Hi...
Now that I've got this Beautiful Car....Should I buy a cover for her?
And How can I best protect against someone taking her?
She is just too beautiful...
Thanks again,
Linda

Most stereo and alarm shops don't know how to handle an MB, particularly one of this vintage. Make sure you get solid recommendations on where to have this done and if possible validate exactly what they're going to do with someone who knows the implications of each wire they touch. Tapping into the dome light for a basic alarm is straightforward, fitting remote keyless entry and automatic window roll-up is quite a challenge in these cars and probably shouldn't be attempted by anyone born after 1975.

Are steering wheel and brake pedal locks still in vogue? I haven't seen one for a while but I'm not often in the big city.

Do people in your neighborhood do anything when a car alarm goes off?

Using a car cover in a public place is more of an invitation to vandals than a shiny old car.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

I agree using a car cover in public is a bad idea.

vwbuge, it is a 300d, the listing can be seen here.

__________________
Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

Congratulations Linda-

If you loved your VW, you will want to be BURIED in this car!

There is only one word for a 300D turbo in China Blue: *****in'!

Cheers,

JAS

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94 E320
71 350SL

Details of remote installation on my site - look at the early-W126 piece - similar to your W123. Takes a bit of doing - more a function of your determination and patience quotient than sheer skill, as with most things MB.

The W123's are fantastic little vehicles. They are stylish and fun to drive. With the turbo they whip in and out of traffic. True they may not be burnin' rubber from the stop but I've found that once they get cruisin' on the e-way, you will feel like your flying.

They also have a nice Jame's Bond smoke screen feature also.

I'm sure you will have plenty of years of driving pleasure.

__________________
Frank
84 500SEL EURO 101K ( JUST LIKE MY 1ST WIFE. GLAD TO GET RID OF HER! )
85 300D 310K (sold)
90 350SDL 184K sold
83 300D 118K (sold)
88 300E 153k (sold)
93 400E 105K (sold)

Linda,

To be honest, it is very difficult to steal a Diesel without the key. The starting procedure is not conducive to a successful theft. Most thieves are looking to be in the car, have it started and on their way in under 60 seconds (remember the movie a few years ago by that name?). The glow plug cycle is not what the typical thief has in mind when he tries to hot wire the car. It is not a good experience when they thief actually has the keys either as they have to know what they are up to or the car still won't start.

My daughter took our 1982 240D to college in Upstate NY. She parked it on the street, and one day called, full of tears to tell me the car had been stolen. I started to laugh. First, it was not a beautiful example like you describe yours. It is beige with a Palomino interior. Pretty plain for W123s. Second, it was not equipped with any fancy stereo or other feature to attract a thug. And, finally, and most important, if you did not know exactly how to get this car started in under 40*F weather (it was Winter at the time, with snow on the ground) it was not going to start, and that assumed the person had the keys.

I told her to call the cops and see if they had it towed for some reason. It turns out she parked a few inches too close to a fire hydrant, and while the cops did not direct the car be towed, the fire department in the town seems to inspire towing companies to tow cars now and then. She got the car back, did not have to pay a fine or towing charge, and learned first hand another benefit of owning a Diesel.

The car starts much better now (running with Delvac 1 in the crankcase, has a new Fastlane (well its two years old now) starter, and new engine mounts, all contributing to better response to the start command) and just returned from a trip to San Diego and back. Left with 294,000 miles and returned with 306,000 on the clock. You have selected a car with more potential than anything else on the market. Congratulations and enjoy it. Good luck, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

I have been avidly reading all about lindajanes efforts and can fully commiserate about what to look for. (Best price, model etc.)

I think I have the thread from e-bay if I put everything it the proper place. If it doesn't come up, someone please help me so you can all see the pictures of her new baby.


I myself am in the process of finalizing a deal on an 83 300SD (also China Blue) that I have been following since last April. Once it gets home with me I will post more info, with several more questions to ask all of you I'm sure.

I know from my own search, you guys and this forum are invaluable and a great help in my furthering education of the infamous MBZ 300.

By the way, Natalie, loved your vacation story, laughed my head off because I've had those kinds of vacations myself.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6330&item=2430317468

Hi...I can send you a pic...if I know how to do it, where to send it...
The guy I bought it from on e-bay is so nice, and happens to live relatively close to me...
He has been doing oil changes, and says he changes the filter every time also....
He Told me when I pick up the car he will show me how to do this!...How exciting, I'm already a junior mechanic!....
Linda

Thomaspin, how do you figure that early W126 door locks are similar to W123 door locks? No aspect of W123 door locks is electrical. It's a purely vacuum system - two lines to each actuator. The typical solution is to attach an electric actuator to the driver door lock rod.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

There it is........ you said it..... the name! It's her first MB so the name Numero Uno or some derivative of that. Uno maybe?

__________________
"If anyone knows other lessons I need to learn, please tell me. I'm tired of learning them the hard way".
by JerryBro

The Glow Plug Wait: This waiting period is a moment of silence to pay honor to Rudolph Diesel. The longer you own your diesel the more honor you will give him". by SD Blue

My normal daily life; either SNAFUed- Situation Normal... All Fouled Up, or FUBARed- Fouled Up Beyond All Repair

62 UNIMOG Camper w/617 Turbo, 85 300SD daily driver- both powered by blended UCO fuels

Linda,

Beautiful car!!! Good job!!!

Do you have Lojack in your area? I think they are a nationwide concern. They install a device in the car so they can track it via satellite and direct the heat - err, cops - err, police - to it in the event it is stolen. That way they may catch the bad guys too!

That's what I'm gonna do with my "new" 300TD, I think. It's not that expensive, either.

Congratulations!
kma

__________________
74 Porsche 914 2.0 - 92k and counting
85 300 TD - 263k and counting
83 300 TD - 190k and counting
74 Harley Davidson Superglide - 38k and counting
68 Harley Davidson Sportster - currently in kit form

Linda, you got almost the same car as mine!!

Mine is an '84, has about 6k more miles, and I paid more for it. so if it's a good reliable runner, I think you got a good deal.

I hear references to your color being 'china blue'. My color code is officially 'biscayne blue' but is not a clear coat paint and doesn't really have any metallic luster to it although it does shine.

The other difference is you have blue mb tex and I have the standard camel color.

good luck!

__________________
Whoever dies with the most toys......Wins!

1984 300d
165k miles

HI Linda:

I think that you might be able to get the car for $3200-$3500 if you were patient enough to wait until the auction time actually ended. Well that's just my opinion.

Congratulations.

Eric

Take a look at my 'early remote' piece - I install an electrical actuator - hence the 'similar' reference.