Finally got my 2 new cars! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselAddict · #1 08-05-2003, 02:20 PM

For those who don't know already, I recently bought 2 cars on Ebay out-of-state and this morning I got the second one. The first one I got on Friday. One is a yellow 83 240D manual with biege interior and the other a green 87 300D also with biege interior and both are in exceptional condition. Here's a link to my last thread which contains some pics.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=70800

Overall I'm very pleased with both cars and so far it seems like they only have minor issues. The 240D probably needs a new shifter bushing as there is some rattling coming from it at certain rpm and occasionally I get some noise that seems to come from the rear right. Possibly a wheel bearing? However, it drives really nice, has good power for only having 67 horses and produces virtually no smoke. I was surprised how small the engine looks compared to my old 300D even though I had already seen it on pictures. It'll certainly have lots of space for working on it.

I got the 87 this morning and my first impression was wow, that's a beautiful car! I was also amazed how smoothly it shifts and how much power it has. It has the tendency to leave a huge cloud of black smoke when I floor it though, and I'm hoping some italian tune up will cure that. Is it correct that this car doesn't need valve adjustment? Also the AC doesn't work, but that's not a big deal to me, as long as it only needs a recharge.

Rick Miley · #2 08-05-2003, 03:48 PM

Congratulations on the cars. Yes, the 87 doesn't need valve adjustments.

Ken300D · #3 08-05-2003, 04:11 PM

Check the air filter on the 1987 300D. It is easy to ignore in maintenance and if blocked would prevent you from getting proper air flow and might increase smoke.

It would be helpful if the EGR should happen to malfunction, because that would decrease the soot being sent back into your oily intake to make tar-sludge.

Congratulations. You've got more guts than I do by far. I've bought on EBay, but I've always seen and driven the vehicle before handing over payment.

Ken300D

DieselAddict · #4 08-05-2003, 05:20 PM

Ken, you beat me to it. I just got back from my lunch break and I checked the air filter and it's filthy! That's the first thing I'll replace when I get back from my vacation. Unfortunately I'm going on this 2-week vacation tomorrow and I'll miss my cars.

About the AC, I did get it to work on my way to lunch and it was blowing cold, but on the way back it was blowing warm again.

speedy300Dturbo · #5 08-05-2003, 06:53 PM

My AC used to do the exact same thing. It ended up being a faulty temperature sensor switch (near the receiver dryer) that prevented the AC compressor from engaging.

Congratulations on the 87 300D. It really is an amazing car and loves to be driven fast!

lukemus53 · #6 08-06-2003, 02:49 PM

i just have to tell you about my last car bought on e-bay [my third]. it's an '83 300d with 133k miles.when i found out i was high bidder i called greensboro n.c. airport and got a ticket to west palm beach, fla for the next morning.[$155.00].left greensboro at 7 a.m. ,short stop in atlanta and arrived west palm at 11:30 am. picked up by seller ,drove to his home [20 mins] ,paid for car ,got title and went down the street, fueled up the car and was on the road to n.c.at 12:35p.m. car drove and ran great.i put it on I 95 ,set the cruse on 70 for the first couple hundred miles. as i got more confident i gradually got to running 80-85 with the traffic flow. with one fuel stop and one potty break i got in my drive-way at 1:00a.m. tired but very pleased with the car. went out next morning ,checked under car for leaks.none! i 've driven it 5400 miles thus far . i have friends that say i,m crazy---they just don't know about these little diesels!

#7 08-07-2003, 05:22 AM

Congrats. Bought my 87 300D off eBay as well, flew out to Knoxville from Austin, the broker and his son from Gamble motors picked me up at the airport. Turned out he used to work on aircraft, so we chatted for a while. The car was as advertised, if not better. I drove it back to Texas that night, catching the first of the storms/tornados hitting the south along my route, actually got to use the headlight wipers it was getting so nasty. Nice drive.

Pretty happy overall, though I still wouldn't want to give out the funds in advance of actually driving the car.

Still the 603 might have to go, in favor of the 601, damn 300 is too easy to get tickets in! I love how the 190 drives as well, love the manual trans, and the 38mpg, plus I always feel like I'm going faster then I am, in the 300 it's just the opposite! Maybe I should compromise and get a 602 powered 190Dt. Hmmmm......

DieselAddict · #8 08-21-2003, 02:27 PM

I'm back from my vacation. Speedy300Dturbo, is this the temp sensor switch that you're talking about? I'm trying to find it online and I'm not sure if this is it. Where is it located?

speedy300Dturbo · #9 08-21-2003, 04:53 PM

Yes, that's the one. It's located behind the driver's side headlight. The AC pressure switch may also be faulty.

DieselAddict · #10 08-23-2003, 01:30 AM

Thanks Speedy, I'll give that a try. The 87 continuously amazes me how different it is from the W123. I'm not saying I like it more or less, but I think it's the perfect companion to the W123. It's a lot more modern, faster and quiter. The old 300 and 240 on the other hand give me that daily dosage of classic body style and classic diesel properties that I also demand. For me these 3 cars form the perfect package.

Got one more question about the 87. When I squeeze the upper radiator hose, even slightly, and release it (with the engine off and listening carefully) I hear some sound from the engine as if something was floating in the coolant and bouncing off some wall. Do you have it too and do you have any idea what it is?