/ R12) and just drive the car the way I did... hopefulyl when I see the car again it'll still be nice