1985 300D - 381K miles $1900 OBO

[southofantarctica]

For more pictures, scroll to bottom of page and click the links to the CL ad or my Flickr acount. It's a bearing linking pictures without having a PC at the moment. Sorry.

Location: Edinburg, Texas, 78539

Price: $1900 OBO

I am selling my 1985 300D, daily driver. It is in great mechanical condition and has been rock solid reliable for the wife and I. We put over 22,000 miles on it last year and drive from Edinburg to Corpus Christi two or three times a month (500~ miles round trip, including driving around town) in it with zero problems. We average 21-23 MPG on most tanks. It has great power and cruises at 75+MPH no problem, while still offering a smooth ride. We have taken this car camping, to the beach, Houston, San antonio and to Mexico numerous time without any worries. I had planned to drive it to California later in the year. We bought a nice 300SDL last month and need to thin the herd.

The good:

Clean title
All stickers current
OM617 turbo diesel engine with 381,000 miles
Engine starts up instantaneously when cranked. Without fail.
New General Grabber AT2 tires (27.50 x 8.50 x 14) ~ 18,000 miles ago
Replaced timing chain ~ 17,000 ago
New glow plugs ~ 20,000 miles ago
New injectors ~17,000 miles ago
Bilstien HD shocks ~ 18,000 miles ago
7" Hella E-Code headlight upgrade
5" Hella E-Code headlight conversion (in place of factory fog lights)
New Bosch starter ~ 5,000 miles ago
Valves adjusted to spec ~ 100 miles ago
New oil and fuel filters ~ 100 miles ago
Drive shaft carrier bearing ~ 100 miles ago
New motor mounts ~ 100 miles ago
OME optional engine skid plate ~ installed 16,000 miles ago
Yakima roof bars
Sony Xplode radio
Awesome heater
Full size spare tire
Power windows
Power central locks
Working sun roof

Extras:

1 custom trailer hitch and ball
1 Euro style trailer hitch and ball
1 Gold driver side front door
1 Gold passenger side front door

The not so good:

The paint and clear coat are in rough shape
Driver and rear seat show wear (cracks/tears)
A/C needs help (waiting on diagnosis)
Driver door was backed into by a truck, causing dent. Window will not roll down the last inch or so.
Typical rust below rear glass
Cruise Control does not work
Radio cuts out randomly, I think it is in the face plate but haven't been able to track it down.
Leaks oil, 1qrt every 1,000~ miles
Rear defrost doesnt work
Passenger rear window is finicky
Fuel sending broke, but gauge itself is good.
Exhauste is cut, but can re-attach/deliver
Slight driveshaft vibration under heavyacceleration between 25-30mph, passengers do not notice 99% of the time.
Driver front shock bolts broke and I have not been able to extract them
Hood does not stay open by itself, driver side support arm broken.

I will deliver (aka drive) the car anywhere you wish. $10 an hour one way, plus bus ticket back home. Half of the payment will be required upfront with the remainder upon delivery.

Asking $1900 or best offer

If you have any questions or would like pictures of something specific, please don't hesitate to ask.

1985 Mercedes Benz 300D

https://www.flickr.com/photos/86449574@N03/sets/72157641717680994/

[southofantarctica]

Call or Text if so inclined @ 361-two two nine 4195

[ScooterABC]

1. Why do you have truck tires on the car?
2. Has the transmission been rebuilt, and when?
3. Is odometer working? If so, you deserve an award for that one!
4. Cruises at 75 - 80 no problem kind of sounds like a problem. How is it at 90?

[southofantarctica]

Originally Posted by ScooterABC

1. Why do you have truck tires on the car?
2. Has the transmission been rebuilt, and when?
3. Is odometer working? If so, you deserve an award for that one!
4. Cruises at 75 - 80 no problem kind of sounds like a problem. How is it at 90?

1. Couple of reasons actually. A) The roads down here a horrible (pot holes, deep dips and crests at intersections for water flow) and we pop across the border to visit the wife's family where most of the roads consist of tall speed bunps, holes and general danger for low slung cars. The added sidewall makes for a smoother ride and the added height helps to keep from tarring up the underbelly. B) I was hoping that it would work as a poor man's overdrive at highway speed. It does, but without the TC lockup there isn't a real noticeable difference. C) I honest really like the aggressive stance that it has with them.

2. Never. The previous owner said that he had never rebuilt anything on it, and he owned it for from 163k-359k. While it could have happened before that, I seriously doubt it. But it seems to be healthy, no noticeable slipping and odometer into reverse like a new car. No delay or hesitation.

3. It does! Both the odometer and the trip work. I have the high milage badges to prove it too

4. It cruises great at 90mph as well. I can see how what I wrote could be seen as issues. South Texas highways have the speed limit set at 75mph, 75-80 is what most people down here will do. I should have wrote it as 75+mph. The most I've personally gotten up to in the car is about 95mph, never had need to test it beyond that.

[ScooterABC]

I like the look too. Makes it look kind of tough. But why sell? Seems like the perfect car to take to Mexico. The rust at mileage probably make it a tough sell. I've never heard of a Mercedes automatic lasting that long. GLWS.

[southofantarctica]

Its a fantastic car to take to Mexico or camping. It would be great for fire roads, beach, mountain cabin car, you name it.

If I had the income, I would keep it in a heart beat, but we tread water as it is... If that. We bought the 300SDL for a steal since the PO thought it had a bad transmission (the Bowden cable was too tight, no transmission damage at all). It had all redone interior, new front suspension, a/c, long wheel base that I love and a stack of records, as well as 1/3 the miles as our current car. The deal was I would sell the 300D after I got the 300SDL in driving shape and try to recoup $ that we had wiped our savings of.

Mileage is high, no doubt about it. But the transmission still feels better than the 300SDL's.

Thanks for you interest!

[southofantarctica]

Shot a video of it starting this morning, 42* out. Been sitting since 3pm yesterday.

http://youtu.be/-wmtqOaY9lc

[southofantarctica]

SOLD!

[pawoSD]

I like the stance it has with those tires. Looks like a military vehicle.

[southofantarctica]

Thanks! The 27.5" tire size fit it perfectly; good handling, great traction, 2"+ ground clearance and low road noise. Although the Border Patrol peeps always gave me dirty looks about them...