I am researching a purchase of a '91 300D with the 2.5 turbo for a friend. I am wondering if the expert opinions here would be able to add a word or more to anything pertinent. There are 85000 miles on it and it has been maintained well since this guy has owned it(30000 on). He is asking $15000 and I imagine we could get him to $13500 or $14000. Thanks for your help.

my 1981 300sd had a few problems soo did my 300d but i had why over 90k it was a pretty good car.

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Dan Younes
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1985 euro 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1979 240d 298k sold
1983 300d 272k sold
1989 chrysler 2.2l Turbo
Leabaron 130k
1991 300e 2.6 (hopefully soon)

[This message has been edited by Benzman500 (edited 07-02-2000).]

The consumer's union reliability
report would suggest a double check on the
electrical, brakes, and cooling.
No specifics.
Good luck.

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1979 300D
133K miles
1989 300SE
1995 C280

Having just spent a small fortune on my AC, I would make sure that the HVAC was in perfect condition. Specifically, I would have a "sniff" test done on the AC vents to check for refrigerant leakage from the evaporator. There are about 50 pain-filled posts on this site on the subject.

Chuck

Zach: I recently passed my '91 300D on to my girlfriend, and replaced it with a '95 E300D. I found the '91 to be near insestructable. A few little things went on it- a vacuum switch and the A/C. To fix both of these (and to convert to R34) cost about $600. This is about all I've had to spend over three years on it, other than standard maintanence. It has 118,000 miles on it, so I figure I've gotten my moneys worth. To cut to the chase, a '91 300D with 85,000 is just getting broken in good. Go for it, I loved mine. Kevin

I just bought a 1991 300D 2.5 with 165K and paid $10,000 for it. DEFINATELY have the car inspected by a certified MBZ mechanic. I love the car, it is quiet and gets about 41 mpg. There is a web site out there from this guy "houlihan", that tells everything he did for his car maintenence wise. Do a search in this group and I am sure you will find the link. If not I will post it later on, when I get to my computer, I am using a friends now.

Sounds like my buddie is going to get it; I hope he does. From the sounds of it the A/C is the primary challenge and when I test drove it today it blew cold air, so maybe it is OK, but I will still have him check it out at a MBZ dealer. What specifically goes wrong with the system? Is it the evaporator that I have heard about or something else, and is it good to convert the system to R134? Thanks for your help.

The factory evaporators were aluminum and either corrode from the inside or the outside depending the expert. It is a 16-18 hour job to replace it, plus parts.

There are even more opinions on the R134 question. Mainstream opinion seems to be that you need to replace the compressor, drier and switches, manifold pipe, and expansion valve. That's at least $950 for parts plus labor for flushing and charging.

My $.02:

If the AC is in good shape, keep the R12. Consider the change only if you have replace a major component, and then only if you are contemplating a long term relationship with the car.

Chuck